The Leaderboard: Northwest Georgia trio atop yardage lists after Week 6

Brayden Tyson, running back for Brookwood HS, runs the ball to the goal line during the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on August 17, 2024. (Jamie Spaar for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Credit: Jamie Spaar

Credit: Jamie Spaar

Brayden Tyson, running back for Brookwood HS, runs the ball to the goal line during the Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA on August 17, 2024. (Jamie Spaar for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

To find the state’s leading rusher, passer and receiver, search no further than northwest Georgia.

Chattooga’s Zayden Cook (leading rusher with 1,328 yards) and Trion’s Kade Smith (leading passer with 1,409) are from the same county. About 30 miles closer to the Tennessee border is Heritage of Ringgold, where leading receiver Cody Bryan (701 yards) is having a standout season.

Cook and Bryan have held the top spot before. Smith rose to the top by passing for 227 yards last week in a 35-28 victory over Robbinsville, N.C. Trion is 6-0.

Smith’s season total is one yard ahead of Cherokee’s Tanner Savasir and two head of last week’s leader, Houston County’s Antwann Hill, whose team was idle.

Smith made GACA all-state last season, passing for 1,815 yards, but Trion’s offense then relied mostly on Kobe Maddox, a 2,000-yard rusher. Now Trion needs Smith to pass a little more.

“He’s like having a coach on the field,” Trion coach Sean Patrick said of his senior. “He has such a good understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. He’s done such a good job of getting us in the right play and distributing the ball where it needs to go.”

Smith has offers from Sewanee and Bluffton. He’s also an outstanding baseball shortstop but wants to play football in college.

Here are the GHSA yards leaders through six weeks. They do not include games played this week.

Rushing

1,328 - Zayden Cook, Chattooga (A-I leader)

1,017 - Darrian Roberts, Atkinson County (A-II leader)

977 - Emadd Howard, Walnut Grove (4A leader)

903 - Elijah Hayes, West Hall (3A leader)

889 - Xavier Rucker, Allatoona

855 - Josiah Allen, Wheeler (6A leader)

848 - Jaylan Aquino, Drew

847 - Zo Smalls, Savannah Christian

818 - Brayden Tyson, Brookwood

805 - Daniel Smith, Mill Creek

804 - Alvin Ricks, Wheeler County

803 - Zion Johnson, Newton

778 - Quinterrius Gipson, Kell

769 - Hudson Hulett, North Murray (2A leader)

764 - Andrew Beard, Prince Avenue Christian

761 - Drew Richardson, East Jackson

755 - Tysean Wiggins, Commerce

755 - Joshua Troup, Richmond Hill

754 - Bryian Duncan Jr., Cairo

745 - Kalil Townes, Lovett

744 - Nick Woodford, Northeast

723 - Anddreas McKinny, Bryan County

713 - Reante Byrd, Hephzibah

701 - Dominique Ball, Westover

699 - Demetrius “M.J.” Dowdy, Winder-Barrow (5A leader)

