DRIVE FOR THE GHSA STATE TITLE: North Oconee, Jefferson battle in a clash of unbeaten championship contenders

PHOTO -- Jason Getz / AJC

In a matchup of mythical mascots and undefeated Georgia high school football teams, the reigning Class 4A state champion and the top-ranked team in the classification, the North Oconee Titans, go on the road to take on the Class 3A runner-up Jefferson Dragons in this week's edition of the Drive for the GHSA State Title.  

Friday’s matchup will be broadcast live on the Peachtree Sports Network (cable and YouTube TV), and streamed live on the Atlanta News First app. From your home, download the free ANF+ app anywhere you stream — FireTV, AppleTV, Roku and YouTubeTV — simply by searching for “Atlanta News First” on those platforms. If you are on the go, you can download Atlanta News First for free in the app store on your Apple or Android device. You can also watch live here on the WANF – Special Events channel.

In the series overall between these two top schools in the state, Jefferson holds a 6-4 record against North Oconee all time. Recently, the Titans have gotten the best of the Dragons, winning the last two matchups between the programs. In 2021, North Oconee won 11-6 followed by last year's matchup in North Oconee where the Titans shutout the Dragons 35-0 on their way to a perfect season and a state championship victory. 

North Oconee is led by head coach Tyler Aurandt, who is currently in his ninth season leading the Titans, coming off of the schools first-ever state championship a year ago when they defeated Marist 14-7. Aurandt has led the Titans to four-straight Region 8-4A titles and is looking to bring a fifth-consecutive title home to Bogart. 

Aurandt has taken the program to new heights they never knew existed, going from 1-9 in his first season in 2017 to making them consistent title contenders year after year. 

The Titans are led by an explosive offense that is headlined by senior quarterback Harrison Faulkner. Faulkner is a Georgia Southern-commit who is the son of Georgia Tech Offensive Coordinator Buster Faulkner. Faulkner has been a great option at quarterback for the Titans as he has thrown for close to 280 yards and thrown for multiple scores while averaging over seven yards per carry on the ground when he uses his legs. 

Faulkner has great options in the passing game headlined by Kentucky-commit, wideout Dallas Dickerson and 4-star Georgia-commit tight end/edge rusher Khamari Brooks who are ready to impact the game at a moments notice for the Titans. While Brooks is mostly known for his efforts on the opposite side of the ball, he has proven time and time again that he is more than useful on offense. Dickerson is a wideout who can take the top off of a defense, while also making his mark in the short passing game, using his speed to gain lots of yards after the catch. Senior running back JT Doster has recorded over 150 yards and three scores through the first couple weeks of the season. 

The North Oconee defense, led by Brooks, has been outstanding this season as the Titans have let up just seven points through their first three games including a pair of shutouts against Oconee County in the first game of the season and another against Clarke Central last week. 

On the opposing sideline, Jefferson is led by head coach Travis Noland who is coming off of his 225th victory last week against Stephens County when the Dragons won 42-14. The Dragons have been excellent to start the new season and are ranked in the top-five of the Score Atlanta Football Rankings at No. 5.  

Jefferson is led by 4-star linebacker Max Brown, the younger brother of Jefferson-great Sammy Brown, who will follow in his older brothers footsteps and become a Clemson Tiger. Brown is a member of the Class of 2027 but committed to the Tigers over the summer in June of 2025, after his older brother put in a phenomenal first season at Clemson. 

Brown plays on both sides of the ball for the Dragons and has made a huge impact on his team as he has rushed for close to 430 yards and has found the endzone four times on the ground. While he leads the team in rushing on offense, Brown leads the Dragons in total tackles as well, already registering 43 so far this season to go along with 11 tackles for loss in an already impressive junior season. 

Jefferson quarterback Colton Grant has been exceptional thus far for the Dragons, distributing the ball all over the field, totaling 275 yards through the air and three passing touchdowns. On the ground Grant is second on the team in rushing yards with 116 yards and three scores when using his legs. 

Grant’s favorite target so far through four games has been Logan Edmunds who has been dynamic for this Jefferson offense, recording 192 yards on 12 receptions, finding the endzone twice. 

Brown leads a stout defense for the Dragons that also has 3-star defensive back and Minnesota-commit Chance Payne, who committed to the Golden Gophers back in June. In just three games, Payne has recorded three interceptions already this season. Linebackers Dylan Berardinelli and Eli Primm have also been performing on a high level for the Dragons, combining for 55 total tackles so far this season.  

This Friday, the action will start ahead of the Score Atlanta broadcast of the North Oconee vs. Jefferson matchup at 8 p.m. with the Georgia High School Countdown to Kickoff, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on the Peachtree Sports Network and streaming digitally on the Atlanta News First website/app. The pregame show, which will feature on-air talent Rusty Mansell, Brandon Adams and Kaylee Mansell will preview the upcoming matchup with each person picking their winning team, along with interviews from each participating head coach. After the clock hits zero, stay tuned after the game for the Georgia High School Postgame Show, which will be broadcast live from the Score Atlanta Studio, with Score Atlanta’s Craig Sager II, Max Wolborsky, Hayden Gilbert and Landon Knight featured on the program. The postgame show will run from game’s end till midnight every Friday night, with a full breakdown of each game, call-in guests chiming in to voice their opinions, and updates from other top-tier games around the state. The postgame show, like the pregame show, will be broadcast live on the Peachtree Sports Network and streamed digitally on the Atlanta News First website/app.