Months of workouts, practice, and games come down to this. The GSHA Football State Championships get underway today in Atlanta with matchups in Class A Public and Private.

Class 2A, 4A, and 6A compete for their respective titles on Dec. 10.

The finals wrap up Saturday, Dec. 11, with Class  3A, 5A, and 7A title games.

All games will be played at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. Visit GHSA.com for ticket and parking information.

Championship game previews

Class 7A

Milton vs. Collins Hill

When, where: 7 p.m. Saturday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Milton is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-7A and No. 3; Collins Hill is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 8-7A and No. 1.

Last meeting: Milton won 44-15 in the first round of the 2017 Class 7A playoffs.

Things to know: Collins Hills can become the first team in the highest classification to win every game by 15 or more points since Valdosta in 1971. Only five teams in any class have done it. A national title also is in play as MaxPreps and USA Today each rank Collins Hill at No. 3. QB Sam Horn is 221 passing yards from becoming the eighth player in GHSA history to reach 10,000 for his career. WR Travis Hunter has 3,654 yards receiving and 45 TD catches in his career. Milton’s offensive weapons are QB Devin Farrell (2,088 yards passing, 936 rushing) and RB Jordan McDonald (1,537 yards rushing, 201.3 per game the past three rounds). While Hunter is the state’s top senior prospect, Milton DL Lebbeus Overton holds that honor among Georgia juniors. Milton was the preseason No. 1 team but took a step back after losing to North Cobb in August. Milton has won 12 games since. The biggest difference between the teams is points allowed. With six shutouts, Collins Hill gives up 5.8 points per game. Milton is allowing 19.9.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Collins Hill 30, Milton 14

Class 6A

Hughes vs. Buford

When, where: 7 p.m. Friday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Hughes is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-6A and No. 3; Buford is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from 8-6A and No. 1.

Last meeting: Buford won 44-15 in the 2020 Class 6A quarterfinals.

Things to know: This game matches the state’s most frequent champion this century – Buford has won 12 titles since 2001, including the past two, and 13 overall – against a 13-year-old Hughes program playing in the finals for the first time. Neither team has been challenged in the postseason, as both have won all four of their playoff games by at least 15 points. Hughes advanced with a 47-28 semifinal victory last week against Dacula, which finished second behind Buford in Region 8-6A and lost to the Wolves 42-7. Both teams are relatively balanced offensively, rushing for slightly more than they pass. Hughes averages 189.1 yards rushing and 182.9 passing. The offensive leaders are Prentiss Noland (2,473 yards passing), Antonio Martin (953 rushing) and Rodney Shelley (725 receiving). Buford averages 177.8 rushing and 163.6 passing. Ashton Daniels (1,603 yards passing), Victor Venn (911 rushing) and Isaiah Bond (873 receiving) are the leaders. Buford’s Bryant Appling can become the first coach in GHSA history to win three titles in his first three seasons as head coach. His team’s are 14-0 in playoff games in his three seasons.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Buford 26, Hughes 7

Class 5A

Warner Robins vs. Calhoun

When, where: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Warner Robins is 13-1, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-5A and No. 4; Calhoun is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from 7-5A and No. 6.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: Warner Robins and Calhoun are only the seventh pair of finalists in GHSA history that weren’t No. 1 seeds (first since Pace Academy and Fitzgerald in 2015). Each beat the other’s region champion in the second round – Warner Robins over Cartersville and Calhoun over Ware County, both surviving with goal-line stands. Warner Robins, the defending champion, is the fifth school in history to reach five straight finals. This edition is noted for its run-game prowess. Malcolm Brown (1,332 yards rushing) hasn’t played since the first round, but Fred Perry has posted two 200-yard playoff games in Brown’s place and reached 1,208 for the season. Chaz Sturn, lightly used in the regular season, has rushed for 172 and 163 yards the past two weeks. But the Demons can pass, too. Christon Lane has thrown for 2,391 yards. Calhoun passes a bit more as Christian Lewis has 3,038 yards passing with 33 touchdowns. Cole Speer, a speedy Georgia commit, has 1,120 receiving yards despite missing games early with a hand injury. Calhoun is after its fourth state title, first under third-year coach Clay Stephenson and first above Class 3A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Warner Robins 28, Calhoun 21

Class 4A

Carver (Columbus) vs. Benedictine

When, where: 3:30 p.m. Friday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Carver is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-4A and No. 3; Benedictine is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from 3-4A and No. 2.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: This will be the first game between these perennial playoff programs, which are located about 250 miles apart on opposite sides of the state. Benedictine won Class 2A championships in 2014 and 2016 and was a semifinalist last season. Carver won the Class 3A title in 2007 and was a quarterfinalist in 2020. Carver lost to Lee County in its opener and Benedictine lost its first two games against out-of-state opponents, but neither has lost since. Carver’s players to watch include RB Jaiden Credle (1,973 yards, 23 touchdowns rushing) and QB Devin Riles (1,992 yards passing, 827 yards rushing, 22 combined TDs). In a 22-21 semifinal victory against Cedartwon last week, Credle scored on a 54-yard run with about three minutes left, and Riles ran in the two-point conversion for the winning points. Benedictine is led by QB Holden Geriner (committed to Auburn) and Justin Thomas (committed to Georgia for baseball). Geriner is 209-of-313 passing for 2,980 yards and 32 touchdowns. Thomas has 1,371 yards rushing, 798 yards receiving and 35 combined touchdowns. Benedictine head coach Danny Britt and Carver’s Corey Joyner were teammates at Georgia Southern in 1994.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Benedictine 31, Carver 21

Class 3A

Cedar Grove vs. Carver (Atlanta)

When, where: Noon Saturday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Cedar Grove is 11-3, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-3A and No. 5; Carver is 11-2, the No. 2 seed from 5-3A and No. 8.

