The GHSA Football season comes to an end at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta Monday thru Wednesday. We will have coverage of each game throughout the finals in this file.
See how each team advanced to the championship games by following the link to the brackets of see the schedule and the recaps below.
Monday
Flag Division I — SE Bulloch 14 North Oconee 0
A Division I — Prince Avenue 49, Swainsboro 32
A Division II Bowdon 28, Manchester 27
Tuesday
Flag Division II — Greenbrier 14, Lithia Springs 6
Class 2A — Pierce County 48, Rockmart 45 3OT
Class 4A – Perry 38, Stockbridge 27
Class 6A – Thomas County Central 49, Woodward 28
Wednesday
11:00 am – Flag Division III (Pope vs. Allatoona)
1:00 pm – Class 3A (Savannah Christian vs. Cedar Grove)
4:00 pm – Class 5A (Coffee vs. Creekside)
7:00 pm – Class 7A (Milton vs. Walton)
Tuesday
Class 6A – Thomas County Central 49, Woodward 28
By – Seth Ellerbee
It took two seasons for Justin Rogers to lead Thomas County Central to a state championship, marking Rogers’ first title and the program’s sixth. After upending Woodward handedly in the Class 6A championship game late Tuesday, the Yellow Jackets are champions again.
Ed Pilcher coached Thomas County Central to five state championships from 1992-1997 but the Yellow Jackets deepest playoff run since then was a finals appearance in 2002 and a semifinal appearance in Pilcher’s final year in 2007. Since that season, Thomas County Central advanced to the playoffs in most years but faced early exits aside from quarterfinal losses in 2009 and last season.
Thomas County Central led 14-0 after the first quarter and 28-7 at the half in the victory.
Quarterback Jaylen Johnson was 6-of-8 passing for 135 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 12 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Trey Benton added 23 carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets.
Malachi Thomas had two receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns and Tre’von Pringle made four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown for Thomas County Central.
Landon Walker was 22-of-43 passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns for Woodward while Griffin Marshall was 1-of-2 passing for a 41-yard touchdown. Walker had 23 carries for 20 yards and a touchdown. Ben Grice (137 receiving yards), Lucas Farrington and Josiah Abdullah each had one touchdown reception.
The War Eagles began playing football in 1902 and won state championships in 1970 and 1980, both under head coach Graham Hixon, but were in the first championship game since then.
Class 4A – Perry 38, Stockbridge 27
By – Seth Ellerbee, Craig Sager II
Perry answered a Cobey Thompkins touchdown pass on the opening drive with a quick an Ahmad Gordon touchdown run on a 4th and goal and never looked back to win its first state championship in school history.
The Panthers set a state record by playing 70 seasons before appearing in the finals and Stockbridge’s 60-year wait combined for 130 combined seasons for the two Class 4A programs.
“I tell you, I am so lost for words,” said head coach Kevin Smith. “Thank you so much to all Panther Nation, this is for you.”
Stockbridge led early on a 7-yard pass from Cobey Thompkins to Jayden Howard with 5:51 left in the first quarter. Perry tied the game on a short run from Ahmad Gordon with 3:19 left in the first quarter. The Panthers took the 10-7 lead on a 26-yard field goal from Zack Peacock.
Thompkins passed to Howard on a 21-yarder to regain the lead for Stockbridge with 1:43 left in the first half but Perry’s Gesha’nn Heard returned the ensuing kickoff back 54 yards to put the Panthers ahead 17-14.
Gordon scored on a 4-yard run to cap at 10-play, 67-yard drive with 7:23 left in the third quarter to extend the margin. Stockbridge cut into the deficit on a 19-yard run from Jayden Scott to trail 24-21 with 4:42 left in the third quarter. With 1:31 left in the third, Colter Ginn passed to Dakarai Anderson on a 5-yard touchdown to give Perry a 10-point lead.
Gordon scored again, this time on a 14-yard run, to put the game out of reach with 4:14 left in the contest. Howard caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Thompkins to cap scoring for Stockbridge with 1:05 left in the game.
Perry quarterback Colter Ginn finished the year undefeated after missing four starts with a broken thumb and delivering the Panthers their first state title in program history. He was 16-of-27 passing for 261 yards and a touchdown in the championship. Gordon had 17 carries for 82 yards and three touchdowns.
Thompkins was also 16-of-27 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns, all to Howard, who had nine receptions for 82 yards. Scott made 28 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown for Stockbridge.
Class 2A — Pierce County 48, Rockmart 45 3OT
By – Najeh Wilkins
Pierce County beat Rockmart in a triple-overtime thriller in the 2A state championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Caden McGatha scored on a short run to secure their second overall state championship and first since 2020.
