The Stories Beyond the Final Scores: Top 8 Takeaways From the 2024 GHSA Football State Championship Games
ITG Next High School Football 2024 All-America Team
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Grayson Boys and Girls Basketball on Track to Repeat as State Champions in 2025
ITG Next 2024 Georgia High School Football All-State Team
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Appling County Athletics Thriving Under Direction of Jordan Mullis The Stories Beyond the Final Scores:Top 8 Takeaways From the 2024 GHSA Football State Championship Games
Grayson Boys and Girls Basketball on Track to Repeat as State Champions in 2025 ITG Next 2024 Georgia High School Football All-State Team
Coffee Football Player Zean Preston Voted ITG Next’s December 2024 Georgia Male Athlete of the Month
Is Georgia the King of High School Quarterbacks Nationwide?
ITG Next Sends Middle and High School Student-Athletes to 80th Annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for Free Top 10 Performers From 2024 Georgia High School Football State Championships
Georgia High School Football Head Coaching Changes
Bacon County Basketball Player Makayla Thomas Voted ITG Next’s December 2024 Georgia Female Athlete of the Month
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Having already done so within the state of Georgia, we here at ITG Next now release our first ever All-America Team from the 2024 high school football season. This is compiled from all 50 states across the country and includes some of the best prospects that high school football has to offer from the 2025 Class and future cycles.
Split into offense, defense, and special teams, here is who we chose as the best-of-the-best in high school football this past fall.
QB – Keelon Russell, Duncanville (TX), C/O 2025 2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 69.4% completion percentage
• 4,177 yards passing
• 55-4 TD-INT ratio
• 33 carries
• 321 yards rushing
• 3 TDs rushing
Alabama signee Keelon Russell had a phenomenal senior season in which he led Duncanville (Texas) to a 13-1 overall record and a 6A D1 state semifinals appearance.
Across those 14 games, Russell posted a 69.4% completion percentage with 4,177 yards passing and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 55-to-4. He also rushed for three more scores.
RB – Alvin Henderson, Elba (AL), C/O 2025 2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 276 carries
• 3,620 yards rushing
• 61 TDs rushing
You will be hard-pressed to find more eye-opening stats than what was a reality for Alvin Henderson with the Elba Tigers out of Alabama. The Auburn signee rushed for 3,620 yards and 61 touchdowns on a total of 276 attempts while leading the Tigers to an 11-3 record and a Class 1A semifinals appearance.
RB – Conor Booth, Bishop Neumann (NE), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 13 games):
• 266 carries
• 2,956 yards rushing
• 50 TDs rushing
Conor Booth helped lead Bishop Neumann (Nebraska) to an 11-2 record and a Class C2 state runner-up finish by posting some eye-opening numbers. Offensively, the senior had 266 carries for 2,956 yards and 50 touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per attempt.
WR – Quentin Gibson, North Crowley (TX), C/O 2025 2024 Stats (across 16 games):
• 93 receptions
• 2,009 yards receiving
• 36 TDs receiving
Quentin Gibson was likely the nation’s most productive wide receiver in 2024, leading North Crowley (Texas) to an undefeated 16-0 season that resulted in a Class 6A Division I state title. The Colorado signee ended the year with 93 receptions for 2,009 yards and 36 touchdowns.
WR – Jayvan Boggs, Cocoa (FL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 99 receptions
• 2,133 yards receiving
• 21 TDs receiving
Jayvan Boggs was a standout once again at Cocoa (Florida), helping lead the Tigers to a Class 2A state title and an 11-3 record. In all, Boggs hauled in 99 receptions for 2,133 yards and 21 touchdowns across 14 games.
Written by: Matt Melton
WR – Talyn Taylor, Geneva (IL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 84 receptions
• 1,617 yards receiving
• 24 TDs receiving
UGA signee Talyn Taylor helped lead Geneva (Illinois) to a 12-2 overall record and a Class 6A state runner-up finish. Across 14 games, Taylor hauled in 84 receptions for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns.
TE – Ethan Barbour, Milton (GA), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 51 receptions
• 989 yards receiving
• 12 TDs receiving
Ethan Barbour, another UGA signee, was a key factor in the success of Milton (Georgia), a team that went 15-0 to win the Class 5A state title. During the season, Barbour had 51 receptions for 989 yards and 12 touchdowns.
OL – Jackson Cantwell, Nixa (MO), C/O 2026
2024 Stats: N/A
One of the nation’s premier juniors, Jackson Cantwell led Nixa (Missouri) to a 13-1 overall record in which the Eagles finished as the Class 6 state runner-up. Nixa’s offense averaged 43.1 points per game with 3,710 yards and 58 touchdowns on the ground.
OL – Davis Sanders Jr., Providence Day (NC), C/O 2025
2024 Stats: N/A
A Tennessee signee, Davis Sanders Jr. led North Carolina’s Providence Day to a 9-3 record and a Division 1 state runner-up finish. Their offense averaged 39.9 PPG with 1,652 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns on the ground.
OL – Michael Carroll, IMG Academy (FL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats: N/A
Alabama signee Michael Carroll was likely the most impactful player for an IMG Academy (Florida) team that went 7-2. Carroll paved the way for an Ascenders offense that averaged 29.7 PPG.
OL – Kodi Greene, Mater Dei (CA), C/O 2026
2024 Stats: N/A
Kodi Greene, an Oregon signee, helped pave the way for a Mater Dei team that was not only California’s best in 2024, but likely the nation’s best. Mater Dei’s offense averaged 36.8 PPG on the way to an undefeated 13-0 season.
OL – Seuseu Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman (NV), C/O 2025
2024 Stats: N/A
Bishop Gorman (Nevada) ended the season with an 11-1 overall record and a Class 5A Division I state title, and Miami signee Seuseu Alofaituli was a big reason why. Alofaituli paved the way for a Gaels team that averaged 47.8 PPG offensively.
DL – Bryce Davis, Grimsley (NC), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 16 games):
• 125 tackles
• 37 TFLs
• 27 sacks
Duke signee Bryce Davis enjoyed a monster senior season for Grimsley (North Carolina), leading a talented Whirlies team to an undefeated 16-0 record and a 4A state title. Across 16 games, Davis amassed 125 tackles with 37 tackles for loss and 27 sacks.
