Championship Game Previews: Classes A Division II and 3A-A private
Class A Division II
Bowdon vs. Brooks County
When, where: 4 p.m. Monday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Bowdon is 12-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 7-A Division II and No. 2; Brooks County is 10-4, the No. 1 seed from 2-A Division II and No. 4.
Last meeting: Brooks County won 42-26 in the 2013 Class 2A quarterfinals.
Things to know: Bowdon is the two-time defending champion and can become the 14th school in GHSA history to win three consecutive state titles, the first since Buford in 2019-21. The last time that Brooks County and Bowdon were in the same class, Class A Public in 2021, it was Brooks that won the championship. Anticipating how this reunion might play out, Brooks County was ranked No. 2 in preseason behind Bowdon. Bowdon’s star player is Kaiden Prothro, a 6-foot-6 wide receiver/tight end with 38 career TD receptions. Just a junior, he’s also a factor as an outside linebacker. ESPN ranks Prothro as the No. 17 overall junior prospect nationally. Charles Maxell, a transfer from Woodward Academy, is Bowdon’s first-year starting quarterback, a dual threat with 48 total touchdowns. Nate Bhony and Joshawia Davis are 1,000-yard rushers. Brooks County has a giant receiver target of its own, George Lamons, a 6-foot-4 sophomore with 19 TD receptions. Another sophomore, Junior Burrus, is the quarterback. Chris Cole Jr. has rushed for 1,839 yards. He’s the son of the star runner on Brooks County’s 1994 state championship team, Chris Cole Sr. Brooks County coach Josh McFather is in his first season, promoted from defensive coordinator, and he’s the only rookie coach in the finals. Brooks County and Bowdon have played the other three teams in the top five of the rankings with 2-1 records against them. Brooks County beat No. 1 Manchester 17-14, lost to No. 3 Irwin County 17-14 and beat No. 5 Clinch County 42-14. Bowdon lost to Manchester 28-20, beat Irwin County 42-28 and beat No. 5 Clinch County 31-13.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Bowdon 22, Brooks County 20
Class 3A-A private
Prince Avenue Christian vs. Hebron Christian
When, where: 1 p.m. Dec. 18, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Records, rankings: Prince Avenue Christian is 10-3, the No. 5 seed and No. 2; Hebron Christian is 11-2, the No. 6 seed and No. 3.
Last meeting: Prince Avenue Christian won 34-31 on Nov. 1.
Things to know: This is the only state final that is a rematch of a regular-season game. Winners of the first games are 22-17 in state final rematches. In these teams’ Nov. 1 meeting that decided the Region 8 championship, both teams produced 419 total yards. Prince led most of the way. Hebron got within 34-31 on Thomas Stallworth’s 11-yard run with 1:39 left but didn’t threaten again. Stallworth passed for a season-high 320 yards in the game. Prince Avenue relied on Andrew Beard, who rushed for 173 yards. Both teams are wealthy in major Division I recruits. Beard, a sophomore and a nephew of former Georgia great Garrison Hearst, is a top-100 national prospect in his class. Prince Avenue defensive lineman Christian Garrett singed with Georgia Tech last week, and linebacker Mac Bradley signed with Air Force. Hebron had three players sign with ACC schools last week. They were wide receiver/corner back Gerritt Kemp (N.C. State), defensive lineman Sichan John (Virginia) and edge Carrington Coombs (Georgia Tech). Prince Avenue can become the 14th school in GHSA history to win three straight state titles (or the 15th if Class A Division II finalist Bowdon reaches that goal first on Monday). Prince Avenue coach Greg Vandagriff can become the 16th coach in GHSA history with four state titles. Hebron coach Jonathan Gess can become the fifth coach to win a seventh state title. He won the first six at Eagle’s Landing Christian.
Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Prince Avenue Christian 28, Hebron Christian 22