The Gage.

Football State Championships are presented by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, reminding you Park your phone while you're driving.

It saves lives as we welcome you to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

The 4-A state championship game as the undefeated 14-0 Creekside Seminoles take on the 11-2 Benedictine Cadets and good evening, I'm Matt Stewart, joined by Auburn Tigers, former Auburn Tigers All-American, NFL first round draft pick in 15 year pro Wayne Gandy and Wayne Creekside has been one of the most dominant teams in the entire state for the entire season.

They set the state scoring record.

They're going for their second state championship in program history.

Their second 15-0 state championship.

Benedictine rebounded from an 0-2 start losses to Colquitt County and Buford to win 11 straight, and they're going for their fifth state championship under head coach Danny Britt.

Let's go Matt, we got a great game out here.

When you look at Benedictine they are focused.

They feel like they have a chance to take down the mighty Creekside and Creekside.

Get your towel out.

They move fast on both sides of the ball.

Should be an exciting game here tonight.

803 points scored by Creekside this season set the state scoring record 57 points per game, and they've done that incredibly enough with a quarterback who has only one offer.

Kaiden Benson, marvelous senior season.

Marvelous career has been offered by Tuskegee.

Yeah, this young man has just matured into a dual threat, dominant player.

When you watch him play 47 total touchdowns on the season, 37 of them through the air, he has an arm.

He can make all the plays.

And then we already know he's fast.

He can make plays with his legs and he might be their best running back.

Somebody's going to jump on this kid and get themselves a steal.

Defensive side of the ball.

They're nearly as dominant maybe as dominant on defense.

And Tavarre Terrell is a big play waiting to happen.

18.5 sacks as a team.

They have 76 sacks.

That's just incredible.

This young man right here is fast off the ball.

He can get off the block.

He's just a havoc player that can run all the plays down.

What a great pass rusher he is now.

Benedictine won state championships in 21-22 They thought they would be back last year.

But their quarterback Stephen Cannon got hurt in his junior season.

Missed half the season.

He's rebounded here to have a great senior year, and he is signed with Texas Tech.

Another guy that's a dual threat.

He's been running here lately in the playoffs.

He's six three, 200.

He has a cannon of an arm.

He can throw the ball anywhere on the field.

He headed to Texas Tech tonight.

He's going to have to use his legs to avoid this Creekside pass rush.

Joining Stephens with the Red Raiders will be simply one of the best defensive players in the entire country.

LaDamion Guyton.

He's rated the number 1 edge in the country he reclassified.

He's supposed to be a junior.

Tonight will be his final high school football game.

He's built like a college senior.

When you see him out on the field, 64235 can come off the edge rushing the passer.

He's long athletic.

Tonight.

He's going to have to play a physical game and stop the run.

Benedictine and Creekside should be a whale of a ball game.

Third member of our team down on the sideline is Cody Chaffins.

Yeah, the Binns effect.

We've seen it from high school players, college players.

Even some pros come out of that tunnel and just get overwhelmed by being in this building.

Creekside head coach Maurice Dixon told me that two years ago when they were in the state championship game, that Binns effect led to a slow start for his team.

They were down 21-0 against Coffey at halftime, a game they would go on to lose.

He's hoping that experience will help them as they get another chance at a state title.

On the other side for Benedictine, they've won four titles in the last 12 years.

They just haven't won any inside of this building.

This will be the first time for the Cadets inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, except for one player.

That star defensive player you just mentioned, LaDamion Guyton was here two years ago as a freshman with Savannah Christian.

So we will see if that Benz effect plays a role early in this game.

It's not to be diminished, that's for sure.

It is sometimes a distraction for players when they first get in this building.

Who acclimates to this building first might be a key in this ballgame now.

Creekside has won the opening toss and they have elected to get the ball first.

I was going to say, let me guess, they decided to give the ball to this high powered offense.

Great offensive line.

And the thing, Matt, when you look at this Creekside team, those freshmen and sophomores are now juniors and seniors.

Now, a lot of experience and they're just a dominant offensive team.

You know, key linchpin in an offense that scored 803 points this year was an offensive line that brought back all five starters from a year ago.

A lot of talent up there.

Size, quickness.

They can get out on the edge.

And the screen game and they're just an offense that's just humming.

They feel like they can defeat any defense and they do have a challenge in this Benedictine team here tonight.

Offensive coordinator Trent Francis told head coach Maurice Mo Dixon.

In the off season, I think we can set the scoring record.

And Mo said, that's cool.

I want to win the state championship.

Coach Dixon is happy to be back in the building.

He's excited and when we talked to him, Matt, you just got that confidence that he really believes this is the team to do it for him again, something they haven't done in a couple of years.

Cadets., 80-33 in his ninth season as the Creekside head coach, he is the all time winningest coach in Seminoles history.

He broke the record of his coach, Amos McCrary, who was kind of the guy that set the foundation the anchor in this Creekside program.

Mo played for him.

Eric Berry played for him, and I'm sure Coach McCrary is watching tonight in the state of Kentucky, where he now makes his home.

Yeah, Creekside the fans are here.

The band is loud and there's Seminoles team.

They have given them a lot to cheer for.

803 points on the season.

What an outstanding job.

