The Skinny
The 3A Championship game will feature the defending state champions, Cedar Grove Saints against the Crisp County Cougars. Cedar Grove will be playing for their third state title in school history while Crisp will be playing for their first state title.
The Cedar Grove Saints have advanced to the finals for the third time in four years. Cedar Grove has now won 10 consecutive games. The Saints have defeated a No. 4 seed, a No. 2. Seed, and two No. 1 seeds to advance to the title game. In their four-playoff games, the Saints are averaging 37.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 10.2 points per game. Coming into last weeks game, Chavon Wright had rushed for 1,616 yards and 19-TDs while Austin Smith had passed for 1,321 yards and 17-TDs. Isaiah Ratcliffe continues to lead the team in total tackles and also came up with a big interception last week to help preserve the victory. A win this week would earn the Saints their second consecutive state title and their third in four years.
The Crisp County Cougars have reached the finals for the first time in school history. Crisp has won eight consecutive games and has won 11 games for the second time since 2016. The Cougars loaded their non-region schedule with very challenging competition from all classifications and it looks like that schedule has helped prepare them for this playoff run. In this run, the Cougars have defeated a No. 4 seed, a No. 2 seed and two No. 1 seeds. In their four-playoff games, the Cougars are averaging 30.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 7.2 points per game. In last week’s win, quarterback A.J. Lofton threw for 100 yards and rushed for 89 yards and 2-TDs while Marquise Palmer added 116 rushing yards to lead the Cougars offense. The defense recorded four sacks and Sirad Bryant picked off a pass to help preserve the victory. On the season, both Lofton and Palmer have rushed for over 1,000 yards as Palmer has 1,512 yards and 16-TDs while Lofton has rushed for 1,043 yards and 13-TDs. A win this week would earn the Cougars their first state title in school history.
Both teams have played a challenging schedule and both defenses are playing well late in the season. We like to the Cougars to keep the game close, but our pick is Cedar Grove by 5.