Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium played host to three GHSA State Football Championships on Tuesday. The state championships wrap up Wednesday, Dec. 30, with Class 3A, 5A, and 7A title games. All games will be televised live on Georgia Public Broadcasting and streamed at GPB.org/sports and NFHSNetwork.com.
Class 2A
Callaway 22 – Fitzgerald 17
Recap: Charlie Dixon rushed for 229 yards and broke the game open with a 69-yard run down the left sideline for a 22-10 Callaway lead with 2:11 left. Fitzgerald got within 22-17 on Rashad Davis’ 60-yard pass to Chance Gamble, who got behind the secondary in busted coverage, then got one more possession and made it to the Callaway 42 with one second left. But a Hail Mary pass was intercepted. That marked the fifth time that Fitzgerald entered Callaway territory without scoring. Fitzgerald was intercepted from the Callaway 7 in the first quarter, turned the ball over on downs at the 19 in the third, lost a fumble at the 2 later in the third and threw an interception from the Callaway 37 on first down in the fourth quarter. Cameron Smith recorded those drive-ending interceptions, and LaQuize Gilbert ended the other two drives with a tackle and fumble recovery. Gilbert had a game-high 10 solo tackles. Shephard, Callaway’s top college prospect, had two tackles for losses, broke up a pass, punted four times for a 41.8 average with three downed inside the 3-yard line and intercepted the final-play Hail Mary.
History: After five semifinal playoff appearances over the past eight years, Callaway (12-1) won its first state title in football, or any sport. As the No. 8-ranked team, Callaway won its fourth straight game over a top-four opponent in the playoffs – No. 4 Lovett, No. 3 Thomasville, No. 2 Rabun County and No. 1 Fitzgerald. Callaway became the first Troup County school to win a state title since LaGrange in 2004. Fitzgerald lost in a championship game for the sixth time since its lone title in 1948.
Class 4A
Jefferson 14 – Marist 30
Recap: Marist broke a 14-14 tie with 7:06 left in the third quarter when Charlie Fleming made a diving trip tackle of Jefferson RB Kam Robinson in the end zone for a 9-yard loss and a safety. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Marist LB Tyler Hare recovered QB Malaki Starks’ fumble at the Jefferson 2, and Ian Otten scored on a 6-yard run three plays later for a 23-14 lead. Marist put the game away on its next drive, which covered 43 yards and ended in Andrew Mannelly’s 18-yard run. Jefferson had rallied from a 14-0 deficit with two second-quarter touchdowns, only the second and third TDs scored against Marist this year when a game was still in doubt. Jefferson then appeared ready to take the lead into halftime, but after running 41 yards to the Marist 27, Starks was intercepted by Marist’s Josh Moore. Marist then held Jefferson – averaging 44.0 points – to 19 yards on five series in the second half, none lasting longer than five plays. In addition to his pivotal safety, Fleming was outstanding as a punter, averaging 46.4 yards on five kicks. MLB Paxton Corkery had 10 solo tackles and two sacks for 16 yards in losses.
History: Marist (13-0) won its first state title since 2003, when current Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was the quarterback. It was the third title in Marist history, all under coach Alan Chadwick, who also led the War Eagles to a championship in 1987. Chadwick got his 399th victory. Only Larry Campbell, with 477, has more in Georgia. Marist finished with a points-against average of 3.69, lowest in the state. Jefferson (12-1) was denied its first state title since 2012 and first undefeated season in history.
Check out the video for BLITZ Sports game highlights.
Class 6A
Buford 34 – Lee County 31
Recap: Down 31-24 with 1:58 left, Buford drove 65 yards on nine plays to send the game to overtime, kicked a field goal on its first overtime possession and forced and recovered a fumble at its 3-yard line to win. Lee County had a first-and-goal at the 4 on the final play, but Caleb McDowell was stripped of the ball by Buford safety Jake Pope. Defensive tackle River Wilson recovered, ending the game. Buford’s winning field goal, a 26-yarder, was made by Alejandro Mata, who was Lee’s JV kicker two seasons ago. Buford’s tying touchdown was a 16-yard pass from Ashton Daniels to Isaiah Bond, who also had a 53-yard TD reception in the first half. The game was strikingly similar to Buford’s 17-14 victory over Warner Robins in the Class 5A final of 2019, when Daniels also threw a TD pass in the final minute for the tie, and Buford also got a turnover near the goal line to end the game after kicking a field game. In both games, Daniels came off the bench to lead the comebacks.
History: Buford won its 13th state title, second-most in state history, and became the first school to win championships in six classifications. Buford’s Bryant Appling became the second coach in GHSA history to win titles in his first two seasons on the job, the first since Dublin’s Minton Williams in 1959-60. Lee County (12-2) was denied its third state title in four seasons.
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BLITZ Sports’ Brian Carter contributed to this report. For more local prep scores and highlights, visit BLITZ Sports.
