Class 4A: Perry 38, Stockbridge 27

Recap: Perry won its first state championship in its 70th season. The game turned in the final two minutes of the first half, seconds after Stockbridge had taken a 14-10 lead. Rodarius Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff to the Perry 37 but was stripped of the ball, and Perry’s Gesha’nn Heard recovered it up field and ran 54 yards for a touchdown and a 17-14 lead. Perry would not trail again. Colter Ginn was 16-of-27 passing for 261 yards and targeted Dakari Anderson, a Cincinnati-committed wide receiver, seven times for 148 yards and a touchdown. Jerrell Pinckney had 3.5 tackles for losses, two sacks and a forced fumble. Cashious Williams had three tackles for losses. Stockbridge's Jayden Scott and Cobey Thompkins each rushed for more than 120 yards, and Thompkins passed for 155 yards and three touchdowns. 

History: Perry’s 70-season wait for its first state championship is a state record, beating the 69 of Milton’s 2018 team. Stockbridge, in its 60th season, like Perry was playing in its first championship game. Perry, the runner-up in its region, defeated four straight top-10 opponents, all away from home, over the final four rounds. Stockbridge’s Scott finished with 2,472 yards and 39 touchdowns. He is committed to N.C. State. Perry’s Anderson finished with 1,261 receiving yards. 

Game Statistics

Stockbridge - 7-7-7-6 - 27

Perry - 7-10-14-7 38

First quarter

S - Jayden Howard 7 pass from Cobey Thompkins (David Castillo kick), 5:51

P - Ahmad Gordon 1 run (Zack Peacock kick), 3:19

Second quarter

P - Peacock 26 field goal, 8:39

S - Howard 21 pass from Thompkins (Castillo kick), 1:43

P - Gesha’nn Heard 54 kickoff return (Peacock kick), 1:27

Third quarter

P - Gordon 4 run (Peacock kick), 7:23

S - Jayden Scott 19 run (Castillo kick), 4:42

P - Dakarai Anderson 5 pass from Colter Ginn (Peacock kick), 1:31

Fourth quarter

P - Gordon 14 run (Peacock kick), 4:14

S - Howard 23 pass from Thompkins (pass failed), 1:05

Rushing: Perry - Ahmad Gordon 17-82, Dakarai Anderson 2-4, Colter Ginn 4-(-4), Team 2-(-10). Stockbridge - Jayden Scott 28-125, Cobey Thompkins 16-123, Ryan Johnson 1-9.

Passing: Perry - Colter Ginn 16-27-1-261. Stockbridge - Cobey Thompkins 16-27-0-155.

Receiving: Perry - Dakarai Anderson 7-148, Kory Pettigrew 4-67, Ahmad Gordon 3-10, Colby Dixon 2-36. Stockbridge - Jayden Howard 9-82, Jordan Mack 3-35, Ryan Johnson 3-31, Tyler Tucker 1-7.