Regardless of the competition, they can put points on the board.

Let me tell you about Danny Britt.

Transformational is the word.

When he took over this Benedictine program, they had never won like this until he got there.

He's now in his 15th season, won 64-36 won state titles in 2014, 2016, 2020 1-20 22.

He has turned this into a powerhouse program out of Savannah.

He played for the legendary Erk Russell at Georgia Southern.

They've got a fabulous.

Team and I loved how he talked about not only are the players excited, the coaches are excited to be here and have this opportunity to try to bring on another state championship.

Set to kick off for Benedictine.

So Danny Britt Benedictine Cadets.

Decked out in the maroon and white trimmed in gray here tonight, will kick the ball off and John Brenton has it teed up and ready to go.

Six foot one, 70 senior.

And the opening kickoff is brought to you by Heads up Georgia.

Park your phone while you're driving.

It saves lives and we're ready to go in the binge.

What a fun atmosphere.

Eric Paul standing deep for the Seminoles.

Will he get a chance to return?

Going to kick it to the far side and said Kelley is going to go back to the two to get it, Ced Kelley comes straight forward out across the 20 and the 25, and that's where the Seminoles will go on offense for the first time tonight.

So anxious to see this high powered offense that averaged 57.4 points per game.

It's unheard of.

62 rush TDs in 14 games.

They have multiple backs that all are explosive, can take the ball the distance averaging 254.

And that's the band director right there.

Kayden Benson.

As you can see, 64% completion 26 80 throwing the ball.

That's the part of his game that has matured and made him such a dangerous player.

37 touchdowns, just five interceptions for the 61, 188 senior who brings the offense out.

Opening handoff and a five yard pickup for the Seminoles on the first play of the game.

That was Ced Kelley with the opening carry.

He said Kelley Gary Walker Anthony Hill Kaiden Mosely multiple backs.

They can run at you.

And the thing about all four of them, they can catch the ball out in the passing routes.

Screens are dangerous and they're all fast.

Second down and five Kelley gets it again and this time he gets stonewalled at the line of scrimmage and it's going to be third down.

Let's take a look at the Breda Pest Management impact players Wynn the Seminoles have the.

Ball Gary Walker a physical, hard working in between the tackles.

Runner bam Henderson an explosive game breaking receiver.

He's the leading receiver for Benedictine.

Cam Cody just hard to move.

He's a guy you have to triple team and Houston the leading tackler.

95 tackles for the the will linebacker.

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First down carry and a big run by Gary Walker up to the 35 yard.

Line right there, right down the middle.

Martin Noel Robertson inside Gary Walker running downhill.

He's the bigger of the back, six feet, 200.

Watch the physical finish right there.

He is just a hard nosed, complete running back.

Gary Walker six offers, including Boston College, UMass and Stanford.

That was Mekhi Sean Williams the free safety for Benedictine who signed with app who came up to make the play, said Kelley gets the run to the left side and Kelley running hard, gets nine, fumbled the ball, fumbled forward.

I believe that Creekside has gotten on top of it.

Fighting for those extra yards right there, able to come up with the ball here.

As you can see, Larson Little fighting for those yards and just losing Rylee right there is O-lineman, but he looked like he might have knocked the ball.

Lawrence.

Laverne Martin, the left guard there looked like he might have knocked the ball out of his teammates hand.

Yeah.

What was he doing?

So first and ten ball sitting on the 49 Creekside has moved from the 25.

Good drive started here.

Handoff goes to Ced Kelley.

Nope.

Gary Walker again.

And Gary Walker crosses the 50 and gets down to the 48.

And that's the thing about this Creekside team.

For all the explosiveness, they run the ball.

They try to maul you early, control the line of scrimmage with that big offensive line.

That side.

That two prospects on that offensive line.

The left tackle, 51 Jayvon Perry, has signed with Georgia Southern.

And of course, Mo Dixon.

That's his baby.

The offensive line.

That's a position group that he coaches.

Second down and nine.

Gary Walker lunges down to the 44 yard line.

Big challenge inside there.

Caleb Noel the center playing against the Clemson commit.

Cam Cody.

Who just is a hard man to move.

Rasheen Jaxson right there.

The Will linebacker stepping in and making that play.

But here's the down and distance that you feel like.

Guyton the Texas Tech signee.

He has to make plays on these third and medium, third and long distance and get to the quarterback.

You saw the numbers for Walker over 1,500 yards rushing.

Mo Dixon feels like he's got one of the best running back groups in the state.

Walker big run.

Might be a house call.

It is Creekside on the board 6-0 Carey Wolsin.

Are you talking about a tempo setting drive?

This is how you come out and dominate physical regardless of down and distance.

Running the ball right downhill.

Gary Walker running between the tackles untouched Rylee as he breaks the line of scrimmage, and then the speed a complete back.

We talked about him.

Power, speed, vision right there.

The offensive line doing a great job up front on those zone blocks up there untouched until he hits the safety Aeria area of the field and then scores a long touchdown.

He blew right by the safeties as Delano Jones puts it through for the P.a.t.

Just right there.

Good blocking there.

Rylan Robertson Martin Noel.

He would have been good in touch football right there.

I don't think they got a hand on him, but what an explosive.

