Class A Division II

Who: No. 4 Bowdon (12-2) vs. No. 1 Lincoln County (14-0)

When: Monday, 3:30 p.m.

About Bowdon: The Red Devils have won three consecutive state championships; only three other programs have won four straight – Buford, Valdosta and Eagle’s Landing Christian. Bowdon’s top player is tight end/defensive back Kaiden Prothro, who set a state record with 65 career touchdown catches. A Georgia signee, Prothro has caught 54 passes for 1,044 yards and 26 touchdowns. Quarterback Joshua Hopkins has thrown for 2,248 yards and 41 touchdowns, with only three interceptions, and rushed for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs. The offensive line is led by all-region picks John Harden and Stewart Powell. Linebackers Jonah Wilson and Lucki Bailey anchor the defense. Hopkins was named Region 7 Player of the Year and Prothro was voted Offensive POY. RB/DB Connor Daniel was voted co-Athlete of the Year. 

About Lincoln County: The Red Devils are another of the state’s blueblood programs but they haven’t won a state championship since 2006 Lincoln County prefers to keep the ball on the ground behind a deep corps of runners led by Kelby Grace (866 yards) and QB Mekhi Wade (464 yards rushing, 508 yards passing). The defense is led by Jeremiah Johnson (74 tackles) and Jeremiah Wynn – the latest in a long line of Wynn standouts – with 70 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The Red Devils dominated the postseason awards for Region 8: Wade (Overall Player of Year), Grace (Offensive POY), linebacker Christian Elam (Defensive POY), RB/DB Jonathan Norman (Athlete of Year). 

Series: Bowdon leads the series 2-1. Bowdon won 45-28 in the 2022 semifinals. Lincoln County prevailed 24-7 in the 1989 championship game.