Exciting AAA football title finish rare indeed

By GHSF Daily Staff

For the AJc

Was the Gainesville-Peach County game Saturday the most exciting finish in finals history?

Enlarge photo

Brant Sanderlin Time ran out on Gainesville in the 3-AAA state title game and Peach County (pictured) took the crown.

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It's believed to be the second GHSA championship game decided on a score with no time on the clock.

With Peach County leading 13-6, Gainesville's Blake Sims hit Michael Lorentz on a 21-yard touchdown pass as time ran out in the Class AAA final. Gainesville then went for a two-point conversion to win, but Peach County linebacker Luke Crowell batted down Sims' pass intended for Tai-ler Jones.

In 1980, Greenville defeated Clinch County 12-10 in the Class A final on the final play when Darryl Ogletree threw a 42-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Melvin Robertson, who caught the ball as he was falling backward into the end zone.

One other final was decided in the final seconds by a two-point conversion attempt. In 1971, Southeast Bulloch scored a touchdown with nine seconds left to pull within 20-19 of Bowdon in the Class B final. Southeast Bulloch went for two, and Bowdon's Craig Roop denied Southeast Bulloch's Ray Davis at the 1-yard line. The blow knocked both players out briefly.