Region 6-AAAAAA rivals Harrison and Allatoona will meet for the second time this season when they face off at 8 p.m. Friday in Georgia State Stadium for the Class AAAAAA championship.
The winner will become the fourth Cobb County-based team in history to claim a GHSA football championship, joining 2015 Allatoona, 2014 Mount Paran Christian and 1967 Marietta. Harrison (Kennesaw) and Allatoona (Acworth) are about a 15-minute drive apart in northwest Cobb County. The current Marietta team can join the list of Cobb champions with a victory Saturday over Lowndes in the Class AAAAAAA final.
Harrison (14-0) beat Allatoona 21-17 on Oct. 11 in the regular-season meeting that ultimately decided the region title. It was Harrison’s closest game of the year, the only one decided by fewer than 18 points. Allatoona finished second in the region, one game behind the Hoyas. The Buccaneers lost to Cartersville 14-13 and tied Hapeville Charter 21-21 in non-region games.
Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the two state finalists:
ALLATOONA
Record: 11-2-1
Seed: No. 2 from Region 6-AAAAAA
Ranking: No. 7
Points per game: 29.6
Points allowed per game: 12.1
Rushing yards (average per game): 184.3
Passing yards (average per game): 129.6
Total yards (average per game): 313.9
HARRISON
Record: 14-0
Seed: No. 1 from Region 6-AAAAAA
Ranking: No. 2
Points per game: 40.6
Points per game allowed: 10.7
Rushing yards (average per game): 245.7
Passing yards (average per game): 151.3
Total yards (average per game): 397.0
Common opponents
- Creekview: Lost to Allatoona 37-7, lost to Harrison 47-10
- Dalton: Lost to Allatoona 17-14, lost to Harrison 42-21
- Osborne: Lost to Allatoona 45-6, lost to Harrison 44-0
- River Ridge: Lost to Allatoona 38-0, lost to Harrison 49-0
- Sequoyah: Lost to Allatoona 35-12, lost to Harrison 42-7
- South Cobb: Lost to Allatoona 41-20, lost to Harrison 38-20
- Sprayberry: Lost to Allatoona 38-21, lost to Harrison 42-7
Rushing leaders
Allatoona
- Alex Wilson – 1,273 yards (251 carries, 5.1 yards per carry, 8 touchdowns)
- Dequori Garrett – 316 yards (49 carries, 6.4 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns)
- Jylan Thomas – 310 yards (68 carries, 4.6 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns)
Harrison
- David Roberts – 1,524 yards (167 carries, 9.1 yards per carry, 19 touchdowns)
- Jay Ziglor – 673 yards (87 carries, 7.7 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns)
- Mason Babay – 608 yards (68 carries, 8.9 yards per carry, 8 touchdowns)
Passing leaders
Allatoona
- Dante Marshall – 1,772 yards (169 attempts, 76 completions, 23 touchdowns, 7 interceptions)
Harrison
- Gavin Hall – 1,857 yards (165 attempts, 95 completions, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions)
Receiving leaders
Allatoona
- Asante Das – 1,084 yards (36 receptions, 30.3 yards per catch, 15 touchdowns)
- Zach Johnson – 255 yards (10 receptions, 25.5 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns)
Harrison
- Marques Owens – 727 yards (24 receptions, 30.3 yards per catch, 9 touchdowns)
- Mason Babay – 626 yards (31 receptions, 20.2 yards per catch, 8 touchdowns)
Defensive/special teams leaders
Allatoona
- Calvin Rucker – 89 total tackles (49 solo), 16 tackles for losses, 8 sacks, 15 QB hurries
- Cameron Carty – 71 total tackles (42 solo), 9 tackles for losses, 5 sacks, 10 QB hurries
- Jude Kelley – 48-for-48 PATs, 19-for-23 field goals (long of 54), 42.6 punting average
Harrison
- Marcus Bleazard – 76 tackles, 83 assists, 18 tackles for losses, 9 sacks, 19 QB hurries
- Caleb Williamson – 77 tackles, 60 assists, 21 tackles for losses, 5 sacks, 3 caused fumbles
- Christian Lowery – 75-for-76 extra points, 6-for-9 field goals, 34.1 punting average
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