Good afternoon from downtown Atlanta.

The 2025 Georgia High School Football Championships, presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you, heads up, Georgia, parking your phone while driving saves lives.

Today is the class A Division two title clash.

Three time defending champion Bowdon, the region seven champion versus the Lincoln County Red Devils, as well the undefeated region eight champion.

As we join you here live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it's a gorgeous day outside.

A little chilly, but it's nice and warm in here and helped by a whole bunch of red devils on both sidelines, so it may get a little hot in here.

Yeah, yeah.

Larry Smith here with Sam Crenshaw once again.

You know, these are two football crazy towns, a couple of programs with a great history.

Going head to head today for this championship.

Absolutely.

Lots of championships between these two programs, between these two communities.

But contrasting style we're going to see, especially on offense.

Look for a great matchup.

Yeah, yeah.

One likes to go in the air.

One likes to go on the ground.

But both score a lot of points.

They're both averaging in the playoffs more than 45 points a game.

So if offense is what you like we think we can take care of that for you.

Let's talk about the quarterbacks right now.

Obviously for Bowdon three time defending champs a lot of players in White today who have been here before, but one guy who has not is their quarterback.

Absolutely making his first appearance in this thing.

Of course, you talk about different players around who've been a part of it.

There.

You see, Joshua Hopkins is an impressive numbers.

He's had.

Look at the number of touchdowns and he's getting it done not only through the air, but also he can tuck it down.

He can run with it.

Well not a lot of errors.

Only three interceptions.

He's given up this season.

And he's the engine that really makes the Bowdon offense go.

Looking forward to seeing this guy play today.

Those are like video game numbers 41 passing.

Three interceptions.

When you got it set on like like easy section.

What is that about.

So but what a job he has done coming in transferring from Johns Creek back in January.

And coach telling us as we talked to him this week, he said he made such an impact for for on the team that he was named one of the team captains.

And so that's the Bowdon side on the other side.

Now, a young man for Lincoln County, a Mr.

Mekhi Wade, a four year player in this program.

And now here he is running the ship, trying to end his career with a championship.

When you talk with Coach Hopkins, he will talk about Mekhi and what he does with his football team and the fact that he is a leader.

It makes things happen for this team and makes the engine go.

When you watch Lincoln County Red Devils doesn't move it through the air as much when needs to, he can be, but this team likes to move it through the ground.

And this is the guy that really makes it look.

Look at the numbers and things he's done through the air, but also what he's done on the ground.

15 touchdowns he scored.

Personally.

He is dangerous with the ball in his hands and he can make a lot of things happen.

Yeah, both these quarterbacks certainly are very dangerous.

You know the defensive game plan stop.

Both of them one play one person who has the green light for us though is the third member of our team, Madison Cruz down on the sideline.

Hey, Maddie.

Hey guys.

It's the battle of the Red Devils.

Literally both of these sides Lincoln County versus Bowdon.

Historically, Bowdon is 2-1 against Lincoln County.

And guys, all of those matchups were here in the playoffs the last time these two teams saw each other was back in 2022, where Bowdon was able to beat Lincoln County 45-28 In the GHSA semifinals for head coach Lee Chomskis and his team.

It's about getting back that glory.

They haven't won a state title since 2006.

They're trying to do that here today against a really rowdy Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

And for head coach in Rich Fendley.

For them, it's about going for their fourth straight championship.

And one thing he said to us this week was that it's preparation now, celebration later.

But guys, one thing's very, very clear.

With all of the fan noise and everything, it is going to be rowdy in here.

But there's so much pride and legacy between both of these programs.

They're going to leave it all out there on the field today.

You're right about Rich Fendley and what a job he has done.

Now in his eighth season, he talked about him in the senior class.

They are 19-0 in the playoffs trying to finish off undefeated in the postseason and a fourth straight title.

Is that something they don't know what it means to lose a playoff game.

And that's what he has working for him.

When his team takes the field today.

A lot of experience, a lot of success since his time here, some guys want to complete it.

They want to get one more win without a loss to go out perfect.

A four peat, a four peat.

Think about how difficult it is just to get to the state championship game and win it one time and win it a second time.

They're going for a fourth consecutive.

And think about it, the seniors on this team, that's all they've ever known.

Larry.

Yeah.

And we'll talk a lot more about both teams obviously going through.

But here's what's amazing.

Sam three time defending champ opened the season with a shutout loss.

And when you see this offense you wonder wonder you wonder what happened.

You know what Coach Fendley says happened.

This team evolved.

He said.

In 30 years he's been in coaching.

He's never been involved with a team that has shown as much progress from week one to week ten.

Week one to week 15.

It's what every coach really wants to see, right?

Every coach wants to see.

But you know what?

They've been able to do it.

And here they are.

One win away from a fourth straight championship.

We saw there as a player coming out in the field.

We saw the captains at midfield.

They're so Lincoln County, they won the opening toss.

They'll receive first, Bowdon will kick into Lincoln County, will receive a first.

You can see there again these Red devils from Lincoln County dressed in their home.

Red Bowdon Red Devils are in their visiting White.

One thing we talked about with both coaches, they say, you know what?

This is a time if you want to go rob a bank or something.

This is when nobody's going to be in town, right?

They're all out.

Here in these towns.

It means everything.

Friday nights mean everything.

And this may be Monday afternoon, but they're bringing that Friday night vibe into Mercedes-Benz Stadium this evening.

Absolutely.

Still a couple minutes here away from kickoff.

Is Lincoln County already in the field.

And now here comes in a moment here.

The three time defending champion Bowdon Red Devils.

And again led by their coach Rich Fendley.

We talked about Coach Chomskis by the way.

We talked about him a good shot of him there on the sidelines.

We'll talk a lot about his history.

Sixth year right now with Lincoln County, 57 wins, 18 losses, three of those seasons with ten wins.

And this is in his blood as well.

He used to go to Lincoln County games as a kid.

He was telling.

Us he is a native of Lincolnton, grew up there.

Matter of fact, the legend Larry Campbell was his Little League baseball coach.

So they obviously went to high school in Augusta, Westside Augusta played for Cauley.

Cassidy was the coach there at the time.

He's made his way around quite an odyssey in his career, but a great lineage.

Related to some monumental figures in Georgia high school athletics.

We'll talk about that as we go along today.

But here he is today, ready to go for a state championship.

And he couldn't be happier, more excited to be leading Lincoln County Red Devils as they go for another state championship.

He was there on the sidelines, as Maddie mentioned, back in 2022 when his Red Devils lost to the Bowdon Red Devils in the state semifinals.

He said, you know, he was concerned then that they were undermanned then.

He's concerned that maybe undermanned today in this matchup undefeated.

But again, going against the team that has dominated this class in this division, like we said over the past three years.

They have been that they have been the class of this division.

Each and every year we have.

Larry, you and I have had a chance to watch them year in, year out and see the consistent excellence.

And here they are ready to tee things up.

There's a look at Coach Fendley.

The community's poured so much into these teams, so much of the program's so much of the high school athletics, but especially into the football teams.

Larry.

And so there's so much pride on the line, but a lot of tradition, a lot of heritage.

In the pregame, we had Garrison Hearst stopped by.

Yes, he's one of the all time greats from Lincoln County.

He played against Bowdon.

That's right.

Good luck.

During his time there.

The kicker, by the way.

Number 28 for Bowdon Brantley Bell with the kickoff.

And that's Kelby Glaze.

We'll call his number a lot.

We expect he went away for Lincoln County.

Time now for the opening kickoff.

Brought to you by Heads Up, Georgia.

Parking your phone while driving.

Save lives.

The kick is away, and here we go.

That's Norman John Norman to pick up breaks a tackle.

And brought down there very quickly by Lucki Bailey.

119 tackles.

Make it 120 now in the season for Baylee.

And we'll get a chance to look at the Lincoln County offense led by Mekhi Wade.

Starting lineups presented by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

We take a look right now.

Zellars White, Stewart, Stewart and Keen along the front line.

We've already talked about the quarterback skill positions.

We talked about Glaze, Norman, Elam, McWhorter, and Hopkins.

There we'll talk about Christian Hopkins as well.

And coach Tompkins.

We're going to watch this offense.

We got some terminology.

You got to be old school.

Some of the terminology you get with this Lincoln County offense.

Here they go Larry.

Kitchens to Glaze.

He's got room first down and more for Glaze.

Good way to start for Lincoln County.

A big run on first down.

Big run by Glaze on that right side of that line between Stewart Josh Stewart and Keen tight end by Christian Hopkins and Glaze knows how to make the move.

Great.

First down we got all kind of terminology.

We got fullbacks with this offense.

We got split ends, we got wing backs, we.

Got left wing backs, right wing backs.

We got all this going on with this Lincoln County offense.

Here they come.

They got a first down.

Good way to start from the 43.

Inside and brought down.

That's Norman again Jonathan Norman.

Let's take a look at the defense for Bowdon starters delivered by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Original neighborhood pizzeria Wilson Baylee.

We've already called his name Connor Daniel.

He plays both ways and Jonah Wilson are there up front your linebackers?

That's Patterson actually a cornerback.

Abrams Perkins and Prothro Keilan Prothro.

There's two roles on this team.

We'll talk about both of them coming up here.

Second down, Glaze right side gets away from the tackle and a first down beats the tackle.

There.

That was Kaiden Prothro trying to bring him down.

But how about a start here for the senior Kelby Glaze.

That left wing back in this offense.

There he is.

And he gets the handoff again.

He goes around the right corner.

And Kaiden Prothro just can't hang on to him.

Berkley Perkins comes over there to bump him out of bounds.

After another first down.

This Lincoln County offense is moving.

And we've talked about this offense again, very run oriented.

They've throw the ball about four times on average a game.

They've not done that so far here.

That's worked out for him.

First down already at the Bowdon 29 just underway.

Class A Division two.

Here's a pass looking long.

He's got a man.

He overthrew him.

Intended target.

There was Christian Hopkins the tight end.

Just a little long.

Just a little long.

But he's showing you he's keeping that defense honest.

Don't stand up all the time.

You can stack the box with me if you want to.

I can flip one out there and show you that at least they would think that way in this game today.

Want to plant that seed early?

That's right, that's right.

We will throw if we have to.

Good start here for Lincoln County 14-0 on the season.

You mentioned the region champions.

First time here since they won it all back in 2006.

36 region championships as well in team history.

Norman on the Carey.

And it's a play.

A play is whistled dead.

There's a flag and we'll get the call.

March on five against Lincoln County.

Ken Clampett, our referee.

Thanks again to everyone.

All of the men and women, every week and all through the year, who officiate games in Georgia and even across the country.

Thank you again for doing that.

Absolutely.

There is a nationwide shortage, and we'll be talking about that each day.

You watching the games on Friday night?

Why not get into the game?

That's right.

Our young people need you.

That's right.

Wade makes the call stopped right there by Berkley Perkins, a four year starter on defense for Bowdon.

Wade didn't fool anybody on that one.

Calls his own number and number 5 says, aha!

Here we go.

Enough of that.

That's right.

Great job of filling the gap by Perkins.

Great solo.

Stop by number 5.

Brings up a third and 15.

This Lincoln County offense.

We won't say Red Devils want it much because both teams are Red Devils.

Throw by Wade is underthrown intended.

Looks like somebody may have got a hand on that one.

Walker Thornton.

Knocked that one down here.

Your impact plays.

You're watching that Kelby Glaze running back.

We've seen him carry the ball once already.

We know what he does.

John Norman also one of those.

He's a right wing back.

The way he looks.

Watch out for him.

We've already seen Lucki make a stop on the kickoff.

Tonight's impact player is brought to you by Breda Pest Management official pest control of high school football.

So it brings out the kick team Fortson Partridge for a 50 yarder.

He's got the leg and it's good.

Yes.

How about that?

Partridge.

That's the longest for him.

He kicked a 47 yarder in the playoffs as a sophomore, his fifth attempt this year.

Fourth time he's put it through.

Coach says he has confidence in him and says what he can do.

He hasn't been called on a lot to do it, but he delivers now and puts Lincoln County on the board first.

Don't see many 50 yard field goals at this level, so outstanding.

There for Lincoln County as they get on the board first at the 937 mark very quickly here in the first quarter.

Take a look at the scoring drive brought to you by DBHDD and the new red ribbon 365 curriculum, seven plays, 44 yards quickly.

223 and they're on the board.

50 yard field goal to get the first points of the day on the board for this state championship game.

How about that?

Patterson.

Let's see how he does with the kickoff.

That's right.

At the four yard line quickly up the middle.

He's got some room.

That's Mike Mykah Patterson.

He's out near midfield before he's finally brought down by a host of red shirts.

What a return for the junior Patterson.

And here's one more look at him.

Well, let me tell you, like he shot out of a cannon.

Nice run.

Missed one.

One defender misses another one, and it takes about three or four of them to bring him down.

Great.

Return.

A great place to start that first possession.

Now we get a good look at Josh Hopkins talked about him and all the numbers, completing 67% of his passes, 2,248 yards on the season, 41 touchdown passes, and again over 1,000 yards rushing as well.

That just sounds incredible, doesn't it?

It's just insane.

It's remarkable.

Here we go.

Bolton on offense for the first time.

Down 3-0 You see the shift at the top of your screen there.

Number 1 that's the Georgia commit.

Kaiden Prothro will be watching.

First pass is short.

Nice job on first down getting it to Berkley Perkins.

That brings up second down Perkins starting lineups presented by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria Powell Turner Perkins, Houston and Harden up front for the Bowdon Red Devils Chandler Daniel, Prothro and Prothro.

The cousins and then Berkley Perkins.

We've already called here for the offense and of course you are ready to Joshua Hopkins completing his first pass of the day.

Second down now good for a first down and then some to Patterson again.

He's down near the 20.

Big play for Bowdon.

It's a first down for the defending champs.

Boy.

Big play before John Norman is there for the stop.

You know this team splits five guys out with an empty backfield there.

He gets it out.

Boy what a performance after the catch there by Patterson.

Hopkins calling his own number.

Doesn't get far.

About a yard.

Let's take a look at the defense for Lincoln County delivered by Johnny New York style pizza.

Original neighborhood pizzeria.

Wynn Johnson and John Charles up front in this 34 lineup.

Elam.

Moss, Glaze and Jones, the backers in the backfield.

Thornton, Norman, Wade and Partridge.

We saw him kick a moment ago.

Also starts at quarterback for Lincoln County.

Second and one, second and nine out to the 1 yard gain.

Going up top for Prothro and he's not there.

Good job defensively for Lincoln County by number 9.

Walker Thornton.

That'll bring up a third down.

Thornton right there with him.

Stride for stride stride for stride.

20 Watts the pass is out there.

He got a hand on it and not well enough to catch it.

Prothro last week four touchdowns and a pick six as well.

He did everything for the Red Devils in the semifinals.

Bowdon offense, coach Finley says.

It's very multiple.

We haven't seen anybody in the backfield with the quarterback yet.

Got five, got five wide here.

It's basketball on turf.

Norman quick throw to Patterson.

Touchdown.

Just like that.

Bowdon gets on the board.

The first touchdown of this game.

From the kickoff return we become very well acquainted with Mike Mykah Patterson.

That's right.

He has been the transportation of choice.

Makes this catch.

And nothing between him there but green grass for the touchdown.

That was impressive.

Now it's Bell out to kick.

Perkins to Holt and he puts it through the long snapper Jaxson Jones.

And just like that, Bowdon comes back and answers it.

One more look right here.

Good camera work.

Boy he is quick.

You know he plays both ways.

And Coach Finley was telling us he's playing as well defensively as anybody in their secondary right now.

That's amazing to give that because he's got some guys.

They're playing very well.

You get a good look at him right there young man playing inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on this Monday afternoon trying to get a fourth consecutive state championship for school.

Here's your scoring drive.

Scoring drive presented by DBHDD.

And the new Red ribbon 365 curriculum five plays, 51 yards.

And just over a minute you can see there.

So again we talked at the very top of our broadcast.

Both of these teams scoring at will, both averaging more than 45 points per game.

And we could see that on display right here.

We could see this the way things have started out.

Teams have moved down the field.

One recently in the field goal, one resulting in a touchdown.

And ball gets by.

Go into the end zone.

Yes.

Whew.

That was close.

That was close.

That was close.

John Norman that kind of bounced past him there.

The kick from Bell and Lucki for Lincoln County.

It found its way past the goal.

It's like that bunt that goes down the third base line and you watch the third baseman.

Is he going to pick it up?

Is he going to let it stop rolling?

Man.

So first and ten now for the 20 and Coach Chomskis Red Devils from Lincoln County.

Making history for this program.

The school opened in 1970.

They made the playoffs 50 of 51 of the past 51 years.