692 - Tyrese Woodgett, Coffee

684 - Reginald Glover, Northeast

682 - Kadiphius Iverson, Westside-Macon

681 - Aaron Bryant, Clinch County

680 - Walker Poyner, Lake Oconee Academy

678 - Shane Marshall, Irwin County

673 - Christian “Deuce” Lawrence, Thomas County Central

658 - Mark Howard, Woodland-Stockbridge

657 - Kelby Tymes, Marion County

656 - Michael Battle, Pelham

638 - Javen Parker, East Paulding

636 - Amari Latimer, Sandy Creek

629 - Jitt Carr, Monroe Area

622 - Roderick Fuller, Treutlen

616 - James Skelly, North Paulding

612 - Chris Cole, Brooks County

612 - Lawson Sullivan, Fannin County

608 - William Heck, Brunswick

608 - Jason Familia, Long County

607 - Jeremiah Tatum, Kennesaw Mountain

605 - Ousmane Kromah, Lee County

603 - Jeremiah Frost, Ringgold

596 - Jeanarion Kamga, Westside-Augusta

594 - Noah Laban, Denmark

590 - Naeem Odeniyi, Westlake

585 - Mason Hollingsworth, Whitefield Academy

584 - Tojuan Peyton Jr., Lanier

583 - Jonaz Walton, Central-Carrollton

583 - Brayden Slaughter, Heritage-Ringgold

582 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall

582 - Earnest Mcintosh, McIntosh County Academy

580 - Kimauri Farmer, Carrollton

574 - Christopher Wilson, KIPP Atlanta

573 - Brandon Lyons, Duluth

572 - Benjamin Plemons, Chestatee

572 - Reid Giles, Rabun County

571 - Antavious Richardson, Greenville

566 - Christian Monfort, Morgan County

564 - Qindaruis Brown, Swainsboro

559 - C.J. Gray, Temple

556 - Austin Drye, King’s Ridge Christian

554 - Kyle Davis, Lakeside-Atlanta

553 - Nick Slidell, Alcovy

552 - Zach Belyeu, North Cobb

551 - Andrew Overton, Mount Paran Christian

551 - Will Rajecki, Sequoyah

548 - Kobe Robinson, Norcross

542 - Dabvn Wadley, Toombs County

540 - Ty Jones, Lakeside-Evans

537 - Xavier Bostic, Dublin

535 - J.J. Gant, Hephzibah

533 - Zamarcus Lindley, Douglas County

532 - Kaden Hamilton, Hiram

530 - Carsyn Baker, Hughes

525 - Colby Smith, Southeast Bulloch

517 - Kelian Allen, Banneker

513 - Jalen Stewart, Jasper County

512 - A’merre Williams, Burke County

511 - Isaiah Payton, Woodstock

506 - Xavier Hill, Harrison

503 - Jagger Reed, Murray County

500 - Marquel Deering, Greenville

Passing

1,409 - Kade Smith, Trion (A-II leader)

1,408 - Tanner Savasir, Cherokee (6Aleader)

1,407 - Antwann Hill Jr., Houston County (5A leader)

1,386 - Matt Pearch, Dunwoody

1,377 - Julian Lewis, Carrollton

1,358 - Ben Brown, Wesleyan (A-I leader)

1,336 - Blake Weldon, Schley County

1,287 - Kharim Hughley, Gainesville

1,280 - Kaeden Gilstrap, Walton

1,263 - Devin Edmonds, Jones County (4A leader)

1,250 - Davis Strickland, Morgan County (2A leader)

1,234 - Tucker Perkins, Effingham County

1,233 - Tripp Nix, White County (3A leader)

