Class 7A: Milton 31, Walton 21
Recap: Milton scored 24 points off turnovers in the second half after trailing 14-7, and Jacorey Stewart finished it with a 5-yard interception return for a touchdown with 52 seconds left. Luke Nickel (committed to Miami) was 19-of-25 passing for 201 yards while Milton registered three interceptions and three sacks against Walton star quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski (committed to Wake Forest) in a game that featured Class 7A’s two passing yardage leaders. Milton exploited Walton’s missed handoff and fumble on the second play of the second half and kicked a field goal, then scored consecutive touchdowns on drives of 44 and 12 yards following interceptions by Jack Lawson and Ty Redmond to lead 24-14. Walton got within 24-21 on Hecklinski’s 43-yard TD pass to Cameran Loyd with 7:28 left, but Milton burned 6:25 off the clock with a 14-play, 70-yard drive. Nickel's 12-yard pass to Debron Gatling on a fourth-and-11 from the Milton 18 was critical. D.J. Lester soon followed with a 32-yard-run to the Walton 19 on a third-and-2. Walton intercepted a fake field goal attempt at the 1-yard line, but Stewart, a linebacker committed to Kansas, sealed the victory with his pick six.
History: Milton won its second state title, first since 2018, each time against a favored 14-0 opponent when Milton entered with two losses. Milton became the first team to hold Walton to less than 35 points this season. Ranked No. 10 entering the playoffs, Milton defeated No. 2 (Walton), No. 3 (Colquitt County) and No. 6 Grayson), all region champions, in the playoffs. Walton failed to win its first stat title in its second finals appearance, first since 2011. Walton would’ve been the first Cobb County Schools team to win the highest classification.
Game Statistics
Milton - 0-7-10-14 - 31
Walton - 7-7-0-7 - 21
First quarter
W - Hunter Teal 11 pass from Jeremy Hecklinski (Sebastian Banai kick), 8:27
Second quarter
M - T.J. Lester 3 run (Alex Nover kick), 8:10
W - Makari Bodiford 3 run (Banai kick), 2:39
Third quarter
M - Nover 37 field goal, 9:40
M - Marc Essley II 8 pass from Luke Nickel (Nover kick), 5:29
Fourth quarter
M - Nickel 1 run (Nover kick), 11:11
W - Cameran Loyd 43 pass from Hecklinski (Banai kick), 7:28
M - Jacorey Stewart 5 interception return (Nover kick), 0:52
Rushing: Milton - T.J. Lester 9-51, Amauri Anderson 5-23, Luke Nickel 9-10, Team 1-(-5). Walton - Makari Bodiford 17-131, Austin Williams 10-60, Jeremy Hecklinski 6-(-30).
Passing: Milton - Luke Nickel 19-25-1-201, Dylan Warren 1-2-1-3. Walton - Jeremy Hecklinski - 11-24-3-124.
Receiving: Milton - Debron Gatling 7-72, Marc Essley II 6-85, C.J. Wiley 3-31, Tristen Payne 2-4, Ma’khi Jones 1-9, Ryan Ghea 1-3. Walton - Hunter Teal - 4-32, Jordan Bride 3-29, Cameran Loyd 2-49, Wyatt Sonderman 1-12, Makari Bodiford 1-2.