Carver-Columbus came up with big plays in the fourth quarter and won its second straight Class 2A championship, beating Hapeville Charter 24-7 on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The No. 1-ranked Tigers finished 15-0 – only the second unbeaten season in school history – and enabled coach Jarvis Jones to a state title in his first year as head coach. 

Carver scored late in the first quarter on a 33-yard field goal by Kendrick Spencer, then added a 38-yard touchdown pass from Sebastian Heard to Keimaurii Miles to take a 10-0 lead.

Hapeville cut the margin to 10-7 in the third quarter a 6-yard touchdown pass from Keylan Pope to Cedric Walker. The Hornets appeared to have taken the lead on a long punt return by Zion Crawford, but it was negated because of a holding penalty and Hapeville wound up punting. 

Carver took control when Jakobe Caslin scored on a 1-yard run with 6:49 remaining, a touchdown set up by Zach Watts’ 45-yard run, and put it away when JaMarcus Davis intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown on the next play.

Heard completed 9 of 13 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown, with Caslin catching three balls. 

Hapeville (10-5) was limited to 85 total yards and five first downs. The Hornets managed only 54 yards rushing and 31 yards passing. The Carver defense was led by Tristian Givens with one sack and a forced fumble. Makevious Yancie and JaMarcus Davis came up with interceptions and Davis also recovered a fumble.

The Hornets’ defense was led by Rashad Williamson (10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack) and Elijah Raines (nine tackles).