DL – Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo (CA), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 11 games):
• 105 tackles
• 44 ½ TFLs
• 23 sacks
Jaden Williams helped lead Mission Viejo (California) to a 10-1 overall record in which their lone loss came in the CIF Division 1 quarterfinals. Williams, a senior, compiled a total of 105 tackles, 44 ½ TFLs, and 23 sacks across 11 games.
DL – Javion Hilson, Cocoa (FL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 86 tackles
• 30 TFLs
• 18 sacks
Javion Hilson made an impact for Cocoa, which went 11-3 to win the Class 2A state title. Hilson, a Missouri signee, was one of Florida’s top pass rushers, amassing 86 tackles, 30 TFLs, and 18 sacks across 14 games.
DL – Zion Grady, Enterprise (AL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 13 games):
• 70 tackles
• 28 TFLs
• 14 sacks
Ohio State signee Zion Grady led Enterprise (Alabama) to an 8-5 overall record and a Class 7A state semifinals appearance. Grady ended the season with 70 tackles, 28 TFLs, and 14 sacks.
LB – Tyler Atkinson, Grayson (GA), C/O 2026
2024 Stats (across 13 games):
• 166 tackles
• 32 TFLs
• 13 sacks
Tyler Atkinson was among the nation’s top juniors in 2024, leading Grayson (Georgia) to a Class 6A state title and a 14-1 overall record. Across 13 games, Atkinson racked up 166 tackles, 32 TFLs, and 13 sacks.
LB – Nehemiah Borner, Duncanville (TX), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 163 tackles
• 21 ½ TFLs
• 8 sacks
Nehemiah Borner was a key member for a Duncanville (Texas) team that went 13-1 overall with a Class 6A D1 state semifinals appearance. Borner, a senior, ended the season with 163 tackles, 21 ½ TFLs, and eight sacks.
LB – Elliott Schaper, Westlake (TX), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 16 games):
• 128 tackles
• 28 TFLs
• 12 sacks
• 3 INTs
One of the top teams in Texas, Westlake was led defensively by Elliott Schaper on their way to a 14-2 record and a Class 6A D1 runner-up finish. Schaper ended the year with 128 tackles, 28 TFLs, and 12 sacks.
DB – Devin Sanchez, North Shore (TX), C/O 2025
2024 Stats: N/A
Devin Sanchez led North Shore (Texas) to a 14-1 record that resulted in a Class 6A Division I semifinals appearance. North Shore’s defense allowed only 14.3 PPG to opponents, with Sanchez being a big reason why.
DB – Anquon Fegans, Thompson (AL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 13 games):
• 81 tackles
• 9 TFLs
• 6 INTs
Auburn signee Anquon Fegans led Thompson (Alabama) to a Class 7A state title and an 11-3 record. Across 13 games, Fegans amassed 81 tackles with nine TFLs and six interceptions.
DB – Na’eem Offord, Parker (AL), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 14 games):
• 46 tackles
• 4 INTs
Na’eem Offord helped lead Parker (Alabama) to a Class 6A state title in 2024 on their way to a 14-1 overall record. Offord, an Oregon signee, ended the season with 46 tackles and four interceptions.
DB – Faheem Delane, Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD), C/O 2025
2024 Stats (across 12 games):
• 97 tackles
• 7 TFLs
• 2 sacks
• 3 INTs
Faheem Delane had a strong season for Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland), helping lead the program to a 7-5 record with a Capital runner-up finish. Across 12 games, Delane posted 97 tackles with seven TFLs, two sacks, and three interceptions.
K – Dillon Curtis, Murray (UT), C/O 2025 2024 Stats (across 11 games):
• 39-of-39 PATs
• 21-of-27 FGs
Dillon Curtis was the nation’s leader in made field goals this past season. He made 21-of-27 field goals, including a long of 63 yards, for Murray (Utah) across 11 games. Curtis, a senior, also made every extra point attempt for the Spartans, who finished 6-5 with a 4A firstround playoff appearance.
P – Mason Crosby, Chaparral (CO), C/O 2025 2024 Stats:
• 40 punts
• 2,015 yards punting
• 50.4 AVG/PUNT
Mason Crosby was one of the nation’s most impressive punters during the 2024 season, as the senior averaged 50.4 yards per punt. The Chaparral (Colorado) standout punted a total of 40 times for 2,015 yards.
KR/PR – Jaiydyn Johnson, New Diana (Texas), C/O 2025 2024 Stats (across 11 games):
• 5 kickoff returns
• 155 yards
• 21 punt returns
• 860 yards
• 8 TDs
Jaiydyn Johnson was one of the nation’s most exciting punt returners, helping lead the New Diana (Texas) program to an 11-1 overall record and a Class 3A Division II second-round playoff appearance. The senior averaged 41 yards per punt return across 11 games and returned eight punts for touchdowns.
So, who did we miss? Are there any players you would have selected for ITG Next’s 2024 High School Football All-America Team over any of the names mentioned above?
Written by: Phil Jones
Photography by: Faizan Bokhari
By now you know the winners, and you know the scores. You know the players, the coaches, and who did what. The 2024 GHSA football state championship games saw great personal and team accomplishments, but these are the stories beyond the final scores.
Carrollton High School’s football program is one of the best in the state, having made it to two state title games in the past four seasons.
They have some of the best facilities among Georgia high school programs.
Their starting quarterback for the last four years, Julian “JuJu” Lewis, had a solid high school football career, during which he accumulated 11,010 yards passing, 144 touchdowns, and a 39-4 record as a starter. Lewis was the first ever high school athlete since Lebron James to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, and he has a five-star status as the nation’s top-rated QB by most recruiting services.
Despite all that, it was the Grayson Rams who stole the bright spotlight at Mercedes Benz Stadium with a suffocating defense against Lewis and the Carrollton Trojans to win the 2024 GHSA Class 6A football state championship.
Fair or not, fans have a short memory, and many will remember Lewis for his stats in his final high school game: five sacks, two interceptions, 1 fumble, and zero state titles.
Yes, Lewis did end up completing 30-of-42 passes for 333 yards with two TD passes. However, to borrow
an age-old football adage, defense wins championships. That was the difference in this one.
This 2024 GHSA football state championship win was Grayson’s fourth overall state title and the first for head coach Santavious Bryant in just his second season as the Rams’ head coach.
