Class 6A
Grayson vs. Carrollton
When, where: 7 p.m. Dec. 18, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Grayson is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-6A and No. 6; Carrollton is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 2-6A and No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: Carrollton is trying to win its eighth state title but first since 1998 and first in the highest classification, which the Trojans joined in 2022. They’ll face the highest classification’s program with the most wins this century as Grayson’s 240-67 record represents the most victories and best winning percentage in the big-school division since the Gwinnett County school opened in 2000. Carrollton, ranked in the top 10 of five national polls, is led by Julian Lewis, the AJC Super 11 Colorado signee whose career totals are now 10,484 yards passing (ninth in GHSA history) and 140 touchdowns (fifth all-time). He is 39-3 as a three-year starter, beginning when he arrived as perhaps the most heralded freshman in state history. Lewis is surrounded by a wealth of major Division I talent, particularly in a secondary that includes DB Zelus Hicks (Texas), DB Shamar Arnoux (Florida State) and Dorian Barney (top-100 national junior prospect). Carrollton coach Joey King, formerly of Cartersville, can become the 16th coach in GHSA history to win state titles at two schools. Grayson’s leader is junior quarterback Travis Burgess, who has passed for 2,075 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 539 yards and four scores. Grayson’s defense glitters with major D-I players. They include LB Tyler Atkinson (five-star junior), LB Andre Fuller (Georgia Tech), LB Anthony Davis (four-star junior), DL Joseph Mbatchou (Florida), DB Jaylen Bell (Indiana) and DL Josiah Victor (N.C. State).
Class 5A
Hughes vs. Milton
When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Hughes is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-5A and No. 4; Milton is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 7-5A and No. 1.
Last meeting: Milton won 17-14 in the second round of the 2014 Class 6A playoffs.
Things to know: Milton is a victory from cementing its name among the greats in state history, and standing in the way is Hughes, an opponent from the other end of Fulton County with state-championship pedigree of its own from 2022. Milton is ranked in the top five of six national polls and No. 2 in three of them. The Eagles returned 18 of 22 starters from last season’s Class 7A championship team and have nine major Division I signees in their senior class, tied for second behind Grayson’s 2018 team (12) for the most in state history. Luke Nickel, an AJC Super 11 pick who signed with Miami, has thrown for 3,335 yards and 40 touchdowns in an offense that features a 1,600-yard rusher, T.J. Lester, and a trio of receivers with more than 800 yards led by Super 11 choice C.J. Wiley. Hughes’ most attractive feature is its offensive line, all five starters weighing 300 pounds or more led by Tavaris Dice (Florida) and Dontrell Glover (Georgia). New quarterback Christian Langford has passed for 3,031 yards and rushed for 554 with 44 total touchdowns. Hughes’ lone loss came against Class 6A semifinalist Douglas County 21-14 in September. Hughes has beaten 2023 champions Thomas County Central 28-12 and Coffee 49-26 the past two rounds and can take out a third 2023 champ next week.
Class 4A
Marist vs. North Oconee
When, where: 7 p.m. Monday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Marist is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-4A and No. 1; North Oconee is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 8-4A and No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: This is the only championship game between undefeated teams. They have contrasting offensive styles. Marist runs the option and averages 268.6 yards rushing and 60.4 passing. Three-year starting quarterback Jack Euart has scored 12 touchdowns and passed for nine. North Oconee averages 170.8 yards rushing and 222.6 passing with a dual-threat quarterback, Harrison Faulkner, the team’s leading rusher with 713 yards. Equally critical to the North Oconee offense is wide receiver Landon Roldan, a Georgia signee with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He’s also an outstanding defensive back. Both defenses allow less than 10 points per game. Marist junior defensive end Jack Richerson leads his team in tackles for losses (17), sacks (10), QB hurries (25) and pass breakups (seven). North Oconee’s top defender is linebacker Khamari Brooks, a top-200 national junior prospect with 10 sacks. Marist can win its fourth state title, first since 2020, all under 40th-year coach Alan Chadwick. North Oconee, a 21-year-old school, is in the finals for the first time after losing semifinals games in 2021 and 2022. Marist and North Oconee have one common opponent, Class 3A finalist Jefferson. Marist won 23-7. North Oconee won 35-0.