And just a physical right at this Cadets defense.

Something you felt like with the size and the players they have defensively, they could be able to slow the run game down.

But right there Coach Dixon coming out and just going with pure attitude to get on the board.

DBHDD red ribbon 365.

Curriculum scoring drive seven plays and 75 yards, 810 points on the season.

Now for Creekside.

Allen and Frazier.

What a great drive and just love the physicality right there.

You're talking about third and six and still willing and able to run the ball and break it for a touchdown.

Benedictine team.

They're going to have to keep pace here tonight.

They're going to have to play loose.

Get the ball down the field.

Mallard and Washington standing deep.

The kick will not reach him.

It's going to be fielded at the 20 1 yard line instead.

And running side to side and tackled at the 31.

A flag does come out from the back.

Judge we'll wait and check the call right there.

Might be going in reverse there for Benedictine.

That was Cole Henderson on the return.

Field position is definitely going to be key here for the Cadets.

They can't beat themselves and that's how they won 11 games in a row.

They're a team that's very disciplined.

They don't beat themselves.

You have to beat them.

And just starting off this series of downs with a big penalty.

During the return.

Block in.

The back.

By the return team that will be 10 yards from the spot of the foul.

First down.

And there's the great Greg Norman, one of the top referees in the entire state working this 4-A final.

Got a chance to chat with him down on the field earlier in the day, told him to get his steps in again.

We were joking about that.

And of course Dave Reynolds is up in the booth with us as well.

He's our replay and officiating expert and we'll be checking in with him as needed on an as needed basis.

With Dave.

But always a valuable asset for us when we get to the bins.

And there's Stephen Cannon 2,000 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions.

As Wayne pointed out, nearly as lethal running the ball over 600 yards rushing.

But he gets stopped for a loss on his very first carry.

And that was Cassius Burse Burch.

Right there.

Quarterback keeper draw all the way right there trying to get off that right side.

And the thing about this defense of Creekside, they're all fast.

Coach Dixon brags about a lot of these guys, especially on that defensive line, are just former running backs that got a little too big and they decided to put their hands down, and they played with just relentless pursuit to the quarterback.

Tank Holt was in on that tackle as well.

Cannon back to pass flag out as the ball is complete out there on the edge.

Smart caught by Stanley Smart the running back.

Now this is a talent heavy offense for Benedictine.

You've got Bubba Frazier out there.

Wide receiver.

He's already signed with Notre Dame and then Stanley Smart has 12 offers and he's just a junior.

Offers from Georgia Tech, Auburn, North Carolina, Minnesota, Texas Tech.

So they kind of got a Texas Tech pipeline going on there to Savannah.

And there's a look at Bubba Frazier.

He didn't get sucked into that pipeline.

He went to Notre Dame.

Holding on the offense.

That penalty half the distance to the goal.

Still second down.

Right there.

They got left tackle Collyn Ward holding on Tavarre Terrell as he just tried to get off the block right there pulling him down.

And that's the challenge for this.

This offensive line Benedictine trying to match the athleticism of the defensive front of Creekside.

So second down and 17.

Cannon heavy rush being flushed out of the pocket in the end zone.

And he's going to get tackled at the eight yard line.

Great pursuit by this defense.

And let's take a look at the impact players brought to you by Breda Pest Management.

When the Cadets are on offense.

Bubba Frazier the fastest the best athlete on this Benedictine offense headed to Notre Dame.

Stanley Smart just consistent physical inside runner 996 yards Cassius Burch.

We talked about 76 sacks.

He has 16 for Creekside and cozy at that corner position.

He's going to match up a lot of tonight against Bubba Frazier.

It's going to be fun to watch that.

He has five interceptions.

Third and 15 started this game has not gone well for Benedictine.

They gave up a 75 yard scoring drive.

And now they're going in reverse here on their first series of downs Cannon directing traffic and throwing and caught stopped short of the first down.

Nice catch by Bubba Frazier.

And that was Tyree Colzie who got him on the ground a yard shy of the sticks.

Reception.

It looks like at least thinking about it right here.

Creekside just kind of playing soft right here, making sure that Cannon has to throw that down and distance from the pocket and look, possibly they're going to line up and now they're switching out to punt the ball here, I think, which is a smart decision.

I was going to say you cannot go for it right here.

Right.

This this high powered offense.

But it looks like they're at least going to try to drop him off sides.

Stephen Cannon is listed as the punter.

Instead.

They're going to go for it.

They give the ball to LaDamion Guyton.

Did he get there.

He did.

They go for it in their own end.

On fourth and one.

I believe he got it.

And I think.

What a gutsy call here by Coach Britt his own territory right here.

Wildcat.

And just second effort right there.

That's all.

Second effort by Guyton.

And it looks like the ball come.

Not until he hit the ground.

So a first down for the Cadets as they go for it.

And pick up the first down in their own end.

And a run out across the 45 yard line by Joshua Washington.

Nice job right there Washington getting out on the edge.

Good blocking over there off that right tackle by Carlton Hall on that jet sweep action and good blocking.

Nice job out there on the perimeter.

Blocking down the field by Stanley Smart.

It's going to take a team effort.

