Here’s our GPB Sports State Championship Honors and All-Finals Team. These are the players who stood out for their teams during the championship games. 

Thank you for watching GPB Sports coverage of the GHSA Football State Championships plus GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia and five weeks of GHSA playoffs leading up to the finals.

See you in 2026 for our 30th season of the best high school football in the country.

Most Outstanding Offensive Player

Christian 'Deuce' Lawrence during the Class 5A Championship game.

Christian 'Deuce' Lawrence during the Class 5A Championship game.

RB Deuce Lawrence – Thomas County Central:  Performance for the ages setting the GHSA State Championship rushing record with 380 yards on the ground on 39 carries and 5 touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets 62-21 win over Gainesville in the 5A State Final.  Lawrence also added 20 yards receiving and 44 kick return yards to finish his extraordinary night with 444 all-purpose yards.  Lawrence is signed with Wake Forest.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

SAF Kobe Carnage – Thomas County Central:  What better name for a ball-hawking, drive-destroying safety.  Carnage finished with 2 interceptions, 1 PBU, 1 FR and 7 total tackles (6 Solo).  Carnage first interception came at the 6-yard-line when Gainesville was on the verge of scoring their first TD in 14-0 game.  His fumble recovery came at the TCC 11-yard-line in the 3rd Quarter to stop another Red Elephant drive in the red zone.  His third INT came at the TCC 17-yard line.  All three of his takeaways came in the Gainesville red zone.

Most Outstanding Two-Way Player

RB/SAF Ty “Boogie” Green – Buford:  Scored the game-winning TD on an 82-yard run with 2:37 remaining in the 6A State Championship Game to break the tie in Buford’s epic 28-21 win over Carrollton. Not only did it seal the Wolves 15th all-time state championship but Buford’s first-ever national championship.  Green finished the game with 184 yards rushing on only 11 carries with 2 TD.  He also finished with 5 total tackles (4 solo). Green is one of the highest rated safeties in the country and signed with Georgia.

GPB Sports All-Finals Team

Offense

Quarterback

Josh Hopkins – Bowdon:  13-18 passing for 232 yards with 4 TD and 19-101 yards rushing

Jaylen Johnson – Thomas County Central:  14-22 passing for 165 yards with 2 TD/1 INT and 11-75 yards rushing with 2 TD

Cayden Benson – Creekside:  9-17 passing for 161 yards with 1 TD/2 INT and 13-133 yards rushing with 2 TD

Caleb Hill – Sandy Creek:  14-19 passing for 167 yards and 15-68 yards rushing with 2 TD

Lyndon Worthy – Worth County:  22-30 passing for 217 yards and 1 TD

 Running Backs

Deuce Lawrence – Thomas County Central:  39-380 yards rushing with 5 TD and 3-20 yards receiving for total 444 All-Purpose yards (also had 44 kick return yards)

Kelby Glaze – Lincoln County:  20-246 yards rushing with 2 TD for 267 All-Purpose Yards (also had 27 kick return yards)

Tyriq 'Ty Boogie' Green during his Georgia Cotton Commission Player of the Game interview.

Tyriq 'Ty Boogie' Green during his Georgia Cotton Commission Player of the Game interview.

Ty Green – Buford:  11-184 yards with 2 TD including 82-yard game-winning TD run with 2:37 left in Wolves 28-21 win over Carrollton

Cam Wood – Carrollton:  24-98 yards rushing with 1 TD and 3-66 receiving yards for 164 All-Purpose Yards

Wide Receivers

Eron Mallard – Benedictine:  6-140 receiving yards with 2 TD

Bam Henderson – Creekside:  6-123 receiving yards

Nick Carroll – Toombs County:  4-81 receiving yards with 1 TD for 100 All-Purpose Yards

Bowdon senior wide receiver Berkley Perkins during the 1A Division 2 Championship game.

Bowdon senior wide receiver Berkley Perkins during the 1A Division 2 Championship game.

Berkley Perkins – Bowdon:  3-80 receiving yards with 2 TD

Tight Ends

Gary Pringle – Thomas County Central:  4-89 receiving yards with 2 TD

Kaiden Prothro – Bowdon:  4-71 receiving yards with 1 TD

Offensive Line

Graham Houston – Buford:  6-4, 310, Senior.

Artem Korchagin – Thomas County Central:  6-5, 315, Senior.

Rylan Robertson – Creekside:  6-0, 255, Junior.

Ryan Moore – Sandy Creek:  6-4, 295, Junior.

Parker Pritchett – Carver Columbus:  6-5, 310, Senior.

Taylor Summer – Worth County:  6-3, 325, Senior.

Stewart Powell – Bowdon:  6-3, 240, Senior.

Fletcher Turk – Hebron Christian:  6-6, 280, Senior.

Defense

Defensive Line

Zykie Helton – Carrollton:  3 Solo Tackles, 3 QB Sacks, FF that led to scoop-and-score TD

Jeff McCormick – Calvary Day:  10 TT (7 Solo) with 1 TFL

Tristian Givens – Carver-Columbus:  2 Solo Tackles, 1 QB Sack, 1 FF

Cassius Burch – Creekside:  4 TT (3 Solos), 2 QBH

Daniel “Tank” Holt – Creekside:  3 TT (2 Solos), 1 QB Sack, 1 QBH

Linebackers

Decari Farley – Creekside:  12 TT (9 Solo), 1 QB Sack, 1 TFL, 1 FF

Tavarre Terrell – Creekside:  5 TT (4 Solo), 2 QB Sacks, 1 TFL, 1 FR, 1 PBU

Elisha Williams – Calvary Day:  5 TT (4 Solo) 3 QB Sacks, 1 TFL, 1 QBH

Rashad Williamson – Hapeville Charter:  10 TT (6 Solo), 1 QB Sack, 2.5 TFL

LaDamion Guyton – Benedictine:  7 TT (4 Solo), 1 QB Sack, 1 TFL, 1 QBH also threw 1-yard TD pass

Larsen Little – Benedictine:  10 TT (7 Solo), 1 FF

Secondary

Kobe Carnage – Thomas County Central:  7 TT (6 Solo) with 2 INT, 1 PBU and 1 FR

Max Steve – Hebron Christian:  8 TT (6 Solo) with 1 QB Sack, 1 INT, 2 PBU

JaMarcus Davis senior cornerback Carver Columbus during his Georgia Cotton Commission Player of the Game.

JaMarcus Davis senior cornerback Carver Columbus during his Georgia Cotton Commission Player of the Game.

Jamarcus Davis – Carver-Columbus:  3 TT (2 Solo), 36-yard Pick-6 INT, 1 FR, 0.5 TFL

Carter Jameson – Creekside:  7 TT (6 Solo), 1 QB Sack, 1 TFL, 1 FF

Jon Black – Benedictine:  2 TT (1 Solo), 2 INT, 1 FR

Mykah Patterson – Bowdon:  2 Solo Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 Blocked PAT

Special Teams

Kick Returner

Chance Payne – Jefferson:  82-yard KR TD with 3 returns for 100 yards and on defense 5 TT (4 Solos) with 2 PBU

Kicker

Andrew Ivanciuc – Buford:  2-2 FG (44 and 39 yards), 4-6 Kickoff Touchbacks and also 4 punts for 47.2 average

Long Snapper

Dawson Wittke – Buford:  Perfect on 8 snaps (FG, PAT, and Punts) and 2-point conversion pass reception

Punter

Julian Vargas – Carrollton:  3 punts for 54.3 average with one inside the 20.