GHSA Flag and Tackle Football State Championship Updates - Day Two

The second day of the GHSA State Flag and Tackle Football Championships featured two top-tier flag and three tackle football games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

See the recaps below.

Class 6A - Buford 28, Carrollton 21

Buford and Carrollton’s anticipated battle of unbeatens kicked off at 9:38 p.m. and closed out the Day 2 slate at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday with a 28-21 Buford victory and the Wolves’ 15th all-time state title. Carrollton ate up 5:53 of clock on the opening possession, but came up empty after a missed 39-yard field goal attempt by Landon Vargas sailed wide right. Buford was forced to punt on its first possession after a sack by Carrollton senior and UGA-commit Zykie Helton. Carrollton’s Mason Holtzclaw and CJ Cypher were intercepted by Ethan Hauser and Nassir McCoy on its next two possessions, but Buford was forced to punt after the first turnover and then turned it over on downs with 7:10 left in the half. Carrollton’s scoring drive was fueled by a double pass from Holtzclaw to wide receiver Peyton Zachary, who found a wide open Cam Wood. The senior running back had a premature celebration and was brought down at the six yard line. A penalty for 12 men on the field put Carrollton in a 3rd and goal from the 7 and Zachary’s diving catch set up freshman Nick Archer for a 1-yard power run touchdown to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead. Buford had an opportunity to get into field goal range before the half, however a Helton sack thwarted the drive and preserved Carrollton’s 7-0 halftime lead.

Buford’s Andrew Ivanciuc finally got the Wolves on the board to start the second half with a 44-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3. On Carrollton’s next possession, Cypher connected with Ryan Mosley to convert a 3rd and 11 while in their own territory and Buford unsuccessfully challenged the spot before eventually forcing the Trojans to punt with 7:16 left in the third quarter. Carrollton’s defense forced a punt with two tackles for loss and an incomplete pass and the Trojans regained possession at their own 43-yard line, but Holtzclaw was intercepted two plays later by senior defensive end Cameron Simmons to give Buford the ball at Carrollton’s 29-yard line. A sack and unsuccessful flea flicker set up a 3rd and 19 that quarterback Dayton Raiola found Ace Thomas for a 13-yard gain to set up a 39-yard field goal by Ivanciuc that cut the deficit to 7-6 with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

Buford’s defense forced its fourth turnover of the game with a sack and fumble recovery by Zion Benyard. Two plays later, Tyriq Green turned the corner and gave Buford its first lead of the game at 12-7 with a 19-yard touchdown. On the ensuing point after attempt attempt, Buford executed a swinging gate that saw holder and backup tight end Tank Watson connect with long snapper Dawson Wittke in the endzone to push the Wolves’ lead to 14-7 with 1:44 left in the third quarter.

Carrollton answered to tie the game 14-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Wood that was set up by a 35-yard reception from Cypher on the drive. Buford struck a 75-yard deep ball from Raiola to junior defensive back Malikai Speed to set up a 1st and goal from the 5-yard line. The Wolves reclaimed the lead on a dramatic 4th and goal play that was fumbled by Dylan McCoy as he tried to cross the goal line and recovered in the endzone by teammate and tight end Deion Miller for the touchdown—giving Buford a 21-14 lead with 9:34 left in the fourth quarter.

A stop by Buford’s Jax Pope forced a Carrollton punt that the Wolves received back on their own 26-yard line with 8:02 remaining. Two plays later, Hilton forced Raiola to fumble and teammate Jahmir Harris returned it for a touchdown to tie the game 21-21. Hilton and Kadan Spratling flushed Raiola out of the pocket and forced an incompletion on third down and the punt was downed at Carrollton’s 19-yard line with 5:15 left. The Trojans went 3-and-out on their next possession and Vargas bombed a punt to the Buford 13-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Green went up the middle for an 82-yard touchdown run and gave Buford a 28-21 lead with 2:37 left in the game.

Rontre Welch returned the kickoff to the Carrollton 45-yard line. On first down, Cypher’s attempt to Welch sailed incomplete and Wood was stopped for no gain on third down. Sophomore right tackle Kweli Fielder came up limping and was called for a false start to back the Trojans up into a 3rd and 15. Cypher’s attempted pass to Wood was incomplete and then Fielder went to the sideline before Carrollton’s 4th and 15 with 1:26 left and the ball on the Trojans’ 39-yard line. The next play was out of the hands of Zachary and Buford took over on downs with 1:20 left. Green picked up a first down and then Buford kneeled out the final seconds before celebrating its first state title since 2021.

Class A-Division I - Worth County 17, Toombs County 13

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

And Tuesday, Worth County beat the best. In fact, they beat.... everyone. All 15 of them since August, for the first undefeated season in program history.

