Cobb County went 48 years without a football state championship, after failing to win the big prize from 1967 until 2015. Now two of its own — Marietta and Harrison — are holding No. 1 rankings in the final Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll.
Marietta defeated Lowndes 17-9 Saturday night in the final championship game at Georgia State Stadium. In claiming the Class AAAAAAA title, the Blue Devils are champions for the first time since 1967. They overcame two regular-season losses and lived up to the hype of a preseason No. 1 ranking and won with a deep cast of major Division I commitments, including quarterback Harrison Bailey (Tennessee), tight end Arik Gilbert (LSU), defensive end B.J. Ojulari (LSU) and safety Rashad Torrence (Alabama).
Harrison defeated Allatoona 21-7 in the Class AAAAAA final. It had been Allatoona that broke the county drought in 2015. Harrison, opened in 1992, is Allatoona’s close neighbor in northwest Cobb. The Hoyas finished 15-0, their two closest games against the Buccaneers. Harrison had beaten Allatoona 21-17 in the regular season.
Each of the eight state champions made their own history:
• Buford of AAAAA won its first title since 2014 and 12th overall, second-most in GHSA history behind Valdosta and one ahead of Lincoln County.
• Blessed Trinity of AAAA became the 12th school in GHSA history to win three consecutive state titles, and Tim McFarlin became the 14th coach to win four overall.
• Cedar Grove repeated as AAA champion and became the first DeKalb County school to win three championships, all accomplished in the past four seasons.
• Dublin of AA won its first football state title since 2006, fifth overall, and first championship in any sport since 2009.
• Eagle's Landing Christian became the first school in GHSA history to win five consecutive state titles, surpassing Buford (2007-10) and West Rome (1982-85).
• Irwin County won its first state title since 1975 and ended a five-game losing streak in championship games since its last championship in 1975.
The state title was the first for coach Buddy Nobles, who has battled cancer since a late-summer diagnosis and coached Saturday’s game from a platform on the sidelines. Nobles’ teams are 67-13-2 in his six seasons in Ocilla but had been 0-4 in finals.
“This is a team of destiny,” Nobles said of his 13-0 team that had no game closer than 14 points. “If there is a better Class A team in the history of Georgia high school football, I want to see them.”
Class AAAAAAA
1. Marietta (13-2)
2. Lowndes (14-1)
3. Parkview (12-2)
4. Colquitt County (9-3)
5. Grayson (11-2)
6. North Gwinnett (12-2)
7. McEachern (12-1)
8. Milton (8-4)
9. Archer (9-4)
10. Mill Creek (10-3)
Class AAAAAA
1. Harrison (15-0)
2. Allatoona (11-3)
3. Dacula (13-1)
4. Lee County (11-2)
5. Richmond Hill (9-4)
6. Valdosta (10-3)
7. Johns Creek (10-2)
8. Coffee (9-4)
9. Lanier (10-2)
10. Mays (10-2)
Class AAAAA
1. Buford (14-1)
2. Warner Robins (13-2)
3. Carrollton (12-1)
4. Rome (9-3)
5. Jones County (12-2)
6. Starr's Mill (10-4)
7. Ware County (8-4)
8. Dutchtown (11-2)
9. Clarke Central (9-4)
10. Griffin (11-2)
Class AAAA
1. Blessed Trinity (14-1)
2. Oconee County (13-2)
3. Woodward Academy (13-1)
4. Cartersville (12-1)
5. Marist (11-2)
6. Sandy Creek (12-2)
7. West Laurens (11-2)
8. Carver (Columbus) (10-2)
9. Denmark (7-3)
10. North Oconee (10-2)
Class AAA
1. Cedar Grove (13-2)
2. Crisp County (11-4)
3. Peach County (11-2)
4. Jefferson (10-2)
5. Jenkins (12-2)
6. Greater Atlanta Christian (12-2)
7. North Murray (11-2)
8. Hart County (10-3)
9. Pierce County (11-1)
10. Appling County (9-3)
Class AA
1. Dublin (14-1)
2. Brooks County (10-5)
3. Callaway (12-2)
4. Thomasville (9-5)
5. Hapeville Charter (10-2)
6. Rabun County (12-1)
7. Rockmart (11-1)
8. Fitzgerald (8-4)
9. Douglass (11-2)
10. Metter (10-3)
Class A Private
1. Eagle's Landing Christian (13-1)
2. Holy Innocents' (12-1)
3. Athens Academy (11-1)
4. Wesleyan (12-3)
5. Fellowship Christian (12-1)
6. Prince Avenue Christian (9-3)
7. Hebron Christian (8-5)
8. Savannah Christian (8-4)
9. Mount Paran Christian (7-5)
10. Darlington (9-2)
Class A Public
1. Irwin County (13-0)
2. Clinch County (11-2)
3. Marion County (11-3)
4. Pelham (11-2)
5. Mitchell County (10-2)
6. Wilcox County (9-3)
7. Lincoln County (9-3)
8. Commerce (9-3)
9. Manchester (10-3)
10. Johnson County (8-3)
About the Author