Joey King, who is the highest paid high school football coach in Georgia, is still without a state title as the head football coach at Carrollton. The 2024 season was his fourth season leading the Trojans.
The Milton Eagles have proven they are the best team in Georgia high school football’s Class 5A, and it’s likely they are the best team in Georgia overall.
The Eagles are GHSA state champions for the second straight season after defeating Hughes 56-35 in the 2024 title game.
Milton actually scored 56 points in each of its final three playoff games. Prior to the 56-35 state title win, Milton won 56-14 over Houston County in Round 3 and 56-28 over an undefeated Lee County squad in the semifinals.
The 2024 GHSA football state championship win was Milton’s third overall.
How dominant was Milton in this game against a very good Hughes team, who won the state championship in 2022?
Consider this: After surviving explosive offenses from both teams in the first half, Milton led 42-35 at halftime. Then the Eagles showed just how complete a football team they are when their defense stepped up to shut out Hughes 14-0 in the second half.
Milton’s performance in this Class 5A state final concluded one of the most dominant overall seasons I’ve ever seen from any program, which prompts the question: Is Milton the best high school football team in the nation?
The final MaxPreps national high school poll ranked California’s Mater Dei at No. 1 and Milton at No. 2, which prompts another question: If these two teams faced off, who would win? (Look for our upcoming article on what that matchup could look like.)
Winning a state championship is great. Winning your first state championship is as good as it gets. Losing your first game of the season in the state title game, however, is as rough as it gets.
After coming close in previous seasons, with losses in back-to-back semifinals appearances in 2021 and 2022, the North Oconee Titans and head coach Tyler Aurandt finally broke through that barrier to defeat the Marist War Eagles 14-7 in the 2024 GHSA Class 4A football state championship game and win the school’s first football state title.
The matchup between Marist and North Oconee was the only 2024 championship contest that featured two undefeated teams.
Marist head coach Alan Chadwick’s team entered the game as one of the state’s few, true triple-option offenses. That style of offense and great defense has put them in eight state title games, including this one in 2024, and won them 3 state championships.
North Oconee, on the other hand, featured a more balanced offense that was averaging over 220 yards passing per game and 170 yards rushing per game this season.
As different as the offenses have been this year, the two defenses were a lot alike: stingy. Entering the championship game, North Oconee had allowed an average of 9.6 points per game, while the Marist defensive unit had given up an average of 9.2 points per game. A 14-7 final score is what we should have expected.
Remember the name Trace Hawkins. The freshman quarterback led Calhoun to its first state title since 2017 by engineering two impressive offensive drives to start the game, putting the Yellow Jackets in front by two touchdowns. Hawkins and his teammates went on to win the 2024 GHSA Class 3A football state championship game 20-7 over the Jefferson Dragons.
While Hawkins and the Calhoun offense put the team out front early, staking it to a 17-7 halftime lead, their defense took over in the second half, holding Jefferson scoreless over the final two quarters.
Although Hawkins is a ninth-grader, his performance in this year’s Class 3A championship game is drawing comparisons to Trent Seaborn, who led his team to the Alabama Class 7A state title in 2022 as an eighth-grader.
Having a freshman QB lead your team to a state championship is a rarity because it’s difficult to do, which is why it’ll be fun keeping an eye on Hawkins as he returns to lead Calhoun’s offense for the next three seasons.
Who is the best active Georgia high school football coach? If I tell you his name, there’s a really good chance most of you have no idea who I’m talking about.
I’ll give you a hint: Remember Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy?
Jonathon Gess was the head coach of the Middle Georgia private school powerhouse when they dominated the GHSA’s 1A-Private classification. ELCA even went toe-to-toe against teams from all classifications under Gess during his 15-year career with the Chargers.
Gess won six state championships with ELCA before leaving in 2021 to take over at Hebron Christian Academy. Since then, ELCA has not played for a state championship.
In Gess’ fourth season as the Hebron Christian head coach, he made his way back to a familiar spot, winning the 2024 GHSA Class 1A-3A Private football state championship. This is Gess’ seventh overall football state title and the first for the Lions.
Hebron Christian rose up during the 2024 season in the GHSA’s Class 1A-3A Private state playoffs. During the regular season, they lurked in the shadows of front-runners Savannah Christian and Prince Avenue Christian. When North Cobb Christian upset Savannah Christian in Round 3 of the playoffs, the door opened for other contenders to battle for the top spot.
Hebron Christian made their way into the state title game, which was a rematch against Prince Avenue Christian, who many thought were the team to beat. Prince Avenue Christian and head coach Greg Vandagriff were looking for their third straight state title and had defeated Hebron Christian back on November 1 in regular-season play. The rematch went to Gess and the Hebron Christian Lions.
Is Hebron Christian now set to become another dynasty under Gess? Will a team from one of the state’s larger classifications go after them?
We’ll be watching.
Great players are a big reason why teams win state titles, but if you take a look at the teams playing for a state championship, chances are you’ll find great coaches.
It’s no surprise that Burke County and Carver (Columbus) had 13 wins each headed into the state championship game. It’s no surprise that Burke County and Carver were each playing for their second football state title. One look at the two head coaches tells you all you need to know.
Burke County head coach Franklin Stephens led the Bears to the 2024 GHSA Class 2A football state championship game in just his second season with the team. The last time the Bears had appeared in a state championship game was in 2011, when they won it.
This is the third different team Stephens has led to a state championship game. He also took Lamar County to the finals in 2013, and he won state titles with Tucker in 2008 and 2011.
Pierre Coffey returned to Carver as the head football coach in 2023 after previously serving under the legendary Dell McGee at Carver from 2011 to 2014.
In just his second season leading the Carver Tigers, Coffey brought them back to the state championship game for the first time since 2021, when they lost to Benedictine for the Class 4A title under previous head coach Corey Joyner.
Prior to 2024, the last time Carver had won a state championship was in 2007. It was a long, 17-year wait, but they are once again champs.
I have two big takeaways from the 2024 GHSA Class 1A-Division II football state championship game.
Brooks County head football coach
Josh McFather doesn’t have to worry about walking in anyone else’s shoes.
Brooks County was my preseason pick to win the Class 1A-Division II state championship. I picked McFather’s team to finish 12-3, including a win in the state title game.
