Next weekend to feature a little old, a little new at the Georgia Dome as state champions will be crowned in five classifications.
By Lee Wilson
MaxPreps.com
Every football team in the state of Georgia plays for a shot at the title in the Georgia Dome, and Friday night 10 teams earned that chance.
The match-ups were full of familiar faces but a few new teams were trying to make their mark on the Georgia high school football scene at the highest level. Tucker, Peachtree Ridge, Buford and the Emanuel County Institute were all involved as usual, but teams like Grayson and Newnan were trying to show they belong in the same conversation as the aforementioned perennial powers.
Class AAAAA: Peachtree Ridge upsets Grayson in 2OT
In a game that featured two powerhouse programs in Peachtree Ridge and Grayson, it only makes sense it would take two overtimes to decide a winner. And in the end, the defensively dominated game would come down to one play by Ronnie Smith.
With the Grayson Rams leading 10-7 in the second overtime, Smith took the ball from the 1-yard line and trotted into the end zone to give the Lions a 13-10 victory and an ensuing mob of Lions followed.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Smith told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’ve never felt this way in my life. Nothing can describe this. This is the best feeling. I will never forget this.”
The Lions, led by former Tucker head coach Bill Ballard, will advance to face the No. 2 team in the state Camden County. In 2006 Peachtree Ridge faced off against Roswell and the game ended in a tie for a split of the state title, but they won't be looking to split anything this year.
Class AAAAA: Camden County dominates Newnan
Camden County has been called overrated before, but the No. 2 team in the state showed Friday that it was well worth the hype, defeating and demoralizing a solid Newnan squad 27-7.
The Wildcat offense had its hands full against a defense that had only allowed 31 points in 13 games all season long. Head coach Jeff Herron emphasized all week a quick start could jumpstart the offense and keep Newnan scrambling.
“We talked all week about how it was so important to get off to a great start,” Herron told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “When they turned it over early and we were able to score, that changed a lot of things.”
The fast start aided the Wildcats, who had to make a six-hour trip from the southern part of the state to Newnan, who won home field advantage on a coin toss.
The Class AAAAA championship game will be next Saturday at the Georgia Dome between the Wildcats (14-0) and Peachtree Ridge (12-2) at 8 p.m.
Class AAAA: Tucker topples Griffin
Tucker is always a solid program but had not been to the state title game since 1963.
The Tigers’ 45-year wait is over after a 34-0 smashing of Griffin.
Tucker reached the semifinals last year and owned a 21-0 lead at the half just like this year. Last year, things turned sour in a 31-28 loss at the hands of the eventual champion Northside Warner-Robins.
“I told the kids at halftime that we’ve got to finish this thing,” Tigers coach Franklin Stephens told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I told them it’s simple. Look behind you. We were up 21 points last year in the exact same situation at the exact same time.
“I told them you’ve got to know your past in order to overcome it and proceed to your future.”
That same piece of advice might help the Tigers as they face Marist, who defeated them 38-0 earlier this year, next Friday at 8 p.m. in the Georgia Dome.
Class AAAA: Marist’s miracle results in 19-17 win over Rome
Kevin Allman stretched every inch he could from his 6-foot-3 frame over the pylon as time expired to give Marist the 19-17 victory over Rome and to help his team advance to the Georgia Dome for the 4-A title game against Tucker.
“All I can say is thank God that Kevin Allman is 6-foot-3,” head coach Alan Chadwick told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He did everything he could to get outside and made a move to get into the end zone. Wow!”
The dramatic play broke the hearts of the Rome players, coaches and fans as they watched their season slip into the night. Marist will advance and face Tucker, whom they beat 38-0 earlier this season, for the Class AAAA title next Friday at 8 p.m.
Class AAA: Unranked Flowery Branch stuns LaGrange
The Flowery Branch Falcons have definitely saved their best football for the end of the season. They continued their march to the Georgia Dome on Friday night by defeating LaGrange 28-0 to advance to the title game.
Daniel Drummond was the force for the Falcons as he totaled 248 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. The defense made every play they had to in order to complete the shutout.
“We definitely didn’t expect this — especially a shutout,” Flowery Branch senior defensive end Izaan Cross told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We knew we were bigger than them, so we were confident. This might be the best game we’ve ever played. We played lights out.”
The Falcons will face Cairo, who smoked Carver-Columbus, in the AAA title game next Saturday at 5 p.m.
Class AA: Buford slams Fitzgerald
The Buford Wolves defeated Fitzgerald 44-21 to advance to the school’s 10th championship game and extend their winning streak to 29 games.
More impressively the school is 124-6 in this decade and has an offense led by running back Cody Getz that seems more machine than human at times.
“All that’s stuff we don’t think about,” head coach Jess Simpson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That’s unique, but it doesn’t do us much good on the football field. It’s about being ready to play.”
The Wolves will face a worthy opponent in Calhoun (12-2), who defeated Brooks 38-35 on a goalline stand at the end of the game, next Friday at 5 p.m.
Class A: Ealey leads ECI back to Georgia Dome
With Emanuel County Institute trailing with under two minutes left, Washaun Ealey did what he usually does – put the team on his back.
The Georgia-bound running back ran six yards into the end zone to lift the Bulldogs to a 15-7 win over Wilkinson County.
“We just found a way to win,” ECI coach Milan Turner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We probably could’ve done some things better. But when you get this far in the playoffs, every team is good. I’m just proud of the team for finding a way to win.”
ECI will move on to face Wesleyan (12-2) in the finale next Saturday at 2 p.m.
Ealey, who finished with 126 yards on 26 carries, will look to end his historic high school career by capping off back-to-back perfect seasons as a Bulldog before going on to become a Georgia Bulldog next season.