All 11 players offensively to move this ball against this Creekside defense has had just as great a season as their offense.

First and ten from the 39 going to hand the ball off to Mallard and Mallard.

He picks up the first down too, so renewed energy for this Benedictine offense after picking it up on fourth down.

As we take a look at the starting lineups for Benedictine, brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza Ward Nelson, Leonard, Brainard and Hall up front, Hall signed with Liberty.

He's a great story.

We'll tell you later.

Smart the running back Washington Mallard Henderson the wide receivers and Frazier also who we already mentioned.

The four star headed to South Bend.

So it's first and ten ball at the 48.

They run that inside handoff going to Bubba Frazier.

And he's going to get a couple of yards on the play before being stopped by Decari Farley.

Nice job there by Farley keeping that outside leverage, stepping up making that play go back inside.

Both teams.

We see a conscious effort that they're going to come out and play a physical brand.

Not right now.

Both teams are just slugging it out at the line of scrimmage.

Second down and eight.

I tell you what Wayne.

Them going for it there on fourth and one at their own 24 yard line.

That is their first charge time-out of the half.

We'll hit that when we get back.

Time-out called by Creekside a 7-0 lead for the Seminoles.

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Welcome back to the class 4-A final where?

Welcome back to the class 4-A final, where Creekside leaves Benedictine 7-0 early on in this game and with two high powered offenses, we may expect a track meet tonight.

Well, that would be very comfortable for the Benedictine Cadets.

They actually have some track stars.

They're four by 100 team and four by 200 team.

Won gold medals last year in the state championship.

Four by one team is wide receiver Bubba Frazier quarterback Stephen Cannon Aaron Mallard, the wide receiver and Cole Henderson four by two.

Frazier Cannon Mallard and Stanley Smart.

So a lot of speed on display.

Yeah, there's no doubt Cody they have the talent and the speed, the athleticism to match.

Creekside athlete for athlete.

Right now.

They got the run game going.

They flex Stephen Cannon out wide.

Looks like they're going to put Bubba Frazier at quarterback.

Take the snap here.

Trying to spread him out.

Use his athleticism running the ball.

Going to come to the near side Frazier makes one man miss.

He's got more than ten yards and a first down for Bubba Frazier.

And there's that great athleticism on display right.

There right there able to get out of that tackle of Aidan Alexander.

You imagine this was the play just going to attack that edge going underneath there as Terrell.

And then just a great job by a great athlete getting out of the tackle.

That's the kind of athlete he is.

If you miss the tackle he's going to punish you.

Signed with Notre Dame four star wide receiver, class of 2026.

Signed with the Irish.

Over 24 total offers.

They're running a reverse ball, goes to Mallard, slips a tackle.

Mallard has got the first down at the 19 yard line.

Good job of blocking there by Joshua Washington the receiver letting go of Alexander not holding here as his play is the long developing reverse.

Hit the ball there to Mallard.

Good job right there.

See how Washington let go and just let the athletic ability of Mallard take place.

First and ten ball sitting on the 18 running that counter play goes to Mallard down to the 14 yard line.

As we take a look at Creekside on defense.

Brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza Burch, Fairley, Holt and Williams up front.

And then Terrell Levell and Farley in the linebacking corps.

Alexander, Williams, Dixon and Colsey in the secondary.

Big tackle right there.

And that's Tavarre Terrell, who we talked about in the open.

Great job of getting off the block right there.

Going back to that same play, the Mallard this time, Terrell staying to the outside, getting off the block there of the tight end and getting in there and making that play.

But this Benedictine team offensively, they're nullifying all that speed by being physical and running right at.

How do you take the steam out of a team with 70-6 sacks?

You run the ball at him.

And hold it.

Yeah that's right.

Put together long time consuming drives.

Cannon going to throw the ball and it's caught by Frazier.

He's going to throw it downfield to the tight end.

I thought that was a two forward pass.

But there is no flag down on the field.

I thought that was two forward passes right there.

The ball did look like it went in front of Frazier.

Let's see the line of scrimmage here.

No it's.

A backwards.

It went backwards right there.

As he came up it looked like he had moved and just a missed opportunity there.

Wide open is the tight end.

Bennett Conaway.

And that's not his fault.

Yeah.

And just overthrown there by Bubba Frazier.

You can see the frustration in his face right there.

Easy touchdown to throw.

Just put too much under it.

Parker Lewis will try a 33 yard kick from the left hash play gets blown dead before he can kick it.

It went through.

Won't count.

Approach Coach Britt right here by Kosi number 12.

Trying to get off.

Prior to the snap encroachment on the defense.

That penalty 5 yards.

Still fourth down.

Now, what does Coach Britt do with that extra 5 yards?

We saw him take a big gamble.

Is he going to put his offense.

Looks like he's going to steal.

Take the three here.

He wouldn't be.

Wrong with trying to get the down and distance.

When you talk about this Creekside and the way they can score.

You got to have a all guys kind of mindset.

But here he's going to lay up and take the three points with Parker Lewis.

Yeah, this is going to be now a 28 yard kick from the left.

Hash.

To get the kick up.

And in there good 28 yard kick by Parker Lewis.

Makes it a 73 game.

