Class A Division I: Prince Avenue Christian 49, Swainsboro 32

Recap: Aaron Philo was 31-of-40 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns, each to C.J. Dockery, and broke Trevor Lawrence’s career passing yards record. Prince Avenue Christian led 21-6 after the first quarter and never trailed while withstanding an epic performance from Swainsboro’s Demello Jones, who scored four touchdowns and a two-point conversion. With Prince Avenue leading 21-6 midway in the second quarter and facing a fourth-and-goal from the 5, Jones stepped in front of a Philo pass and returned the interception 96 yards for a touchdown. Jones had scored on a 59-yard pass reception for Swainsboro’s first score. Swainsboro then got within 28-26 late in the third quarter after Bryson Tarver blocked a punt and returned it to the Prince Avenue 4. Taking a direct snap, Jones scored on the next play. Swainsboro got no closer as Prince Avenue scored on its final four full possessions and held Swainsboro to 114 rushing yards, nearly 200 below the Tigers' average.

History: Philo finished unofficially with 13,922 career yards, 20 ahead of Lawrence, the former Cartersville and current NFL star. Philo had 56 TD passes this season, tying K’hari Lane’s 56. Prince Avenue won its third championship in four seasons and second in a row. Jones became the first player in finals history to score touchdowns three ways (run, reception, interception). He was the seventh to score on offense and defense, joining a group that includes Garrison Hearst (1989 Lincoln County). The 96-yard interception return was the second-longest in finals history behind Khaleb Hood’s 100-yarder for Eagle's Landing Christian.

Game Statistics

Swainsboro - 6-12-8-6 - 32

Prince Avenue Christian - 21-0-14-14 - 49

First quarter

P - C.J. Dockery 36 pass from Aaron Philo (Tyler Denny kick), 9:35

S - DeMello Jones 59 pass from Kason Edenfield (run failed), 9:17

P - Mac Bradley 1 run (Denny kick), 6:52

P - Aaron Philo 3 run (Denny kick), 0:11

Second quarter

S - Jones 96 interception return (run failed), 5:09

S - Jones 4 run (pass failed)

Third quarter

P - Connor Causby 20 run (Denny kick), 7:43

S - Jones 2 run (Jones run), 2:39

P - Dockery 12 pass from Philo (Denny kick), 1:40

Fourth quarter

P - Philo 9 run (Denny kick), 8:34

S - Qin Brown 37 run (run failed), 6:02

P - Dockery 8 pass from Philo (Denny kick), 2:37 

Rushing: Swainsboro - Jordan Williams 7-55, Qin Brown 7-50, DeMello Jones 10-21, Kason Edenfield 4-(-12). Prince Avenue Christian - Connor Causby 24-136, Aaron Philo 13-84, Peyton Talmadge 1-9, Mac Bradley 1-1.

Passing: Swainsboro - DeMello Jones 0-2-0-0, Kason Edenfield 7-8-1-100. Prince Avenue Christian - Aaron Philo 31-40-1-320.

Receiving: Swainsboro - DeMello Jones 4-76, L.J. Morgan 1-15, Qin Brown 1-6, Jordan Williams 1-3. Prince Avenue Christian - Hudson Hill 12-123, C.J. Dockery 8-100, Connor Causby 5-29, Thornton Hester 4-52, Nick Hurley 2-16.