Eight high school football players etched themselves into their community’s history this week with state championship-winning plays.
From eye-popping touchdown passes to last-second tackles to historic runs, here are all eight game-winning plays from the GHSA state championships at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this week.
Class 6A: Buford 28, Carrollton 21
Arguably the most important championship game in the country was full of pivotal highlights. There were several impressive interceptions, a game-typing scoop-and-score and a long touchdown pass.
But no play was more important than AJC Super 11 running back Tyriq Green’s 82-yard touchdown. Green fooled the second level of Carrollton’s defense with a move to the left before breaking free around the right tackle.
The run took Buford’s 28-21 lead for good with less than three minutes remaining.
Class 5A: Thomas County Central 62, Gainesville 21
It’s difficult to pinpoint a single game-winning play in a 62-21 blowout, but the moment that Thomas County Central seemed to bury Gainesville came with just over four minutes left.
The Yellow Jackets led the Red Elephants 48-21, but Gainesville had some late-game momentum after a 59-yard rushing touchdown. Thomas County Central needed one more score to seal the win.
Deuce Lawrence delivered the final blow — and broke the GHSA state championship rushing yards record in the process — with his fourth touchdown of the night from 20 yards out.
Class 4A: Creekside 42, Benedictine 39
Creekside let Benedictine get close to the lead in the final minutes, but the game never really seemed to get out of the Seminoles’ control in the second half.
The explosive Creekside offense outscored the Cadets 21-0 in the third quarter, taking all the points they would need to win their first championship since 2013.
The Seminoles’ last score came on a clutch fourth down run from Cedric Kelly. The senior found a crease in Benedictine’s defensive front and hit it quickly for a 20-yard score.
Class 3A: Sandy Creek 27, Jefferson 7
Jefferson’s offense didn’t score at all in the Class 3A final — the Dragons scored their only touchdown on a kickoff return — but comeback hopes continued to glimmer until halfway through the fourth quarter.
That was when 4-star Sandy Creek running back Amari Latimer effectively claimed the trophy with a 25-yard touchdown run. The West Virginia signee broke a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, beat the Jefferson defense to the edge, stiff-armed a linebacker and raced across the goal line.
Latimer took a three-possession lead with 6:55 left in the game.
Class 2A: Carver-Columbus 24, Hapeville Charter 7
Carver-Columbus had one hand on the Class 2A trophy after a fourth-quarter touchdown took a 17-7 lead with 6:49 remaining. The Tigers’ defense had shut out Hapeville Charter in the second half, and the offense had started to find a rhythm.
Carver’s offense didn’t get a chance to put the game out of reach, though. Senior JaMarcus Davis ended it less than a minute later, jumping in front of a curl route and cashing a 36-yard pick-six.
Class A Division I: Bowdon 35, Lincoln County 31
Bowdon had two candidates for “game-winning play,” but only one truly sealed the Class A Division I title. Berkley Perkins’ 27-yard touchdown catch on third-and-14 took the lead, but Lincoln County threatened to take it back for good in the final seconds.
Bowdon played textbook “bend-don’t-break” defense as Lincoln County drove down the field, giving up small gains for first downs as the clock continued to wind down. Lincoln got to Bowdon’s 10-yard line with seven seconds left and no timeouts.
Lincoln County quarterback Mekhi Wade took the snap and immediately rolled to his right, looking for an open receiver in the end zone. He checked down to an out route 4 yards short of the end zone, and Bowdon’s Mykah Patterson was right there in tight coverage as the receiver made a diving catch and fell down at the 4-yard line.
The clock ran out, and Bowdon’s defense held on to win the program’s fourth straight title.
Class A Division II: Worth County 17, Toombs County 13
Both teams had scored all their points by the end of the third quarter, but Toombs County came close to a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth.
The Bulldogs started their potential game-winning drive in great field position at the 50-yard line with 4:40 left. Toombs County quickly picked up a first down before Dashaun Rockwell saved the game for Worth County.
The senior safety jumped in front of a would-be first down pass and snagged a game-sealing interception. The Rams ran out the clock with kneels on the ensuing drive.
Class 3A-A Private: Hebron Christian 28, Calvary Day 21
Hebron Christian appeared to be in control for most of the Class 3A-A Private final against Calvary Day, but the Cavaliers suddenly had the ball in two-minute mode trailing just 28-21.
Calvary Day quarterback James Mobley unleashed a deep ball to Jalen Hicks, who was sandwiched between two defenders around the Hebron Christian 40-yard line. Hicks went up for the pass, but Hebron Christian’s Jarvis Mathurin did his best Randy Moss impression to snag a game-sealing interception over the receiver.
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