The Mays Raiders will seek to become the first Atlanta City Public School to win a GHSA state championship since 1973 and the Northside-Warner Robins Eagles will be gunning for their third-ever state title when the two schools meet in the AAAAA state championship game Friday night at Georgia Dome.

While Mays 12-2 season is the best in school history and the Raiders have advanced beyond the second round of the state playoffs for the first time since the school opened in 1981, its predecessor Southwest Atlanta High School did win a state championship in football in 1973. Mays was formed when Southwest closed.

Meantime Northside won back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007 and have had 17 straight seasons of double digit wins dating back to 1998. During this 17-year run, the Eagles have gone 205-22 and in addition to winning two state titles, have played in five finals, nine semi-finals and 12 quarter-finals during this stretch.

The 2014 Raiders have won eight straight games and even had to win a region playoff game in their regular season finale just to get into the state playoff field as a number three seed out of Region Six. Under Head Coach Corey Jarvis (2nd season, 20-6), Mays first three state playoff wins all came by a TD or less while winning at South Paulding, #1 ranked Ware County and then Jones County, before beating Stockbridge 30-15 in the semi-finals.

The 2014 Eagles have won 10 straight and are 13-1 on the season. Northside won the Region Two championship, the program’s 14th overall region title and fifth in six seasons. Led by Coach Kevin Kinsler (5th season, 59-6) the Eagles have won all four state playoff games at home, posting victories over Northside-Columbus, Dalton and Glynn Academy before defeating Allatoona 30-21 in the semi-finals.

College prospects to watch for the Mays Raiders in the Class of 2015: 247 Sports Composite 4-star and #4 DE Natrez Patrick, who is committed to Georgia; 4-star and #9 OG Dallas Warmack, who is committed to Alabama; 3-star OT Malik Mackey; 2-star DE Aaron Cochran, who is committed to Louisville; 2-star ILB Charlie Patrick, who is committed to Georgia State; and CB Khalil Brooks who’s committed to Kent State. In the Class of 2016: 3-star WR Randrecous Davis who has been offered by Kentucky and Louisville; 3-star and #17 ILB Tobias Little, whose five offers include Clemson, Georgia Tech, and South Carolina; and cornerback Manquavion Brinson who’s been offered by Kentucky.

College prospects to watch for the Northside-Warner Robins Eagles: 247 Sports Composite 3-star and #31 OG Brandon Sandifer who is committed to Florida; and 3-star and #9 fullback Willie Jordan.

Join me along with Larry Smith, Jon Nelson and Grace Olson on the game call starting at 8:00 p.m. live from Georgia Dome.