Just amazing what they've done there in Lincolnton.

All right.

First and ten from the 20.

Got some movement here.

That's some movement.

And he you can tell right away from the coach who that's against.

He wasn't happy.

The picture says 1,000 words Sam.

One more look at it here.

Whew.

That movement.

That happened 5 yards.

Connor Daniel a little hand clap there.

Yep.

Quarterback Wade coming over.

Lincoln County down 7-3 Both teams scoring on their opening drives.

First and 15.

Now that's Christian Elam up the middle.

The fullback.

Christian Elam Elam does a lot a lot of things for this team on offense and defense.

You look at Paul Wilson 24.

He was in on the stop.

See Elam numbers six touchdowns.

Four running backs really do very well.

There.

Averages 7.49 0.8 10 yards per carry.

Wing-t offense.

Wade changing the play.

Glaze.

And he's brought down when that is Paul Wilson again.

The junior coming in 74 tackles on the day.

He's been busy here in the first half of this first quarter.

Really has been there.

You see Glaze just being patient being patient, waiting for the opening pick up, the yardage that he can.

On that right side.

Brings up a third and two.

Now for Lincoln County.

Trying to unseat the three time defending champion Bowdon Red Devils got to get to the 30.

And they do host of tacklers bringing him down.

Jack South number 16, the defensive end among them.

But Christian Elam getting enough yardage.

Get it across the 30 and they'll move the chains first down.

They'll move the chains big time.

You saw some of the offensive offensive line for Lincoln County.

Just get a little something extra.

Sustain that drive.

That's what Jack South has done.

He's been one of the stalwarts of the defensive side for Bowdon this season.

Outstanding defender impressed with both offenses so far.

Moving the ball.

They have been moving the ball in different ways.

One basically on the ground.

Elam again?

Nope.

It's Wade on.

The keeper spins out of one tackle, gets about eight, almost nine.

Good first down matchup there.

He wants the first down but no Mark him short second and a long one.

That's the beauty of this offense is something that a lot of teams don't get to see a lot of.

Depending on the region and who you play and your non-region schedule, maybe offenses that don't run this type of offense.

So it takes the defense a minute or two to adapt to find the rhythm of it.

Some some figure it out sooner than later.

Some never do.

Glaze right side, big hole.

There.

Great job.

And another first down brought down by Jd Cooley number 74.

The nose tackle.

One more.

Look at it.

He's found something on the right side.

Look at 50:04.

That's Walter Keen 59 Joseph Stewart.

Those guys are getting the job done on the right side of the ball for Lincoln County.

Perkins also in that tackle there for Bowdon.

Jonah Wilson is where the well, the outside linebacker senior another first down.

Now for Lincoln County near midfield.

Misdirection there but is not fooled.

What a great job by Jonah Wilson outside linebacker on the stop to keep John Norman from getting anywhere.

And we talked about getting into a rhythm to find out which way the ball is going, who gets up the ball.

Number 4 Jonah Wilson was not fooled on this play.

Hangs on to get some help.

There his numbers on the on this season.

Another outstanding defender for Bowdon.

Ten tackles for loss, five sacks as well for the senior defensive end.

No gain on that play for Norman.

Glaze good block in front of him.

Nice spin move there where he's brought down by Wilson yet again.

Wilson's going to have double digit tackles before halftime.

He has been busy.

He's getting the work out.

He's moving making things happen.

Wilson.

Great.

Stop by Wilson.

But another good run for Glaze.

Now you got a third and five and you want to do you run it.

We've seen that they will at least attempt to pass.

You got to get to the 41.

Both offenses moving the ball.

Wade on the keeper trying to get around the left side.

And he does for the first down.

Pushed out of bounds there by Patterson.

But not before Lincoln County gets another first down.

Talk about how much they trust Mekhi Wade and have confidence in him.

And here's the reason why.

For a moment, that play seemed like it wasn't going anywhere good.

And he gets that extra effort.

He gets just enough to get that first down to move those sticks.

The drive continues.

That's what they've done.

Good Burse there to get out of the grasp of Berkley Perkins.

The senior thought he had him.

That was not the case already.

Five first downs and counting here for Lincoln County.

Aiden Jones going nowhere.

Brought down in the backfield there as we take a look.

Check that.

That's Jack South.

Let's go down to Matty on the sidelines.

Thanks, guys.

One thing that you guys should know about Lincoln County is that they piled up 3,837 rushing yards this season.

That's nearly triple the national average.

And Coach Lee Chomskis says it starts with total buy in from his guys, from the offense.

They have to be unselfish when they're out there.

One thing to you see the running backs and the receivers, they don't just carry the ball.

They also do a lot, especially in tackling and pushing it back.

That's all a part of the stock block, a technique where receiver engages and controls the defender downfield to create the lanes, just like you see now, immediately trying to push forward using that running game.

And then there's the offensive line that is called the white knuckle community.

Having solid backs and a solid line at the same time is a huge reason why Lincoln County is back in the state championship.

It's all about that 3 yards and a third mentality, and that's exactly what put them in the position now to be here in the state championship.

Thanks, Matty.

Hayden Aiden Jones on the carry.

There.

Third down.

Down to the 32.

Third and two now brought down by Wilson for Bowdon.

Great pickup there early on.

Looks like it might have been Perkins possibly no.

Check that Marcus Harper in the game.

Number 6.

The senior defensive end.

Yeah.

Just a 1 yard pickup and so forth.

And one.

It looks like they keep their offense on the field and go for it.

Early in the game.

Well first gamble of the game for either side.

Wade the keeper.

And he stopped Perkins is there.

South is there.

Let's see where they mark it.

I don't think that they're going to give it to him.

I don't think so.

Lincoln County is signaling one way, but Bowdon signals the other way.

They'll mark the forward progress.

Madden Jones is right on the 30.

Clock has stopped.

They're going to come out to measure.

That's how close it is.

Wade has his helmet off.

Number two, the quarterback there in red.

Coach Hopkins there.

Ca'ron Hall.

Trying to get out of the way of the chains.

Oh, yeah.

You got to give him room there.

We don't see this a lot.

No, we don't.

Here we are.

State championship game.

, new camera work.

Going.

And it is a first down by the nose literally of the ball.

That's it.

Sometimes that's all you need.

That's right.

You can hear the boos and Bowdon crowd.

They don't like that.

The spot that he got.

This drive is going to continue.

Yeah.

So good thing for Lincoln County.

Not only are you moving the ball, but you're keeping the ball out of the hands of that Bowdon offense.

Absolutely.

You're running the clock.

You're possessing it.

You're cutting down on the number of.

And now you got the quarterback going to the sideline.

Yeah his was helmet was off.

And I'm not sure he may have had to come out of the game.

As a result the backup comes in Thomas McWhorter.

He's the backup quarterback.

The senior Jones the carry before he's brought down.

Cooley among those on the tackle.

And so one play helmet came off.

He had to come out for one play.

And so now Wade comes back in.

Down for.

Six yard pickup for Aiden Jones.

The sophomore 462 yards.

For 11 touchdowns as well.

For the underclassmen it's Wade under center second and four Glaze seam on the right side.

Finally brought down it's Jd Cooley the sophomore, but another first down for Lincoln County.

Let me tell you something about this Kelby Glaze guy.

We've seen him run around the end, run around people we just saw run through somebody he doesn't mind if you're there.

He's trying to get to a place he will do that.

Impressive.

Running.

Yeah, he is slippery over there.

Good start for him in this Lincoln County offense.

Another first down.

Yeah for Lincoln County.

This red zone brought to you by Alfa Insurance.

Got to get a playoff here.

Glaze spins inside the ten.

Lucki Baylee on the tackle.

And that will bring us to the end of the first quarter with Lincoln County already a field goal on the board and driving for more 12 minutes in the books here in downtown Atlanta.

It has been thrilling so far, both offenses doing whatever they want to do when the state championship on the line in class A, Division two, it's Bowdon seven, Lincoln County three.

Second quarter is up next.

Football Fridays in Georgia is presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you to park your phone while driving saves lives.

Heads up, Georgia.

Senate.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

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And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

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It's day one of three days of competition, as we do every December.

Larry Smith, Sam Crenshaw, Mattie Crews on the sidelines.

We're about to start the second quarter right now.

And Lincoln again.

So far, holding their own against the defending three time champion Bowdon Red Devils.

They are, and they're doing it exclusively on the ground.

Haven't had to throw the ball at all.

That's what they've done.

So look at the ball control.

Look at this.

Look they're doing 21 plays.

Wow.

They're controlling the clock.

The yards.

They managed to pick up.

The thing of it is we talked about how quick strike that offense is.

If you keep it on the sideline they can't hurt you.

Yeah.

And that's what they're doing right now.

They're finding a way to do it.

Look at that 10 minutes of possession for Lincoln County I'm sure that again that's by design.

Moving right down the field on the other side.

Bowdon got to find a way to stop them.

Like you said, you came up and scored.

Now you've got to make a stop.

And already again, they're inside the red zone here.

Second down and two when we pick up play let's go down to Matty.

Thanks, guys.

I was just in the huddle with Lee Chomskis and his side right before we get back underway here.

One thing you said is he told his guys, I love the way you guys are rushing the ball.

You're getting in there.

You're running the ball so well.

And one thing to the coaches were saying, got to make sure you're holding on to that ball and make sure that you're staying strong with it.

Especially right now driving towards trying to get a touchdown here.

But one thing they're loving they're loving this rushing game.

They're loving the running the ball here.

Yeah.

By the way this Lincoln County team ten times this season they had 40 points or more.

They didn't get it in the semifinals.

When they went to Early County and got the win 34-0 though they dominated that game to get here to Atlanta.

Yep yep they still much the way to do that.

And that was the thing that gets them here.

You talk about what these teams have to do.

It's just amazing to watch them get a chance to do this in this particular game.

But they seem to be imposing their will so far in this game.

Here's what they've done.

Here's impressive resume Larry.

Yeah look at that again.

The scoring defense giving up about a touchdown per game.

But again they've held seven of their last eight opponents under ten points.

And we talked about again 14 game winning streak undefeated 4-0 in region eight.

And trying to go on top here early second quarter.

Second down play Norman going left side.

One man to beat is Patterson and he can't get there.

Touchdown Red Devils Lincoln County.

Great play call coming out of the break.

Jonathan Norman is one of those players for this team.

Gets things done on either side of the ball.

But here he is in motion.

Takes the handoff, sees more green grass, outruns the defender just inside the pylon.

For Norman that's his tenth touchdown on the season.

Fortson Partridge the senior is on for the extra point.

And for the 71st time in 77 tries this year he's good.

All offense so far here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

One more look here.

Coming right at you John Norman Lincoln County back on top early second quarter.

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On the scoring drive brought to you by D h DBHDD and the new Red ribbon 365 curriculum.

You see that what they have done here?

Pretty impressive.

16 plays, 80 yards, 8 minutes off the clock there.

So you look at this right now.

Look, I think if you talk to to Coach Lee coming into this game, if he said, hey, you know what, early second quarter you'll be up by three and and they'll have only the ball for less than 2 minutes.

He would have taken that.

He would take it.

Indeed.

What do you take now as for his defense to go out there and find a way to slow down this this this spread offense that they're going to face.

Bowdon.

And that's a big thing.

Now you get a defensive stop.

This Lincoln County team has been managed to play up front for most of the season.

That's where they're accustomed to being.

You got to stop.

You get the ball back now.

The way they control the clock, that's the kind of game they want.

Larry.

That's right.

You saw the numbers right there for Norman his 30th career touchdown.

First one in a championship game here in the dome and putting Lincoln County up.

107.

Partridge ready to kick off.

The last time we saw Mike Mykah Patterson with a big return.

And he let this one sell into the end zone.

It'll come out to the 21st.

And ten.

Bound.

Impact players brought to you by Breda Pest Management official pest control of high school football.

And how about the impact players?

Wynn Bowdon has the football.

Connor Daniel a running back.

They can call on him.

He can do some things.

Of course.

We've seen him throw the ball almost Kaiden Prothro.

What else can you say about this guy?

He is all over his all.

Everything will get into things about him.

Lincoln County we talked about Jeremiah Johnson and Jeremiah Wynn.

The guys up front, they run a slant 50 on defense, something that Coach Tompkins said he had to do for his team because if he didn't the defensive line would end up in the linebackers lap.

So they had to do something different.

First and ten.

Now Allen they answered quickly last time.

What do they do the second time they have the ball?

That's Hopkins keeping it himself about a 14 yard pickup.

Make it 15 easy.

First down for Bolton.

You just take what's there, right?

You take what's there.

You don't try to force the issue, especially when you have a line that's an opening and you just kind of jog there and pick you up quick.

15 he had a nice little escort there to number 57.

Big Daivon Houston senior right guard out in front of him.

Nice job.

Change of play.

Now from the sideline.

Low snap.

Hopkins.

He's got speed.

Aiden Jones on the stop now.

After a big gain and they'll move the chains again.

Two runs, two first downs for Bowdon.

And a questionable start with that low snap.

That could have been really trouble.

Could have been a bad thing happened.

You keep your poise when you got a line that's giving you time like this.

You say, you know what, I'll just take it.

I'll just pick up the yards.

Big pick up there.

And so Bowdon, we saw them last time.

Score very quickly.

Five plays.

Less than 2 minutes to get a touchdown.

Their first possession.

They're on the move now near midfield.

Changing the play call.

Straight up the middle Josh Chandler.

And he's brought down quickly right there by Jeremiah Johnson the senior.

We mentioned.

We mentioned Connor Daniel.

Also you have Josh Chandler is the other running back when they have a running back that lines up in the backfield.

Doesn't happen very much.

But on that play they did.

Yeah.

Chandler just a sophomore coach talked about.

He came in, ran for 180 yards in his first game.

And he's had a great sophomore season 559 yards averaging 10 yards per carry four touchdowns as well for the sophomore as we take a good look there at.

Aiden Jones.

A different formation.

The direct snap there.

Hopkins keeps it himself.

Gets it across midfield.

It'll bring up third down.

Now for Bowdon and can Lincoln County make a stop?

Jeremiah Wynn 35 and Aiden Jones in on the stop that time.

Here's the third and six.

We saw them throw the ball quite a bit in their first offensive series.

We've seen them run it more this time.

Like I said, they're what kind of offensive they run.

Very multiple.

How do you want it?

They've kept the ball out of the hands of Kaiden Prothro so far.

He's there at the bottom of your screen.

That's Perkins in motion to the top.

Hopkins goes deep.

He's got his man.

Touchdown!

To the tight end, Marcus Harper.

No.

Correction.

That's Berkley Perkins, the wide receiver.

His fifth touchdown catch.

And just like that Bowdon comes right back and scores.

And watch Hopkins here.

Yeah.

Just roll out and got the defender Nasir Hopkins Nasir Gartrell to bite on it and step up.

And the minute he stepped up the receiver became open.

Perkins now the holder for Brantley Bell talk about Pats.

We said how good Partridge has been for Lincoln County.

Bell even better.

77 of 79 Pats on the season.

How about that Berkley Perkins 19th catch for the four year starter and Bowdon goes back on top.

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Trouble.

What?

Come on.

Come on.

Oh, what a bad call.

Windom.

No, we have no business being out there.

Terrible.

You know, I'm a person to.

Back inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the governor's Office of Highway Safety reminding you.

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Parking your phone while driving saves lives.

It may come down in this play.

Sam Crenshaw to who has the ball last in.

The way it's going right.

For series four scores and a good look there at Perkins a 48 yard touchdown as he his ninth career reception as well as we get to our scoring drive.

He's getting a little sip there.

Yeah refreshments.

Short kick by Bell goes out of bounds.

Glaze can't track it down.

That'll bring the ball out.

That scoring drive by the way.

Five plays 80 yards only 226.

Bowdon.

The ball will be placed at the 35 yard line.

First down.

So you watch that Larry in that kickoff.

You know they almost seem like they were trying to place that kickoff not to get it so far back.

Do you have a big return?

But it goes out of bounds.

And still Lincoln County gets good field position to start this possession.

And again, already more than 10 minutes of time of possession.

So far they have controlled the line in this.

By the way Hopkins numbers for Bowdon already four of 52 touchdown passes, now 43 scoring tosses on the year 98 yards for him.

And he's got Bowdon up 14-10 in this one.

Lincoln County offense up sets up now first and ten from their 35.

That's Jones.

Make that Glaze in the open field.

Glaze is there.

Patterson can't bring him down.

It's Christiona Elam who made that Jett Abrams who brings him down at a big, big play on first down for Lincoln County.

Here he has watched that whole pop open right here, shakes that defender and he stays after him.

Jett Abrams give him credit because he stays downfield and he finally makes the stop.