McGatha finished the game with six total touchdowns — four rushing and two passing — and 375 total yards in the game and made history joining Troup’s Taeo Todd – the only other player to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in a season. McGatha’s 53 carries was his most in a game this season.
“I knew it was going to take whatever to put us in the right spot. I trusted my guys and played for them. (On the game-winner) “I was thinking about getting it across the goal. I knew I was going to get hit early. We just had to do whatever it took. I knew the touchdown would put us up and we would win. We got it done,” said McGatha.
McGatha on becoming the second player to accomplish such a great feat.
“It means a lot. I thank the lord for giving me the ability to do that. It is awesome. I thank my teammates, they are the only reason I can do that,” said McGatha. “The first time we lost to Appling County, I told them I am playing for y’all the rest of the season. I saw the seniors break down and I knew it was for them, and I was going to do whatever I could to help us win.”
Pierce County was able to force a field goal attempt in the third overtime and kept Rockmart out of the endzone to set up a chance to win the game. Their defense came up big when it mattered most. McGatha would finish the game after taking four consecutive carries before
Rockmart took their first lead of the game after Brent Washington blocked a 49-yard field goal in regulation and scored a rushing touchdown in the first overtime. Washington finished with two rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Calliyon Thompson finished the game with four total touchdowns, two passing, and two rushing. He tied the game late in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run making three defenders miss on his way to the endzone.
Carson Sloan had three sacks on the defensive side of the ball but none bigger than Rockmart’s final possession in regulation, where he made two sacks to give his offense a chance to end the game in regulation. He finished the game with three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing). Sloan finished with three catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
“I can’t say enough about our players or about our people. We fill up a crowd like any 7A in the state of Georgia,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “We have a special group of guys here. We lost to Appling County in the region, but I told our guys after that game there is something special about y’all and I can see it. You see what they did.”
Division II Flag Football – Greenbrier 14, Lithia Springs 6
By — Najeh Wilkins
Despite suffering an injury early in the game, Greenbrier star Maggie Pangle caught the game-winning touchdown to capture the program’s first state championship in school history while upending defending-champion Lithia Springs.
In the first quarter, Greenbrier quarterback Kenzie Horton connected with wide receiver Aaliyah Silver for the game’s first touchdown. Lithia Springs answered with a 66-yard touchdown catch from Jasmine McDowell. On the score, she broke two tackles on her way to the endzone.
Pangle, after going out on the first play of the game with an ankle injury, returned with 2:05 left in the third quarter and made multiple pass deflections late in the game.
Her game-winning touchdown catch on a back shoulder throw was the game-winner. On the final possessions, she stayed around the ball and made big plays to help her team to victory. Pangel won the Georgia Cotton Commissioner Player of the Game for her performance.
“I am great. I am feeling a little injured but doing better. It was tough. I had to push through the pain, but I am thankful I did it because we won and are now state champs,” said Pangel.
Alisha Mikell also came up with two huge sacks on the final possessions for Greenbrier to take away any momentum Lithia Springs could build and end the game. Horton also added two touchdown passes in the game.
Lithia Springs tied their season low for points with six, and Greenbrier shut them out after their first score in the first quarter. A standout performer for Lithia Springs was Emmani Roberts. Roberts was a pest in the backfield and had another multi-sack game and ended the season with over 30 sacks. It was a valiant effort for the Lions that came up short.
“I am just proud of the fight. Of course, we had a big injury early on. Pangle came back and had the game-winning touchdown. She wasn’t 100% healthy but she made a play,” said head coach Daniel Jordan.
Monday
A Division 1 — Prince Avenue 49, Swainsboro 32
By — Seth Ellerbee
Well, that’s history.
Needing just 301 yards, Aaron Philo was 31-for-40 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns to surpass Trevor Lawrence as the GHSA’s all-time passing leader while leading Prince Avenue Christian to a 49-32 victory over Swainsboro in the Class A Division I title game.
His three passing touchdowns tied Philo atop the all-time single season passing touchdown record list with Macon County’s K’Hari Lane with 56.
“I just thank my teammates,” Philo said. “They’ve been with me every step of the way. I really was not thinking about it but when I came to the sidelines, they all sort of let me know.”
Philo opened scoring on a 35-yard pass to CJ Dockery – who caught each of Philo’s three touchdown passes in the game. Swainsboro’s Georgia-commit two-way star DeMello Jones scored on a 60-yard reception from Kason Edenfield but the missed 2-point conversion kept the Tigers trailing.
The Wolverines took the 14-6 lead on a short run from Mac Bradley and extended the lead to 21-6 on a 3-yard run from Philo at the end of the first quarter. With five minutes left in the first half and trailing 21-12 with Philo and the Wolverines driving, Jones returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown.
Swainsboro gained momentum from a blocked punt by Bryson Tarver, which he recovered to set up Jones for a 4-yard touchdown run to leave the Tigers trailing 21-18 at the half.