That didn’t happen, but I have no doubt Brooks County will be back. I think McFather is one of the best young coaches in the state, and taking his team to the state title game in his first year as head coach is remarkable in and of itself.
Following up behind a head coach like Maurice Freeman, who is an institution in Georgia high school football, means McFather was walking in some mighty big shoes this season. Add to that having an “interim” tag hanging on him like a couple of 50-pound dumbbells, and you can imagine the pressure of it all becoming pretty heavy.
Well, McFather has now officially taken off the “interim” tag, and the only shoes he’ll be walking in going forward are his own.
Second, head coach Rich Fendley leading the Red Devils to their third straight state title is only part of the story when it comes to the Bowdon football team.
Remember when Bowdon finished 1-9 under Fendley? It was in 2018. Fendley had just been hired to take over the struggling program, and he had 27 players to work with.
Fortunately, the memories of that season were short lived, and the very next season, Fendley’s team won eight games with just three losses.
Bowdon then won consecutive region titles in 2020 and 2021, followed by consecutive state titles in 2022, 2023, and, now, 2024.
Do you know what the secret sauce was and still is? Winning five straight state championships in weightlifting.
In our football preseason look at the Red Devils, Fendley shared with me how much time and energy had gone into developing Bowdon’s competitive weightlifting program, crediting much of the football team’s success to what first took place in the weightroom.
“There’s nothing better for building their confidence,” Fendley said in our preseason interview about the weightlifting program’s effect on his football players.
One team ended their agony this season, and the other now waits another year to try to end theirs.
The 2024 GHSA football state championship games will be known for many firsts, including the battle for a first state title between Toombs County and Northeast in Class 1A-Division I. Entering the game, the two programs had been waiting for a combined 87 years to win a football state championship.
Toombs County High School opened its doors in 1987, but had never hoisted a state championship trophy until now. Toombs County’s 38-18 win over the Northeast Raiders in the 2024 state title game ended a 38-year wait for the Bulldogs.
Northeast’s drought of consecutive seasons without a football state championship is even longer. The Raiders have been waiting just one year shy of five decades. Yikes.
It’s no secret that football teams from Bibb County public schools have struggled over the past few years… well, make that decades. The last time a public school from Macon won a football state championship was in 1975, when Central won in Class 3A under head coach Gene Brodie.
The streak continues.
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Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: ITG Next Archive
A successful and well-rounded high school athletics program takes talent, leadership, and consistency across all teams within the program.
At Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia, the Pirates have been able to do that just as well as any school in South Georgia, or even in
the state of Georgia for that matter, over the past four seasons under Jordan Mullis, who has served as both the head football coach and athletic director.
Appling County’s teams have finished at or near the top of their region standings with several region titles, runner-up finish-
es, and state championships since Mullis assumed his athletic director duties.
Despite the success, Mullis decided to step away from the demanding schedule that is required to oversee an athletic department of 19 varsity teams. He resigned his post as athletic director effective Jan. 1 of this year,
but remains the head football coach at Appling County.
Seth Taylor was promoted to the role of athletic director at the high school after previously serving as Appling County Middle School’s athletic director.
Still, there’s no denying the accomplishments of Appling County athletics under Mullis.
According to Mullis, the Appling County football team has played in 14 rounds of state playoffs, winning their region title in three of the last four seasons. They advanced to the semifinals three times over that four year stretch, losing to the eventual state champion each time.
The Appling County baseball team has won an average of 21 games each season over the past four seasons. During that time, the team finished as region champions twice and as region runners-up twice, made two state semifinals appearances, and finished as the state title runner-up once.
The Appling County softball team has won three region titles and captured two state championships over the past four years. They advanced to a third state championship game and finished as the state runner-up.
The Appling County boys soccer team enjoyed its best season
in four years in 2024, finishing 15-6 overall, including a 9-5 region mark and a No. 3 seed in the state playoffs.
Mullis agreed that the athletics program’s success comes from the leadership, talent, and consistency of each of the school’s teams, but he said the most important ingredient behind Appling County’s athletic success can be described with one word: investment.
“There’s been three keys to our success here at Appling since I took over here as the athletic director four years ago, and
each one required an investment of some kind from everyone,” Mullis said.
Mullis explained those three key points and how each has contributed to the success of Appling County athletics.
“Number one has been an investment in our weight room and the strength and conditioning program,”
Mullis said. “We converted our old gymnasium into a new weight room, which morethan-doubled the size of the weight room facility. Every athlete benefits from strength training and condition-
ing, both physically and mentally. I wanted to improve on the discipline of our student athletes.”
The second key point for Mullis was investing in people, mostly with coaches.
“Interviewing and making a commitment to hiring better and more capable coaches was important to us,” he said.
The third key point was an investment in the athletic facilities, which have undergone a major facelift under Mullis.
“Four years ago, we were significantly behind with our athletic facilities, so we made a major investment in upgrading just about every area of our athletics,” Mullis said. Those improvements included resurfacing the track, putting down new turf on the football field, and installing new lights at the football stadium.
One of the more noticeable additions is a new concessions pavilion, which was constructed in 2023, just outside the west end of the football stadium. It provides fans with a large seating area, complete with tables, to enjoy food while being able to view the game.
Mullis said the improvements were all completed over a 36-month period at an investment of between $6 million to $8 million.
There’s no question that Appling County High School is invested in athletics.
Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: ITG Next Archive
The Grayson High School boys and girls basketball teams are exactly where they want to be as the 2024-25 regular season winds down toward the region tournaments.
Both the boys team of head coach Geoffrey Pierce and the girls team of head coach Tim Slater are looking to defend their 2024 state titles; so far, both squads are looking as strong as ever.
To borrow some basketball slang, the boys and girls aren’t just running it back from last year, however. Both teams underwent serious personnel changes. With the girls losing six seniors from last season’s team and the boys graduating five seniors, Pierce and Slater didn’t have the benefit of returning the same starting five as last year. According to Slater, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, though.
“We lost a lot of talent, and because of that, right away people counted us out before the
“We lost a lot of talent, and because of that, right away people counted us out before the season even started.”
Tim Slater, Grayson girls basketball head coach
season even started,” Slater said.
To add fuel to the naysayers’ fire, the Grayson girls lost their opening game of the season.