And when they went for it on fourth down and one back here earlier in the drive that told me that Danny Britt believes they've got to match Creekside score for score.

Yeah.

I can't let my defense stay out on that field.

The way Creekside came out hammered the defense, wear him down.

I can't have a three and out.

I got to go out here.

I got to roll the dice.

I got to take chances.

Even right there with the field goal and that down and distance, it wouldn't have been a bad idea to go for it because Creekside the way they can score.

You feel like to defeat them, you got to kick, you got to score touchdowns.

Field goals or it can't be your mindset right there.

You just wanted some positive energy.

After a good answer.

Physical.

Running the ball right back at them.

Yeah.

That's why I was a little bit surprised.

I agree with you.

I thought they might go for it right there rather than just take the three, because Creekside had seven.

That means you need seven.

You got to continue to stay with them.

They score early and often.

EP Eric Paul standing deep.

He's going to be the one that takes the kick this time.

Checks up in front of him at the nine yard line.

Paul coming to the near side now.

Let's see if he can get around that corner.

And Paul has got a nice return up to the 36 yard line for Creekside.

Eric Paul right there.

Seemed like he was in cruise control.

So much belief in his speed.

He was letting the block set up in front of him and doing a good job giving this offense once again, some great field position to start with.

So first and ten ball sitting at the 36 yard line as the Seminoles going offense for the second time, they went 75 yards seven plays.

The first time they had the ball.

On defense.

Samone.

Trip set to the right here of Kaiden.

Benson.

Now they're shifting, trying to get misalignments by Benedictine.

Not sure what this stoppage of play.

Maybe to allow a substitution?

I couldn't tell.

So first and ten.

Hand off goes to Gary Walker.

Walker hits the hole and he lunges forward and gets 4 yards on the play.

As we take a look at Creekside on offense.

Brought to you by Johnny's New York style pizza Perry.

We talked about signed with Georgia Southern, Martin Noel, Robertson and Harris.

Actually, that's Rockmore, the right tackle position.

Walker is the running back and Hill is the B-back, Paul, Hill and Henderson are the wide receivers.

Second down.

Yard pickup that right tackle position for Creekside is Jaylen Rockmore.

He's probably the highest rated guy on that offensive line, a 65, 280 junior with nine offers, including Auburn and Alabama.

Yeah, a lot of guys over there.

Would love to see him in a Tiger uniform, but doing a good job over there Manning that right side.

Very athletic, strong.

Transferred in from Tri City.

They rotate a couple of guys in there.

Devin Harris, who had been their starter.

He's more of a road grader.

Third down Kaiden Benson heavy rush and they got him.

Guyton gets back there to get the quarterback sack.

Grave digger.

Nice pressure coming off the edge forcing Benson up into this sack right here.

Watch the pressure getting off the block right there.

Nice job.

By Larson Little forcing Benson up right into the sack of Guyton.

A stop.

That doesn't happen often with this Creekside offense.

Guyton five star rated as high as the number 1 edge in the nation.

Signed with Texas Tech and reclassified.

He's supposed to be a junior, but he is now a senior, and he will report to Lubbock, Texas here in the near future.

Punt fake Terrell going to try to run for it and get the first down and he will.

There's a flag down.

However, I don't know if that was a design fake, but the rush was so heavy Terrell thought he could beat his man and he did.

Kind of slow in his operation right there when he went to punt the ball got two flags on the field.

Both side judges.

Let's see if it wipes out this first down run by Terrell.

Illegal procedure.

Not enough men up on the line of scrimmage right there, I think is what they're going to call here.

And Terrell is another one of those guys, like you mentioned who was a running back coming along.

In fact, he was a running back in the Creekside.

Program by the offense.

That penalty is 5 yards.

Replay fourth down.

That'll back him up 5 yards and erase the first down run by Tavarre Terrell.

Even though the play didn't count just good reaction by him feeling the pressure.

Ball was definitely going to be blocked.

He decided to pull the ball down, but athleticism all around for that young man coming 18.5 sacks coming into this game, punting the ball.

Terrell high kick but short going to hit it the 48 and take a Creekside bounce a good 15 close to 20 yard bounce for Terrell on that punt as it's down to the 29 yard line.

And that's where Benedictine will go on offense for the second time today.

Let's take a look at the Cadets and their resume for state championships.

All of them have come in the 15 seasons under Danny Britt, 17 seasons with ten plus wins, ten region titles in their last 13 seasons, and this is a program that started way back in 1902.

I don't know how much electricity and running water they had in Savannah in 1902.

Probably not a lot.

So first and ten ball at the 29 yard line.

They've come a long way and so has their football program.

Well, with the empty backfield set right here Stephen Cannon as we talked about in the open.

Been running a little more here in these sets.

Cannon looks one way goes the other.

Oh wow.

What a big stick coming up and making that tackle is Carter Jamison the nickelback.

Carter Jamison.

Nice job there.

By Jamison.

He Read this play all the way.

Just nowhere to go with that ball right there.

No room to make a a football move.

Jamison making a nice tackle.

And that was the final play of the first quarter fun first quarter here at the bench.

We'll head to the second Creekside on top 73 here in the 4-A state championship game.

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Cody much about the Creekside offense.

And we should.