Connor Causby put the Wolverines up 28-18 on a 20-yard run with 7:43 left in third quarter but a 2-yard run from Jones and the ensuing 2-point conversion left Swainsboro trailing 28-26. Philo passed to Dockery at the end of the third quarter for a 12-yard touchdown to expand the margin.
Philo found the endzone on a nine-yard run with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter to give the Wolverines a 42-26 left. Qindaruis Brown scored on a 37-yard run with six minutes left in the game to cut the lead to 42-32.
But Philo’s third touchdown pass, an 8-yarder, secure the victory.
“This school, this community, I think it’s the best in the state. I am so grateful for this place,” Philo said.
Causby finished with 24 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown. Philo rushed 13 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Hudson Hill had 12 catches for 123 yards and Dockery had eight receptions for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
Kason Edenfield was 7-of-8 passing for 100 yards and a touchdown. Jones had four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown with 10 carries for 21 yards and two touchdowns.
A Division 2 — Bowdon 28, Manchester 27
By — Seth Ellerbee
Kyler McGrinn rushed for three touchdowns and passed for one to lead Bowdon past Manchester in the Division II state championship game while successfully defending last year’s championship.
“It’s unbelievable,” Bowdon coach Richard Fendley Jr., who has led the program since 2018, said while pointing to the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “This is the greatest fanbase and the greatest community in all of football.”
Trailing 28-21, Manchester scored on a short run from Darius Favors with 7:23 left in the game, but the missed point-after try proved the difference for the Blue Devils, who were trying for the second overall title and first since 1997.
Bowdon had previously won titles in 1971, 1992 and last season.
“It was extremely tough,” Fendley said of winning back-to-back titles. “It took us about a month to get things going the right way in the weight room. I was worried we had a little complacency. But I am extremely proud of our coaching staff and kids who trusted the process. This isn’t something you win on December 11th. This is something that started back in January.”
Bowdon took the 14-0 lead on a short run from McGrinn with 2:53 left and a 22-yard pass from McGrinn to Kaiden Prothro with 1:48 left in the first quarter. Manchester scored on a 28-yard pass from Daryus Bryant to Jayden Terry and tied the game on a 10-yard run from Qua Cooper with 6:59 left in the first half.
The Blue Devils took a 21-14 lead on a 55-yard pass from Bryant to Terry with 4:14 left in the first half. McGrinn scored on a short run with 1:23 left in the first half to tie the game and gave the Red Devils the 28-21 lead on a 4-yard run with 5:02 left in the third quarter.
McGrinn was 7-of-9 passing for 60 yards and a touchdown and had 31 carries for 221 yards and three touchdowns to lead Bowdon.
Division I Flag Football — Southeast Bulloch 14, North Oconee 0
By — Najeh Wilkins
Southeast Bulloch won their third consecutive Flag Football State Championship after upending North Oconee 14-0 in the Division I championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“This is a fight right here. We have to toughen up and fight through that. We got the ball to start the second half and we are going to try and use our short game,” said Southeast Bulloch head coach Marci Cochran. “We have been throwing the ball deep and trying to get a home run hitter. We might try to shorten it up a little bit and get five yards at a time.”
It was scoreless in the first half as both defenses locked each other down. North Oconee forced an uncharacteristic interception in the first half from Korine Tarkenton and didn’t allow a good Yellow Jackets offense to get going with their physical
“They did a great job in the first half. The thing for us is we have to keep playing good defense and find a way to find some rhythm on offense and move the ball,” said head coach Jay Lasley. “We knew coming in that you are playing Southeast Bulloch. They are goliaths, so we have to come in and take shots and move the ball down the field.
On the first drive of the second half, Southeast Bulloch converted two fourth and shorts to keep the drive alive. The Yellow Jackets faced a third and goal. Tarkenton kept the play alive with her pocket awareness and mobility eventually finding Ava King for a touchdown. King was able to catch the ball in tight coverage. King was also instrumental in not allowing North Oconee to get any momentum after the Titans forced a stop. She came up with a huge interception to get her team the ball back.
Wide receiver Alex Odom came up with a clutch catch in double coverage late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory North Oconee. Odom now has 21 touchdowns this year and added a touchdown with multiple pass deflections in the championship victory.
Southeast Bulloch has been quite on a run and continued their month-long streak of now allowing a touchdown. The Yellow Jackets extended their all-time record to 62-0 and remain one of the best programs not only in Georgia but in the country. Southeast Bulloch produced 15 shutouts in 2023 and ended their historic run in exciting fashion.
“It’s been amazing to be a part of it. This team is unreal,” said Georgia Cotton Commissioner Player of the Game Ava King. “The first year was amazing. The second year was harder. The third year was a lot harder. It’s been super difficult, but we power through adversity and get it done.”