He missed him.

Great job there.

By the sophomore.

Big pickup 51 yards for Kelby Glaze.

You talked about the averages per carry for these running backs for Lincoln County.

And now you see why Larry.

Glaze 10.3 yards per carry ten touchdowns on the season.

He's got it again going inside brought down by Perkins for Bowdon.

So the biggest play of the game from scrimmage for either team.

By the way Lincoln County already nine first downs Glaze already over 100 yards.

Seventh time that he's done that in his career.

Closing in on 1,000 yards for him.

Came in with 886 yards on the season.

He got seven there.

Norman.

Great job by Prothro to string him out.

Kaiden Prothro on the stop he got nowhere.

Brings up third and short.

Great pursuit and watch him Norman going to try to go out wide.

Number 1 says not this time.

Good tackle too by the big man.

Makes the stop.

Six, 6-20 Of course.

We're looking to see what he can do with the tight end position over in Athens.

Starting his career after this game.

Kind of player, every coach would want leader on the field, weight room, classroom, hallway, beautiful.

Does it all three sports star.

We'll talk more about that third and two.

Up the middle.

That's Elam.

And he's got enough for a first down.

First and goal as we're inside the red zone which is brought to you by Alfa Insurance.

Gotta play it down.

A player down.

That's Walter Keen the junior right.

Tackle out.

They've been having a great deal of success running on his side.

And they have.

Good look there at Coach Hopkins.

You know he said he knew the way the team lost in the quarterfinals last year to Manchester.

That they would be special this year.

It was a 2017 game.

They lost that one in a heartbreak.

But he said the way that they fought, the way they rebounded, coming back in, going right back into the weight room, getting ready for next year, he thought this could be a special unit for his program.

Absolutely.

Look.

Look at the road.

That's what you talk about that.

Yeah.

This was right.

Yeah.

This is well this was in in 2020 for the road to the finals.

This year though you can see once again we talked about just the scoring at will.

Not as many points last week but they didn't need them as they got the shutout win on the road to get here to Atlanta.

Very impressive what this team has been able to do is they tend to the injured player on the field.

And he is still down.

In a bit of a break.

You know, you get your team to the side right now while that happens you got some momentum going.

You had some things going with your team.

You just want to keep everybody engaged.

Obviously, you're concerned for the for the injury.

You want to see if you can get him up and see if he can walk off on his own power, if possible.

We hope that's the case.

All you see of his teammates, all on one knee.

Talk about coach again coming in.

He was an assistant on that 2006 state championship team under Larry Campbell.

As we mentioned at the top was his little league coach Campbell winningest coach in Georgia high school history, 477 wins in those 41 seasons there.

At a good scene here.

Yeah.

And the applause from the crowd as Walter Keen gets up to walk off the field.

Yeah.

Got a couple of teammates going to help him get to the sideline and gets a round of applause from all the fans here this afternoon.

Walter Keen coming off.

We talked about it again.

The scoring Lincoln County the playoffs scoring 46 points per game.

And on the doorstep now of their second touchdown and third score of this game.

Just joining us third of four games today.

Championship matches.

Another one coming up a bit later.

This the class A Division two championship Bowdon you see with the 1410 lead a couple of touchdown passes from their quarterback Josh Hopkins.

The transfer from Johns Creek trying to win their fourth state title in a row.

First and goal.

Now Lincoln County.

We're back at it.

That's Aiden Jones getting in for the touchdown.

How about Jones the sophomore 12th scorer of the season for him.

And it's Lincoln County going back on top.

And Jones is another one of those running backs that get so many yards average per carry.

So you hand it to him with confidence because you know he could do.

There's a pitch follows a block.

Nice kick out there by Jessiah Zellars and by Howkeem White 52.

See him working right there.

He gets in for the touchdown.

It's just been impressive what they've this line has done and what the other backs were doing.

He was saying everyone all the running backs are all bought in together to help each other out.

Partridge for the extra point.

And that's up and good.

And Lincoln County now we saw them really control the ball very methodically moved down the field.

This was a much faster score for these Red Devils here as they retake the lead.

That was because of the big run by Kelby Glaze.

That was a big part of this drive.

But you know what?

When you talk about the variety of running backs we've seen and what everybody's going to get touches, and nobody may get the impressive thousand yard season.

Coach Hopkins talked about how being unselfish is so important for this team.

You know, in this day and age where everybody wants to big numbers, everybody wants that notoriety, wants to be ranked nationally, regionally, in the top players in the state.

These players are bought into something and that everyone's going to get a chance.

And it's better for the team, right?

Yeah, I agree with you.

Look at the replay.

You you called out the lineman on that boy and he just he waited for his blockers to to clear the defender out of the way and then walked into the end zone.

There.

Get another look there at Aiden Jones.

Fowler Mykah Patterson number 0.

So that scoring drive brought to you by DBHDD and the new red ribbon 365 curriculum, five plays, 65 yards.

Took just 234 off the clock.

Partridge the kick to Patterson.

And they learned their lesson after the first kick was returned 45 yards.

Here they want nothing.

They want no part of that.

Kick it away from zero.

Right?

That's right.

Don't want that guy touching the ball.

So the touchback brings it out to the 20.

And that's where Bowdon will start.

And once again finding themselves behind 17 14.

Let's see what Josh Hopkins and the Bowdon offense have cooked up this time.

The first possession we saw him throwing the ball coming down the field.

The second possession, we saw them running the ball for the most part.

They finished it off with a pass, but let's see what they do now.

We've seen them split three wide outs.

We've seen them split five wide out.

He's got someone in the backfield with him.

That would be Josh Chandler.

Instead, Hopkins takes it himself and brought down very quickly there by big Jeremiah Wynn the defensive tackle, the senior 70 tackles on the season coming in the big stop there.

Big stop by 35.

Wasn't fooled.

Not by the different alignment.

It's a very experienced defense.

He let ten of the 11 starters or upperclassmen, including giving him a 35 Jeremiah Wynn Hopkins handoff.

That's Wilson he's brought down a short gain.

Brings up third down now for Bowdon.

Boone Charles and Aiden Jones combined for the stop on that play.

We talked about how even even this offense is for Bowdon third, 2,400 yards passing, 2,800 yards rushing, and that has been right now it's a receiving 98 yards through the air, 39 on the ground.

Third and four here.

Brought up tripped up.

How about that.

Great play by the defense Christian Elam.

And so a big stop.

Now that brings up fourth down and a likely punt.

Although Coach Finley is not calling out his punt team yet.

Watch number 3 Christian Elam.

He is the defensive leader on this team.

His Defensive player of the year for this team.

It's going to bring up fourth down and Bolton is going to roll the bones here.

How about this.

Got to get 3 yards.

Jonah Wilson had that last carry.

He's in the backfield to the right of Hopkins.

The quarterback who by the way is known to punt.

And that's what he does.

The pooch punt there.

And they get it away.

It's a good roll.

We got a flag down.

And a flag down.

Back at the line of scrimmage.

The usual punter is Bell but Hopkins.

He said he will punt the ball.

And he did right there.

Let's get the call.

Personal foul tripping, receiving team 15 yard penalty from the end of the kick.

First down Lincoln County.

Boy, how big is that?

If you're Lincoln County you made a stop.

Made him kick the ball.

Tompkins not happy with that.

At all.

Happy at all?

Yeah.

You get tripping.

Call.

But the ball is marked at the 21.

Okay, so it's after the kick.

Personal foul.

Okay, so it's after the kick.

It remains Lincoln County ball to 15 yards.

Goes back from the spot of the.

When the ball was down first and ten from the 21 for Lincoln County.

So they have the ball and the lead for the first time.

Glaze brought down by Perkins on first down Lincoln County moving the ball.

And you're going to see what Lincoln County does here.

We got under 5:00 to go in this half.

The idea for them is drain this clock and let's see if they're able to do it.

And still maybe put some points on the board going into the locker room.

Yeah.

Your goal right now 4.5 to go here until halftime.

Keep the ball out of their hands if you can.

That would be a big success for them.

And like you said and try to put some points on the board.

Good.

Look there at the senior Marcus Harper the defensive end.

Glaze got four second and six.

That's Norman in motion and a flag coming down.

Maybe a going against Lincoln County offense.

And it is offense.

Five-Yard penalty still taken down.

Makhail five brings up second and 11.

Black Kelby Glaze may have been the guilty party of moving the Little early.

They're.

Yeah, he's telling the coaches what he did.

Stay with us here at halftime we go to John and Nikki.

Recap the earlier games.

Talk about this one as well.

And look ahead to what's coming up later tonight in our fourth and final contest here from The Bends.

Just getting started.

Full slate of games tomorrow.

We'll do it again Wednesday.

Stay with us here on GPB.

Norman he's tripped up.

Great play there in the open field by Jett Abrams sophomore.

330 and counting.

Look at Norman already has a touchdown earlier.

And made it 107.

Lincoln County Wynn Jones came up to score after that.

So third and seven here and now.

Can Bowdon make a stop and get the ball back?

That's what makes this play so big.

Larry.

And got a whistle and a time-out.

Time-out.

Bowdon Bolton want to talk.

About it.

Time out of the half.

3:09 to go.

Make sure they get this right.

Coach Fendley thinking about some things here.

They get the ball back.

They have some time and then they could be the ones to run out the clock and put some points on the board.

Going to the locker room.

What a job he's done here.

Winning three of the five state titles for this Bowdon program, 1971-92.

And of course, the last three years.

Let's go down to Matty.

Thanks, guys.

I am joined with me, NFL legend, UGA legend and Lincoln County legend in Garrison Hearst.

Was that a lot?

Did I raise you a little too much?

But you know what?

It's me.

I love it.

What are you seeing from the touchline so far right now from your guys?

Our guys are fighting hard that other teams fighting hard.

You know, I don't want to say anything negative, but I want.

I want the red team to win.

Definitely.

And I'm not going to say Red devil because both of them are Red Devils.

I love it.

Lincoln County, a very small town.

What is the community like and for you seeing the crowd presence here today, especially trying to compete to get another title since 2006, what what is it like for you being down here and hearing this and being a part of it all?

Oh, wow.

The community has always been Lincoln County.

This this this place covers their Red Devils is what I noticed before I ever started playing is what I noticed when I played is what you notice right now.

I think the last person turned the lights off in Lincolnton.

Like I said earlier, you know, they support these guys, these young kids been seeing this football, this type of football all their lives.

So they want to be a part of it.

Now, the fruits of the labor is here.

So thank you again for taking time.

We won't bother you anymore.

I'll let you enjoy the game down here.

All right.

Thank you guys.

Back up to you.

All Matty.

Great stuff there.

Good to talk with Harrison.

And boy what a career he had there UGA and in the NFL.

And then just like that it looks like it's going to be a false start.

You got fingers pointing in both directions here.

Offense five yard penalty.

Third down.

And four for Lincoln County.

Coming out of the time-out.

Not what they needed at all.

And he's trying to get the teams to calm down.

So you know good to hear from Garrison Hearst I have to say I remember that that fellow playing for Lincoln County, I was working and living in the Augusta area at the time and covered those teams.

I think of the six years I worked there, they Watts 81 state championship, four of the six years that I was there.

Yeah, they were simply dominant.

And he was an amazing, amazing talent.

Coach Larry Campbell.

We got third and long here.

Larry.

This is going to be difficult.

Changes things for a team.

Again that doesn't pass much.

Kinds of things happen again.

Bowdon pointing that direction.

This may go against Lincoln County again.

False start offense.

Five-Yard penalty.

Still third down.

Boy.

Lincoln County three consecutive false start penalties.

And a time of it.

The timing of it is a thing, Larry.

If it's happening early, but you've got 3 minutes before halftime.

You want to do good things before you go into the locker room.

But some coaches will talk about the eights, the last eight before halftime.

The first minutes coming.

Lincoln County after halftime.

First charge time-out.

Sometimes during those eight pivotal things take place that make the difference in the game.

You could be watching that right now.

Yeah.

And coach Hopkins now he burns a time-out just to get him organized and try to get something together here.

Because again we talked about it's a team that doesn't pass much.

They average about four attempts per game.

And they just have not.

It's just not something that they do.

And so they have not done they're they're zero for two today.

On their pass attempts.

He's trying to get some things clear right now.

You know calm down and just remember how to play your game the way you played it all season long.

Don't deviate from that.

Now.

Be a unit right.

Not break away and try to do those individual things.

Meanwhile, with Coach Fendley has done is simply remarkable.

You know, at Bowdon.

It's amazing.

You know, he was one of nine Sam in his first season there in 2017 77-70 7-17 since then.

You see their last four seasons, 52 and seven, by the way, that's a school record for one class.

Those wins.

That's amazing.

Simply, simply.

And they're here going for a fourth consecutive state championship.

Okay.

So it's third and 17 after the three consecutive false start penalties for Lincoln County.

They're now pushed all the way back to their own 14.

They've got to get to the 31.

That's Jones in motion Wade keeps himself the ball comes out is on the ground.

Looks like he covered it.

And it'll stay Lincoln County ball fourth and long.

They'll have to kick.

Two Mekhi Wade Carey tackle on five Berkley Perkins.

Let's watch for a hit.

Just.

Good strip there by Perkins.

Nice job.

Yep.

Got that hand in there and the ball came out.

Well, coach talked about Perkins on both sides of the ball.

We could see what he's done.

A four year starter experienced.

There's the punt and that's not the best punt.

Spencer Stewart the punt doesn't go very far.

To the 40 1 yard line.

So about a 20 yard kick.

And boy that gives Bowdon excellent field position with 225 on the clock.

225 on the clock.

You're going to come out and we got a quarterback that can make things happen.

He has a big old target as yet.

There's no foul on the play.

Yeah to your point we've yet to see a catch from the five star receiver.

Kaiden Prothro.

He made the big stop on defense.

But they've shut him out so far here in the game which is good.

But it also should be concerning because at some point he's going to get.

His there.

He is.

Got zeros right now.

Yeah.

All time leader in Georgia high school history in touchdown catches.

And they haven't gone to him.

He passed Jadyn Gibson earlier in these playoffs.

He now plays for Samford.

He was Gunnar Stockton's target over in Rabun County years ago.

Hopkins.

Goes down.

Staring down Fortson Partridge close to a first down.

He's going to be just short.

One more look at it.

Rolling out doesn't like what he's seen.

You know what?

I'm just going to take what you give me.

Come back for another play.

Yeah.

Plenty of time on the clock.

They're in no hurry at all.

They have scored quickly.

Both of their touchdowns.

Time of possession has been low for them.

It has been Lincoln County controlling the ball.

Second and one low snap under pressure.

No problem at all.

Gets that nice job with the tackle in the wide open field.

Great catch and run by Jonah Wilson for the first down.

How about that by Aiden Jones.

The bandit.

Yeah Jones come on what a one.

Great shot.

Great catch.

Stop.

You hang on to the ball.

Under 90s to go.

Both teams with two time-outs.

Bowdon in.

No hurry.

Empty backfield.

Hopkins going to the end zone for Prothro double teamed.

And it doesn't matter.

Kaiden Prothro.

We talked about it.

No targets.

You can't hold him down for long.

Two defenders, no problem.

Jacobe.

Kaiden Prothro showing you why.

Look at that.

Double team.

Didn't matter.

And Hopkins put it where only his receiver could get it.

27th touchdown on the year.

68th of his career and his extends his state record for that.

And putting Bowdon back on top.

Brantley Bell in for the extra point and his size 17 shoe.

Not to put it to leather.

17 shoe.

Got the ruling on the field is a touchdown.

That ruling is under further review.

Okay.

And that draws the expected reaction from the Bowdon crowd.

Yeah.

Look at Prothro by the way.

Not only is he a basketball star, as we take one more look at this.

Watch those feet.

Foot is down.

Down.

Does he have control.

Foot is out of bounds.

There.

I'm not sure.

Is there?

Is it not enough to turn that over?

Didn't see him overturn that.

Okay, look, from this angle.

Thought he had a nice job there by Hopkins.

He had some great camera work.

Yep.

By the way, not only the 27th touchdown catch of the season for Prothro, but now the 44th touchdown toss by Josh Hopkins.

Who, by the way, got an offer from Thomas University so he may become a night hawk at some point down in Thomasville.

We'll see what he decides to do after the season.

Mentioned Kaiden Prothro.

And again, not just a five star talent in.

Football Review.

The ruling on the field is confirmed.

Touchdown!

It's a touchdown.

As we expected.

Prothro also a star basketball player.

He was second team all state in hoops.

Nearly 21 points, 16.5 rebound average for the Red Devils last year.

And oh, by the way, he was All-Region in baseball too.

That was his dad's sport.

Was baseball.