It's record breaking, but the defense has been really good as well.

And keep in mind, in the first quarter of their first game of the year against Rome, they gave up 21 points.

They were down 20-1 to nothing.

But if you take away that since that moment, they're allowing just 4.6 points per game.

And if you just count the state of Georgia teams taking out that DeSoto, Texas game just 2.8 points per game.

Yeah, they've given up only 65 points since that first quarter.

The rest of the season, which led me to say in the open, the defense might be nearly as dominant as the offense, but they didn't set a record like the offense did.

Cannon with the run 9 yards on the play, make it 8 yards on the play.

Up to the 38 yard line.

Nice play design right there.

Pulling the ball is Cannon on the little jet.

Sweep action.

The bubble Frazier.

We talked about him being part of the four by 100 track team.

So he has a lot of speed as Cannon.

Third down and one Mallard in motion behind the line and stops.

They felt like they could have made a run to the state championship last year with Cannon at quarterback, but he got hurt and Omari Burse, who starts at corner for them now, stepped in and played quarterback.

They ended up getting to the quarterfinals, even with the loss of Cannon, and that's going to be a first down carry to the 40 1 yard line.

I really like how this Cadets team has come out offensively.

The physical brand.

They're not going to let that speed.

How do you counter speed?

You run power right at it.

And right here just downhill fullback close in one cut and get up the field.

Nice job right there.

First down and ten.

That's the tight end.

Conaway who goes in motion sets and they follow his block.

And Smart hits the hole.

Another guy named Smart has had some success in this building.

Nice job pulling right there.

No, Brainard the right guard getting out on the edge.

Stanley Smart a physical downhill running back.

510, 195 junior.

He's got seven offers.

Georgia Tech among them.

Auburn's offered him two.

Wayne, North Carolina, Minnesota, Texas Tech of course Texas Tech.

Texas Tech apparently offers everybody at Benedictine.

They've had success there getting Cannon signed and also getting Guyton signed.

Big tackle in the backfield.

As the Seminoles come up with the big play.

Kenny Farley Fairley makes that tackle.

Fairley with a deep penetration.

Almost took his hand off.

Watch 95 right here.

He's in the backfield not allowing Smart to even make a move.

And that's one of the few times tonight we've seen from any pressure or any penetration inside there.

By Farley or Tiger.

Fairley 62, 265 junior 63 total tackles, 13 TfL, six quarterback sacks.

He transferred from Hayfield charter and his former team will be playing in the two a state championship game tomorrow night.

Cannon to the air and it's caught.

No Mallard could not come up with it.

Broken up.

That was the coach's son.

Hayden Dixon number 0 in on that play.

Nice job there.

Hayden Dixon Zayden Alexander tight coverage right there.

Really just kind of running that right route for Mallard watch 13 and then coming down like a missile is Dixon the coach's son.

We talked about him and how he has just fought back through injury after injury and still out there giving it his all.

Yeah, we saw him on GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia.

Last year he suffered the injury in that game.

It was one of those really bad injuries that we won't show you.

It was so bad.

We won't show it to you on television.

But he battled back from that.

And then he came back this year.

Played the first three games, had a stress fracture in his leg and then missed a bunch of other games and did not return until the quarterfinals.

Yeah, just a tough young man.

And you would expect that from Coach Dixon's son.

A guy that loves to play football.

Only a junior.

511, 175 football IQ.

That's just in the house.

That's all we do is talk football.

When you're the coach's son.

He's a prospect too.

He has seven offers, including Wofford, Charlotte and West Virginia.

Coach Dixon said, look, as a dad, I'm really happy as the coach.

I'm really happy because I got a great defensive back, back for my secondary.

Benson heavy rush.

They set up the screen, ball goes to Paul EP.

Eric Paul breaks out into the open and out across the 45 yard line to the 46.

EP.

I think he might be fast right there.

He's so patient.

This is all about his confidence right here.

He's letting these blocks take place, letting the linemen get out in front, then the burst right there to get up the field.

Nice job there by the senior.

Three star wide receiver 13 offers for him including Memphis, Liberty and West Virginia.

So first and ten run by Paul.

What was that said Kelley.

So let's take a look at the Johnny's New York style pizza defense for Benedictine with Smith Kam Cody.

Great story.

He signed with Clemson Jamir Lee Big-Time sophomore Guyton going to Texas Tech Schuman Little and Houston the defensive coordinator son Sutton and Burse are the corners and Micah Williams and Estabrook the safeties.

Mekhi, as I told you, has signed with App State.

Second down.

Benson going to heave it over here.

Goes to said Kelley and Ced Kelley batters a couple of guys, bounces off their tackle, gets stopped at the 49.

It's going to be a three yard gain for Ced Kelley.

Nice job by the secondary right there.

Coming up, making a play.

Rasheen Jaxson Larson Little making that play out in space on a very talented back.

Like I said, Kelley.

And here if you Benedictine these downs and distance, this is where you have to get off the field.

Larson Little started on that 2022 team as a freshman when they beat Cedar Town in a driving rainstorm at Georgia State Stadium.

With the hard count, there is Benson trying to get the defense to declare, showing a little pressure.

He's Benedictine.

Quarterback keeper Benson breaks into the open.