For the first time since 1987 under Milt Miller, the Worth County Rams are GHSA state champions as the Rams took down defending GHSA Class A-DI champions Toombs County 17-13 to win the schools second state championship in program history.

The Rams erased a 10-point first quarter deficit to reclaim the throne, winning head coach Jeff Hammond’s first-ever state championship.

The first quarter scoring began in style as Toombs County quarterback Joseph Owens found wideout Nick Carroll on a screen pass that featured great footwork from the sophomore as he spun his way out of the Worth County defenders grasp and dashed off into the endzone for a 43-yard touchdown. Carroll scored his seventh receiving touchdown of the season, a team-high. The touchdown connection from Owens to Carroll capped off a quick three-play, 64-yard drive that only took one minute and 15 seconds off the clock.

Carroll has led the team in receiving all season, averaging just about 46 yards per game.

The Bulldogs were able to halt the Worth County opening drive of the game as they forced a Rams punt to regain possession back into the hands of Owens and the Toombs County offense.

Owens and the Bulldogs were able to drive right back down the field, as the junior quarterback was able to pick up a big-time third down on the possession using his legs for a gain of 14 to set up the offense in Worth County territory.

While the Bulldogs were unable to find the endzone on the drive, junior kicker Alex Otero knocked in a 26-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Otero’s field goal was the product of a 11-play, 65-yard drive from the Bulldogs that lasted over four minutes.

While it seemed to be all Toombs County in the first quarter, the Worth County offense was finally able to show some life as they responded with a three-minute drive of its own that went for eight plays and 66-yards that was polished off by a Tre Jones one-yard touchdown to cut the Toombs County lead to three points at 10-7.

Following a change in possession by both teams to start the second quarter, the Worth County offense was able to come back and make a pair of big time plays to enter Bulldog territory beginning with a 31-yard strike to the middle of the field from Worthy to junior wideout Jaquaveon Nelson. On the next play a 16-yard reception from senior Jace Collier set up the Rams deep in enemy territory.

The promising drive stalled out due to a slew of Worth County penalties including an illegal formation on third down forcing a 35-yard Rams field goal from sophomore kicker Brody Hancock to tie up the game at 10-10.

Toombs County’s Otoro knocked through a 19-yard field goal to end the first half giving Toombs a 13-10 lead heading into the break, capping off a 13-play, 73-yard drive to end the half.

After a possession by each team in the second half that ended in a punt for both teams, Worth County struck first to open up the scoring in the third quarter with a seven-yard touchdown throw from Worthy to senior tight end Jayden Farley to give the Rams their lone score through the air on the day.

Worthy’s seven-yard connection to Farley was the lone score of the third quarter, giving the Rams their first lead of the day at 17-13.

Heading to the fourth quarter where Worth County was holding onto a four-point lead with Toombs County holding possession, Owens found senior wideout Gavin Fletcher on a deep ball as Fletcher made a beautiful one-handed reception in-stride down the sideline and into the endzone in what the Bulldogs thought would give them the lead, but an illegal shift on Toombs County negated the big play and set the Bulldogs behind the chains. The Bulldogs were forced to punt, giving possession back to Worth County as they held a four-point lead.

With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, during the next Worth County possession, pressure from Toombs County forced Worthy to spin out of the pocket and a rush for a first down, but the Bulldogs were able to force the quarterback to cough up the football at midfield, giving the Bulldogs a shot at the lead in the fourth quarter.

Owens almost gave the ball right back to the Rams as Worth County dropped a would-be interception to retake control of the game. Instead the ball fell incomplete, setting up Toombs County with a crucial third down that they picked up with an eight-yard completion to senior wideout Justice Wilds.

On the next play, a scree pass to Carroll that went for a first down was called back as the wideout was called for an offensive facemask, placing the Bulldogs behind the chains.

On fourth and 13, the Toombs County offense was called for a delay of game, forcing the Bulldogs to punt the ball back over to the Rams as they were trailing 17-13 with under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On third and eight for the Rams with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter inside their own 20 yard line, Worthy’s pass was batted down forcing another fourth quarter punt and giving the Bulldogs another shot to retake the lead.

A string of short-yardage runs from the Bulldogs led to a crucial fourth down where Toombs County needed just one-yard to gain, but a false start on the Bulldogs backed them up to a fourth and six with just under 90 seconds left in the game.

Owens' pass was picked by senior safety Deshaun Rockwell with just over a minute remaining as the senior took it all the way back to the Toombs County 20-yard line to seal the victory for the Rams.

Worth County’s Worthy finished the state championship with 217 yards through the air and a passing touchdown while senior running back Kaden Chester finished the game as the Rams leading receiver with seven receptions for 60 yards on the way to the Rams first title in almost 40 years.

Class 2A - Carver-Columbus 24, Hapeville Charter 7

Carver-Columbus High School will be the home of the 2A state champions for another 12 months. The Tigers beat Hapeville Charter to claim back-to-back state titles and, in his first year as head coach, his first state title and first undefeated season.

