The Skinny
The Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines are the defending Class-A Private State Champions and are in the finals for the second straight year and the third time in school history. Since dropping their Week-1 opener, the Wolverines have not lost and were not seriously tested until last week’s semifinal game. In their three playoff games, the Wolverines area averaging 43.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.6. Overall this season, they are averaging 46.1 points per game while allowing 11.3. Their road to the finals includes a win by forfeit over a No. 4 seed, a victory over a No. 3 seed and two road wins against No. 1 seeds. One would have suspected a drop-off in pass production with the graduation of Brock Vandegriff, however, super sophomore Aaron Philo has picked up right where Vandagriff left off. The Wolverines are averaging 323.3 yards per game through the air and 84.5 yards per game rushing. Philo has thrown for 4,204 yards and 44-TDs, completing 72.5% of his passes. Bailey Stockton and Ethan Dewitt have both gone over 1,000 yards receiving as Stockton has 72 receptions for 1,133 yards and 15-TDs. Dewitt has 64 receptions for 1,063 yards and 8-TDs. Meanwhile Ethan Christian is not for behind with 41 receptions for 949 yards and 14-TDs. Freshman running back Mac Bradley has rushed for 649 yards and 11-TDs. A win this Friday would give the Wolverines their second football championship.
The Trinity Christian Lions are in the finals for the second straight season. If you include their tenure in GISA, this is the third time in school history that Trinity has made the finals. (This is only their fourth season playing in the GHSA.) Their thirteen wins this season are a program record. The Lions have defeated one No. 3 seed and two No. 1 seeds en route to the title game. In their three playoff games, they are averaging 50.6 points per game and allowing 22. Over the course of the entire season, they are averaging 52.8 points per game and allowing 11.3. The Lions had their biggest scare of the season last week against ELCA, when they had to go to double overtime to advance. Prior to last week, the closest margin of victory for Trinity was a 31 point regular season win over ELCA. Trinity Christian’s offense is averaging 301.2 yards per game through the air and 146.6 yards on the ground. Senior quarterback David Dallas has thrown for 3,641 yards and 45-TDs while completing 76.9% of his passes. His top three receivers have been his brother, Joshua Dallas (60 receptions, 1,142 yards, 15-TDs), Aaron Gates (45 receptions, 735 yards, 9-TDs) and Bryce Wilcox (44 receptions, 680 yards, 11-TDs). Dominic Cosper leads the Lions ground attack with 1,243 yards and 27-TDs. Cosper has also caught 27 passes for 521 yards and 5-TDs. Linebacker Shawn Braxton leads the defense with 7-sacks, while linebacker Christian Hanson and lineman Cameron Matthews lead the team in total tackles. A win on Thursday would be the first football state title for Trinity Christian.
This is a rematch of the 2020 state championship game that Prince Avenue won. Both teams have really dominated their competition during the regular season and up until last week. We anticipate that both teams aerial assaults will be on full display Thursday afternoon. We expect a high scoring back and forth ballgame. We were extremely impressed with Trinity Christian in last year’s final and we believe their experience at the quarterback position will be the difference this week. Lions by 7.
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)