“So we go out and lose to a really good Cherokee team, who were ranked No. 5 in the state,” Slater said.
The naysayers only got louder, but Slater said it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“If there was any complacency with our girls, it went away really quick,” he said.
Slater said his team had a chip on their shoulder after that loss and began to play “angry.”
“It really took the pressure off of us and made our girls refocus,” he said.
They haven’t lost since and are on a 21-game winning streak as they enter the final week of the regular season. They are undefeated in region play and will likely sew up the top seed heading into the region tournament in February.
Slater said that of his four seniors, three will be heading off to play college basketball once they are done at Grayson.
“Seniors Tatum Brown, Jayla Bennett, and Jahmaica Clegg are all going on to play college basketball when their careers are done here,” Slater said. “Our fourth senior, Joy Garrison, is an elite flag football player and will probably continue playing in college too.”
Brown plays guard and has committed to Jacksonville University. Bennett is the team’s 5-foot-4-inch point guard, and she announced earlier this year her commitment to Oglethorpe University. Klegg has committed to play her college basketball with South Georgia Tech.
“This 2025 Class is a really special group,” Slater said. “They have been instrumental in our success here, and they will graduate with over 100 wins by the time they leave us and with at least one state title and one region title.”
Slater and Grayson fans hope there’s more in store.
Pierce’s boys also lost some of the key pieces from last season’s state championship squad, but some new transfers have helped maintain the championship balance the Rams displayed throughout the entire 2024 season.
Pierce said there are some differences between last year’s team and this year’s team.
“Last year, those guys had played together for a few years, so they were all very familiar with each other,” Pierce said. “They were also very familiar with us as coaches. This year, of course, we have had some new faces come in, so there was a little bit of a learning curve for them with each other and for our staff to get to know and learn about their strengths and so forth.
“I told them before we started that there would be some bumps in the road and a bit of a learning curve, but as a group everything has worked out fine.”
Jacob Wilkins, who is the son of former NBA great Dominique Wilkins, was one of the key members from last year who returned this year. He has once again served as the floor leader of the boys team.
Wilkins has plenty of support around him this season, including 6-foot-5 shooting guard Caleb Holt, who transferred during the offseason to Grayson from Buckhorn High School in New Market, Alabama. Holt was Alabama’s 2024 Mr. Basketball and led Buckhorn to back-to-back state
“I think we are in a good spot. I like our focus, and recordwise we are pretty much in the same spot we were a year ago, so that’s a good thing.”
Geoffrey Pierce, Grayson boys basketball head coach
championships. Holt was also the 2023-24 Gatorade Alabama Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
With the postseason looming, the Grayson boys team is right on par with where they were a year ago at this same point in the season. With a 20-2 overall record and a perfect region mark of 9-0 at the time of writing, they have the same amount of losses as they did last year at this point. They are the state’s top team in Class 6A and are the No. 12 ranked team in MaxPreps’ national boys basketball poll.
The boys team’s two losses so far this season came to out-of-state opponents that happen to be national powerhouses: Florida’s Miami Columbus and California’s Sierra Canyon, which has Bryce James, who is the son of Lebron James, on the roster.
Those losses mean nothing except that they helped make the Grayson boys team better, which is exactly what Pierce had in mind when scheduling those teams.
Pierce said he feels good about where his team is as they head into the region tournament.
“I think we are in a good spot,” he said. “I like our focus, and record-wise we are pretty much in the same spot we were a year ago, so that’s a good thing.”
Pierce did not shy away when asked about his team’s chances of repeating as state champion.
“I think we are in a good spot,” he said. “I like our chances.”
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Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Phil Jones
ITG Next welcomed hundreds of middle school and high school student-athletes and their coaches to Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, on Jan. 2, 2025, as part of the annual TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Takeover.
As in past years, the student-athletes came from various schools around South Georgia and North Florida, and they were treated to a great day of football, food, and fun.
This bowl game has become one of the premier contests in college football, growing in popularity and fan attendance while hosting great teams every year.
The 80th Annual Taxslayer Gator Bowl was no exception as the Ole Miss Rebels and the Duke Blue Devils gave fans on both sides plenty to cheer about. Ole Miss jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead. Despite a comeback attempt by Duke late in the fourth-quarter, the Rebels staved off the Blue Devils and cruised to a 52-20 victory to cap off a 10-win season for head coach Lane Kiffin’s team.
Prior to the game, ITG Next provided the student-athletes and their coaches with convenient parking, game tickets, and a meal, all at no cost to them.
Be sure to ask your school about joining the ITG Next TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Takeover next year!
Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Faizan Bokhari
ITG Next introduces our first ever Georgia High School Football All-State Team. Ours is a bit different from others, however. We didn’t make any Second Team or Third Team or honorable mention selections. Instead, we only picked the best-of-the-best players at their respective positions on offense, defense, and special teams. Let the debates begin.
• QB – Luke Nickel, Milton, C/O 2025
• RB – TJ Lester, Milton, C/O 2025
• RB – Ousmane Kromah, Lee County, C/O 2025
• TE – Ethan Barbour, Milton, C/O 2025
• OL – Brayden Jacobs, Milton, C/O 2025
• OL – Alex Payne, Gainesville, C/O 2025
• OL – Josh Petty, Fellowship Christian, C/O 2025
• OL – Dontrell Glover, Langston Hughes, C/O 2025
• OL – Juan Gaston, Westlake, C/O 2025
• WR – CJ Wiley, Milton, C/O 2025
• WR – Aaron Gregory, Douglas County, C/O 2026
There were so many choices, but I tried to select the players by asking myself this question: If I only had one shot at creating a team that could win any state championship anywhere, which players would I choose?
Luke Nickel first jumped out to me in the 2023 Class 7A state quarterfinals playoff game against Colquitt County. The Milton quarterback, a junior at the time, took over that game and almost single-handedly willed his team to a 39-37 win against one of the best defenses in the state. That made me believe that I was seeing the best player at his position then, and his performance throughout the 2024 season was just about flawless.
Tight end was probably the toughest choice I had to make. 2024 was the year of the tight end, but I thought Milton’s Ethan Barbour commanded opposing defenses more than any other player.
