Latest News
Westminster hires Arch Manning’s high school coach
Nelson Stewart, the high school coach of Texas quarterback Arch Manning and NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and a former high school teammate of Peyton Manning, was named Westminster’s football coach Thursday. Stewart was head coach for 19 seasons at his alma mater, Isidor Newman, a New Orleans private prep school.
Loganville hires North Cobb assistant as head coach; openings continue to grow
Loganville on Wednesday announced the hiring of Nic Snowden as its football coach in the most frantic week so far of the offseason coaching carousel. Northside-Warner Robins, Veterans, Brookwood, Marietta and Commerce also made hires this week, while Parkview, Hughes, Griffin, Gordon Central, Schley County and Mount Paran Christian reported openings.
Northside-Warner Robins lures championship coach Williams from Hughes
Northside-Warner Robins, coming off its worst season in nearly 60 years, made perhaps the biggest offseason football season hire so far. Daniel “Boone” Williams, the coach who led Hughes to a 2022 Class 6A championship and state runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2024, was approved for the job Tuesday by the Houston County Schools board. Williams confirmed the news to the AJC on Monday evening, saying he told his Hughes players earlier in the day.
Pro Football Hall of Fame member Ed Reed named offensive coordinator at Chamblee
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is joining Chamblee’s football staff. Ed Reed, an eight-time All-Pro safety inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2019, will be Chamblee’s offensive coordinator, coach Bob Swank announced Monday. “He’s at a point now where he had time in his life, and we had a need and felt it fit into what he had time-wise,” Swank said.
Cedartown fires Abrams despite 50-14 record; Flowery Branch makes hire
Two big football coaching changes took place Thursday as Cedartown fired Jamie Abrams, who won 50 games and three region titles in his five seasons, and Flowery Branch hired Michael Perry, a Hall County native who led Union County the past four seasons. By far more surprising was Cedartown’s decision to part ways with Abrams, whose five-season record was 50-14.
All-state teams: Milton’s Luke Nickel named GHSF Daily/AJC player of the year
Milton quarterback Luke Nickel was so reliable and his team so good that his playoff performance came and went, much like his career, without its proper due. His 20 touchdown passes are a state playoff record, by the way. And they came without an interception.
Central Gwinnett hires former Greene County head coach Banks
Terrance Banks, who led Class A Greene County to 10-2 and 8-3 finishes in his two seasons there, is Central Gwinnett’s new football coach. Gwinnett County Schools approved the hire Friday. Banks will replace Larry Harold, who was 12-18 in three seasons.
Roswell’s Prewett named head coach at Dalton
Chris Prewett, who led Roswell to 50 wins and two region titles in five seasons, was announced as Dalton’s football coach Friday morning. Dalton, coming off an 0-10 season, is a traditionally strong program that has been mostly mediocre since reaching the Class 6A semifinals in 2016.
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.
Class 6A: Grayson 38, Carrollton 24
Grayson sacked Carrollton star quarterback Julian Lewis five times, intercepted him twice, forced him to fumble and made his team one-dimensional, holding the No. 1-ranked Trojans to 43 rushing yards in a 38-24 victory. Grayson won its fourth state title, first since 2020, and improved to 4-0 in championship games.
Class 3A: Calhoun 20, Jefferson 7
Calhoun scored on its first two possessions for a 14-0 lead and held Jefferson to 225 total yards while forcing four turnovers in winning its fifth state championship, first since 2017 and first under sixth-year coach Clay Stephenson.
Class 3A-A private: Hebron Christian 56, Prince Avenue 28
Hebron Christian scored on five straight possessions in the first half to take a 35-7 lead and won its first state championship in its 17th varsity season. Devon Caldwell rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Stallworth passed for 172 yards and rushed for 84 and scored four touchdowns.
Flag football Division 4: McEachern 26, Lambert 6
McEachern capped off its undefeated season with its first state championship after losing in the quarterfinals the past three seasons. “We finally finished the mission,” coach Jake Burgdorf said. “That’s been our motto this season - unfinished business - and we found a way to get it done.”
Class 5A: Milton 56, Hughes 35
Milton set a state finals record with 671 total yards while producing a 400-yard passer (Luke Nickel), two 100-yard receivers (Ethan Barbour, Tristen Payne) and one 200-yard rusher (T.J. Lester) in a 56-35 victory over Hughes in the Class 5A championship game Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Class 2A: Carver (Columbus) 52, Burke County 14
The game was close after one quarter, but Zay Billingsley’s 18-yard return of an intercepted screen pass gave Carver a 17-7 lead with 11:17 left in the second quarter set the 52-14 rout into motion in the Class 2A championship game Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Class A Division I: Toombs County 38, Northeast 18
Mike Polke caught a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, all in the first half for No. 1-ranked Toombs County in a 38-18 victory over Northeast in the Class A Division I championship game Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The title is the first for Toombs County.
Flag football Division 3: Pope 19, Pace Academy 6
Abbey Bensman threw two first-half touchdown passes to lead Pope to a 19-6 victory over Pace Academy and its second consecutive state championship. Pope became the third team in two days to repeat as flag champions, joining Monday’s winners Southeast Bulloch (fourth straight) and Greenbrier (two).
Class 4A: North Oconee 14, Marist 7
Quarterback Harrison Faulkner scored on a 2-yard run with 3:58 left to break a 7-7 tie at the end of a 78-yard, 13-play drive to give North Oconee a 14-7 victory over Marist in the Class 4A championship game Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was the first football state title in school history for the Titans.
Class A Division II: Bowdon 34, Brooks County 14
The Class A Division II championship game, closer than the score suggested, turned in Bowdon’s favor in the final two minutes of the first half when Brooks County suffered a poor snap to its punter from its backup center. Bowdon, trailing 14-7, recovered on the Brooks County 13-yard line and scored in five plays.
Flag football Division 2: Greenbrier 18, North Oconee 0
Kenzie Horton threw two touchdown passes and the Greenbrier defense held North Oconee to 47 total yards (minus-14 rushing) Monday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium as the Wolfpack won a state championship for the second consecutive season.