Championship Game Previews: Classes 3A and 2A

Class 3A

Cedar Grove vs. Savannah Christian

When, where: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Cedar Grove is 9-5, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-3A and No. 2; Savannah Christian is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from 3-3A and No. 4.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: Cedar Grove can become the seventh school to win five GHSA championships in an eight-year span. The Saints advanced to this final with a 49-42 victory over No. 1-ranked Calvary Day, which is Cedar Grove’s common opponent with Savannah Christian. Calvary beat Savannah Christian 42-21 in the regular season. Cedar Grove can become the fourth team in history to win a state title after finishing .500 or worse in the regular season. Cedar Grove came by its 5-5 regular season honestly, losing to five much bigger schools. Cedar Grove might have the most talented QB-RB-WR trio in the state. Elliott Colson (Central Florida) has thrown for 2,375 yards and rushed for 831 yards. Boden Walker (Georgia) has rushed for 1,450 yards and 27 touchdowns and has 37 receptions for 422 yards. Devin Carter (Florida State) has 51 receptions for 923 yards and 13 touchdowns. All are underclassmen. Cedar Grove’s defense, albeit against Class 2A’s toughest schedule, has allowed 392 points – 100 points more than the next closest in school history. Opponents have scored more than 40 points five times. Savannah Christian averages 42.9 points and has scored more than 40 points 10 times, including last week’s 51-26 victory over Carver of Columbus. Kenry Wall and Zo Smalls each have more than 1,900 all-purpose yards. Elijah Griffin, the state’s top-rated junior prospect, has 31 tackles for losses and 17.5 sacks. He returned an interception for a touchdown against Carver. Savannah Christian is playing in its first final since its 2011 Class A championship. The Raiders are 23-4 in their two seasons in 3A after 14 seasons in Class A.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Cedar Grove 34, Savannah Christian 7

WRITTEN BY CHIP SAYE

Class 2A

Pierce County vs. Rockmart

When, where: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Pierce County is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-2A and No. 3; Rockmart is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from 7-2A and No. 6.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Things to know: Both teams are playing in the championship game for the second time in the past six seasons. Pierce County made it in 2020 and defeated Oconee County 13-7 in overtime for the Class 3A title. That was the Bears’ only previous trip to the finals. Rockmart made it to the Class 2A final in 2018 but lost to Heard County 27-6. The Yellow Jackets also played in the finals in 1946, 1950, 1954 and 1957, beating Valdosta for the Class A title in 1950. Both teams play outstanding defense and get roughly 60% of their offense from the running game. Pierce County allows just 8.1 points per game, second-best in Class 2A. Rockmart’s average of 12.9 points allowed ranks No. 6 in the class. Offensively, everything flows through quarterback Caden McGatha for Pierce County. He has run for 1,911 yards and passed for 1,876, putting him within reach of 2,000 in both categories. It’s believed that Troup’s Taeo Todd is the only player to accomplish that feat when he did it last season. McGatha ran or passed on 53 of Pierce County’s 55 plays in a 35-7 victory over Fitzgerald last week. For Rockmart, region player of the year Brent Washington has rushed for 885 yards and 18 touchdowns on 116 carries. He leads a group of six players with at least 20 carries, 100 yards and a touchdown for the season. Quarterback Calliyon Thompson, a capable passer and runner, threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 61 yards and a touchdown in a 34-24 victory over Cook last week.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Pierce County 21, Rockmart 20