2019 GHSA STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Class AAAAAAA Marietta vs. Lowndes Saturday, December 14 | 8:00 PM By Craig Sager II
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MARIETTA 12-2 REGION 3 NO. 2 SEED
arietta achieved its first 12-win season since 1994 with its 42-31 win over Parkview in the semifinals and now the Blue Devils’ are set to make their first finals appearance since the program captured the title in 1967. Leading this year’s successful run has been a roster of college-bound and highly-touted Class of 2020 prospects. Quarterback Harrison Baily has thrown for 4,000 yards off 251-of-362 passing (69.3 percent) with 44 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Senior running back Kimani Vidal has racked up 1,511 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. As for the receiving corps, five-star Arik Gilbert has 90 catches and 1,614 receiving yards with 12 touchdowns, Ricky White has 92 catches with 1,246 receiving yards with 14 touchdowns and Taji Johnson has 39 catches for 649 yards and 8 touchdowns. Unlike previous postseasons that have been impacted by injuries, Marietta is arriving stronger than ever to Georgia High School Football’s ultimate stage.
2019 RESULTS ROME..........................................................48-14 W ST. JOSEPH’S PREP (PA).............................21-17 W COLLINS HILL...............................................28-9 W GRAYSON.....................................................28-14 L EDGEWATER (FL).........................................39-24 W NORTH PAULDING.......................................49-21 W MCEACHERN................................................14-12 L
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NORTH COBB..............................................63-35 W HILLGROVE.................................................38-17 W KENNESAW MOUNTAIN...............................41-14 W CAMDEN COUNTY.......................................41-13 W MILTON.......................................................38-24 W MILL CREEK................................................42-10 W PARKVIEW..................................................42-31 W
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LOWNDES 14-0, REGION 1 NO. 1 SEED
itting one win away from taking home the program’s sixth all-time state title, Lowndes is making its first championship appearance since its successful 2007 title run. This year’s Vikings team has excelled on both sides of the football—averaging 39.6 ppg offensively and limiting opponents to just 11.3 ppg with a flawless 14-0 record that has propelled them to the top 10 in national polling. Sophomore quarterback Jacurri Brown is the mechanism that keeps all the levers operating in Lowndes’ explosive offense and he has already contributed 1,253 passing yards and 1,508 rushing yards this season. In the Vikings’ 49-28 victory over North Gwinnett in the semifinals, Lowndes was able to explode to a 42-14 lead at the half before the Bulldogs chipped away at the deficit in the second half. This was achieved, despite senior running back and 2019 Region 1-AAAAAAA Player of the Year Gary Osby, sidelined for the third-straight week with an injury.
2019 RESULTS DREW............................................................69-6 W CHAMPAGNAT CATHOLIC (FL).....................44-14 W PARKVIEW....................................................38-7 W EAST COWETA...............................................27-3 W MIAMI NORTHWESTERN (FL)......................48-21 W VALDOSTA.....................................................24-0 W WARE COUNTY..............................................45-7 W
TIFT COUNTY.................................................28-0 W CAMDEN COUNTY.......................................45-13 W COLQUITT COUNTY......................................28-17 W HILLGROVE...................................................38-8 W NORCROSS.................................................44-14 W GRAYSON....................................................28-20 W NORTH GWINNETT.......................................49-28 W