Class 3A
Jefferson vs. Calhoun
When, where: 4 p.m. Dec. 18, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Jefferson is 11-3, the No. 1 seed and No. 3; Calhoun is 11-3, the No. 6 seed and No. 7.
Last meeting: Jefferson won 31-14 in the 2012 Class 2A championship game.
Things to know: Both have three losses, but their presence in the final is no surprise. Reclassification brought each down from Class 5A this season. Jefferson, a 5A semifinalist last season with AJC all-class player of the year Sammy Brown (now at Clemson), was ranked No. 1 in preseason. Calhoun was No. 4. Jefferson has lost to Class 4A finalists Marist and North Oconee and to Oconee County in overtime. Jefferson avenged the Oconee loss with a 42-6 victory in the second round. With Brown at Clemson, Jefferson’s go-to player is now quarterback Gavin Markey, who has passed for 1,424 yards and rushed for 1,568. Rett Hemphill has 1,061 all-purpose yards and a team-leading 89 solo tackles. Calhoun has lost to Creekview, Cartersville and Cambridge, all from higher classes, and won 10 consecutive games, scoring more than 30 points in each of the past six. Calhoun is the only finalist with a freshman starting quarterback. Trace Hawkins has thrown for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns with only one interception. Justin Beasley has 18 TD receptions. The top prospect in the game is Calhoun’s Emaree Winston, an all-state tight end who signed with Texas. Calhoun is in the finals for the 10th time, first since 2021, and is seeking its first title since 2017. Jefferson is in the finals for the first time since 2020 and chasing its first title since 2012. That was the year that Jefferson, under coach T. McFerrin, beat Calhoun for the Class 2A championship in the Georgia Dome for Jefferson’s only state title. It ended Calhoun’s 29-game win streak.
Class 2A
Burke County vs. Carver (Columbus)
When, where: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Burke County is 13-1, the No. 4 seed and No. 3; Carver is 13-1, the No. 2 seed and No. 1.
Last meeting: Carver won 28-21 in the first round of the 2009 Class 3A playoffs.
Things to know: These are traditionally strong programs that moved down in classification this season, instantly making them Class 2A teams to watch. Each has won 11 consecutive games since losing their only games Aug. 30, both against Class 4A opponents (Burke County to Benedictine, Carver to Harris County). Both won their only state titles earlier this century (Carver in 2007, Burke County in 2011). Carver returned to the finals in 2021 but lost to Benedictine. Burke County is making its first appearance since its 2011 championship. Both teams tilt toward the run game but are adept at passing the ball. Burke County’s A’Merre Williams has rushed for 1,674 yards and 31 touchdowns, although it was Kel’Von Scott with the big game in the semifinals when he rushed for 169 yards against Rockmart. Scott also is the team’s leading receiver with 685 yards. Sean Vandiver has passed for 18 touchdowns and run for 13. Carver has two 1,000-yard rushers — Kobe Caslin (1,343 yards) and Kelston Tarver (1,268). Matthew Mungin has thrown 28 TD passes, 15 to Braylon Jakes. The biggest difference in the teams is points allowed. Against similarly rated schedules, Carver’s average score is 39-7, and Burke County’s is 42-20.
Class A Division I
Northeast vs. Toombs County
When, where: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Northeast is 12-2, the No. 8 seed and No. 5; Toombs County is 12-1, the No. 6 seed and No. 1.
Last meeting: Northeast won 27-14 in the first round of the 2020 Class 2A playoffs.
Things to know: Both teams are making their first state finals appearances, and this is the only title game that guarantees a first-time state champion. Northeast is the first Macon team in the finals since Central won Class 3A, then the highest class, in 1975. Both teams were expected to be contenders in preseason. Toombs County, which opened in 1987, started at No. 1 after a Class 2A season in which the Bulldogs lost only to state finalists Pierce County and Rockmart. They returned star players T.J. Stanley and Lagonza Hayward. Stanley has passed for 2,315 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 530 yards and 11 touchdowns. He signed with Georgia State last week. Hayward, a wide receiver/safety, has 13 TD receptions and 1,002 all-purpose yards. He signed with Florida. Northeast, ranked No. 8 in preseason, is a powerful running team led by 5-foot-9, 210-pound Nick Woodford, a two-time 2,000-yard rusher. He rushed for 374 yards in the quarterfinals against Fannin County and 326 in the semifinals against Fitzgerald. Quarterback Reginald Glover has surpassed 1,000 yards both rushing and passing. These teams have one key common opponent. Toombs beat Dublin 42-15 in the semifinals, while Northeast lost to Dublin 17-7 in October for the Region 2 championship. Toombs has lost only to Savannah Christian, a Class 3A-A private school. Northeast lost to Dublin and to Class 3A’s No. 1 team entering the playoffs, Peach County. Toombs’ average score is 46-13 against the classification’s third-hardest schedule, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings. Northeast’s average score is 36-15 against the 12th-hardest schedule.
