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Class AAAAAAA Marietta vs. Lowndes Saturday, Dec. 14 | 8:00 PM
2019 GHSA STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Class AAAAAAA
Marietta vs. Lowndes Saturday, December 14 | 8:00 PM
By Craig Sager II
MARIETTA 12-2 REGION 3 NO. 2 SEED
Marietta 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.
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
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
LOWNDES 14-0, REGION 1 NO. 1 SEED
Sitting 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 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
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DECEMBER 13 & 14, 2019
When comparing the explosive offenses of Lowndes and Marietta, the differences are stylistic and not effectiveness. Marietta quarterback Harrison Bailey is coming off one of the best performances of his career, completing 24-of-28 attempts for 423 yards and five touchdowns in the semifinal win over Parkview. As for Lowndes, their quarterback Jacurri Brown and junior Austin Wright gashed North Gwinnett’s defense with 314 of the team’s 397 rushing yards in the 49-28 semifinal blowout. Lowndes’ ability to run the football could be a key to limiting Bailey and the Marietta offense’s possessions. Conversely, Marietta running back Kimani Vidal can also dictate the pace with his physical running.
#
Name
Gr.
Pos.
1
Rashad Torrence II
12
SS, FS
2
Arik Gilbert
12
TE, DE
3
Peter Warrick
12
LB, S
5
Harrison Bailey
12
QB
6
Gabriel Durham-Campbell
11
LB, WR
7
Ricky White
12
WR
8
Taji Johnson
12
WR, FS
9
Dawson Ellington
12
CB, RB
10
Kiersten Lee
12
OLB, TE
11
Rashun Bass
12
FS
12
Tyler Hughes
10
QB
13
Caen Hammond
12
WR, CB
16
Devion Hall
10
CB, WR
17
Harber Storey
11
FS, QB
18
Camden Overton
10
DE, TE
19
Zuri Johnson
10
WR, FS
20
Cooper Kipp
12
K
21
Daniel Martin
10
LB, TE
22
Carlos Cervantes
10
RB, OLB
23
Ty Burton
12
MLB, LS
24
Milon Jones
10
RB, DB
25
Paul Harris
11
WR, DB
26
Andre Stewart
10
CB, WR
27
James Knox
12
FB, DE
28
Kimani Vidal
12
RB
29
Eric Mitchell
12
DE, NG
30
John Turner
10
WR, DB
31
Jace Arnold
9
DB
33
Melvin Alexander
9
RB, LB
34
Levi Roberts
11
RB, LB
35
Jah’Vaughn Hamilton
10
CB, RB
36
Ellis Reed
10
RB, DB
37
Cameron Hickson
10
WR, FS
38
Larry Blevins
10
LB, FB
39
Yahmall Perez
10
LB
40
Carl Wilson
11
RB, LB
41
Benel Valentin
10
RB, LB
42
Maston Latham
10
WR, FS
43
Emmanuel Olatain
10
TE, LB
MARIETTA VS. LOWNDES CLASS AAAAAAA SKINNY
MARIETTA BLUE DEVILS (Marietta, GA) • Blue & White
45
Alijah Roberson
10
TE, DE
46
Jaden Gold
11
P, K
47
Allen Gruehn
10
OLB
48
Jimmie Craig
10
RB, LB
49
Ezrel Dorris
11
WR, DB
50
Ezekial Durham-campbell
10
T, DE
51
Cohl Husbands
12
MLB
52
King Hastings
11
G, LB
53
Labarron Kennedy Jr
12
DT, DE
54
Danny Lopez
12
G, DE
55
Matt Castaldo
11
DT, C
56
Clay Doyle
11
T, DT
57
Malkolm Wright
12
G, DT
58
BJ Ojulari
12
DE, OT
59
John Cassidy
9
DT, OT
61
Thomas McNeil
11
G, DT
62
Will Pieroni
12
C
63
Jake Maggard
9
C, DT
64
Micha Hargrove
11
DT, OT
65
Ben Smith
10
C, DT
67
Jordan Dawson
11
OT, DT
68
Broderick Tommie
9
DT, OT
71
Damien Jackson
10
OT, DT
72
Graison Peeples
11
OT, DT
73
Kameron Jackson
10
DT, OT
74
James Jones
11
DT, OT
75
Cameron Holmes
11
G, DT
76
Shawn Young
10
G, DT
77
Jake Wray
12
OT, DT
78
Javon Posey
11
G, DT
79
Nathaniel Nuesiri
11
OT, DT
80
Mitchell Walters
10
WR, DB
81
Renee Galomo
10
K
82
Carson Martin
11
K, P
83
John Peralta
10
WR, DB, K
84
Jermaine McCann
10
WR, DB
85
Jordan Ashley
10
WR, FS
86
Ladarian Johnson
10
WR, DB
87
Ricarious Jordan
12
TE, DE
88
William Bailey
10
WR, DB
89
Tyshawn Roscoe
12
WR, DE
#
Name
Gr.