Pope Prothro playing baseball over Jaxson state, as Bell puts it through for the extra point and the 21 17 lead right now.

And boy, those three consecutive penalties for Lincoln County.

That was a killer.

And then the short punt.

Really is.

We talked about those things that could be pivotal.

Make a big swing.

You know in this game you only got a minute 12 now.

And the way that Lincoln County usually runs and you don't know what they do with this amount of time left before they go into the locker room.

You want something good to happen.

And right now, Bowdon is the team that had the good thing happen on the way to the locker room.

Here's the score drive.

Scoring drive.

Brought to you by DBHDD and the new Red ribbon.

365 curriculum three plays, 41 yards, just 113 is all that it took in that.

So again they have been you talk about efficiency.

They've been incredibly efficient.

Bowdon has had the ball only 7 minutes 23 seconds.

And yet they've got the 2021-17 lead.

So Lincoln County you know, the game plan has been great.

Keeping the ball out of their hands.

But boy such a quick scoring offense.

Short kickoff taken by Glaze.

And he is brought down.

Oh what a job by South.

Wow.

Jack South the senior with the quick bring down take down of Glaze.

And there's a flag on the play.

And White 16 come out and make the play.

Some people may say that was a little, maybe a little high and a little horse collar there.

I don't know, we'll see.

But he wouldn't let go.

Flag may have been inadvertent.

I don't see anything, any action.

So maybe an inadvertent flag.

No penalty on the play.

So okay, so first and ten.

Nope.

You're playing on.

So 107 to go here until halftime.

And by the way Bowdon will get the ball first to start the second half.

Lincoln County won the toss and elected to get it first.

Norman on the carry.

He's tripped up there.

And we got a flag on this.

Play by Jett Abrams and a flag here.

We'll stop the clock with 57 seconds.

We need you out there, Mr.

Man.

Look at Norman 581 rushing yards on the season, coming in 9.8 yards per carry average.

Scored his tenth touchdown of the season earlier.

During the run.

Personal foul.

Face mask offense 15 yards from the spot of the foul, half the distance to the goal.

And the penalties right now are just killing Lincoln County.

That's their seventh already for 55 yards.

Bowdon has yet to be flagged once for their play here in the first half.

That's something you just can't afford to have when you get to this game.

When you get to the 15th game, you know the longer you go in each round in the postseason, the more and more fundamental things become so important.

And that is penalties.

Keeping penalties to a minimum, ball security, forcing turnovers and just your basic execution before the setbacks.

Now that Lincoln County has had self-inflicted here less than a minute to play until halftime.

Clock is running again.

So first and 22 after the penalty.

That's Elam not getting far.

Host of white shirts including who else?

Wilson Paul Wilson has been a beast in this game.

There you go.

Paul Wilson.

He's having himself a ball game.

He is.

They may be content just to run this out.

Have one more play here.

Well, maybe not.

Maybe not.

Play clock is off.

Time winding down.

At the end of the first.

They're going to call it good.

What an effort here in the late in the second quarter.

By Bowdon.

The three time defending champions.

Halfway towards.

A fourth straight title.

What an effort by both these teams.

But Lincoln County again just to the self-destructing shooting themselves in the foot really had control of this game.

And they relinquished it here late in the second.

Quarter on consecutive plays there.

You know, that's the thing about it, the way it happened it's disappointing.

You can see the disappointment in the look in the face of some of the players as they head for the locker room.

They know what they were able to do.

They know they can play with this team.

They know that.

But they know that also they're down and they really hurt themselves here late in the late in the first half.

Yeah, absolutely.

Tonight's coaches interviews, brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza, your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Let's go down to Matty.

Thanks, guys.

Coach, how impressive have you been with the efficiency of your offense in this first half, especially with such little time with the ball getting numbers early up for you guys?

Well, they've been really good so far and we knew both offenses were really good.

And it's going to come down to who plays a little bit better defense.

Very important that we stole that that possession there.

And we go into the half with the lead.

And then we get the ball in the second half to start the second half.

Second half.

What do you need to see especially to keep the consistency going on your side both offensively and defensively?

Well, we need to go punch that first one in and then we need to get a stop on D and then we'll be sitting where we want to be.

Thank you coach.

Again appreciate it.

Yes ma'am.

Yeah.

Coach Fendley has been here before is again three straight titles going for a fourth in a row.

How about the effort here?

Josh Norman scoring, but boy, it has been the passing offense so far of Bowdon.

How about Josh Hopkins three scoring tosses here in the first half.

And it's the Red Devils on top of the other Red Devils.

Halftime is up next.

Let me know if I can help you with anything.

Just looking.

I only buy local and sustainable so.

Oh well that shirt's not local.

You should be wearing cotton.

Georgia's a major supplier of cotton worldwide, so if you'd like to buy local to support Georgia, buying cotton is a great place to start.

It's renewable and sustainable, naturally.

Thanks.

That's a polyester fiber made of oil, by the way.

Oh.

Where's your dressing room?

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And welcome in to our GPB Halftime Show.

I'm Nicki Noto Parmer.

This is John Nelson.

We've got some amazing guests sitting right here, thanks to our friends at Georgia Access.

We're going to get to them in a minute.

But right now, we are currently in halftime of the single A Division two game between Benedictine and Lincoln County Benedictine right now 21-17 John, we said it from the beginning.

It's going to be a close, close score between these two teams.

Bowdon Lincoln County, Lincoln County in the phone booth, like we said, ten feet at a time.

That's when they get the first downs.

They got to the edge back and forth game.

It was 3-0 Then it was 73, then it was 14.

It was what?

Ten, seven?

14, ten, 17, 14, 21, 17.

What we figured Joshua Hopkins three through the air in the first half.

But stuff on the ground for Lincoln County and we can't wait for the second half.

Absolutely.

We also can't wait for the quad a matchup.

That's how we're going to close out our evening tonight.

Kickoff is at 7:00 P.M.

Between Creekside and who else?

Benedictine.

That's right.

And they are on set right now.

We've got the head coaches for the tribe and for the Cadets.

John, this is going to be a good one.

Yeah.

So I have Danny Britt on my side.

You have.

I've got Coach Mao.

Yes.

On your side.

That's right.

All right.

So let's see Danny, pick a number 1-10.

Seven.

Bang.

That's it.

First question.

So actually, since you won the toss, you can either accept the first question or defer to Nicky and Moe.

I'll accept the first question.

All right, so when I mentioned Creekside football to you, what sticks in your head?

Continued success.

They've been successful over and over and over again.

It doesn't seem to go away.

A ton of athletes, a lot of speed, good coaching.

Nicky.

All right, coach, undefeated season, 14-0 It's been a while since you've been on this particular stage for a title.

So what does it mean to be back in the bins?

It is a product of our hard work that we put in starting in January.

Since January, he said.

What can we expect from your team out there tonight?

Are they ready?

Oh yeah, definitely.

Are they ready, coach?

Yeah, definitely.

Are you ready?

Oh, yeah.

I'm so excited.

I feel like I'm about to get up.

Do we need to do, like, some jumping jacks, or lunges?

No.

We quiet before the storm.

Do you want some of my snacks.

Down here?

No.

I'm good, I'm.

Good, you're good.

He's good.

See?

And the thing?

We got to work.

Danny, you started yelling in January, correct?

You.

You sound like you're.

So who's going to take over?

Are you going to make.

Is that.

Are the pipes going to make it through this game?

Oh, brother.

I'll make it.

This is 30 years of coaching, man.

This is what it sounds like at the end of the year.

It's just no way to avoid it.

So then when you're trying to get messages across, I mean, obviously you're going to like, not talk for like a week after this game is over, right?

I hope to sleep for like a week, to be honest with you, I'm exhausted.

I told my wife and my daughters were here.

We actually celebrated Christmas this morning because my daughters are out of town, but they came in and and I just said, man, I hope to go home and go to sleep for a week.

One last question.

We'll be there on Wednesday.

Coach Britt.

All right, so your defense has held all of the Quadri opponents to seven points or less.

How do you guys keep that momentum going against this tough Benedictine offense?

It's going to be definitely tough.

They got a great offense.

They've got some guys who can run and stretch the field, but I got one of the best defensive coordinators in the game and I trust that he got a game plan to do what he needs to do.

He's trusting his D coordinator I love that.

Yep.

And Danny's trusting his OC and his DC and all of his folks.

Guys, we can't thank you enough for dropping by.

We know you got some studying to do, and we're going to be watching from up here.

Thanks for hanging out with us.

Thank you.

GU Cadets.

Try it.

Pride.

Yeah.

There you go.

I knew it was coming.

I go Cadets try pride.

Get us out.

Of here.

I knew it was coming.

Thanks again to our friends over at Georgia Access for helping us have these coaches on the set.

What a fun conversation coming up.

We've got more football, John.

We've got the second half and then we'll see you back for our tailgate party after the end of this game.

And what else we got coming up.

We got more stuff.

The official.

Term we we've got features, interviews and a whole lot more football and chaos and nonsense as always right here on the set.

We'll be right back.

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Football Fridays in Georgia on GPB is brought to you in part by Georgia's EMCs.

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Welcome back to our GPB halftime show.

We're live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium Nicki Noto Parmer Jon Nelson Nelly, you have had so much fun all season long.

Getting some of the best stories.

Some of the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Awards.

It's been great to tour the state and award those to a bunch of different folks.

And so here is the best as we thank everybody who's been a part of it all year long.

One, two, three days.

The 36 participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives would like to congratulate all the winners of the GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award in 2025.

Ced e. This award honors schools that exhibit exemplary sportsmanship during competitive events.

Only one school in each region in each classification is chosen to receive this annual award.

The GHSA takes into consideration all aspects of sportsmanship, making the award a tribute to the entire community.

Introduced in 2006, this award reinforces the GHSA philosophy that everyone associated with high school activities, from athletes to spectators, should adhere to the fundamental values it represents.

Georgia EMC in the 36 participating Georgia Electric membership cooperatives are proud to sponsor the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

Congratulations to all the winners this year.

That crowd at Lowndes, by the way, literally they were like, yeah, we'll just have a couple of people there and we'll do the award.

We didn't know the Georgia Bridgemen horn section was going to be there.

We didn't know that half of the football team was going to be there.

We didn't know the baseball team was going to be there or the cheerleaders, but it was fantastic to tour the state and present the award and all those situations and all those places.

We were.

There, they were ready.

They heard Jon Nelson was coming, GPB was coming.

They just showed up.

Georgia Bridgman have horns, will travel.

Have horns will travel.

Well, that'll be Thomas County central.

Yes, that's Harvey Jayla will travel well.

Yeah.

Well same thing.

It's in the horn community, right?

That is a horrible horn.

I don't know what that is, but that was not it.

Close.

That was something.

Anyway, we've got a lot more.

Some things coming up for you on the other side of the break.

We'll have more features.

We'll talk a little bit more football.

And of course we're going to have the second half of this incredible single, a Division two game between Bowdon Lincoln County.

We've got more coming up right here on GPB.

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All right.

What do you think, Jasper?

Honestly, I think that polyester shirts affecting your game.

What?

I think cotton would have been a better choice.

Cotton.

Yeah.

It's come a long way.

You know, nowadays, cotton breeze and wicks moisture.

Great.

Plus, buying cotton means supporting Georgia farmers.

I think that's wonderful.

Okay, sure.

But what do you think about the putt?

Oh, it's really hadn't thought about it.

Sir.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man.

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free, and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

And welcome back to our GPB Halftime Show.

It is currently halftime of our single a Division two championship game between Bowdon and Lincoln County.

Right now, Bowdon is winning 21-17 Now we've had the really unique opportunity to showcase student athletes all season long, thanks to our friends over at You Save It Pharmacy.

And now this time we've got Lacey Jaxson.

He is a senior football player from Lee County.

He is a technician and he isn't worried about all the eyes that are on him.

Playing DB is just playing with great technique.

You know you don't got to be the fastest guy.

You don't got to be the most physical guy.

You just got to be a technician and keep your eyes down.

You want to move your feet.

You want to get hands on receivers.

And I think sometimes it's not the plays that he makes.

It's the impact that he has with with covering somebody where they won't throw the ball to.

Him.

I have a lot of eyes on me.

I understand that, and I feel like I do well with it.

So, you know, just doing the right thing all the time, even when nobody's watching.

Just keeping that good habit.

So I'm going to continue to work hard, continue to be doing what I'm doing, and just let my work show on Friday.

Brennan on.

And you can catch all of those interviews from.

You say that there are longer versions from what we show you here at GPB, longer versions on the You Save It YouTube channel.

You can go there and catch up and get the full length features that they produce all year long.

Absolutely.

We also have a lot of great content on our YouTube channel.

Yes we.

Do, we do, and we have a great podcast that we've had all season long.

Yes we do.

Friday is going to be our last podcast taping of 2025.

We're going to get the All Stars together, and we're going to remind everybody about what you're seeing here over this three days.

We're going to talk about it on Friday.

It'll be released on the weekend and get you ready for Christmas, because we know that you've been paying so much attention to high school football.

You have not bought Christmas presents yet.

No, no, there's still a lot to be done.

In fact, thank goodness I have the internet right here so I can do that.

But John, let's go ahead and take a look at today.

We have had some incredible matchups already.

We've crowned two state champions.

We've got two more to go.

Talk to me a little bit about those flag games that you were the sideline reporter for.

Harris County, one of the most prolific offenses that I think anyone has ever seen in recent memory wins, flag division won over Washington County, and it was dominant performance there 32-0 Final division two 20-13 Greenbrier goes back to back to back.

They now have three in a row knocking off Jenkins, who made it to the last game of the year.

They win that one by seven.

Obviously we still have another 24 minutes hanging in the balance with this one.

With class A, Division two with Bowdon and Lincoln County.

Then tonight, as you saw, because we know that you are faithful watchers of everything.

GPB mere moments ago, you heard Danny Britt compliment Creekside you heard Mo Dixon talk about tribe, pride and being confident in his coordinators.

That game coming up in and around 7:00, we'll say in and around 7:00.

In and around 7:00, and then tomorrow, if you guys are just now joining us and you haven't watched the girls flag football games, you are missing out.

It is so fun to watch John Nelson, these girls, I mean, they can sling the football.

They can catch the football, they can run the football.

They can pick off the football.

It is so much fun.

North Oconee knocked out southeast.

Bulloch.

We're used to seeing them at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Can North Oconee go from one end of the schedule to the other?

Whitewater has something to say about that.

10:00 early start.

We start an hour early tomorrow.

Milton and Betty, that's at noon.

And these are start times.

If everything goes according to plan, you don't have extra time.

People don't pass forever.

Those kinds of things.

Toombs County and Worth County, class A, Division one, number 1 versus number 1 or number 1 versus number 2.

Then the last two on the board.

Hapeville charter.

Winston Gordon.

He's going on the road, except it's probably the shortest road trip he's had in the postseason, taking on the juggernaut that is Carver, Columbus and then the Intergalactic Championship.

The juggernaut, as you.

Said, one versus two, two versus three, one versus three, three versus one, you name it.

They're all ranked.

Can they upset or knock off St.

Anthony of Maryland from the top spot?

Carrollton and Buford wraps up Tuesday.

Wednesday we're back to four on the floor starting at 11.

McEachern and Pope two top 15 teams nationally.

Starting our day off.

Then it's Calvary Day in Hebron.

Christian.

Expect a lot of offense in the private game.

Jefferson and Sandy Creek.

That one's going to be fun for a bunch of different reasons.

And Thomas County Central in Gainesville, that's going to be the dessert.

That's 13-13 for us right there here in the great GPB.

Love it John.

Oh my gosh.

It's going to be so much fun.

Okay.

So this last game we've got the Yellow Jackets and the Red elephants.

We've got a battle of two animals if you will.

It's going to be loud in here for two reasons.

One, we're going to have some vuvuzelas.

Yes.

And two elephants.

I mean a pack of elephants, right?

I mean, that's where like, Red tide came from.

It's going to be loud.

Notice the color that she's wearing on the crimson?

It's red.

Yeah, yeah.

Anyway.

Yeah.

Okay.

So right now it's halftime.

Bowdon Lincoln County Bowdon is winning currently at the half 21-17 However, Jon Nelson Bowdon will get the ball to start the second half.

How do they go after their what fifth state title in a row.

Same thing they've always done.

Maddie Crews catching up with Lee Chomskis to find out what's up with Lincoln County second half around the corner.

Maddie Larry, Sam on the great GPB stick and stay.

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Have time 21 17.

Right now, the class A Division two Championship Bowdon on top right now in a battle of Red Devils.

Both teams naming that chance to get some refreshments here, if you will, for some chance of your Lincoln County Sam Crenshaw to figure out just what went wrong there at the end.

