Three first-time champions among No. 1 teams in final rankings

North Oconee, Toombs County and Hebron Christian are No. 1 in final AJC/GHSF Daily rankings for the first time after winning their first state championships this week. Milton and Bowdon repeated as champions, while Grayson, Calhoun and Carver of Columbus added to their numbers.

In Class 6A, the highest, Grayson beat previous No. 1 Carrollton 38-24 on Wednesday, the third and final day of the championship games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Grayson is 4-0 in championship games, and the four titles are now the most this century for any school in the highest classification. Santavious Bryant, in his second season, became the fourth Grayson coach to win a title after Adam Carter (2020), Jeff Herron (2016) and Mickey Conn (2011).

Milton, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A since preseason, won its third state title, second in a row, and completed its first unbeaten season at 15-0 while clinching multiple top-five national rankings. Milton beat Hughes 56-35 on Tuesday in the second-highest-scoring game in finals history.

North Oconee won its first state championship in its 21st varsity season. North Oconee beat previous No. 1 Marist 14-7 on Monday.

Calhoun won its fifth state championship, first since 2017, by beating Jefferson 20-7 on Wednesday in Class 3A. It was Calhoun’s first state title under sixth-year coach Clay Stephenson, who was an assistant on Calhoun’s 2011, 2014 and 2017 state winners.

Carver won its second state championship, first since 2007, with a 52-14 victory over Burke County in Class 2A.

Toombs County won its first state title in its 38th varsity season. The Bulldogs beat Northeast 38-18 in Class A Division I.

Bowdon became 14th team in state history to win a third straight championship, the first since Buford in 2019-21, with a 34-14 victory over Brooks County in Class A Division II.

Hebron Christian won the first 3A-A private championship by beating previous No. 1 Prince Avenue Christian 56-28. Hebron played its first varsity game in 2007. Hebron became the 11th Gwinnett County school to win a championship this century.

Hebron coach Jonathan Gess also made history as the fifth coach to win seven state titles and the 16th to win one at two schools. He won six at Eagle’s Landing Christian.

Milton and Toombs County were No. 1 from start to finish. None of the eight champions was ranked lower than No. 6 in preseason.

Click here for the final 2024 state rankings.