It is only the third title in school history, and the second undefeated season in school history; the only other came in 2007 under current Georgia State head coach Dell McGee. And on that team was Jarvis Jones, who took over leading Carver-Columbus at the beginning of the season and does not know what it means to lose a football game coaching his alma mater.

Hapeville opened the game with a 5:00 minute drive that ended in Tiger territory with a turnover. On the ensuing drive, the Tigers drove into the Hornets' rezone but had to settle for a Kendrick Pearce-Spencer 33-yard FG with 37 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Traded back-to-back-to-back quick drives. Hapeville had a promising drive going with just over seven minutes left in the half, but back-to-back false starts forced a punt. A long return and an illegal block below the waist gave the Tigers the ball at the Hornets' 40, and two plays later, Sebastian Head found Keimauri Miles for a long touchdown to take a 10-0 lead.

On the Tigers' ensuing drive, a three-and-out inside their own 10 gave the Hornets the ball on the Tigers 30 30-yard line with just under two minutes left in the half. On third and nine, Keylan Pope found Jayden Lambert, who made it to the five-yard line but fumbled the ball. However, an illegal contact penalty negated the fumble. Pope then found Cedric Walker on a six-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 10-7 with only 18 seconds left in the half.

The defenses dominated the first half. Carver was held to only 110 yards of offense while Hapeville struggled even more, only producing 60 yards on 27 plays. The two teams combined to go only four of 13 on third and fourth downs.

The Tigers got the second-half kickoff but went three-and-out and were forced to punt to the Hornets, who took over at their own 41-yard line but were unable to do anything with the field position.

A crazy bad snap on the punt of Carver's next possession set up the Hornets inside the 10. The snap was over the punter's head, and at first it looked like the Hornets might recover it in the endzone. However, Carver recovered it outside the 20, then fumbled it again, which the Hornets returned to the nine-yard line before fumbling again. However, Hapeville turned it over on downs at the one-yard line, failing to get any points out of the excellent field position.

The Tigers were unable to put together a drive with their next possession, but were able to get a first down to give their punter room. On the punt, Hapeville returned the punt to the endzone for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown. However, a holding call negated the return, giving the Hornets the ball at the Carver 48, but they were once again unable to score.

Star freshman running Zach Watt then broke a 38-yard rush on third and one at the Tigers 42 to give Carver the first down at the Hapeville 12. Three plays later, Jakobe Caslin walked into the endzone from one yard out to give the Tigers a 17-7 lead with 6:49 left to play.

On the ensuing drive, Jamarcus Davis intercepted a Pope pass and returned it 37 yards for a game-sealing touchdown that put the Tigers up 24-7 with 6:16 left to play in the fourth. The Hornets returned the ensuing kickoff to the Tiger 40-yard line; however, Pope was intercepted once again, snuffing out any hope of a Hornet comeback. The Tigers ran out the clock on a seven-play drive that ate up the final minutes of the game.

The Carver defense was the story of the second half, allowing only 25 yards and forcing two late Hornets turnovers that sealed the Tigers' win. The Hapeville charter defense was not much worse, holding the Tiger-touted offense to only 233 total yards and only 99 yards passing.

Division 4 Flag Football - Blessed Trinity 21, Milton 20 (2OT)

What was a scoreless game entering the fourth quarter turned into a double-overtime thriller and it is fitting that Blessed Trinity senior quarterback Addie Spak’s run for an extra-point secured the title for the Titans.

The victory marked the program’s second title after winning its first in 2022 in Division 3. Spak was named MVP for her performance.

Milton took the lead on a 23-yard pass from Audrey Jensen to Alana Calhoun with 4:10 left in the game. Maggie Sullivan scored to tie the game at 7 on a short run as time expired.

In the first possession of overtime, Spak passed to Addy Wilson on a 10-yard score. Milton responded on a 10-yard pass from Jensen to Calhoun to tie the game at 14. Carson McElroy rushed in for five-yards to put Milton ahead but the extra-point attempt failed. Blessed Trinity scored on a three-yard pass from Spak to Daley, setting up Spak’s game-winning run to the right pylon.

Division 3 Flag Football - North Oconee 31, Whitewater 6

North Oconee came up short in three state championship games and after beating four-time defending champion Southeast Bulloch 21-20 in the semifinals this year, the Titans cruised to the program’s first-ever state championship victory.

North Oconee led 6-0 after the first quarter, 18-0 at the half and 31-0 entering the fourth quarter in the romp. Quarterback Catherine Cooper was 15-of-25 passing for 229 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Titans to earn MVP Honors. Cooper passed to Elizabeth Patterson (2 TDs), Taylor Dillard, Kallie Mashburn and Nolyn Herron for touchdowns.

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