There he goes.

Looks like another number 7 used to run the ball.

Atlanta.

What a great play design.

Great blocking inside and right when you forgot how fast.

Kaiden Benson is.

Quarterback draw all the way untouched.

The speed runs by the safety right there.

Mike Williams not even a chance for him to touch him.

Ran right at him.

And that's just hard on the safety when a guy breaks the ball untouched and he runs right at you, you can't really do much right there.

And Kaiden Benson this is the part of the game we knew he brought to the field, and this season he's done just a great job being able to throw the ball and made himself a complete player.

Quarterback run.

Kind of like your former teammate who also wore number 7 and step.

He's a right handed guy.

Your guy was a left handed guy.

Yeah.

The guy I played with was even faster out on the field.

He was.

Kaiden Benson 49 yards for the touchdown.

And Creekside has a 14-3 lead here at the bench.

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What.?

Come on.

Are you.

Oh.

Come on.

Oh, what a bad call.

No, I have no business being out there.

Terrible.

You know, I'm a person too.

DBHDD new red ribbon 365 curriculum scoring drive for plays, 71 yards.

The last 49 yards covered by that young man right there.

Kaiden Benson.

As we take a look at the Creekside resume, 2013 state champions.

Their one and only state championship, they went 15-0 that year.

The Seminoles trying to match them as their fourth state finals, their fourth straight region title.

They've won six of the last eight region titles.

Bolton downs, the head coach back in 2013 when they won the state championship game 52 28 over Tucker.

And the kickoff short kick's going to be taken by Henderson.

He stepped out of bounds.

So ball is down right there at the 26 Cody.

Brenton trying to get a crown tonight.

He was already crowned earlier this year against Pace Academy.

How about this three for 400 plus yards six touchdowns.

And on top of that crown homecoming king Mr.

Creekside Cayden Benson.

Congratulations to him.

He has had a marvelous career and it is absolutely amazing to me that this young man has only one offer.

Tuskegee's a good offer.

Nothing against the Tuskegee offer, but only one is really surprising.

Hopefully that changes for him between now and the next signing day.

That first February, first Wednesday of February.

Big decision here.

Cole Henderson actually stepped out of bounds as he caught the ball.

I want to ask Dave, is that a penalty against Creekside because it's the ball out of bounds by him making that smart decision to catch the ball out of bounds.

Correct.

When he catches the ball out of bounds, the receiver is out of bounds.

When he catches it, it's a free kick untouched by the receiving team.

Technically out of bounds.

That's the discussion right here by the Norton crew.

If he was out of bounds when he touched the kick, it's a free kick.

Out of bounds 35 yard line.

If he caught the ball in the field of play then went out of bounds.

Will spot the ball right there at that spot.

And that's something that special teams coaches teaches.

Return guys.

That out of bounds by the offense.

By rule, the ball will be placed at the 35 yard line.

First down.

If the ball if the ball is near the sideline, step out of bounds and catch it.

That's a smart play.

It's a smart play and that is the play right there a great job by Henderson of making that play for his team.

Would it be heads up on that?

Wayne and Dave appreciate that insight too.

So they get an extra 9 yards on that instead of the 26.

They put the ball down at the 35.

Great stuff.

So first and ten for Benedictine play action.

Chase quarterback sack as Holt gets to Cannon and throws him for a loss.

Daniel Holt tank hope as some of them call him.

511250 inside physical right there beating the block of the center.

Reave Leonard trying to block back just too much penetration here.

Deciding to pull the ball and pulling down the big strong Cannon for a sack.

And Dixon says that the defensive line, in particular their box, the defensive line, the linebackers, heart and soul of their defense.

So many great athletes.

And as you said, a lot of converted running backs.

You know the speed they have to chase down the quarterback.

Cannon being chased, hit by Terrell ball is loose.

Let's see what the call on the field is going to be.

I think they initially signaled incomplete and you saw Holt and Terrell and Tavarre Terrell getting to him and hitting him as he threw.

And quarterbacks are just not used to this many guys able to run.

Look at the pursuit right there of hope from the inside.

And then Terrell for the cleanup.

Usually there's one or two guys, especially with the speed, and I'm not sure if that arm was going forward right there.

Very close.

He did pull it back, but it's real close of not really going forward.

Judgment call for this defense.

And Mo Dixon's throwing the challenge flag.

Very close there Matt.

As you can see.

His arm rearing back.

Let's see Dave how did you see that.

So this is definitely challengeable by the coach.

But what I saw right there was arm going forward just enough to make that a legal, incomplete forward pass.

So he'll lose a challenge and it's time-out.

I believe here.

For this half.

Creekside is challenging the ruling of an incomplete pass on the field.

Wayne, how much fun is it that we've got this element in Georgia high school football?

When we get to the state finals, that coaches can throw a challenge flag.

And both coaches, I'm quite sure they're excited.

We see a lot of calls during the season that on that fringe where they wish they would have this to be able to be able to challenge here.

And this play right here in particular, is definitely in that space where coach is not wrong for trying to challenge this and maybe get this ball a big turnover right here.

And you can see.

Yes, it's a hairline right there.

That just watch.

So arm isn't going forward yet.

He hit his arm and then his arm.