For 21 minutes, they were in control of this game, and then the penalties happened.

You look at the possession right now.

Time of possession.

And they're still way ahead about Lincoln County is before you just had a progression of things that happened there right before the half.

Some self-inflicted problems, pre-snap penalties, things that coaches just can't stand and has happened to him has really got him in a tough situation to start the second half because Bowdon gets the ball to start the second half.

Yeah, both offenses doing what they wanted to do for most of the first half here.

As we take a look at the first half highlights in this this state championship matchup, how about Josh Hopkins.

Just outstanding here.

Getting the ball a very quickly to Patterson Mike Mykah Patterson for their first touchdown.

But it was Lincoln County bouncing right back John Norman coming in with the touchdown run.

Good effort there.

Seesaw battled throughout the half Hopkins and later looking up top.

That's Perkins getting up behind the defense a blown coverage there in the secondary.

And they take the lead again only to relinquish it again Jones in for the touchdown for Lincoln County.

And those Red Devils go back on top.

But again they made a stop forced them to punt.

But they couldn't get things going.

Just all the mistakes.

And then Kaiden Prothro the five star athlete with his first catch of the day.

It was a touchdown.

And then put them on top here at halftime, 21 17 the stats presented to you by Alfa Insurance in this one.

Look at the rushing yards.

Sam 201 for Lincoln County.

No passing yards.

And like you said, the time of possession more than doubled for Lincoln County.

Absolutely.

But those penalties boy that is the problem right there.

No penalties for Bowdon.

They played a clean game.

When you get to the 15th game that is so important.

Every coach will tell you that seven penalties in so many of them right before the half, before the end of the first half of Lincoln County.

Halftime coach's interview, brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza.

Your original neighborhood pizzeria.

Let's go to Maddie Cruz.

Thanks, guys.

Coach, what did you see from your guys in the first half?

Well, we really hadn't played that well in the first half.

I thought we made a lot of mental mistakes offensively.

Defensively, we had a lot of things to clean up.

So you know we're only down four and we're playing a fantastic football team.

We just have to clean things up and play.

We've got 30 minutes of life left and we're going to have to fight as hard as we can.

There was a lot of energy, not only from your guys on the sideline, but also in the stands.

How are you going to use that to feed off of that energy, especially heading into the second half and get it done here?

Well, certainly the energy is great.

Our home crowd is always great.

They always travel well.

But you know, we're going to have to find something within ourselves and go find a way to win.

But thank you coach.

Thank you.

Back up to you guys.

Thanks so much.

Good to talk to coach there.

You saw the stat.

What an amazing two year run.

They have had only one loss these last two seasons.

And that was again last year in the quarterfinals.

Absolutely absolutely.

But now you know you see what they're faced with.

You want to come out here and do something good and get your defense.

First of all see if they can slow down.

Bowdon who's going to have the ball first to start this second half?

Both teams back on the field getting ready here for the kickoff here in the second half.

And this is brought to you by heads up Georgia parking your phone while driving saves lives.

Here's a conversation there.

In terms of Lincoln County's Mekhi Wade talking to a center Spencer Stewart about maybe possibly some of the exchanges there on the line.

So as you talk before Lincoln County won the opening toss, elected to receive to start the game.

And that gives Bowdon the ball they'll receive here to start the second half.

This first possession is so big.

It really is big to see what Bowdon can do coming out of the locker room to start the second half, but for Lincoln County to find a way to stop it.

Kickoff.

Brought to you by Heads Up Georgia.

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Get a chance here for the kickoff.

Fortson Partridge kicking to Mike Mykah Patterson, who had the big return there after the first opening score.

Field goal for Lincoln County.

And they kicked it away from him ever since then, going into the end zone, I suspect we'll see the same here.

Can't blame him for that.

Patterson goes deep about 6 yards in and says, yeah, that's too far.

Smart move right there.

We heard from Coach Chomskis talking about Lincoln County in terms of he wasn't happy in the first half.

Really had to be frustrated again by those penalties because again, we were waiting for one team to stop the other.

Lincoln County finally stopped Bowdon.

They've been scoring very quickly, but then to give the ball back in that fashion, they could have been up.

I feel like probably should have been up at halftime the way they played and said, that's not the case.

Not the case at all.

As you see Josh Hopkins getting ready to come back to work and let's see what he has.

Does he have one in the backfield with him?

Yes he does, but they're still spread out.

First and ten from the 20.

Handoff up the middle.

Good surge there.

By Jonah Wilson before he's brought down.

And good start to the half for Battle.

Get a look at Wilson there.

Still haven't done what we saw them do in their very first possession when they came out and just threw the ball every every play.

Yeah.

Hopkins on the keeper.

Pushed out of bounds there.

Jeremiah Johnson a lot of red shirts there.

Brings up third and about three.

For this Bowdoin offense.

One more look at it.

Watch the red jerseys.

Just get over there.

The pursuit going to string him out and string him out.

And players coming from the backside are about to catch it.

Good team defense by Lincoln County.

Big play here.

Hopkins keeps it himself.

Did he get to the first down marker.

And according to that he's going to be short.

And it's short.

So fourth down now.

That's a big play.

Big stop.

Now remember the punter, the main punter for Bowdon is number 28.

Brantley butts Joshua Hopkins will punt.

We've already seen that once in the first half.

We'll see what happens here.

They're going with a heavy set here.

And instead the Jonah Wilson straight ahead and a first down.

They'll move the chains.

So the gamble in their own end zone in their own side of the field I should say.

Brought some more size in 40 Gavin Parmer coming in to help.

And Wilson just picked his spot and took a dive over.

Wilson.

And the chains move.

Averaging 6.5 yards a game.

Seven touchdowns, rushing two more through the air in this season.

First and ten Hopkins keeps it Sims out of a tackle there, but he can't get very far.

Nice effort there.

By Nasir Gartrell, the senior coming in 31 tackles.

Number 11 and gets the stop there.

Nice job.

He does get forward for about a yard.

Make it two.

Make it two.

That could have been a tackle for loss.

Gartrell got to him quickly.

Empty backfield.

Hopkins looking downfield.

Gets his man for the first down and then some.

Nice stop there.

Nice catch by 22.

Jaxson Jones.

That's your tight end.

Number 2, tight end.

That's a catch.

First time we've called his name today.

Fourth catch of the season for Jones.

Another first down for Bowdon out to the 44.

Hopkins starting to add up some numbers.

Three time defending champs trying to make it four in a row.

Enjoying a rare exclusive company.

If they can catch patches catches made by Prothro gets it across midfield.

Another first down for the Georgia commit and they'll move the chains again.

You see number 1 he's your number 1 target.

Didn't have a catch until late in the first just before halftime.

And here you are going to him early to get things moving here in the second half.

Well that's the thing for Bowdon.

You got to be happy if you're up at halftime with only one catch by this guy.

Right.

That is something.

But it tells you how much of a team it is, even with a player of his magnitude.

Right?

Right.

Hopkins to keep again eludes one tackle.

Finally brought down, but not before he's close to another.

First down and they'll move the chains again.

This time I'll call my own number.

Gets right past the defender that was right there.

Jean-Charles had a shot at him, right at the line of scrimmage.

And Jacoby Moss finally brought him down.

The junior 52 tackles on the season for him.

And here's something we haven't seen yet from Bowdon an extended drive there.

Drives have all been very quick.

Quick strides for their their scoring drives.

Taking their time here to Prothro.

He can't avoid the tackle.

Stopped there by Glaze short gain on first down.

Second down and five.

Make that Walker Thornton number 9 the senior.

You get a look at him there.

He's Lincoln County team trying to stay undefeated and complete their first state championship season in 19 years.

Bowdon trying to stop them Hopkins a low snap has time, dual threats, first down and more.

Finally brought down the big tackle there by Jean-Charles with this Bowdon offense is moving.

Inside the red zone.

Brought to you by Alfa Insurance and Sam the replay.

He is elusive.

You miss him here.

Jean-Charles finally coming from behind and makes a stop.

Just impressive.

A lot of weapons right now on display.

Time ticking down.

5:00 to go.

Almost here in the second half.

Trying to add to their halftime lead.

Jonah Wilson is stopped there by a number of players.

Christian Elam number three among them.

They have a lot of running backs that they use this Bowdon offense.

So Josh Chandler Connor Daniel Wilson though has really been the workhorse here in the last few minutes.

And now he comes out of the game.

Wilson comes out ten Joshua Chandler lines up in the backfield.

Chandler comes back in.

We called his number earlier.

He's right by the quarterback.

Hopkins he's got the ball.

Brought down by Johnson Jeremiah Johnson.

You know coach was saying that Johnson started as a freshman and really got beat up.

And he said it's been nice to see him take that experience and become a dominant player as his sophomore junior.

And now here in his senior year.

One of those seniors develops into one of those leaders, the guy you look to and depend on.

He's a big a big reason why Lincoln County is here in this game.

But right now they got to find a way to slow down this Bolton team.

Joshua Chandler split way to the sideline, bottom of your screen.

Prothro there at the top.

Hopkins the keeper bounces outside.

For he's brought down Johnson again.

The first to get there, pulling on his jersey.

And that will be another first down.

Yes, it is first and goal.

First and goal 15 Johnson.

Give him credit there though.

He got a hold.

He just was hanging on.

He's working hard out there this afternoon.

So how about Bowdon time of possession.

Only 723 in the first half.

They've had it 7 minutes here to start the second half methodically going down field first and goal up and in.

That's Josh Chandler.

Did he get in.

Saying the ball came out.

Ball came out.

And he lost the ball.

Runs back in.

The body's.

Call is.

That way.

Officials are convening.

They're huddling up.

Yeah.

Lincoln County thinks they got it.

Let's hear the call.

The ruling on the field is the ball came loose before the goal line was reached.

Recovered by the defense.

First down.

Lincoln County.

What a stop.

Wow.

Whoa!

What a stop.

Let's take a look at this.

They're balls out.

Elam with the strip and the recovery.

Right at the goal line.

Wow.

What a time for that play.

The senior Christian Elam.

The ruling on the field of a touchdown is under further review.

Okay, so they're going to look this over.

They're going to review and make sure that it was not a touchdown.

Fumble.

We'll take a quick time out while they review this.

And we'll come back with the verdict.

Who the tension mounts here in downtown Atlanta.

We're back after this.

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Back inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the conversation and the review continues.

So again, if you're just joining us right now, this is the class A Division two championship.

Lincoln County undefeated, trying to unseat the three time defending champion Bowdon Red Devils.

Both teams Red Devils.

By the way, coach Rich Fendley, you see there again, trying to become a rare coach to take a team to four straight titles.

What happened just now was again, a play there.

And we'll take one more look at it.

That's Joshua Chandler going in for the touchdown.

Number 10.

But he's stripped by number 3, Christian Elam.

Now the call on the field.

It was a strip before he reached the end zone.

Elam recovered in the end zone.

One more look at it here.

The question is was he over the line of scrimmage.

The ball is out and it bounces.

Really just shy of the line of the goal line.

So you can hear the reaction there.

Playing this actually on the big screen.

As you know, if you've been inside Mercedes-Benz there's a huge halo atop the stadium with all the different giant screens.

And so what you're seeing right here is also being shown to the crowd.

So you can hear them reacting to it.

And the conversation continues.

Larry, you know what?

You and I have a little experience.

We do plays, interesting plays around the goal line.

We we have a little experience.

We went viral on that, didn't we?

Yeah, we kind of went viral.

We did it.

Yeah.

One.

Of those things we don't talk about.

Yeah, yeah.

This is a bit different, but just just how ironic what happened with us in the booth, huh?

Well, this is the opening drive that Bowdon wanted and not what Lincoln County wanted, but what a turn of events.

If this call is upheld and if it is a fumble, and it is Lincoln County ball at their own 20, what a stop they would make after Bowdon went right down the field on their longest drive so far in this game.

Absolutely, absolutely.

That would be something okay.

We got a couple of angles coming up.

Let's take a look and see what you think.

So let's see if we can see again.

You have to cross the plane of the goal line.

When it.

Stripped, if you're looking on your left.

Yep.

I mean, are we looking at the knee to see if you can follow the knee.

Because the knee on the left screen I'm looking at the right hand.

The right hand right there.

Is that the goal line.

The ball is in the in the in the left hand ball is in the right hand.

And it is apparently out.

But you want to see that knee is touching.

And that's apparently what's happening here.

I'm no expert.

It would seem tough to overturn.

And this is big.

It is.

Bolton scores here.

This this this is tough.

Okay.

Our rules expert is here, sir.

Your thoughts on this?

So, like you just mentioned the rule on the field is very important, right?

When you.

Interview.

Here we go.

The ruling has been overturned.

It is a touchdown.

So we have to have that video evidence to overturn the call on the field.

The goal line is very tight, right?

You don't have the pylon camera.

So like you said, kind of putting the camera angles together to prove the ball did break the plane prior to the fumble.

Okay, okay.

Coach Chomskis said he had a red flag.

I don't know if he wants to.

They just reviewed it.

So I don't know what good that would.

Do I don't know.

Yeah, yeah.

Once they review the play upstairs, the coach could not challenge.

Correct.

No point.

I mean, because he's because he just reviewed it, so.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So so a big turn of events and a big score instead.

For Josh Chandler, his.

Touchdown there.

The extra.

Point.

Illegal motion offense, five yard penalty.

Retry.

They're gonna retry with the penalty against Bolton.

That's their first penalty of the game.

By the way.

What a turn of events.

We talked about the 8 minutes the last 8 minutes before halftime.

The first eight coming out from halftime.

And we've seen something we thought may have been a pivotal play to turn things back in the favor of Lincoln County.

But Bowdon has the touchdown ruling.

They're going to try to get this point after.

Yeah.

And now instead you're down by two scores.

Brantley Bell again for the extra point.

No problem.

There.

28 17 wow.

And another flag.

Was this one.

Hold on.

Prior to the snap.

Disconcerting act by the defense.

Half the distance to the goal.

We still have a retry.

Okay.

You have to retry.

Or can it be declined?

Before the kick I guess during the play.

Do you have to retry this?

Absolutely.

It's a dead ball penalty.

Okay.

Well, this is why we have replay, right?

Which up until a few years ago we didn't.

Have we didn't have did not have replay in Georgia high school football state championships.

But it's an event that changed all that.

Okay.

Third time's a charm.

Nobody foul anybody.

Bell is up and it's good.

Okay, there we go.

Officially 28 17 Bowdon on top.

The first score of the second half.

Let's go down to Matt.

Thanks, guys.

I feel like we all just went through a bit of a wave of emotions in that last couple of sequence, but one thing it's clear being down here, you're hearing the roar of the Bowdon community.

And if you want an old school Friday Night Football feeling, that's exactly what you need to do.

You got to come to Bowdon.

I mean, this community loves football.

Many families, many generations, sons following in their father's footsteps.

In fact, on the 2022 championship team, seven players were sons of the 92 state champions, coach Rich Fendley said Friday night's hit.

And it shuts down.

Everyone's at the game talking, neighbors, enjoying the atmosphere.

No phones, no streaming, just pure community, he says.

It reminds him of coaching back in the 70s and the 80s.

And for anyone here, it's truly special and unforgettable experience, and it's something both coaches said.

I think if this was an opportunity to rob a bank in both Lincoln County and in Bowdon, this would be the day to do it, because everybody is here.

That's right.

Yeah, it has been a raucous crowd.

There's no question about that.

You can see what they have done again, trying to win their sixth state championship and also trying to become the fourth team to win a fourth straight state titles.

Matt Stewart helped us get through that.

A West, Rome, Buford and Elka all getting it done.

Elka, the last 2015 through 2019.

Right now, as you saw the kickoff, there.

And that's where Lincoln County, with good field position to start the second half.

And Sam, we look at that, at that scoring drive, that just then presented by DBHDD.

And the new red ribbon.

365 curriculum.

14 plays, 80 yards.

I'm not sure they had 14 plays combined in the first half.

I knew it, I know it, I know it when they're showing, you know, how do you want it?

We can we can do it quickly.

We can do it methodically.

That's what they did.

But now let's see what this offense will Lincoln County does seem like we haven't seen them in a while.

Yeah.

Let's see what they can come out and sustain.

You had a good kick return there by Kelby Glaze.

He did some great things in the first half.

Let's see if number 8 can get things going again for Lincoln County.

Close out.

By the way 14 plays on that drive.

16 plays for them in the first half as they give it to Aiden Jones.

And he is stopped by a host of players, including Jonah Wilson on number 4 on the stop.

There you're going to look at Jonah Wilson.

He has had a game today as well.

Seven.

So the momentum changing right now.

Big series here for Lincoln County.