Class A Division II
Bowdon vs. Brooks County
When, where: 4 p.m. Monday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Bowdon is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-A Division II and No. 2; Brooks County is 10-4, the No. 1 seed from 2-A Division II and No. 4.
Last meeting: Brooks County won 42-26 in the 2013 Class 2A quarterfinals.
Things to know: Bowdon is the two-time defending champion and can become the 14th school in GHSA history to win three consecutive state titles, the first since Buford in 2019-21. The last time that Brooks County and Bowdon were in the same class, Class A Public in 2021, it was Brooks that won the championship. Anticipating how this reunion might play out, Brooks County was ranked No. 2 in preseason behind Bowdon. Bowdon’s star player is Kaiden Prothro, a 6-foot-6 wide receiver/tight end with 38 career TD receptions. Just a junior, he’s also a factor as an outside linebacker. ESPN ranks Prothro as the No. 17 overall junior prospect nationally. Charles Maxell, a transfer from Woodward Academy, is Bowdon’s first-year starting quarterback, a dual threat with 48 total touchdowns. Nate Bhony and Joshawia Davis are 1,000-yard rushers. Brooks County has a giant receiver target of its own, George Lamons, a 6-foot-4 sophomore with 19 TD receptions. Another sophomore, Junior Burrus, is the quarterback. Chris Cole Jr. has rushed for 1,839 yards. He’s the son of the star runner on Brooks County’s 1994 state championship team, Chris Cole Sr. Brooks County coach Josh McFather is in his first season, promoted from defensive coordinator, and he’s the only rookie coach in the finals. Brooks County and Bowdon have played the other three teams in the top five of the rankings, with 2-1 records against them. Brooks County beat No. 1 Manchester 17-14, lost to No. 3 Irwin County 17-14 and beat No. 5 Clinch County 42-14. Bowdon lost to Manchester 28-20, beat Irwin County 42-28 and beat No. 5 Clinch County 31-13.
Class 3A-A private
Prince Avenue Christian vs. Hebron Christian
When, where: 1 p.m. Dec. 18, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Records, rankings: Prince Avenue Christian is 10-3, the No. 5 seed and No. 2; Hebron Christian is 11-2, the No. 6 seed and No. 3.
Last meeting: Prince Avenue Christian won 34-31 on Nov. 1.
Things to know: This is the only state final that is a rematch of a regular-season game. Winners of the first games are 22-17 in state final rematches. In these teams’ Nov. 1 meeting that decided the Region 8 championship, both teams produced 419 total yards. Prince led most of the way. Hebron got within 34-31 on Thomas Stallworth’s 11-yard run with 1:39 left but didn’t threaten again. Stallworth passed for a season-high 320 yards in the game. Prince Avenue relied on Andrew Beard, who rushed for 173 yards. Both teams are wealthy in major FBS recruits. Beard, a sophomore and a nephew of former Georgia great Garrison Hearst, is a top-100 national prospect in his class. Prince Avenue defensive lineman Christian Garrett singed with Georgia Tech last week, and linebacker Mac Bradley signed with Air Force. Hebron had three players sign with ACC schools last week. They were wide receiver/corner back Gerritt Kemp (N.C. State), defensive lineman Sichan John (Virginia) and edge Carrington Coombs (Georgia Tech). Prince Avenue can become the 14th school in GHSA history to win three consecutive state titles (or the 15th if Class A Division II finalist Bowdon reaches that goal first on Monday). Prince Avenue coach Greg Vandagriff can become the 16th coach in GHSA history with four state titles. Hebron coach Jonathan Gess can become the fifth coach to win a seventh state title. He won the first six at Eagle’s Landing Christian.
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