Class A-3A Private Blog: Final four teams trying to make history

The Class A-3A Private playoffs are reaching the final stages, and the four remaining teams make up an interesting and very different group.

Greater Atlanta Christian is in its first semifinal game since 2020. The Spartans were one of the top programs of the 2010s, making the finals twice and the semifinals four other times. Since the 2020 season, however, the team has struggled, failing to advance past the first round from 2021-2024. This year has been different, as GAC has dominated its first two playoff games by a combined score of 97-30. Entering the season, GAC was viewed as a secondary contender in the class, especially after losing 4-star edge rusher Dre Quinn. The regular season didn’t show them to be an overwhelmingly dominant team, as they went 8-2 and played in several extremely close games. In the playoffs, however, they have been a very different team.

Defending champion Hebron Christian has not missed a beat this season, going 10-1 and looking even better than last year. After losing three Power Four players and its starting quarterback, the Lions were not viewed as the unquestioned top team in the class entering the season, but the season has proven otherwise. In their two playoff games, they have outscored opponents 116-40, including a 63-20 rout of region rival Prince Avenue,a win even more dominant than their 43-6 regular-season meeting.

Fellowship Christian enters the semifinals on the back of one of the best seasons in school history. The Paladins have dominated their schedule outside of a single loss to Hebron Christian, 45-29. As the top seed in the playoffs, they have looked the part, most recently earning a huge 45-14 win over Savannah Christian in the quarterfinals. The team has scored more than 30 points in every game since that lone loss and has allowed no more than 27.

Calvary Day is looking for its first title and is once again deep in the playoffs. The Cavaliers have reached the quarterfinals or better for six straight years and 11 of the past 13. This season is a bit different, however, as first-year coach Jason Cameron is leading the charge. Nothing else has changed for the team, with the offense averaging over 45 points per game and the defense giving up fewer than 14. They dominated Whitefield Academy in the last round, 52-7,the Wildcats’ largest loss of the season, outpacing even their 31-7 loss to Fellowship Christian by more than 20 points.

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