Class 5A

Who: No. 1 Thomas County Central (14-0) vs. Gainesville (12-2)

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. 

About Thomas County Central: The Yellow Jackets are gunning for their second state championship under coach Justin Rogers. Their 2023 championship was the sixth in school history. TCC is led by Deucee Lawrence, the overall Region 2 Player of the Year, who has rushed for 1,836 yards and 24 touchdowns and caught 20 passes for a 19.1-yard average and seven touchdowns. He scored three times in the semifinal win over Roswell. QB Jaylen Johnson was the region’s Offensive POY with 2,503 yards passing and 37 touchdowns and 280 yards and five rushing TDs. Top linemen are all-region picks Artem Korchagin, Zion Garlington and Deontavis Cooper. The defense is led by co-Defensive POY Cam Brooks (11.5 sacks, 40 hurries), DL Issac Andrews, DL Prince Che, LB Omari Stephenson, DB Dannell Jester and DB Eddie Guerra. 

About Gainesville: The Red Elephants have been dominant in four playoff games since losing the season-finale to Roswell, which cost them the Region 7 championship. (Their other loss is to 6A finalist Carrollton.) Gainesville’s powerful offense features two outstanding backs – Nigel Newkirk (1,496 yards, 19 TDs) and Dwight Lewis (1,082 yards, 11 TDs). Newkirk was injured on his first carry of the semifinal game against Rome and Lewis responded by running for 226 yards and three touchdowns. QB Kharim Hughley entered the semifinals with 2,344 yards passing and 32 touchdowns. The defense features one of the most aggressive units in the state. Big Red had six sacks and 13 tackles for loss against Rome and limited the Wolves to 15 yards rushing. Kadin Fossung (three sacks), Ayden Cox (3.5 TFL), Darryn Williams (three TFL) led the charge. Xavier Griffin is the team’s leading tackler.  

Series: First meeting.