Need a score here.

Under 4:00 to go in the third quarter.

Oh boy.

How about that.

Hello Marcus Harper.

What a stick.

And again the energy and momentum has really changed here in the second half.

Really has.

You see the defensive unit for Bowdon out there bouncing there bouncing.

You know it's the third quarter.

They got things going.

They got the lead.

They got the momentum.

There's a big solo stop there by Marcus Harper.

It's a third and nine now.

That was Kelby Glaze two yard loss.

Wade looking to throw.

Picked off or was it no call.

Yes.

Interception.

Interception.

The first of the season for Mekhi Wade.

It was Mike Mykah Patterson who scooped it before he got to the turf.

Rolls right to throw out there.

Let's watch and see that.

That one make the turf first.

Mykah Patterson looked like he got the hands down underneath.

What a play.

Look.

So the first turnover of the game.

There's another look at it.

One more look.

You catch that one in there to come out.

Bolton offense is coming onto the field.

Onto the field.

And you're hearing from the Lincoln County fans.

And here comes.

The yeah, there goes a red flag.

Red flag is flying.

Oh my goodness.

Dude I think about 15 yards.

I know coach got a good arm.

He does.

Boy how this game has changed.

So the challenge flag comes out.

Lincoln County is challenging the call of an interception.

I'll be honest, at this stage of the game, the way it's gone, I don't blame him for challenging this overturn.

I don't either.

To see here's another look at it.

He gets his arm but doesn't come out the other side.

All right.

Dave, what do you see.

Boy, that was an angle.

There a catch, no catches.

Always challenging on any level.

Right.

What the definition of that is definitely gets his hands underneath the ball.

But that ball rallied around a little bit there.

Does bring an area of concern as far as if that's a catch or not.

Crew was saying.

That's how it appeared to me.

Like he did get the arms up under there again.

The ball can be moving around, but you still have control of the ball.

That makes sense.

And another question that one more game is still to come.

By the way, in case you're tuning in for that, come up in a bit later.

The class 4-A championship Creekside and Benedictine Dave Reynolds.

You know, we've talked about this in terms of we're thankful we have the replay, because it wasn't until, I think, three years ago that we did not.

And of course, the big controversial play in a championship game over at Georgia State Stadium as an official, how big is it?

Is it looked at as a good thing by the officials that you had this backup system.

Yeah.

Everybody wants.

To call.

Right on the field has been confirmed of an interception.

Okay.

Lincoln County has been charged with their first time out of the half.

Okay, okay.

So?

So coaches want it, right?

Officials want it, right?

Communities deserve the call to be correct.

The technology is already here on this stage.

So it makes a lot of sense to have the video review process maybe a little slow in this first game.

As far as how long some of these towns have been taking.

Yeah, but definitely something we do like to have to make sure it is correct and the right team wins.

That last one was I mean look that was a really tough call.

That's true.

We all had the angles as well.

Looking at it, we weren't quite sure what was going.

So with all the angles.

So okay we're not the officials.

So again so Lincoln County loses a time-out.

First turnover of the game.

Bowdon offense now takes over.

And boy they're in control 28 17 they're up here.

We talked about again just how long that drive was.

And they've done this all really largely without their star Kaiden Prothro doing much.

In fact, he's not in the game right now.

Looks like they're going to just try to run the ball and take some clock off.

That's Chandler they're being thrown down by Jones, and they're going to call a flag.

You're seeing some frustration from the sideline.

That's Jacoby Moss 25.

He's going you know what I mean?

Yeah.

There's a flag on the field.

Personal foul, unnecessary roughness.

Defense 15 yards from the end of the run.

Results in a first down.

You're giving up 15 yards for that, too.

Yeah.

That's one thing.

Number 10 can stay in the game for losing a helmet.

You already got about.

You already got about an offensive moves.

Very well.

Now you're going to give him 15.

Get him to the other side of midfield.

Yeah.

Number 4 Aiden Jones.

Number 25 Jacoby Moss.

Not sure who the flag was on.

Doesn't matter.

They both were part of that.

But 15 yards at the time of possession we talked about here Bowdon in the first quarter just 90s.

Since then it has been a total change and they have dominated the ball here in the second half.

Hopkins on the keeper.

Nasir Gartrell number 11.

Part of the tackle to your point, Sam at this point, at this at this stage just run the clock.

Run the clock, run the clock.

Is what you want.

You have the lead.

You have the ball.

Yep.

See if they try to go up top to Prothro.

He's split wide and left part left side of the field.

Down at the bottom of your screen.

Number 1.

Play call change here again.

They're in no hurry right now.

In control.

Already up two scores.

Hopkins already three touchdown passes on the day.

Strung out.

Fumbled the ball out of bounds.

It doesn't matter.

Nice play by Elam to knock him out.

And it brings up third down.

Well, the main thing that comes on that play was just, you know, eating up some time from that clock, having it run down.

You watch great Pursuit here by Lincoln County.

Those red jerseys are out there.

Receivers are covered.

Loss of two on the play brings up third down and ten.

Coming out of bounds.

Clock was stopped at 1:35.

The end of the third quarter.

Class A Division two championship.

Hopkins looking downfield.

Oh, he is not happy.

Not sure if that's.

That Patterson.

Patterson.

Patterson.

Yeah.

Patterson wanted a flag and he had an argument.

He was.

He had a defender fall down and hit him around the legs.

He was hoping he would get a call.

Didn't get it.

Good.

Look at Josh Hopkins here.

Good penetration by the defense here.

This third down play.

Getting some pressure.

Maybe released a little bit sooner than he wanted to.

Yeah.

Mike Mykah Patterson didn't get the call he wanted.

So it's fourth down and ten again.

He will punt some times and he does it here.

Pooch punt gets it downfield.

Goes out of the 23.

So about a 27 yard punt there.

And it brings up first and ten.

So big play there for Lincoln County to get the stop.

Another score might have been hard to overcome a three score game.

They got the touchdown but they get the ball back.

You get the ball back.

My thing is this though.

You get the ball back.

You got a minute 22 to go in the third quarter.

You got to get something going.

Your offense has been you know, since late midway through the first half.

Your offense has not been what we saw earlier in the game.

How do you recapture that.

How do you bottle that back up.

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GPB sports here.

Is an exciting time of year for us.

It's been these three days with you all.

The action from Mercedes Benz going up top now for Norman and he's got the got the ball but knocked away by Patterson.

Again we talked about Coach Fendley saying he's playing as well as anybody in the Red Devils secondary right now.

And ball hung up a little bit.

Norman had had a step on his defender.

Patterson.

Yeah, well we got to play back at the lab, back at the line of scrimmage.

Norman was out there in the position to make the catch.

Yeah.

Nice recovery by Patterson.

Here's the call.

An eligible man downfield offense that Penalty's refused.

Results.

Second down.

Stakes have really hurt this Lincoln County team today.

Talk about the penalties.

Nine penalties for Lincoln County.

Look at their offense here, Sam.

Just four plays only 1 yard.

And of course the interception the first that Wade through this entire season.

Glaze.

He's brought down by Paul Wilson, who's been the star of this defense for Bowdon.

He's just going to follow number 8 wherever he goes.

Glaze was so productive in the first half of this game.

Picking up a lot of yards and helping Lincoln County to control the clock.

Now they need they need to gain the yards.

Not so much.

Run the clock, though.

The clock can be their enemy here.

Yeah.

Glaze at one point early 118 yards.

He's up to 133 yards on 12 attempts so far.

Glaze again skips one tackle.

Marcus Harper won't let him go any further.

And a flag.

Now, no doubt there's probably a little language going on right there.

Yeah.

On that play.

We got some chirping.

Personal foul, unnecessary roughness.

Defense 15 yards from the end of the run.

Results in the first down.

Well that's a backbreaker there because again you had them stopped third and long.

And now you give them a fresh set of downs.

Yep.

I think both coaches probably want you know the teams are really competitive.

These are teams that are coming into this place playing for this championship and just one of to I don't even want to dial it back.

But just think you know what I mean.

Just think what your actions could cost your team.

Only the second penalty in the game, by the way, on Bowdon last play, likely of the third quarter.

Looking to throw.

It's over the head of Norman.

So we will have one more play.

At least second down and ten.

Now it's Lincoln County offense again.

That does not pass very often coming into the game.

Mekhi Wade was just 28 of 48 for 508 yards.

By the way, coach did talk about that.

You know how much he's grown really since a freshman as a player and as a person and how much they they really depended on him and counted on him to make that kind of growth.

Yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely.

And he's done that since what I have so much confidence in his leadership and his ability.

He's been put to the test in this game today.

Zero for five passing in this game.

It's a run play here by Glaze.

And he's brought down Paul Wilson.

Is there.

As well as.

That's the end of Jonah Wilson.

And that'll bring us to the end of the third quarter.

The second half has belonged to Bowdon.

What an effort.

The controversial touchdown there.

Chandler.

They said it's up.

And in Nolen in control heading into the fourth.

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As we enter the fourth quarter here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 28 17 Bowdon.

The three time defending champs trying to come back and win a fourth in a row.

They need a defensive stop here.

Crucial third and seven play here from Lincoln County's own 49 yard line.

This is big.

We've seen again the time of possession how much it has changed.

We talked about that.

Bowdon had just over 7 minutes in the entire first half.

They topped that number on their first drive here in the second half.

You see the rush yards here in Lincoln County.

What they've done not much.

Didn't have much in terms of again, many, very many plays.

Only 12 yards rushing in that third quarter Wade the throw to Norman.

That is complete.

But it is short of the first down.

And that'll bring up fourth and about one.

Lincoln County will go for it.

Time is of the essence.

They need two scores in the game.

Have to.

Open the scoring with a field goal, and they just traded touchdowns the rest of the way until here in the second half.

Got to get 1 yard.

Wade keeps it himself and gets that 1 yard and then some.

They'll move the chains.

And it's a first down for Lincoln County.

Lincoln County needed to get that.

Yeah.

That was big, by the way, for Lincoln County.

That's their first first down of the second half.

That's how lopsided this second half has been on the side of Bowdon.

It's just been a different world from what we saw earlier to start this game.

The thing of it is, can Lincoln County recapture some of that right now?

They got to get some points.

Tighe Wade, the senior Lincoln County 14-0 Wade skips one tackle, chased out of bounds there by Harper, but a good gain by Wade gets out of bounds to stop the clock.

It's a big play.

Lincoln County trying to fight their way back into this.

Great play.

Shakes the defender right here.

Gets on and.

Gets the first down.

They move the chains.

It's enough out to the 32 of Bowdon.

Talked about this team again 25-1 The last two years.

Region eight champs this year.

They went 4-0 in the region.

High scoring offense.

But they have been shut down here in the second half looking for their first score.

Little Trickeration.

It's a reverse in the hands of John Norman.

He's got some room.

And a blocker in front of him that was Wade the quarterback that he shoved out of bounds.

But again, enough for another first down credit Lincoln County for doing what they have to do to move.

The ball.

You do what you have to do at this stage of the game.

Great call.

Very well executed.

And there's your quarterback out in front.

Just running interference.

That's all.

That's all man.

He's a gamer.

He is.

He is going to keep fighting.

This guy wants to beat you.

That's right.

And Norman starting to pick up some yardage now.

Nice job there by him.

Glaze again up the middle.

Emma Bryant Glaze.

Tripped up by Lucas.

Baylee make that Lucki Bailey.

No.

Baylee an interesting story for for Bowdon.

Well, this Bowdon team, they lost All-State linebacker Dylan Legrand last year.

Baylee has come in and filled the gap very well.

119 tackles coming in Glaze again trying to spin his way into the end zone.

He's struggling.

He's in.

Yeah.

With the push Kelby Glaze and Lincoln County is back in business with the touchdown.

And that's a big sequence for the Red Devils.

Wearing red.

They had to have it this time on fourth and one.

They go for it.

You do a reverse.

They do all types of things to get the opportunity for this.

Trying to strip the ball didn't bring him down.

Go for his legs instead.

Good strength by Kelby Glaze.

Time out Lincoln County.

Their second charge.

Time out of the half.

The county calls a time-out here.

Now again you ask why they may be looking to go for a two point conversion because they have a kicker with a very strong lead.

He opened the game with a 50 yard field goal.

His personal career best.

So again, time out on the field we'll take one as well.

10:09 to go.

And the extra point is coming up here for Lincoln County.

Those Red Devils trying to get back in the game.

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Sun setting here in downtown Atlanta.

How?

How about this gorgeous, gorgeous shot?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium built here in the 2017?

Coming in now and back in the dome.

And we were in the Georgia Dome for years over at Georgia State for several years.

And now back here inside the dome, Larry Smith, Sam Crenshaw, Manny Cruz showing you here for this call.

Okay.

So they are going to go for two big play here.

Get in the hands of Glaze going around side leaps and gets in for the two point conversion.

And now they can tie with a field goal.

Big play call there by coach Bumpus 28 25.

The count now and Lincoln County.

What a drive just when they needed it.

One more look at it here.

Kelby Glaze one of the stars of this undefeated Lincoln County team and the great pride being felt in Lincolnton where coach says football is king.

He says, hey, we've got daddies and Granddaddies who all played here.

We talked before he attended Lincoln County games as a kid.

As we take a look.

The scoring drive presented by DBHDD and the new Red ribbon 365 curriculum, 11 plays, 77 yards.

It took only 3 minutes, 13 seconds right now.

And so now Lincoln County getting back in this game, their first score of the second half.

And now they need a defensive stop to make this stand up.

And this offense has just been outstanding.

Only a couple of punts in this game for them.

Talk about the offense.

I believe only only one punt for Lincoln County there at the end of the first half.

It did not go very far.

Set up to score that, put them ahead where they have been since 28 25.

Fortson Partridge the kick and he's not going to let Patterson touch it.

Not anymore.

Nope, nope.

He's kicking him nice and deep.

Boy, he's got a great leg to coach.

Says he has no desire to go kick in Cauley he already has plans once he graduates from high school to go do something else.

Okay.

Too bad because a kid with that leg, somebody, somewhere.

Somebody calling.

Absolutely, absolutely.

They could use someone that could do that consistently, right?

Yeah, absolutely.

28 25 now and now we see what Bowdon does to respond.

Yeah.

You got a lot of time here in the fourth quarter.

This game is still very much in doubt.

And Lincoln County has done what they needed to do offensively.

This is what we expected from both of these championship caliber teams.

Joshua Hopkins now empty backfield.

Gets it very quickly out to his man.

Stopped there by Gartrell his Jett Abrams on the catch.

He came in nine catches 101 yards three touchdowns on the day.

Nice catch.

With the catch.

You saw 25 that Jacoby Moss pull that hand back.

He almost got a face mask there.

Hopkins on the keeper.

Smart play by him.

Jacobe Moss nice run by Hopkins again.

Three first half touchdowns by the way.

He's ten of 12 for 170 yards three touchdown tosses there in the first half.

We haven't talked as much about his rushing game but he has 87 yards now on the ground.

And he came in 152 yards on the ground on the season seven yards there.

Second down Chandler the Carey he scored the touchdown and made it a 28 17 score.

If you're just joining us, he was stripped at the goal line by Christian Elam.

The first call was that it was a fumble in the end zone recovered by Lincoln County on the opening drive of the second half, but a review overturned it.

So his first touchdown rushing touchdown of the game and now 28 points after that, as we take a look at Joshua Hopkins numbers on the night, 170 through the air, 85 more on the ground.

One of the team captains in his first year with this Bowdon program Chandler the run on first down and the clock continues to tick.

Keener ten Joshua Chandler Ke'Ara Kaitlyn Allen number 3 Partlow.

Chandler very productive today.

Had a good day.

We talked about Connor Daniel broke through.

They weren't sure about the running game on this Bowdon offense.

We'll finish that thought in a moment.

Second and seven Perkins in motion.

Top of your screen Hopkins looking deep, trying to get it to Prothro but overthrew him.

He was double teamed yet again.

Thornton there Wade was there.

But back to the story about the running game for Bowdon.

They didn't know about the the running back position, and they had a lot of guys there.

Connor Daniel stepped through, but then 720 yards.

But he was injured in the second round.

He did come back and play in the semis against clinch, but that gave the chance for Chandler to come in.

We mentioned again 559 yards for him, 198 yards in his first game.

So what a job for the sophomore.

What he's done.

He's got a third and seven here.

Seven Hopkins quickly gets it out but tripped up right there.

Great defense by Gartrell to corral Bowdon and Connor Daniel we just talked about.

And it brings up a fourth down.

Great play by number 11 Gartrell to just fight off that defender and make that stop.

Big stop.

So the question here what will they do again, the quarterback Hopkins also punts fourth and five.

We get movement.

