The finals are now set. Here is how we got there.
PRIVATE
Left Bracket
No. 1 Athens Academy 28, No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian 21From 2012 to 2016 Athens Academy had lost five in a row to crosstown rival Prince Avenue Christian. But the Spartans have now won the last three meetings, including Friday's semifinal.
RB Len’Neth Whitehead led the way with two touchdown runs. Athens Academy (13-0) led 14-7 at the half and held a 28-7 lead in the fourth quarter before Prince Avenue (11-2) added to late scores. The win for the Spartans sets up a rematch with Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in the Class A private school final. ELCA won 41-3.
Right Bracket
No. 3 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy 70, No. 2 Savannah Christian 21In defending Eagle's Landing Christian's vaunted read option attack, Savannah Christian elected to focus on junior RB Keaton Mitchell, who came into the game with 2,180 yards and 45 touchdowns. So quarterback Brayden Rush made the Raiders pay.
The senior ran for a career high 250 yards and five touchdowns on just 12 carries, to lead the Chargers (12-1) to a rout in Savannah. The Raiders (11-2) took a 7-0 lead on Marquell Brown’s 18-yard run, but ELCA scored the next 49 points, and led 49-7 at the half. Rush scored four of his touchdowns in the first half alone on runs of 24, 12, 91 and 40 yards. He added an 11 yarder in the third quarter. As for Mitchell, he still gained 150 yards on 12 carries and scored on runs of 1 and 18 yards.
ELCA will now face Athens Academy in the Class A private schools final, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. at Mercedes-Benz stadium.
Final: No. 1 Athens Academy vs. No. 3 ELCA
Wednesday, December 12, 10 a.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
PUBLIC
Left Bracket
No. 1 Irwin County 23, No. 4 Pelham 6
Right Bracket
No. 6 Clinch County 31, No. 2 Marion County 23
Final: No. 1 Irwin County vs. No. 6 Clinch County
Tuesday, December 11, 10 a.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
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