Selections for running backs were maybe the most straight forward of all the positions. It’s not that there weren’t many great backs to choose from. It’s that Lee County’s Ousmane Kromah and Milton’s TJ Lester were simply difference-makers.
• DE – Isaiah Gibson, Warner Robins, C/O 2025
• DE – Cam Brooks, Thomas County Central, C/O 2026
• DL – Justus Terry, Manchester, C/O 2025
• DL – Elijah Griffin, Savannah Christian, C/O 2025
• DL – Deuce Geralds, Collins Hill, C/O 2026
• LB – Tyler Atkinson, Grayson, C/O 2026
• LB – Zayden Walker, Schley County, C/O 2025
• LB – Xavier Griffin, Gainesville, C/O 2026
• LB – Tavion Wallace, Appling County, C/O 2025
• DB – Tae Harris, Cedartown, C/O 2025
• DB – Dalen Penson, Sandy Creek, C/O 2025
When I began selecting our All-State team, it had never really occurred to me how many great defensive players were in Georgia, especially linebackers, so that forced me to adopt a 3-4 alignment. That way, I could have four choices at the LB position, but I could also only pick three interior lineman up front, along with the two defensive ends. Man, this was hard. I fully understand that many will disagree with the selections here. Many athletes were deserving of All-State honors this year. We could have gone with Second Team and Third Team choices, but no. We decided to not take the easy way out.
• K – Brett Fitzgerald, Colquitt County, C/O 2025
• LS – Matthew Oh, Buford, C/O 2026
• P – Simon Zeidan, Harrison, C/O 2025
• KR/PR – Kendarius Reddick, Thomas County Central, C/O 2025
Coffee High School football player Zean Preston is ITG Next’s December 2024 Georgia Male Athlete of the Month.
Preston, a senior, has been a member of the Coffee football team his entire high school career, including in 2023 when the Trojans won the state championship. He is also a part of Coffee’s competitive weightlifting team.
Robert Preston, Zean Preston’s father, said his son grew up playing recreation flag and tackle football as a child, but wasn’t sure which position he wanted to play once he reached middle school.
“Zean absolutely loved playing foot-
ball, so much that he was truly a Swiss-army-knife kind of player, meaning he could play anywhere on the field wherever he was needed,” Robert Preston said.
A former middle school coach decided to put Zean Preston at receiver, and he caught his first touchdown as a sixth-grader.
That ability to play anywhere came in handy as he entered high school.
“Even though Zean had played mostly offense in middle school, the high school coaches began playing him on defense as an edge (and) outside linebacker, and he did well there too,” Robert Preston said.
In Zean Preston’s sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, he was playing on offense, defense, and special teams.
“Zean has a very good football IQ, as well as good speed and good hands,” his father said.
Coffee head football coach Mike Coe said: “Zean is the epitome of what I want our program to be about and stand for.
He’s a great student, a weight room junkie, is willing to play banged up, and is unselfish, which makes him a great teammate. He was a major on our special team units and was a huge reason our running game got going at the end of the
season. I would take a team full of Zean Preston’s 100% of the time.”
Speaking of being a weight room junkie, Zean Preston began devoting time to weightlifting in the sixth grade along with football, and that has been as much a love of his as being on the gridiron. He has qualified for nationals as part of the USA-sanctioned olympic weightlifting competitions.
“Zean has been a Top 5 nationally ranked weightlifter,” Robert Preston said.
“We have been all over the country with him to national weightlifting events.”
Zean Preston has 26 tackles over the
last three seasons on defense and special teams. He’s also contributed offensively with two rushing touchdowns in 2023 and two receiving touchdowns in 2024.
In addition to his abilities on the football field and in the weightroom, he is also devoted to his academics and has maintained a 4.0 GPA.
Written by: Phil Jones
Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Faizan Bokhari
The list of high school quarterbacks that the state of Georgia has produced is impressive. Many of the talented names on that list are or were ranked as five-, four-, or three-star recruits. Many have no stars by their names – yet, anyway.
Last year, the state of Georgia produced the nation’s No. 7 overall 2024 recruit in Dylan Raiola. The Buford High School quarterback went on to play collegiately for Nebraska, where he immediately became the starter for the Cornhuskers this past year.
The 2024 Georgia high school football season saw Carollton’s Julian “JuJu” Lewis ranked as the top quarterback for the entire season. The five-star recruit is headed to Colorado after switching his commitment from USC, where he had been committed to since his sophomore season.
The 2024 Georgia high school football season also saw Milton signal-caller Luke Nickel, who was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports, lead his team to a second straight state championship. While he was officially ranked as the No. 23 QB nationally, Nickel will be the highest-rated QB on the Miami Hurricanes’ 2025 roster. Nickel is also a pure winner who oversaw one of the most prolific offensive units in the state in his final two seasons as Milton’s starting QB.
So, yes, while Lewis, Raiola, and Nickel were at the top of the QB charts, the truth remains: There’s a lot more from where that came from. Georgia is just oozing with top QB talent.
Consider the 2024 recruiting class. According to 247Sports, 11 of the Top 100 quarterbacks in the 2024 Class were from Georgia. Three of those 11 were ranked within the Top 10, led by Railoa at No. 2 and including Benedictine’s Luke Kromenhoek at No. 4 and Langston Hughes’ Air Noland at No. 7. Kromenhoek is now at FSU, and Noland is now at South Carolina.
The remaining quarterbacks from Georgia among the Top 100 at the position from the 2024 Class were:
• Jake Merlinger from Calvary Day at No. 13
• Jeremy Hecklinski from Walton at No. 25
• Aaron Philo from Prince Avenue Christian at No. 47
• Jakhari Williams from First Presbyterian Day at No. 51
• Judd Anderson from Warner Robins at No. 53
• EJ Colson from Cedar Grove at No. 64
• Bryce Clavon from Kell at No. 76
• JD Davis II from Grayson at No. 89
That was an especially talented class, admittedly.
In the Class of 2025, Georgia high schools produced five quarterbacks that were ranked in the Top 100 at the position nationally. Although the total number from Georgia within the Top 100 was lower overall compared to the previous recruiting cycle, the quality of those QBs certainly wasn’t a question.
In addition to Lewis at No. 9 and Nickel at No. 23, the other Class of 2025 quarterbacks from Georgia ranked in Top 100 at the position are AJ Hill from Houston County at No. 10, Hezekiah Millender from Clarke Central at No. 79, and Marcus Romain from Wheeler at No. 87.