Pos.
1
Zavion Anthony
11
S
1
Tony Wiseman
12
WR
2
Gary Osby
12
LB
3
Tiberius Drocea
12
OLB
4
Ferringhetti Brown
12
WR
4
Andrew Thigpen
10
RB
5
Josh Brown
12
CB
5
Tate McGhee
10
WR
6
Israel Mitchell
11
RB
7
Quinton Evans
12
WR
8
Tristin Bohler
10
QB
8
T.J. Quinn
11
S
9
Josh Downs
11
WR
10
Tydreke Thomas
10
RB
11
Jacurri Brown
10
QB
12
Josh Inman
11
WR
13
Justin Barron
10
WR
13
Cornelius Wright
12
WR
14
Josh Pickett
10
CB
15
Tylar Belcher
10
CB
15
CJ Tomlin
9
QB
16
Austin Wright
12
WR
17
Jaden Brinson
11
CB
18
Ramecia Burgman
11
CB
19
DaAunte Hunter
10
OLB
20
Ty Bridges
10
WR
20
Dennis Evans
10
RB
21
Justin Lee
11
RB
22
Noah Williams
11
OLB
23
DeShawn Taylor
12
RB
24
Brinston Williams
12
S
24
Marcus Close
11
CB
25
Zeb Fletcher
11
K
25
Shawn Martin
12
S
26
Jose Palacios
12
K
27
Devron Gardner
10
RB
27
Dalvin Hughes
12
TE
28
Dennis Lane
12
RB
28
Matthew Trimble
11
S
29
Sullivan Adams
10
S
31
Chase Belcher
10
TE
32
Sherick Johnson
11
S
33
Josh DiGiammarino
12
WR
33
Caleb Roberts
10
CB
34
Jalon Baker
11
OLB
34
Job Perry
12
WR
35
Kelan Hill
10
CB
36
David Kell
12
RB
36
D’Angelo Williams
11
LB
38
Chanler Dykes
11
OLB
39
Jeremiah Ballard
12
CB
41
Bryant Hidle
11
LB
41
Hunter Parker
10
WR
42
Leon Williams
11
DL
LOWNDES VIKINGS(Valdosta, GA.) • Crimson & White
43
Devonn Lane
12
LB
43
Chase Musgrove
11
TE
44
Hayden Wells
12
ILB
45
Mallen Pope
11
TE
45
Charles Thomas
11
LB
46
Noah Drocea
10
LB
47
Grayson Lewis
10
OLB
48
Jacques Hunter
11
DL
49
Austin Byrd
11
OLB
50
Adrian Barron
11
LB
50
Ezekial Duncan
10
ILB
51
Layton Corbett
11
OL
52
Cade Powell
12
LB
53
Jacarri Williams
12
OL
54
Landin Sandlin
11
OL
55
Payton Gunn
10
OL
56
Walker Corbett
12
OL
57
Travis Morgan
11
OL
58
Austin Barton
10
OL
59
Markus Floyd
10
OL
60
Carter Holley
12
OL
61
Mason Fowler
10
OL
64
Eli Harrell
12
OL
66
Caleb Cook
12
OL
67
A.J. Lewis
12
OL
68
Payton Henderson
10
OL
68
Robby Quiggins
12
OL
69
Alex Crone
12
OL
70
Josh Young
12
DL
71
Brock Bailey
12
OL
73
Thomas Barton
11
OL
75
Wade Stewart
10
OL
76
Chris Terrell
11
OL
77
Bryer Touchton
12
OL
78
Brandon McDade
12
OL
79
Connor Namio
11
OL
80
Franklin Aguilar
10
K
81
Henry Glenn
10
WR
82
Caleb Manning
11
TE
84
Hayden Gilbert
12
WR
85
Jacob Walker
11
WR
86
Caleb Singley
12
WR
87
Nick Kristansen
10
DL
87
Travis Ruttchaw
12
WR
88
WC Fulton
10
DL
89
Jon Daniel
12
DL
90
Ted McCray
12
TE
90
Nathan Williams
10
WR
91
Jaylon Jones
12
DL
92
Mattevius Evans
10
DL
92
John Quinn
11
LS
94
Deshaun Williams
10
DL
95
Thomas Davis
11
DL
97
Marcos Camacho
10
LS
99
Bryson Neal
11
DL
Head Coach: Richard Morgan Assistant Coaches: Jason Allen, Scott Brunet, Will Cauthorn, Terrance Duke, Troy Duke, Tom Guckian, Jacob Lautenbach, John Maggard, Labrone Mitchell, Zach Shelton, Derrick Tinsley, Jeff Hoop, Erika Davis, Olivia King
Head Coach: Randy McPherson Assistant Coaches: Byron Slack, Terry Quinn, John Arnold, Jermel Demps, Tommy Watson, Adam Gray, Josh Akers, Steve Lankford, Patcrick Hunter, Nick Towns, Dustin Heard, Steve Holley, Jacob Chesser
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