Last meeting: Cedar Grove won 17-0 on Sept. 24.

Things to know: Carver has never won a state title. Cedar Grove has won three of the past five in Class 3A. Carver is in its first championship game since 1967 and can become the first Atlanta city school to win a championship since Southwest Atlanta in 1973. Cedar Grove can become the first DeKalb County public school to win four state titles, breaking a tie with Avondale and Lakeside. Carver averages 356.9 yards rushing per game, the most of any finalist. Jarveous Brown (1,608) and Quintavious Lockett (1,393) have rushed for more than 1,000 yards, each despite missing games injured. Bryce Bowens has thrown for 1,627 yards. Cedar Grove leans heavily on Rashod Dubinion, an Arkansas commit with 1,626 yards rushing, although QB Jamar Graham had his best game this season against Appling County last week, when he threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Cedar Grove’s trump card is its defense. CB Kayin Lee (five interceptions) and DE Carlton Madden (8.5 tackles for losses) are committed to Georgia, and LB Christen Miller (16.5 TFL) is a four-star prospect.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Cedar Grove 21, Carver 17

Class 2A

Fitzgerald vs. Thomasville

When, where: Noon Friday, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Fitzgerald is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 1-2A and No. 4; Thomasville is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from 1-2A and No. 2.

Last meeting: Thomasville won 15-8 on Oct. 22.

Things to know: This is a rematch of the teams’ regular-season game in October that ultimately decided the Region 1-2A championship. Thomasville stopped Fitzgerald on fourth down at the Thomasville 10 in the final two minutes to preserve the victory. Thomasville has won five state championships but none since 1988. Fitzgerald’s only title came in 1948. Fitzgerald attempts only about nine passes per game and averages only 58 yards through the air, the only team in the finals averaging less than 120. Instead, the Purple Hurricane relies on a running game led by DeNorris Goodwin, who has rushed for 1,145 yards and 16 touchdowns on 190 carries. Jakorrian Paulk (553 yards) and Donald Wilcox (517) also contribute to the running game. Thomasville averages 139.4 yards passing – QB Shannen White has thrown for 1,885 yards – but the Bulldogs also lean heavily on the running game. Malik Harper has surpassed 1,000 yards for the year (he has 1,208), and Ricky Fulton isn’t far behind with 921 yards and also could reach the milestone. White has added 463. Thomasville leads the series 15-13-2, and the teams have split the past 10 meetings.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Thomasville 21, Fitzgerald 14

Class A Private

Trinity Christian 55 – Prince Avenue 28 FINAL

When, where: 5 p.m. today, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Trinity Christian is 13-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 4-A Private and No. 1; Prince Avenue Christian is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from 8-A Private and No. 3.

Last meeting: Prince Avenue Christian won 41-21 in the 2020 Class A Private championship game.

Things to know: The roles are reversed for this rematch. In 2020, Prince Avenue was heavily favored and had state player of the year Brock Vandagriff, now at Georgia, although sophomore Aaron Philo has had a record-setting season in his place. Philo has thrown for 4,204 yards and 44 touchdowns. Prince Avenue could wind up with three 1,000-yard receivers – Bailey Stockton (1,133 yards), Elijah Dewitt (1,063) and Ethan Christian (949). Prince Avenue gets 79% of its total offensive passing, the highest percentage of any finalist. Trinity Christian returned almost all starters from the 2020 runner-up team, including brothers David Dallas (3,641 yards passing, 45 touchdowns) and Josh Dallas (1,142 yards receiving), who are committed to Western Michigan. Junior WR/DB Aaron Gates is committed to Florida. LB Christian Hanson was his region’s defensive player of the year. Until last week’s 48-45 victory over Eagle’s Landing Christian, Trinity hadn’t had a game closer this season than its 34-3 victory over ELCA on Oct. 1. Trinity, of Sharpsburg, can become the first football champion from Coweta County, whose five schools have won more GHSA games (1,112) without a title than any other Georgia county.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Trinity Christian 35, Prince Avenue Christian 20

Class A Public

Irwin County 28 – Brooks County 56 FINAL

When, where: 8 p.m. today, Center Parc Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Irwin County is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from Region 2-A Public and No. 1; Brooks County is 11-2, the No. 2 seed from 2-A Public and No. 2.

Last meeting: Irwin County won 21-13 on Sept. 24.

Things to know: Irwin County can become the first Class A public school to win three straight titles since 1985-87 Lincoln County. Irwin is one of five schools in history to reach five straight state finals. Warner Robins this season is another. Brooks County is in the finals for the third straight season (the first was in Class 2A) but hasn’t won a state title since 1994. This game will be the fourth meeting in two seasons between these south Georgia schools that are about 70 miles apart. Irwin has won the previous three, each by eight points. In the Sept. 24 game, Irwin held Brooks to 145 total yards. Both shut down the other’s passing game (combined 8-of-23 passing). Each got as much traction as it could from its feature back. For Irwin, that’s Damarkus Lundy, who rushed for 105 yards. He’s run for 1,562 yards on the season, and he’s peaking, averaging 167.5 yards in the playoffs with nine touchdowns. Brooks’ Omari Arnold, held to 83 yards against Irwin, has rushed for 2,224 yards this season and 6,238 for his career, making him one of the 25 most prolific rushers in state history, according to GHSFHA.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Brooks County 27, Irwin County 23

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