Championship Game Previews: Classes 2A and A Division I

Class 2A

Burke County vs. Carver (Columbus)

When, where: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Burke County is 13-1, the No. 4 seed and No. 3; Carver is 13-1, the No. 2 seed and No. 1.

Last meeting: Carver won 28-21 in the first round of the 2009 Class 3A playoffs.

Things to know: These are traditionally strong programs that moved down in classification this season, instantly making them Class 2A teams to watch. Each has won 11 straight games since losing their only games Aug. 30, both against Class 4A opponents (Burke County to Benedictine, Carver to Harris County). Both won their only state titles earlier this century (Carver in 2007, Burke County in 2011). Carver returned to the finals in 2021 but lost to Benedictine. Burke County is making its first appearance since its 2011 championship. Both teams tilt toward the run game but are adept at passing the ball, as well. Burke County’s A’Merre Williams has rushed for 1,674 yards and 31 touchdowns, although it was Kel’Von Scott with the big game in the semifinals when he rushed for 169 yards against Rockmart. Scott also is the team’s leading receiver with 685 yards. Sean Vandiver has passed for 18 touchdowns and run for 13. Carver has two 1,000-yard rushers – Kobe Caslin (1,343 yards) and Kelston Tarver (1,268). Matthew Mungin has thrown 28 TD passes, 15 to Braylon Jakes. The biggest difference in the teams is points allowed. Against similarly rated schedules, Carver’s average score is 39-7, and Burke County’s is 42-20.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Carver 28, Burke County 20

Class A Division I

Northeast vs. Toombs County

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

Records, rankings: Northeast is 12-2, the No. 8 seed and No. 5; Toombs County is 12-1, the No. 6 seed and No. 1.

Last meeting: Northeast won 27-14 in the first round of the 2020 Class 2A playoffs.

Things to know: Both teams are making their first state finals appearances, and this is the only title game that guarantees a first-time state champion. Northeast is the first Macon team in the finals since Central won Class 3A, then the highest class, in 1975. Both teams were expected to be contenders in preseason. Toombs County, which opened in 1987, started at No. 1 after a Class 2A season in which the Bulldogs lost only to state finalists Pierce County and Rockmart. They returned star players T.J. Stanley and Lagonza Hayward. Stanley has passed for 2,315 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 530 yards and 11 touchdowns. He signed with Georgia State last week. Hayward, a wide receiver/safety, has 13 TD receptions and 1,002 all-purpose yards. He signed with Florida. Northeast, ranked No. 8 in preseason, is a powerful running team led by 5-foof-9, 210-pound Nick Woodford, a two-time 2,000-yard rusher. He rushed for 374 yards in the quarterfinals against Fannin County and 326 in the semifinals against Fitzgerald. Quarterback Reginald Glover has surpassed 1,000 yards both rushing and passing. These teams have one key common opponent. Toombs beat Dublin 42-15 in the semifinals, while Northeast lost to Dublin 17-7 in October for the Region 2 championship. Toombs has lost only to Savannah Christian, a Class 3A-A private school. Northeast lost to Dublin and to Class 3A’s No. 1 team entering the playoffs, Peach County. Toombs’ average score is 46-13 against the classification’s third-hardest schedule, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings. Northeast’s average score is 36-15 against the 12th-hardest schedule.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Toombs County 29, Northeast 16