Grayson, Burke County and Savannah Christian have won their first GHSA state championships in football, and Calhoun ended a drought of 59 years.
Only Tucker, winning its second title in four seasons, is accustomed to where it is now -- No. 1 in the final high school football rankings.
Grayson (15-0) won the highest classification, AAAAA, with a 24-0 victory Saturday over Walton in the last of five weekend finals at the Georgia Dome.
Grayson led 24-0 at halftime and held Walton to negative yardage rushing until the final three minutes. The Rams stopped a fourth-and-2 play at the Grayson 6 to preserve the first shutout in the championship game of the highest class since 1999.
Grayson’s 270-pound Robert Nkemdiche, whose full-time position is defensive tackle, rushed for 85 yards on 19 carries and scored the Rams’ first touchdown. Nick Schuessler was 3-for-3 passing for 108 yards and two touchdowns, both to Callen Hightower.
Grayson held Walton’s Tyren Jones, the state’s leading rusher, to 78 yards on 16 carries. Most of that came on a 52-yard run late in the fourth quarter, when he wore jersey No. 20 because his No. 1 had become torn. The jersey change had Jones erroneously credited with only 11 yards rushing in the original game statistics released. When corrected, his season rushing total was 2,375.
In AAAA, Tucker (15-0) beat Lovejoy 22-7 to complete its first 15-0 season. Tucker was ranked No. 1 from start to finish.
In AAA, Burke County (14-1) beat Peach County 28-14. Burke County, which opened in 1987, had played in one other championship game, in 1997, but never won. Burke made it to the semifinals last year and began the season ranked No. 6, and never fell lower despite an early loss to Lowndes, a Class AAAAA team.
In AA, Calhoun (15-0) won its first title since 1952 with a 27-24 overtime victory over Buford. Buford had won four straight state titles. Buford was ranked No. 1 and Calhoun No. 2 throughout the regular season after meeting in each of the past three championship games.
In A, Savannah Christian (15-0) defeated Landmark Christian 20-3 and became the first Savannah school since 1969 to win a GHSA state title. Savannah Christian was a seven-time champion in the Georgia Independent School Association and became the first former GISA school to win a GHSA football title.
Class AAAAA
1. Grayson (15-0)
2. Walton (14-1)
3. Colquitt County (11-3)
4. Camden County (12-1)
5. Lassiter (10-4)
6. M.L. King (12-1)
7. West Forsyth (11-2)
8. Hillgrove (11-1)
9. McEachern (10-2)
10. North Gwinnett (10-2)
Class AAAA
1. Tucker (15-0)
2. Northside-Warner Robins (13-1)
3. Lovejoy (14-1)
4. Warner Robins (11-3)
5. Flowery Branch (11-2)
6. East Paulding (11-2)
7. Ware County (10-3)
8. Tri-Cities (10-3)
9. Northgate (11-1)
10. Kell (9-3)
Class AAA
1. Burke County (14-1)
2. Peach County (13-2)
3. Cairo (11-3)
4. Gainesville (12-2)
5. Sandy Creek (12-1)
6. Carrollton (11-2)
7. Allatoona (12-1)
8. St. Pius (12-1)
9. Troup (9-3)
10. Mary Persons (9-3)
Class AA
1. Calhoun (15-0)
2. Buford (14-1)
3. Carver-Columbus (12-2)
4. Fitzgerald (11-2)
5. Appling County (12-2)
6. Lamar County (12-1)
7. North Oconee (11-1)
8. Elbert County (11-2)
9. Brooks County (9-3)
10. Dublin (11-2)
Class A
1. Savannah Christian (15-0)
2. Lincoln County (12-1)
3. Landmark Christian (12-2)
4. Eagle's Landing Christian (12-2)
5. Prince Avenue Christian (13-1)
6. Aquinas (9-4)
7. Bremen (9-4)
8. Wilcox County (11-1)
9. Seminole County (11-2)
10. Darlington (8-3)
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