1,212 - Mason Bryant, Paulding County

1,171 - Tripp Underwood, Stephens County

1,168 - Lyndon Worthy, Worth County

1,164 - J.R. Harris, Central-Carrollton

1,160 - James Mobley, Calvary Day

1,123 - Hunter Campbell, Centennial

1,116 - Weston Taylor, Cambridge

1,114 - Luke Nickel, Milton

1,114 - Darnell Kelly, Peachtree Ridge

1,106 - Michael Buhay, Westminster

1,090 - Chaz Pate, Sonoraville

1,085 - Jaden Duckett, Sprayberry

1,072 - Quinterrion Stanford, Wilkinson County

1,066 - Christian Langford, Hughes

1,059 - Chase Cromartie, McIntosh

1,048 - Michael Johnson, Dutchtown

1,044 - Luke Priester, Chattahoochee

1,032 - Brooks Brien, Cherokee Bluff

1,030 - Julian Shanks, Arabia Mountain

1,030 - Parks Riendeau, Camden County

1,029 - Brandon Wallace, Cross Creek

1,027 - Rashawn Truell, New Hampstead

1,024 - Ryan Hall, North Gwinnett

1,015 - D.J. Hudson, Peach County

1,014 - Titus Watkins, Oconee County

1,005 - Ethan Long, Adairsville

1,004 - Brodie Campbell, Newnan

995 - Carter Triplett, Christian Heritage

989 - Junior Burrus, Brooks County

980 - Jayden Whiteside, Marietta

965 - Jordan Do, Archer

957 - Ethan Daughtery, Lambert

950 - Todd Robinson, Valdosta

947 - Hampton Johnson, Athens Academy

944 - Nick Grimstead, North Cobb

942 - Tyler Niehr, North Paulding

937 - Stephen Cannon, Benedictine

937 - Joshua Scott, Stockbridge

931 - Braylon Carter, Southwest DeKalb

929 - Delancy Alexander, New Manchester

928 - Grant Moore, Brunswick

927 - Max Walraven, West Forsyth

922 - Dream Rashad, Mountain View

912 - Connor Langford, Duluth

920 - Harrison Faulkner, North Oconee

918 - Caden Hight, Heritage-Ringgold

916 - Hezekiah Millender, Clarke Central

916 - Shane Throgmartin, Mill Creek

915 - Mitch Seaman, Lassiter

908 - Elijah Fudge, Spencer

902 - Jayvyn Hickman, Elbert County

901 - Skylar Hamilton, Landmark Christian

900 - Nate Russell, Cartersville

895 - Brock Szakacs, East Forsyth

894 - Jaylen Johnson, Thomas County Central

889 - Cullen McDaniel, Perry

888 - Sean Smith, Westlake

885 - Kamden Kendrick, Union County

881 - Charles Maxell III, Bowdon

880 - Teddy Jarrard, North Cobb Christian

875 - Jaylen Wyatt, Mays

874 - Cayden Benson, Creekside

853 - Xavier Hill, Harrison

851 - T.J. Stanley, Toombs County

844 - Ryan Dean, Mount Pisgah Christian

841 - R.J. Knapp, Jackson County

841 - Trey Smith, Roswell

837 - Weston Bryan, Lee County

833 - Beckham Jarrard, Statesboro

832 - Hagan Slimp, Crisp County

826 - Darien Keefe, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe

818 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall

817 - Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek

815 - Sean Vandiver, Burke County

812 - Elijah Seaney, North Forsyth

806 - Thomas Winston IV, Miller Grove

799 - Charlie Cannon, Coosa

799 - Hayden Jones, Pickens

793 - Lawson Sullivan, Fannin County

789 - Tristan Parks, Hampton

786 - Hudson Deline, Pope

778 - Gavin Nuckolls, Northwest Whitfield

776 - Graham Burmeister, Woodstock

764 - Brett Sturm, West Hall

763 - Zabrian Boler, Mundy’s Mill

756 - Ace Hatcher, ACE Charter

755 - Ethan Latimore, Hiram

750 - Montavious Banks, Carver-Atlanta

Receiving

701 - Cody Bryan, Heritage-Ringgold (3A leader)

676 - Jaylen Elder, Morgan County (2A leader)

660 - Keyon Standifer, Athens Academy (A-I leader)

640 - John Stuetzer, Pope (5A leader)

628 - Zach Stair, Riverwood

627 - Isaiah Mitchell, Houston County

619 - Jamarion McKinney, Dutchtown

592 - Elijah Green, Marietta (6A leader)

591 - Cam Nixon, Cross Creek

590 - Jaivon Solomon, Jones County (4A leader)

590 - Travis Smith Jr, Westlake

578 - Kendall Sims, Schley County (A-II leader)

567 - Ethan Willingham, Trion

537 - Xavier Buckner, Mount Zion-Carroll

535 - D.J. Avery, Chattahoochee

522 - Porter Allison, Dunwoody

507 - Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon

505 - Tamari Curry, Washington-Wilkes

499 - Clayton Coppock, Mays

489 - Christian Ward, Walton

488 - Christian Smith, Lambert

477 - Steele Ingram, North Cobb

476 - George Lamons, Brooks County

475 - Thomas Blackshear, Calvary Day

474 - Kamari Maxwell, New Hampstead

472 - Randy Parker, Lithia Springs

460 - Carter Hayes, Wesleyan

459 - Zion Hudson, Peach County

457 - Elyiss Williams, Camden County

451 - Chris Hutchinson, Alexander

451 - Casani Bartlett, Lovett

450 - Kenyan Glasper, Winder-Barrow

449 - Kaden Thompson, Cherokee Bluff

445 - Kobe Lewis, Kennesaw Mountain

443 - Craig Dandridge, Cambridge

438 - McCord Purdy, Pickens

436 - Bubba Frazier, Benedictine

436 - Ryan Mosley, Carrollton

434 - Landon Roldan, North Oconee

431 - George Sabb, New Manchester

430 - Brady Marchese, Cartersville

429 - Kiel Sparks, Perry

422 - Jeremiah Roux, Mundy’s Mill

415 - Jo’Van Freeney, Landmark Christian

414 - Colby Alexander, Archer

412 - Ryan Wells, Effingham County

411 - Maddox Young, Union County

409 - Caylen Brunson, Spencer

401 - Brice Whitely, ACE Charter

401 - Anthony Bell, Paulding County

396 - Erik Ronning, North Gwinnett

394 - Logan Stokes, Trion

393 - Kobe Adeleke-Hokes, Peachtree Ridge

392 - Jeremiah Ware, Gainesville

385 - Danny Boden, Dunwoody

385 - Jahsaun Clarke, Norcross

380 - Malik Brightwell, Newton

378 - Ramique Thomas, Southwest DeKalb

374 - Zeke Whittington, Habersham Central

372 - K.T. Thompson, Cherokee Bluff

372 - Shane King, Gainesville

372 - Gabe Daniels, Greater Atlanta Christian

371 - Demarcus Gardner, Cedartown

367 - D’ontae Fulton, Worth County

366 - Jack Griggs, Greater Atlanta Christian

366 - Myles Cobb, Wilkinson County

365 - Charlie Idom, Christian Heritage

362 - Mason Hall, Oconee County

361 - Jorden Edmonds, Sprayberry

360 - Gus Anderson, Newnan

358 - Hudson Cocchiara, Cambridge

356 - C.J. Wiley, Milton

354 - Chasen Jones, East Hall

353 - Braydan Jones, Dade County

352 - Lagracion Little, Clarke Central

352 - Gaines Clark, White County

350 - Davon Swinton, Stephens County

349 - Wes Vail, Wesleyan

348 - Javin Gordon, Stephens County

343 - M.J. Mathis, Houston County

340 - Deshaun Fedd, Crisp County

339 - Lawrence Tolbert, Riverdale

338 - Jackson Harrell, Centennial

336 - Brady Holbrook, North Forsyth

335 - Aiden Taylor, Grayson

333 - Mark Manfred, Sprayberry

332 - T.J. Umenyiora, Mount Pisgah Christian

332 - Jordan Hudson, Schley County

331 - Jayden Farley, Worth County

328 - Geno Houchins, Mount Pisgah Christian

327 - Sean Green, Camden County

326 - Collins Price, Lassiter

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