Championship Game Previews: Classes 7A and 6A

Class 7A

Walton vs. Milton

When, where: 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Walton is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-7A and No. 2; Milton is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from 6-7A and No. 10.

Last meeting: Milton won 52-17 in the 2021 Class 7A semifinals.

Things to know: This will be the first championship in the highest classification without a Gwinnett County or South Georgia team since 1985 (Warner Robins vs. Clarke Central). Walton is from Cobb County. Milton is from Fulton. Walton can win its first state title in history. Milton can win its second, first since 2018. Walton is on pace to set a state record for points scored by a team in the highest classification. Mill Creek set the record with 712 last season. Walton has scored 695. Walton can become the second team in state history, behind 2022 Hughes, to score at least 35 in every game. Jeremy Hecklinski, a senior committed to Wake Forest, has thrown for 3,711 yards and 48 touchdowns with three interceptions. Walton has two 1,000-yard rushers (Austin Williams, Makari Bodiford) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Cameran Loyd). Milton’s Luke Nickel, a junior committed to Miami, has thrown for 3,709 yards and 38 touchdowns with four interceptions. C.J. Wiley leads 7A in receiving yards with 1,428. Milton is less balanced, as the Eagles rush for only 119.1 yards per game. Both teams are rich with college prospects. Walton’s include Hecklinski, Bodiford (Memphis), TE Hunter Teal (Miami-Ohio), OL Daniel Calhoun (Georgia), LB Wendell Gregory (South Carolina), LB Ashton Woods (North Carolina) and WR/DB Jordan Bride (Navy), all seniors. Milton has Nickel, Wiley (20+ offers), WR Debron Gatling (Texas A&M), TE Ryan Ghea (Auburn), LB Jacorey Stewart (Kansas), DB Dylan Lewis (Tennessee) and DB Tyler Redmond (Tennessee). Most are juniors. Walton leads the series with Milton 14-6. They’ve been in the same region 16 times. They have one common opponent this season. North Cobb beat Milton 42-27 and lost to Walton 35-27 in Walton’s only game decided by less than 16 points.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Walton 35, Milton 27

WRITTEN BY CHIP SAYE

Class 6A

Woodward Academy vs. Thomas County Central

When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Woodward Academy is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from Region 3-6A and No. 10; Thomas County Central is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 1-6A and No. 2.

Last meeting: Thomas County Central won 48-14 in the first round of the 2002 Class 4A playoffs.

Things to know: These teams won close games on the road last week to reach the finals for the first time in more than 20 years. Woodward Academy defeated previously unbeaten Douglas County 24-21 to advance to the final for the first time since 1980. The War Eagles trailed 14-0 early, scored the game’s next 24 points and held on. Thomas County Central held off Marist 13-7 to make the finals for the first time since 2002. The Yellow Jackets took a 13-0 first-half lead and turned back two Marist scoring opportunities in the second half. Both teams lean on defenses that rank among the top three in Class 6A. Thomas County Central allows a classification-best 8.3 points per game, while Woodward Academy is third at 11.3. Offensively, Thomas County Central outgains Woodward Academy by about 80 yards per game. Trey Brenton carries much of the load for the Yellow Jackets, with 1,565 yards and 20 touchdowns on 241 attempts. However, quarterback Jaylen Johnson is equally dangerous passing the ball, with 2,029 yards and 21 touchdowns. Head coach Justin Rogers is 26-1 with two region titles since taking over last year at a program that had had five consecutive non-winning seasons in Class 4A before his arrival. Woodward Academy gets about 57% of its offense from a passing game led by two 1,000-yard passers, Griffin Marshall with 1,188 yards and Landon Walker 1,127. Their top target is Wake Forest-committed wide receiver Ben Grice. Lucas Farrington leads the running game and needs 28 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. One of Woodward Academy’s two losses came against Marist, 17-10 on Sept. 8, but Woodward has since won 11 consecutive games.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Thomas County Central 19, Woodward Academy 8