There are already a growing number of 2026 and even 2027 recruits rated at three-stars or higher who are preparing to lead their teams into the 2025 season. Eight quarterbacks from Georgia are ranked in the Top 100 at the position for the Class of 2026, with that number expected to grow as the 2025 season draws closer.
Of those eight, two will be returning starters who led their teams to a state championship in 2024 as juniors. Grayson quarterback Travis Burgess and his teammates capped off a 14-1 season by winning the Class 6A state title. North Oconee quarterback Harrison Faulkner led the Titans to an undefeated season and the Class 4A state title.
The six remaining 2026 QBs from Georgia who are ranked in the Top 100 at the position all led their teams to the state playoffs in 2024. They are Brodie McWhorter from Cass, Michael Johnson from Dutchtown, DJ Bordeaux from Douglas County, Stephen Cannon from Benedictine, Dayton Raiola from Buford, and Gavin Owens from Rabun Gap.
Whether they are ranked in this Top 100 or that Top 300 or whatever other recruiting service you want to look at, the fact remains that Georgia will have some serious quarterback talent to boast of in the next couple of seasons.
You’ll be hearing a lot from these quarterbacks in 2025 and beyond as they all are likely to be moving on to play collegiately following their high school careers.
Thomas County Central quarterback Jaylen Johnson led the Yellow Jackets to the 2023 GHSA Class 6A state championship as a sophomore. In 2024 Johnson led a Thomas County Central team that came within a game of playing for a second straight state championship. A loss to Langston Hughes in the Class 5A semifinals ended Thomas County Central’s season with an 11-2 record. Despite displaying a strong and accurate arm and above-average mobility, Johnson remains under-recruited. That will likely change for this three-year starter as he leads an explosive Thomas County Central offense in 2025.
Peachtree Ridge quarterback Darnell Kelly is ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals, and he has started to create a buzz following the 2024 season. The rising senior currently has 13 college offers. Expect that number to grow in 2025.
Carver (Columbus) quarterback Matthew Mungin III went 19-for-20 passing in the state title game versus Burke County. He threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns to lead Carver to the Class 2A state championship. This pro-style signal-caller will likely draw a lot of attention in 2025 as Carver will be a favorite to repeat for the title.
2025 will be Thomasville quarterback Camren Hill’s fourth year as a starter, as he took over the job as a freshman.
Other rising senior quarterbacks to keep an eye on in 2025 are Dutchtown’s Mike Johnson, Camden County’s Parks Riendeau, and Burke County’s Sean Vandiver.
Class of 2027: Younger QBs Making Names for Themselves
These QBs are already receiving a lot of attention as they prepare for their junior seasons in 2025:
• JR Harris at Central (Carrollton)
• Jayce Johnson at Lowndes
• Lyndon Worthy at Worth County
• Makyree Cross at Collins Hill
• Kain Mincey at Dodge County
• Braylon Carter at Southwest DeKalb
Yes, there are more. Georgia is blessed with quarterback talent.
There may be a state with more high school quarterback talent, but you’re going to have to prove it to me and the high school football fans in Georgia.
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Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: Faizan Bokhari
We give you our Top 10 performers from the 2024 Georgia high school football state championships.
Calhoun freshman quarterback Trace Hawkins led the Yellow Jackets to the Class 3A state championship, the school’s fifth title overall, with a standout performance versus Jefferson. Hawkins completed 16of-25 pass attempts for 184 yards passing. He also rushed for 47 yards on nine carries, one of which resulted in a 21yard rushing TD.
Grayson running back Elijah Miller had three rushing TDs on 20 carries, rushing for 109 yards total. He added two catch-
es for 11 yards receiving to pace the Rams to a 3824 win over Carrollton in the Class 6A state championship game.
Hebron Christian quarterback Tom Stallworth rushed for four TDs to lead the Lions to a 5628 upset win over Prince Avenue Christian in the Class 1A-3A Private state title game. Stallworth completed 9-of-15 passes for 172 yards and ran 20 times for 84 yards with four TDs.
Prince Avenue Christian quarterback Ben Musser rushed for 176 yards with three TDs, including an 80-yard romp for the Wolverines’ first
TD of the game. Musser also completed 15-of-23 pass attempts for 159 yards and one passing TD to lead his team against eventual state champion Hebron Christian.
Milton quarterback Luke Nickel showed why he is one of the best – if not the best – QBs to come out of Georgia high school football this year with a near-perfect performance in the final and biggest game of his high school career. The Miami-bound signal caller completed 21-of-22 pass attempts for 413 yards and four TDs.
Milton running back TJ Lester had 25 carries for 201 yards rushing with three TDs to help the Eagles defeat Hughes 5635 and win their straight state championship.
Carver (Columbus) wide receiver Kei’Maurii Miles had a night to remember with seven catches for 179 yards and three TDs to help his team win the Class 2A state title game 52-14 over Burke County.
Grayson linebacker
Tyler Atkinson had seven solo tackles, including three tackles for loss and two QB sacks, to stuff the Carrollton offense and lead his team to the Class 6A state title.
Calhoun kicker Carlos Lopez was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts, successfully kicking a 39yard field goal and a 48yard field goal. He was also successful on two extra point attempts to help the Yellow Jackets to a 20-7 win over Jefferson in the Class 2A state title game.
Toombs County cornerback and wide receiver Mike Polke made an impact in the Class 1A-Division I state title game, coming up big in all three phases of the game. He caught a 47yard touchdown pass to extend Toombs County’s lead over Northeast from 7-6 to 14-6. Polke later returned a kickoff 92-yards for a TD at the end of the first half to extend the lead from 14-12 to 2112. He completed the hat trick with an interception in the first half to help stop a Northeast drive.
Written by: Phil Jones | Photography by: ITG Next Archive
The new year has brought about several head coaching changes among Georgia high school football programs. Several of the coaches changing schools recently won state championships.
Last week, ITG Next broke the news that Daniel “Boone” Williams had left Langston Hughes to take over as the head football coach at Northside High School in Warner Robins. Williams replaces former Northside head coach Ben Bailey, who resigned after the 2024 season ended.