By the backup tight end.

There you go.

Offense five yard penalty.

Still fourth down.

And that may change things.

Fourth and five near midfield is not the same as fourth and ten.

Back at your 42.

And here come the Presnap penalties for Bowdon.

We saw them really cause things to unravel late in the first half for Lincoln County.

Lincoln County sees an opening here.

Fourth and ten.

Nobody is back.

They have all 11 playing up, playing a great defense.

We have seen Hopkins do a pooch kick.

Bad snap.

He manages to get it away.

That was a great effort by Hopkins because that snap was terrible.

Takes a bold and bounce.

Keeps rolling down to about the 13 yard line and we will take a break here as we switch the field.

Lincoln County, the defense making a stop.

Can the offense take advantage?

7:32 to go.

It's a field goal difference here in this championship tilt in downtown Atlanta.

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7:32 to go here inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Larry Smith, Sam Crenshaw, Maddie Cruz what a game.

Sam Crenshaw we have here.

These fans have been treated been treated to an exciting game.

And this is just day one.

Yeah, yeah.

How about that.

You could feel the tension after after that.

That third down.

Stop right there.

Both fan bases kind of settling in Bowdon was celebrating.

They've kind of gotten a little a little quieter right now.

Let's just put it that way.

Yeah, yeah.

For Lincoln County now, looks like it's a busted play.

Wade trying to make something of it.

He turned to his right, but nobody was there.

Well, somebody was there, right?

Yeah, not in the red jersey.

That's right.

Mr.

Prothro.

That's right.

Yes, he was there.

Down by number 1.

Manages to get 3 yards out of that, which is huge there.

His defensive numbers.

And we talk about what he does offensively.

That's what he's done on the defensive side of the ball.

Pick six last week as you made it there.

You see his numbers right there.

Number 1 tight end of the nation.

More than three dozen offers in Georgia winning the battle for his services.

He'll play in Athens next fall for Kirby Smart Glaze now in second down.

He's brought down.

Yeah.

Things getting chippy.

Now.

We got a player that falls down and.

Glaze is upset and he's upset.

Got to be upset with himself for getting provoked for that.

And if this goes against Lincoln County boy is that huge.

Wow.

He was out there close to a first down.

And just a brilliant running on his part.

Yeah.

After the play personal foul, unnecessary roughness offense.

Half the distance to the goal.

The line to gain was made.

It is first and ten.

This is afterwards.

Okay.

Play is over.

Menzie and Mike Patterson.

Yeah.

Mike.

Mike has been a thorn in Lincoln County side all day long.

An interception in a long kickoff return in the first time they touch the ball in the first quarter.

And then a touchdown reception.

Touchdown reception.

Kelby Glaze.

And he knows.

Yeah.

You know what his team needs from him.

Yeah.

So you get a first down.

The problem is you go back 15 yards.

Now you're back on the 12 which is almost where you started this series.

This drive.

Clock ticks under 7 minutes.

Ca'ron stop there.

It's Elam on the carry for a short gain and the clock continues to run again.

Field goal wise you're just joining us.

Fortson Partridge, the outstanding senior placekicker for Lincoln County, opened the game with a career long 50 yarder.

Not a surprise in Lincoln County because he does that in practice.

So he has that kind of leg should he need it here toward the end of the game.

4 yards for Elam second and six.

Glaze first down and more.

Kelby Glaze.

To the house.

Glaze touchdown Lincoln County, oh!

Do you believe that?

Oh, wow.

What a turn of events for the boys from Lincolnton.

When you think about this guy wanting a shot at redemption, huh?

That's right.

Made a decision in on a big penalty that cost his team.

And he gets it all back.

84 yards for Kelby Glaze, 239 yards on the ground for Glaze.

His second touchdown.

And Lincoln County.

Now the extra point.

To go up by five against the defending three time state champion Bowdon Red Devils Partridge on for the extra kick.

Wade with the hold McWhorter for the snap.

And there it is.

Well, he got a hand.

On it, got a hand on it and missed it.

Comes up just short.

Was it that man?

Maybe Patterson.

Oh my goodness.

He's he's like the gnat that feed.

It just keeps bugging around you.

One more look at it here.

Watch number 0.

We got came in unmolested.

Nobody blocked him.

There was.

Nobody got a hand on him.

Mike Mykah Patterson.

Chester junior.

Look at his defensive numbers.

On the season.

Let's go down to the sideline now.

Maddie Cruz.

Hey, guys.

Listen, after that touchdown, I mean, let's just say being here on the sideline, I mean it's wild over here.

I don't know if y'all can hear the players are getting the fans going.

The cheerleaders are getting everybody hyped up over here.

I mean it was like absolute chaos running down to get in that touchdown here.

It's electric.

Is that that man right there playing his part in it.

Talk about an emotional roller coaster he was on right after a big play.

The penalty he caused.

And then to come back and get his team on the board.

Yeah the scoring drive presented by DBHDD and the new red 365 curriculum.

You can see it there.

What a drive that was for plays.

You're good, you're good.

I was ready.

58.

Yeah.

Another kick into the end zone.

No surprise there.

Boy what a series.

Let's take another look at this.

Kelby Glaze.

What he's done again.

Huge.

Day 239 yards on the ground.

84 of them here.

You see right side.

He's done well off the right side all day.

But he makes the turn and he just outruns everybody.

That is some determined running.

He's so determined.

Especially what after what he potentially cost his team.

There's some anger there in those strides.

He's determined to get there.

That's right.

Once he turned the corner and got past the second wave, it was over.

At that point.

So first and ten.

Now Hopkins looking for Prothro.

He's got him midfield double team.

Doesn't matter, but there may be a flag.

And there is now the 33 yard line.

There was.

Some hands and pushing and shoving on both sides.

Let's see what the call is.

Pass interference defense that Penalty's refused results of the play.

First down.

There.

Big play to open the drive.

There.

It's Prothro 33 yards.

Here's the end of it.

Here.

Nice catch.

Hangs on.

Clemons there.

Wade's there.

Doesn't matter.

First and ten from the 47.

Bowdon trying to win a fourth straight title.

Hopkins keeps it first down.

They're wanting a flag for a facemask, but I don't think that happened.

I think he grabbed, got his horse collar.

There's no flag, but there's enough to move the chains.

Yeah, we saw in the first half three touchdown drives by Bowdon were all very quick and they're wasting no time here.

Yep.

And that's what you've done both teams the last couple of drives.

Gordon 12 plays 82 yards Lincoln County.

Again the big play was Glaze put them on top trying to win their first title since 2006.

Bowdon trying again to win a fourth in a row.

The sophomore Chandler with the carry on first down.

He's brought down Jacoby Moss on the stop after about a four yard gain here in the 4.5 minute mark, class 4-A championship coming up in a few moments.

What?

It should be a good.

One that should Creekside and Benedictine.

Still a good one here.

Battle the Red Devils on both sides.

Hopkins going up top.

He's got Prothro.

Oh, what a play defensively.

John Norman.

One Lincoln County stars on both sides of the ball.

And he was right there with him.

The battle of number 1.

Yeah.

That's just that's a great play.

Great timing by Norman.

Yeah absolutely.

Fantastic effort.

Nice break up there by the junior.

Against the All-stater Prothro.

Third down and six now four down territory.

For Lincoln County 33.

Time-out Bowdon first charge time-out.

Rich Fendley wants to talk about it here.

Look here at Prothro we talked about all that he has done.

And coach.

Samone, 1 second.

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Go Sam, go ahead.

Oh oh, we got 4:13 to go in this game, Larry.

And you know it's still up in the air.

You do those things.

We're going to check in with Madison.

Yeah.

Maddie.

Maddie, what you got?

One thing about Kaiden Prothro.

You talk about what he's already done for Bowdon.

Especially making history with 60-5 career touchdown touchdown receptions.

He broke previous state record of 59.

He's going to come up huge.

But it's one team that Rich Fendley talked about.

It's his involvement within the community, not only from him but his family.

Long roots in this town.

His grandmother, Miss Peggy, drives about in school bus and his dad is an All-State tight end on the 1992 state championship team trying to help his team now.

Hopkins here in the Carey and he is out close to the first down.

They're going to mark him just shy and that'll bring up a fourth down in that.

By the way, we you know Maddie talked about him setting the the state receiving touchdown record number 3 on the list is a guy you might have heard of named Travis Hunter.

Yeah.

How about that.

How about that.

Yeah.

Won a Heisman once upon a time.

And you know what.

I mean.

His record.

Yeah.

That's very impressive when you talk about that.

You remember Travis Hunter at Collyn.

Hill a team winning the state championship in his senior year.

John Harden Jaxson state.

Colorado.

Of course, the Heisman Trophy.

You see the measuring there about a foot short.

That'll bring up fourth and short here with the 41 mark in the fourth quarter.

They place the ball in the hash hunter season ending early with Jacksonville his rookie season.

But a bright future for him.

Proud of all that he's done.

Yeah Bowden's not crazy about this chain Crew.

No that's twice.

Not crazy about this chain Crew at all.

Like who are these guys?

What part of the state are they from?

That's right.

These two schools from opposite sides of the state.

And of course, southeast and Bowdon out near the Alabama state line, coming together here in Atlanta.

Championship on the line.

Oh, and what a good one it has been.

4:01 to go.

Fourth and about a foot.

Hopkins takes it himself and dives over for the first down.

And look at the celebration.

There.

Big guy Stewart Powell 58, all excited the guys up front.

They're working.

Yeah.

Powell number 55.

The freshman Garrison Edwards celebrating as well.

It was pretty exciting to see.

You love to see the big fellas get.

That's right.

That's right.

You know.

They don't get their names up there.

Not on a play like that.

You know they they make the difference.

That's right.

First and ten.

Now.

Bowdon needs to score.

Going up top trying to get it to Prothro.

Great defense again by Norman.

Prothro is slow to get up.

Cramp a cramp there.

How about that?

Sportsmanship.

Wow, you got your opponent helping to stretch you out there.

How about that?

That's respect.

For an injury.

Mekhi Wade again Coach Chomskis talking about what a character guy he is.

One more look at the play here.

Absolutely.

He throws the pass out there and a good defense.

And just the way he comes down, you can tell he had a had a cramp there.

Hey your opponent comes over there and says hey we've been out here working hard, competing hard.

This afternoon wanting to win a state championship.

I can help you out.

I'll help you out.

Yeah.

Prothro, by the way, was shut out in the first half until getting a touchdown pass very near in the final minute of the first half.

Four catches, 71 yards and that touchdown.

And we've talked about again like you said he just said what he means so much.

We talked about you know him being a multi-sport star as well.

And second team all state in basketball.

He had a 30.20 rebound game last year for the Red Devils as a junior.

That's amazing.

That's just amazing.

Amazing.

You know what.

But not surprising when you hear about him and you, the more you find out about this young man.

And you know why Coach Smart and everybody over in Athens can't wait to get him over there.

Don't know if he'll go tonight or tomorrow, but he'll go soon because you know, incoming freshmen can practice, right?

And right now they won't play in the bowl game, but they can go and practice with the team.

And that's something that coaches are like and something he wants to do.

Yeah, he can't wait.

You know you get in that process.

The process starts the classroom the film room, the weight room, nutrition you know, get set for for your for your class loads.

And you know, the pace picks up.

Things accelerate when you get to that next level.

And so it's really neat for the players who get a chance to get an early jump on it.

Absolutely.

Coach Fendley is a little concerned.

They're watching a star player.

Let's go back down to Maddie.

Yeah.

You guys, you keep talking about Kaiden Prothro.

And it's one thing that Rich Finley said about him.

He's known him since fourth grade.

And he said, if you want an example of what your best player should be, it's Kaiden Prothro first to arrive.

He's the last to leave.

And even Bowdon sits on the Alabama Georgia line.

It's a Georgia town through and through.

When Kaiden committed to UGA, the town erupted like it had just won another state title.

Coach Finley can't wait to see Kaiden represent Bowdon under the lights at Sanford Stadium and under head coach Kirby Smart.

And one day on Sunday as well.

Yep, he seems like one of those players that we've seen down through the years.

Larry, you can see the one sometimes that are have that potential to potentially play on Sunday.

We definitely see that when we look at Kaiden Prothro going to a very talented tight end room in Athens too, right?

Yeah.

It's such a strong part of the team.

And great history here.

We saw some players, several players over the years have gone through and gone on to the NFL.

Out of that, that tight end group right there.

Here he goes.

So Prothro getting up now.

But he returns.

So yeah, we'll see if he gets a chance to come back.

He's such a big part of the offense because coach said, you know defenses will double triple team.

And we've seen that.

We've seen the safety go over run over last minute to try to help, to try to balance that out.

But he's a difference maker on both sides of the ball.

And we've seen them make some good plays on defense today as well right.

Yeah absolutely.

Seen him make big stops on the other side of the ball.

Colby Thornton 12 Rowe comes out now.

Incomplete pass on that play.

So clock stopped at 3:24 second and ten.

Now back on offense.

Empty backfield.

Hopkins going to keep it.

And he is stopped right there by Aiden Jones.

And then the gang tackle.

What a play by this Lincoln County defense.

Four yard loss and the clock.

Still running.

Big stop.

That's a big stop.

Aiden Jones right here up.

Not taking that fake.

And then.

Reinforcements arrive.

Third and 14.

Now.

Bowdon kicker doesn't have the range of Lincoln County, so probably four down territory here.

Hopkins under pressure, goes into the end zone.

Touchdown.

Berkley Perkins!

What a play!

What a throw by Hopkins.

His fourth touchdown pass of the game.

And Bowdon goes back on top.

Talk about Hopkins just going to extend the play here.

Extend the play receivers open throws it out there.

And he makes the catch.

That looks like a good catch.

Yeah.

The officials right there had eyes on it.

Right angle.

And we talked about who was out of the game.

We talked about Kaiden Prothro being out of the game.

Who would step up, who would answer the call.

Berkley Perkins says, hey, why not?

That's the number.

So this is where the blocked extra point comes in.

Huge.

Because with that it's a 34 32 game.

Instead.

This extra point here means you have to get a touchdown.

If you're Lincoln County Brantley Bell on for the extra point.

And it's through.

Bowdon coming through.

And one thing coach Kinley Coach Fendley talked about, he said, you know, they lost Prothro to a hamstring injury for a couple of weeks midseason.

He said it was the best thing that had happened to them because they had to learn how to play and win without him and his quarterback.

Hopkins had to learn, hey, I got to go find other guys to make it happen.

And he did that on this play to put him on top.

Found one of the other guys.

But first of all, give him some credit really for extending the play and giving that other guy an Perkins a chance to find an opening in the end zone.

Diving, sliding, catch.

Scoring drive.

Brought to you by DBHDD and the new red ribbon 365.

Curriculum nine plays, 80 yards exactly 3 minutes on the clock.

And they did leave some time on the clock here.

But the one thing Lincoln County has not done well is pass the ball.

And again, they're going to have to go.

Let's see what happens here on the kick.

But you have to go the distance here.

The way ahead.

Field goal does nothing for them.

Let's see what Bolton does with this kick.

If they kick it deep if they drop it in kind of short.

Brantley Bell is lined up.

Norman and Wade the two deep men at about the 15 yard line for Lincoln County.

They're going to kick it short right in the hands of Jones.

He's past the 30.

Jones got to give Lincoln County good field position past the 40 yard line.

That's a good start for Lincoln County with 2-26 on the clock.

And that's the thing you run the risk of.

You go with that short kick rather than kick it deep.

The opportunity of having a long return, you kick it short and you still give up some good field position to start this possession.

You got 226 on the clock left, and Lincoln County has got a good place to start.

And let's see if they go back to the ground.

Let's see if they go back to Kelby.

Glaze.

Huh?

Lincoln County proud history 11 state titles.

None since 2006.

Trying to get one here.

It's like the state champion trophy was bolted to the floor over.

There.

They didn't even move it.

Exactly.

You want us to bring this with us over here?

Oh, why?

He's just going to come back.

With.

Us, right?

We're going to keep it here.

Here we go.

Lincoln County.

Norman.

Big stop there.

By Luke Lucki Bailey.

Three yard gain clock continues to run.

There's a look at Baylee.

By the way, he worried about Kaiden Prothro number 1.

He is back on defense.

There he is.

Right there.

Hey, it's game time.

That's right.

It's game time.

Right?

It's my final game of my career in high school.

And he's never lost a playoff game.

No, this senior class 19-0 in the playoffs for Bowdon trick play.

They're.

Wo trying to flip it to Norman.

That was almost a disaster.

Norman managed to get out of bounds to stop the clock.

One more look at this.

Lincoln County does know some things to try, but it's a great situation.

You got to you got to completion that it had you your first down.

