In the search for meaning, players and coaches will be asked this weekend to put some perspective on the state championships that they just won. Here are the early answers for the 14 high school football teams that are playing for state titles Friday and Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
Class AAAAAA
Archer: This would be the Tigers' first state title and the fifth consecutive for a Gwinnett County team in the highest classification. Archer, opened in 2009, would be the youngest school to win a state title since Peachtree Ridge (age 3) in 2006.
Colquitt County: This would be the Packers' first state title since 1994 and it would return the championship in the highest class to South Georgia for the first time in five years. Colquitt has made the semifinals or better six consecutive seasons, the longest spell of its kind in any class without a title.
Class AAAAA
Mays: This would be the Raiders' first state title, but also the first state champion from a city of Atlanta public school since Southwest in 1973.
Northside-Warner Robins: This would be the Eagles' first state title since 2008, which was won under Conrad Nix, who coached current Eagles coach Kevin Kinsler, a Northside alumnus.
Class AAAA
Buford: This would be the Wolves' 11th state title, tying them for second all-time with Lincoln County. Valdosta holds the record for state championships (23). This would also mark Buford's 40th consecutive victory, the fifth-longest streak of its kind in state history.
St. Pius: This would be the Lions' first state title since 1968, which was won under George Maloof, who was the high school coach of current Lions coach Paul Standard, a St. Pius alumnus.
Class AAA
Calhoun: This would be the Yellow Jackets' second state title in four years. The school has fallen short in a state final five times since 2005.
Washington County: This would be the Golden Hawks' first state title since 1997, which was won under Rick Tomberlin, whom current coach Joel Ingram succeeded in 2006.
Class AA
Benedictine: This would be the first state title for a school that played its first high school football game in 1908 and reached its first-ever GHSA final this season.
Greater Atlanta Christian: This would be the Spartans' first state title since varsity football was begun in 1991.
Class A public
Hawkinsville: This would be the first state title since 2004 for a school that suffered four losing seasons in between, going 4-6 as recently as two years ago.
Irwin County: This would be the first state title since 1975 for a school that suffered 16 losing seasons in between, going 3-7 as recently as three years ago.
Class A private
Eagle's Landing Christian: This would be the first team in state history to win a state title after an 0-6 start.
Mount Paran Christian: This would be the first state title for a school that began varsity football in 2008. It would be the first state title for a school from Cobb County since 1967.
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