As of Jan. 17, a total of 51 changes involving Georgia high school football head coaches have occurred.
Williams is among the coaches who have won recent state championships who are moving on.
Lenny Gregory led Collins Hill to the 2021 Class 7A state championship and had most recently coached at Gordon Central. Gregory is the new head coach at Commerce.
Richard Morgan led Marietta to a state championship in 2019. He resigned following the 2024 season. Replacing him as head coach is Cameron Duke, who comes from Edgewater High School in Orlando.
Keith Maloof led Norcross to two state championships over his 26-year career with the Blue Devils. Corey Richardson replaces Maloof as head coach.
Gerry Romberg led Westiminster to a 2015 state title. He retired after serving as the Wildcats’ coach for 33 years. The new Westminster head coach will be Nelson Stewart, who served as Arch Manning’s head coach at Isidore Newman, a New Orleans private school.
Other notable head coaching changes include the following:
• Chris Prewett left Roswell and was named the new head coach at Dalton.
• Philip Jones left Brookwood (Snellville).
• Josh Ingram left Veterans.
• Darren Alford left Schley County.
• Kurt Napier left Murray County.
Despite being a top destination for high school head football coaches from other states, Georgia has experienced high turnover at the position in recent years.
Last year there were a total of 80 coaching changes among high school head football coaches in Georgia. Two years ago, the churn of head football coaches exceeded 100.
Last year there were a total of 80 coaching changes among high school head football coaches in Georgia. Two years ago, the churn of head football coaches exceeded 100.
Bacon County High School basketball player Makayla Thomas is ITG Next’s December 2024 Georgia Female Athlete of the Month.
Thomas, a sophomore, plays at forward and center for the Red Raiders.
She leads her team and Region 1 in Class 1A-Division I in blocked shots, rebounds, and double-doubles; is currently the second-leading scorer on her team; and ranks fourth overall in scoring in the region.
Thomas actually ranks near the top across all classifications in the state in blocked shots and rebounds. She’s currently ranked at No. 2 in GHSA girls basketball overall with an average of 7.2 blocks per game and ranked at No. 9 in the state in rebounds.
Crystal Thomas, Makayla Thomas’ mother, has coached her daughter in the past and now mentors the sophomore as she continues to excel at the high school level. Crystal Thomas said that although her daughter has played softball in the past, basketball is now the focus.
“Makayla began playing basketball at the age of 8, and that is her main sport,” Crystal Thomas said. “If she isn’t playing school basketball, she is playing and practicing with her AAU team.”
Makayla Thomas played AAU ball with Cam Sports Academy this past spring, but Crystal Thomas said her daughter will likely transition to a different team in 2025.
Sug Parker, the athletic director and girls basketball head coach for Bacon County High School, first arrived at the school when Makayla Thomas was an eighth-grader. Parker said he could tell right away that she possessed all the qualities of a great player.
“The first thing I noticed was her height; she was tall for an eighth-grader,” Parker said. “But then I began to see her willingness to work hard and do whatever it took to get better. She was not afraid to work hard.”
Now as a sophomore for the 7-3 Bacon County team, Makayla Thomas is versatile on the court and plays several roles for the team, according to Parker.
“She can play forward and center,” he said. “She plays both positions and takes care of our rebounds, and she’s our main shot-blocker. She can also put the ball in the basket. Makayla is our rim-to-rim protector.
“She has a very bright road ahead of her. Once her playing days in high school are over, she will have the opportunity to play for any school (college) she wants to.”
Like any good coach, Parker gave much of the credit for Makayla Thomas’ development and success to her mother.
“Makayla’s mom has always taken her to training and camps and made sure she has every opportunity to continue to become a more complete player,” Parker said. It sounds like Makayla Thomas is on her way to becoming just that.
Written
Written by: Phil Jones
Photography by: Mizanni Matthews
The 17th annual ITG Next South Georgia High School Football Banquet returned to The Patterson in downtown Valdosta in 2024 as high school football players from across South and Middle Georgia, along with their coaches, parents, and event sponsors, all gathered to celebrate another successful high school football season.
ITG Next founder Mark Dykes opened up the evening by welcoming attendees to the banquet before talking about the history of the event and how high school football has changed and grown throughout the years.
Bobby Willis, a former area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, gave the evening’s invocation, followed by a brief message of faith intended for the young men in the room. Attendees then enjoyed a dinner catered by Hog-N-Bones.
The keynote speaker for 2024 ITG Next South Georgia High School Football Banquet was Chris Musgrove, the founder and director of Chris Musgrove Ministries and FutureNow, a school assembly outreach program. Musgrove delivered a faith-based motivational message, challenging everyone in attendance to consider their direction in life and offering advice for anyone who was uncertain about if they were indeed headed down the right road. The engaging message was infused with humorous moments throughout and seemed to resonate with the audience.
Following Musgrove’s address to banquet attendees, the event recognized the top offensive and defensive players from high schools across South and Middle Georgia, as well as several major award winners, including the top overall offensive and defensive players and Coach of the Year.
All award winners were selected by the ITG Next staff, and with so many talented individuals to choose from, many days of candid discussions were required before finally settling on our winners.
Lee County running back Ousmane Kromah took home the overall Offensive Player of the Year award. Appling County linebacker Tevion Wallace was named the overall Defensive Player of the Year. The Forward Progress Award went to Valdosta quarterback Todd Robinson. Worth County quarterback Lyndon Worthy was named this year’s Scholar Athlete of the Year. Colquitt County kicker Brett Fitzgerald made it three straight seasons of being recognized as the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year went to one of the state’s most successful coaches in 2024. Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio led his Trojans to a 13-1 record, which included wins over defending state champions Thomas County Central and Coffee. He led Lee County to a region championship and an undefeated record in what was considered perhaps the toughest region from top to bottom, Region 2 in Class 5A.
Fabrizio brought his team within one game of the Class 5A state championship, playing Milton in the semifinals. The road matchup did not go Lee County’s way, but it was the end of another successful run in what was widely considered by most to be the toughest classification in the GHSA in 2024.
ITG Next wants to thank all the sponsors who made our 2024 South Georgia High School Football Banquet possible, including the Hughston Clinic, Farah & Farah, Georgia Sports Medicine, Valdosta Toyota, Vereen Sports Medicine, and VKTRY Performance Insoles.
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