Class AAAAAA
*Archer 52, Etowah 7: Gabe Tiller passed for two touchdowns and ran for another as Archer built a 34-0 first-half lead and scored at least 50 points for the third consecutive playoff game. Tiller was 17-for-26 for 200 yards. Nick Blakely and Dylan Singleton returned interceptions for touchdowns. Kyle Davis had five catches for 110 yards, including a 70-yard TD.
What it means - Archer reached its first state final in its sixth season. Archer also became the second-highest-scoring state playoff team to make a state final, averaging 50.2 points in the first four rounds. Archer can become the fifth consecutive Gwinnett County team to win the highest classification.
*Colquitt County 57, McEachern 20: McEachern led 17-16 at halftime, but Colquitt County outscored the Indians 41-3 in the second half. Sihiem King rushed for 166 yards on 21 carries and scored four touchdowns, giving him 16 in four playoff games. McEachern's Bailey Hockman passed for 324 yards but was intercepted five times, including three by Taif Smith.
What it means - Colquitt County is in the finals for the second time in six seasons and looking for its first title since 1994. Colquitt County also became the highest-scoring state playoff team ever to make a state final, averaging 53.0 points in the first four rounds.
Class AAAAA
*Mays 30, Stockbridge 15: Stockbridge went ahead 15-3 early in the third quarter, but Mays got a 20-yard field goal from Keenan Anderson to retake the lead and two fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Kesselly Tyler to put the game away. Mays QB Asahnia Aderhold threw first-half TD passes to Deparis Carter (43 yards) and Julius Whitehead (12 yards).
What it means - Mays became the first city of Atlanta school to make the state finals since Brown in 1991. The last Atlanta public school to win a title was Southwest in 1973. Mays can win its first state title.
*Northside, Warner Robins 30, Allatoona 21: Willie Jordan ran for 230 yards and scored four touchdowns as Northside built a 27-7 lead and knocked out the only remaining unbeaten team. He set school single-season records for TDs and yards. Allatoona's Russell Halimon, the leading rusher in AAAAA, did not play after suffering an injury on his first carry.
What it means - Northside is back in the finals for the first time since 2009, the last season under Conrad Nix. Northside had been 0-2 in the semifinals under Kevin Kinsler, who is 59-6 overall.
Class AAAA
*Buford 27, Cartersville 3: Joshua Thomas rushed for 69 yards and scored three touchdowns on 1-yard runs for Buford, which averaged 25 yards on its four scoring drives. The Wolves led 14-3 late in the third quarter but converted two Cartersville turnovers into touchdowns in a three-minute span to put the game away. Evyn Cooper ran for 99 yards.
What it means - Buford won its 39th straight game and extended its record of consecutive state finals to eight. Buford is 6-1 in the previous finals during that stretch.
*St. Pius 28, Woodward Academy 21: Joey Connors scored on a 30-yard run with 47 seconds remaining to cap St. Pius' 21-point fourth-quarter rally. Connors finished with 110 yards on eight carries for the Golden Lions, who avenged a 42-21 loss to Woodward during the regular season. Elijah Holyfield rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown for Woodward.
What it means - St. Pius won its 12th consecutive game and reached its first final since 2012, also against Buford (a 10-3 loss). St. Pius can win its first state title since 1968.
Class AAA
*Washington County 28, Blessed Trinity 17: A.J. Gray, a leading candidate for state player of the year, rushed for 273 yards and three touchdowns (on runs of 81, 3 and 35 yards), passed for 90 yards and had an interception on defense. Blessed Trinity led 10-0 early, but Washington County scored 28 unanswered points to lead 28-10 in the third quarter.
What it means - Washington County returns to the state finals after losing in the 2013 AAA title game against Buford. Washington County can win its first state title since 1997.
*Calhoun 19, Westminster 8: Kaelan Riley passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns for Calhoun, which led 19-0 in the fourth quarter. Riley threw two TD passes to Thomas Lester and a 55-yarder to Malik Lawrence. The game started more than an hour late because of an accident involving a Westminster bus and a bank of lights at the stadium going out.
What it means - Calhoun reached its sixth state final in seven seasons, its first in Class AAA after moving from AA this season. Calhoun can win its first state title since 2011.
Class AA
*Benedictine 49, Brooks County 7: Benedictine's Chance Jackson rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns, and John Kennedy had 102 yards and two TDs. Brooks County tied the score 7-7 early in the second quarter but was outscored 42-0 the rest of the way. Both teams passed for 89 yards, but Benedictine had a 276-87 rushing advantage.
What it means - Benedictine, which played its first recorded football game in 1908, is in a state final for the first time after losing semifinals in 1957, 1978 and 2013.
*Greater Atlanta Christian 44, Fitzgerald 41: Will Kenworthy kicked a game-winning 21-yard field goal on the final play of the game. GAC led 41-27 with 4:51 remaining, but Fitzgerald tied the game on 32- and 68-yard TD passes by Gerald Morgan. GAC's Micah Abernathy rushed for 259 yards, but Fitzgerald finished with a 515-472 advantage in total offense.
What it means - Greater Atlanta Christian is one victory from its first state title. GAC will be playing in its first state final since 2002 (lost to Buford).
Class A (public)
*Hawkinsville 15, Marion County 13: Tyler Brown kicked a 26-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining as Hawkinsville ended the defending state champion's 17-game winning streak. Hawkinsville missed an extra point and had a field goal blocked earlier in the game. Marion County finished with season lows in rushing yards (54) and total yards (183).
What it means - Hawkinsville avenged 2014 regular-season and 2013 semifinal losses to Marion and reached the finals for the first time since its 2004 state-championship season.
*Irwin County 28, Commerce 7: Region 2-A player of the year Jakyron Young scored four second-half touchdowns to help Irwin County rally from a 7-0 halftime deficit. Young tied the score on an 80-yard run and put the Indians ahead for good with a 65-yard run later in the third quarter. He added two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game away.
What it means - Irwin County reached the finals for the first time since 1997 (lost to Manchester) in search of its first state title since 1975.
Class A (private)
*Eagle's Landing Christian 14, Calvary Day 7: Donald Hammonds scored on an 8-yard run and threw a 6-yard TD pass to Evan Lewis as ELCA built a 14-0 lead in the second quarter and held on. Calvary Day, which had three first-half turnovers, reached the ELCA 5-yard line with less than three minutes remaining but turned the ball over on downs.
What it means - ELCA is the first team in history to reach the finals after an 0-6 start. It will be ELCA's first state final since winning in 2012.
*Mount Paran Christian 34, Aquinas 14: Dorian Walker ran for 244 yards and four touchdowns, including an 86-yarder in the fourth quarter that gave Mount Paran a 28-7 lead. Emoni Williams added 111 yards for the Eagles, who finished with 405 rushing yards and 524 total yards. Ruben Garnett was held to 31 yards rushing for defending champion Aquinas.
What it means - Mount Paran, which started football in 2008, is in its first state final and keeps alive the possibility of a first Cobb County-based state champion since Marietta in 1967.
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
About the Author