That's right.

Walker Thornton.

Tompkins working with his quarterback, Mekhi Wade four year player for the Red Devils.

He's got to get out there and go because this this this play clock is running down on.

Him here.

Yeah I don't know if he's going to get it off in time.

There's a time-out.

Yep.

That's their final time-out 1:49 to go.

Final time-out of the half.

So Lincoln County now no more time-outs.

Trying to get organized here in this third down play.

You really didn't want to spend that time out at that point.

But it's what you have to do.

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We're talking about Lincoln County and Coach Chomskis.

We talked about earlier.

Two uncles, pretty famous, one being Dan Pitts at Mary Persons, who retired as the all time leading winner, and a guy named Tommy.

Yeah.

You may have heard of.

Him once or twice.

These playoffs and championships are named in his honor.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Great lineage there.

Wade on the keeper and he's got the first down and he's out of bounds.

So a big play out of the time-out.

And they've struggled with that in this game.

But they get it there.

And they stop the clock.

And they're in Bolton territory.

It was a good call and great play there by Mekhi Wade gets his team what it needs the first down and he gets out of bounds to stop that clock and preserve that time, especially with no time-outs remaining.

Need to get organized now.

Play clock's already down to 20 and he's just now getting to the huddle.

Time is of the essence.

That's Jones.

He's got some room still going.

Finally brought down but inbounds.

That's Wilson.

And Bailey on the stop for Bowdon.

Clock stops moving the chains 135 on the 32.

Lincoln County has to get a touchdown.

Look at Howkeem White 52.

That was outside throwing a nice block there.

Coach talked about the blocking.

Not just the line but the running backs as well.

Been very impressed with them all all afternoon long with what they've done.

Clock running now 120 and counting.

They can't stop it.

No time-outs.

Wade trying to get his offense organized.

Glaze already with two touchdowns, short gain inside the 30.

But again, the clock continues to move.

You want to get the ball in the hand of Glaze to give yourself a chance, an opportunity.

But now you got to get back up on the line.

In a hurry throwing it out and it's incomplete.

Trying to get it to Thornton.

That stops the clock at 40:06 seconds.

Brings up third and eight now for Lincoln County.

Third and eight right now look there at Wade talking about the.

History of both of these programs.

Two very proud programs historically 17 state championships between the two.

Jones is out of the game.

Wade the throw.

But there's a flag on the play and it's a false start.

Another false start.

False start penalty.

The fourth of.

The game.

Against Lincoln County.

If you're just joining us, they had three in a row at.

The end of the first half.

Please reset the game clock to 51.

And that really forced them back and allowed for the go ahead touchdown for Bowdon to go into halftime.

Yep a crucial moments at crucial moments to have the Presnap penalty.

Talk about Lincoln County.

They don't pass often.

But here's one going up top trying to get it to Norman.

And there's a flag.

And that was pretty obvious.

Connor Daniel the linebacker with the grab.

His man.

He was going to be beaten by his.

Man defense 15 yards from the previous spot.

Results in a first down.

15 yard penalty.

Smart play because he was beat.

He was he was he did what he could.

Yeah.

15 yard walk off.

Here it is one more time.

Yeah.

Wow.

He's got what Norman just spun him around.

Yeah.

Norman's got good speed, as does Glaze.

44 seconds.

Lacey Thornton there.

Top of your screen, along with Norman Glaze inside the 15.

That's on the first down play.

But again, clock running.

They can't stop it.

Back up quickly.

Wade under center.

He's going to spike the ball to down it.

And stop the clock with 30s.

Clocks it with 30s as we're inside the red zone.

Brought to you by Alfa Insurance.

30s to go Bowdon trying to hang on and become just the fourth program in Georgia.

History to win four straight championships.

And then another situation with a cramping with Kelby Glaze that if he's not here, what a big part of this offense he has been for Lincoln County.

All throughout this game.

Oh.

You want to get him back up and on his feet?

Yeah.

Class A, Division two championship.

30s away from ending right now.

Up next.

Again, it's Creekside and Benedictine.

The 4-A game.

Those teams are waiting in the tunnel.

Right here.

You see them lined up on.

Each side.

Line up in the tunnel like.

All right, all right.

Would you guys hurry up?

You know.

Thomas County Central has a long ride.

We come up here ready to play some football.

That's right, that's right.

Take a look at some of the numbers here.

It was amazing.

Again.

How if you joined us in the start of our game, Lincoln County controlling the line of scrimmage.

And they had the ball for more than 10 minutes.

In the first quarter.

And that is even out right now.

24 minutes for Lincoln County, 22 minutes.

For Bowdon.

Yeah.

That was a big advantage for Lincoln County.

Yeah.

In the first half.

Kept that offense off the field.

Glaze getting up, standing under his own power.

So to walk off.

But again what a game he has had.

Very slowly now getting some help.

Kelby Glaze 20 carries 246 yards and two touchdowns.

The big 84 yarder earlier in the quarter after he was called for a 15 yard personal foul penalty that put them on top.

And they held that lead until just a moment ago when Battle went back on top.

Josh Hopkins his fourth touchdown pass of the evening.

Third and four now.

Wade.

And that's short of a first down.

So they can't stop the clock.

Whatever they do now they got to look for the end zone.

Yeah.

There's no time for anything else.

Fourth and one.

Got to go.

That's going to stop the clock.

Got 10 seconds.

Yep.

Stop the clock while they move the chains.

Got to get ready.

Wade keeps it himself.

He's going to clock the ball to pierce.

There it is.

Kind of a wind up.

No, boy, the clock is still going.

Oh, boy.

Yeah.

I think that hit with a around.

8-7 seconds.

7 seconds.

7 seconds, please.

That's the right move.

Right.

Call.

So you got to take two shots at the end zone here.

I mean, you don't have a choice.

Well one.

And if you don't get it, maybe you have time for a second.

But you can't you can't run anything that's not in the end zone.

First and goal from the ten.

It all comes down to this.

Can Lincoln County get its first title in 19 years?

Ken Bowdon Wynn.

It's fourth in a row.

Second and goal with 7 seconds.

Wade empty backfield looking to his right.

Goes into the end zone.

Goes short of the end zone.

It's caught, but the clock is going to run out.

And that's how this one's going to end.

And Bowdon is going to win the state championship for the fourth year in a row.

What a finish.

Wow what a finish.

The Bowdon Red Devils of their 12 victories during the season.

None.

Closer than 20 points.

But they get it done here.

What a fight to the finish between two championship caliber programs.

Oh my.

You hate to see a loser in this.

You really do.

You hate to see a team come away losing in a game like this.

But you know what?

They left it all on the field.

We heard that expression so many times.

That's truly what happened in this game here this afternoon.

The players left it all on the field and Bowdon comes away with their fourth consecutive state championship.

We're talking to Matt Stewart at halftime.

He's got the call coming up here in the class four A game.

West Rome 1980 2-85 Buford 2007 to 2010.

Eagles Landing Christian 20 15-20 19 and now Bowdon the four programs in Georgia high school football history to win at least four state championships in a row.

Only four, only four have ever done it.

Wow.

And this senior class finishes 20 and zero in the playoffs with a school record 53 wins in their four years.

The winningest class in school history.

100 years of football at Bowdon.

And these seniors get to leave with a tremendous, tremendous mark that they left on their school.

And on this state.

Yeah.

Great effort there by Lincoln County.

Give them credit.

They controlled most of the first half.

We're down two scores came back and made it happen for them.

Tough play there at the end.

Wade getting it over to Norman for 7 yards to the three yard line.

But again had to get into the end zone.

Wasn't going to do any good.

They make the tackle and they come up their bid for an undefeated state championship season comes to a close.

They finish 14-1 but what a job.

Lee Chomskis has done.

We've talked about again.

He grew up there in the area.

Used to go to games as a boy.

Was Larry Campbell's assistant back in the 2006 state championship team.

And they come up just short here this afternoon.

Come up just short, come up just short.

And, you know, it stings right now.

And it's going to sting for a while.

And but but to get back to this point, the players that return have gotten a taste of it.

You know what I mean?

They're going to work and want to get get a chance to be back.

But two programs with great traditions, two of the great legacy programs in the state of Georgia, one of them comes away with a victory today.

And that is Bowdon coming away with the win.

Good luck there at Kaiden Prothro.

How about his quarterback number 2 Josh Hopkins, and his afternoon 13 of 18 232 yards four touchdowns and also had another 107 yards on the ground as well.

He's been a double threat all season long with what he has done.

A good look at him there.

We talked about again transferred in from Johns Creek back in January and was liked so much by the team that he was picked as one of the team captains for this year, a true leader on this team.

And now he ends his high school career as a state champion.

That means a lot to come in to be be new and just capture the hearts and and the support of your teammates that they give you, that honor.

That is remarkable.

To be able to get that.

What a run here for Bowdon.

The Red Devils began the season with the 26-0 loss in the opener at Fellowship.

Christian, that coach said was kind of a wake up call for them.

And he talked about Sam.

You mentioned the top of our broadcast in 30 years of coaching.

Coach Richard Fendley junior said this team made the greatest level of improvement from week one to week 15.

And he said, you know, just because you win last year, you win three straight, doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win another one.

But he said this team earned it.

I asked him about Herb County and the loss to Heard County, and he talked about how our team was still evolving against a deep and talented heard county team.

And he said, we went into the fourth quarter with the lead in that game.

But they had to, you know, they just wore us out.

They had the depth, the talent, and they wore us out.

But we're not the same team now that we were then.

That's what he talked about, this team that just continued to evolve and improve is what every coach hopes for, every coach hopes for this team that's going to improve from August through October.

Now to to November and get to the 15th game.

That's right.

Absolutely.

Getting ready here for the championship presentation just moments away, watching the celebration.

More on this team this season for Bowdon 13-2 region seven champs now state champs, fourth year in a row.

Coach also talked about they had a bye week after that game and then played Booker T Washington out of Alabama 7-0 game.

The first quarter was shortened because of weather, but he said in that one quarter he saw the improvement from her county.

That gave him some confidence that maybe they're headed in the right direction and they could wind up in this spot right now about to take the stage here at Mercedes-Benz.

Exactly what happened.

He saw it coming from his team, but it's just amazing the coach who's accomplished what he's he has accomplished in his career.

To say this team, more than any other team, has shown that trait of the consistent improvement each and every week.

And he said he had never seen that before in a team that he had coached before in his career.

Trysten impressive what they have done.

It reminds us of the game two years ago they beat Manchester 28 27, in another thriller and they find a way here showing the Medal of Champions.

Okay, the moment has come.

Let's go down to Jon Nelson.

Not cooperating.

Okay.

We're having some audio issues here inside Mercedes Benz trying to find the right microphone to hear Jon's velvet tones.

Hear the words that we want to hear as he's going to be a very busy man these next three days.

Yep.

And you'll.

See he's waiting.

We got another.

Okay, let's.

Try this.

Let's give it a try, Johnny.

Give it a shot.

Thank you very.

Much, Larry Smith.

It is that time where we get to present the first tackle football trophy here on day one.

First and foremost, though, let's give a shout out to everybody.

Lincoln County, one of the great stories and part of the great history that is high school football here in the state of Georgia, making it to Mercedes-Benz Stadium runners, runners up here in 2025.

But to present a trophy to a group that is very, very familiar with receiving a trophy, it's the executive director of the Georgia High School Association, Dr.

Tim Scott, and our friends from Alfa Insurance.

Hey, what a game did we see tonight, guys?

It was a great game.

Let's give him a big round of applause.

And now, on behalf of Alfa Insurance, we would like to present the state championship trophy to Bowdon.

Congratulations.

We've done this a couple times in a row.

Yes, sir.

You had to earn it this time.

Oh, we had to earn it.

And the first thing I've got to say is just hats off to our players with the guts and just how hard they played.

Extremely proud of them.

Proud of our coaching staff, offensive and defensive staff for the game plan we went into.

We knew they were going to be the best football team we've played all year.

You know, hats off to our community showing up tonight.

Thank you guys for being here and being really loud.

Well, thank you to the great administration and the great Board of Education we have in Carroll County to help us give us all the support we need to be successful.

When you think about this group of seniors who went from pillar to post 120 in a row in the postseason and came up winning four of those in a row, what sticks in your head?

Well, I'm going to tell you the first thing I said.

I wouldn't talk about it unless we went and won it.

But but to have their name, you know, it hadn't been done very many times in Georgia high school football.

We're up there with the likes of Buford, who went four in a row, West Rome Eagles, Landen Christian.

That's it.

These guys were 20-0 one of the greatest group of seniors in the history of Georgia high school football.

And I just told them, you know, it all goes back to death by squats, death by bench.

What we do in January and March.

And we've been front and center to see it all happen.

Congratulations.

For the fourth time in a row, the rarest of air Bowdon champs, class A, send it upstairs to put a bow on this one.

Back with player of the game coming up in a bit with Maddie Crews.

Jon Nelson thanks so much back here in the booth, Larry Smith, Sam Crenshaw, you know, he mentioned that the 20-0 record in the playoffs for this senior class because of the way the playoffs are set up.

The last to do it was Elko winning five in a row 20 15-20 19.

But I don't think they played five games each playoff the way they did it in in the private class.

When they then this may be again set a record for one class, winning the most playoff games for one class.

That's not official, but it's possible.

Absolutely possible.

This team and the way they did it today was very convincing.

So tremendous, tremendous thing that they've been able to accomplish.

And that guy we're looking at right there has been a part of all of it.

It's amazing to think about this class again.

They're going to wear four rings when they step off this field.

And they have put their names etched forever in Georgia high school football history.

So final score here.

What a night.

It was 35 31.

They get the victory.

And that young man right there Josh Hopkins four touchdown passes.

And what a season he did his one year there at Bowdon.

He's a part of the great team.

The championship team of 2025.

What a way to start the tackle football portion of our week here in downtown Atlanta.

This was a thriller.

Lincoln County giving the three time defending champs all they wanted and then some.

But Hopkins to Perkins there late in the fourth quarter and they come through getting the win 35 31.

Don't go anywhere.

We've got more in our post game.

The player of the game is coming up and the class 4-A title game still on the way as well for all of us here.

Good night for now from downtown Atlanta.

Stay with us here on GPB.

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Come in to our GPB tailgate party.

If we're having a tailgate party, that means one thing.

We just crowned a state champion and we are in between state title matchups.

Hello there!

I'm Nicki Noto Parmer.

If you just joined us, will you miss Bowdon win a state championship?

They made history.

They just won their fourth in a row.

But you know what?

The Red Devils didn't make it easy on the other Red Devils.

But they still pulled it off and won 35-21 Let's go ahead and take a look at our other state champions that we have.

Thanks to our friends over at Georgia EMC and that scoreboard.

We've had some other great matchups today.

At the beginning we had the two girls flag football games.

First it was Washington County in Harris County.

Harris County won 32 to nothing.

It was an utter shutout.

And then we had another state championship game with flag football.

Yep, there's Harris County and Washington County.

It was all Tigers 32 to nothing.

And then we had Greenbrier and Jenkins.

Greenbrier won 20-13 Greenbrier with the three-peat.

But tonight it was Bowdon the Bowdon Blue Devils made history.

They won four state titles in a row.

I loved Coach Fendley up there with John Nelson Mackey.

He talked about hitting the weight room.

Now, Josh, I know you moved in this year, but boy did you get it done.

Not only did you come in transfer, but listen you went 13 for 18 32 yards, four touchdowns.

Mattie, you were standing with our player of the game.

The dual threat quarterback.

He came in as a transfer then captain now a state champion.

Thanks Nikki here joined with Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game Josh Hopkins.

Josh leading this team getting to do the four peat for the Bowdon Red Devils I mean what are you feeling right now?

Yes, ma'am.

It's an honor.

You know, it's really a testimony to all the hard work we put in over the off season, all the hard days, and it really brings us together as a team.

It's really an honor and a privilege and a blessing to be a part of this program.

You leading this team to one of the captains on this side, how important was that leadership, especially today in a really hard fought matchup against Lincoln County?

Yes, ma'am.

It's extremely important.

We knew at halftime.

We knew all throughout the game.

At no point was the game over.

We all seen it went down to the last play of the game.

So we just had to put our head down and work hard the whole game.

And that's the result we got.

You're leaving a state champion?

But I got to ask, how amazing was it to have your fans behind you, backing you the entire time?

How does it feel to be celebrating it with them here at The Bends?

It's a special moment.

I have a big crew supporting me back there, so I want to send thanks to them.

I love all the people back there, you know, they're the reason I'm here where I am today.

So I got to give all them the credit and it's extremely special moment.

Josh Hopkins, your Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.

We'll send it back up to Nikki to keep the tailgate party going and get ready for the next match.