Went home.

After after he hit his arm.

Then the arm went forward.

So this is a big call right here.

When you look at for Creekside this would be great field position.

So Dave let me ask you.

So in that case where his arm isn't going forward yet until there's contact with the defensive player and then it goes forward, does that impact the rule.

Not not really.

Again, the way I see this, his arm is going forward when the ball is touched, when the, when the the the hand is going forward, when contact is made.

Just a super.

Play by.

Terrell review the ruling of an incomplete pass is confirmed.

Creekside loses a time-out.

So that was their second charge time-out of the half.

And they have one remaining.

Charles Woodson is somewhere telling you that that is a fumble.

He is mad.

He's about to come down here and tear up the bends.

I tell you, the special that they did with him and Tom Brady on the tuck and the fumble, that was great stuff.

So incomplete pass, so third down and long now for Benedictine.

But the good news for the cadets is they did not lose possession of the ball.

And this is a down and distance Creekside likes to get you in.

And this they can go hunting as their coach says.

They love to bring pressure.

Heavy rush blitzes coming.

Ball is out this time and it is recovered by Creekside Tavarre Terrell ends up with it at the four yard line.

Not sitting back down in distance where they love to bring pressure.

Here it's all about the late dog by Farley or Fairley right here 19.

Watch how he comes in and just not able to react soon.

Great job of ripping at that ball looking for Benedictine that one of the defenders didn't pick the ball up clean.

You can see a lot of gold jerseys and Terrell finally deciding to pick the ball up, but just too much speed right there.

By Fairley, the senior will linebacker doing a good job knocking that ball out, and once again, this defense paying big dividends for their offense.

What a play by the Creekside defense.

You heard Cody talking about it earlier.

They are just as dominant if not more so than the offense.

And now they've got a great situation here.

First and goal to go.

And a quick touchdown for Creekside as Ced Kelley pumps it in.

Up the middle.

Even the inside.

And that's what you want to do offensively.

Put the pressure run the ball there.

That's what they've been doing in this half.

Running the ball right downhill at that defense.

Capitalizing on the momentum.

And what a swing in the game already here one with the Wildcat.

Once again just clean blocking up there by the offensive line.

These backs are two or 3 yards down the field before they're having any contact with the defender.

Jones for the p.a.t.

And he gets it through.

And it is 21-3 Creekside like a bolt of lightning a couple of big plays one on offense, one on defense.

And they built themselves a sizable lead here in the first half.

Good blocking Poole right there.

And a nice kick out there by Robinson.

The wall of bodies Perry over there at the left tackle Martin at the left guard a walk in really there for Cedric.

Kelley.

Amazing stuff right there.

The defense coming up big after the 49 yard touchdown run, said Kelley.

His 27th career rushing touchdown.

They are just loaded with talent, and the amazing thing about it is it's not a they don't have a big recruiting resume.

They just got tremendous players.

And I don't know why they don't because I see athletes all over the place.

A lot of great athletes, a lot of great high school football players.

Sometimes we like to stay in the college realm and the stars, and we forget there are just some great high school football players.

And Coach Mo has assembled those guys, kept them together over the last two or three years, and it's just showing Brantley here tonight.

Another kick to the sideline this time, and it's going to be fielded and stepped out of bounds at the 26 yard line.

So Benedictine a little shell shocked right now.

Goes back out there on offense needing to put something together here.

To get back to the run game.

We saw in that first drive even they came up with three points.

They're going to have to try to run the ball and keep it in second and third and manageable, and that's what they were doing there in that first second drive.

They've kind of got away from that and you cannot get in third and long against this defense and this speed.

Negative 12 on their last two drives after they went 78 on their first drive to get their field goal.

No more field goals right now man.

They got to have touchdowns.

Got to get some touchdowns here.

Cannon with a pocket fires.

And it's caught by Mallard behind the defense footrace.

That Mallard is going to Wynn and Benedictine with an answer.

Jenkins Cass.

One on one match up here Aaron Mallard the junior as we talked about this Benedictine team has a lot of weapons, a lot of speed just matched up at the bottom of your screen with Tyree Colzie one on one and just a go route down here at the bottom.

Good play.

Action.

Fake.

Great protection, good ball there.

Just laying it out and then the footrace.

No one's going to be able to catch him.

But great play design and a tremendous answer for a game that looked like it was about to get away.

Get away from them.

And Benedictine.

P.a.t.

By Lewis is up and good.

And now it's 21-10 So just when you were starting to feel that Benedictine might be letting the game slip away, they grab it right back and they're still in the game.

Yeah, a little bunch set to your right there.

A little wheel route ran right by.

Cozy was Mallard.

Good play design there.

And in a situation where you just mentioned Matt, kind of a must have a touchdown.

Got to get some momentum back before Creekside just takes this game away.

Mallard tenth career touchdown reception and it was huge.

It gets him back in the game.

And you saw the celebration shot in the stands.

I think one of the things that makes Benedictine so good at football is focus.

It's an all male school.

You don't have distractions at school.

I guess in a sports kind of mindset, that's a good thing.

Yes.

But.

These young men, they're going to keep swinging.

We know they're going to play to the end.

That's how they're trained.

That's how they're coached.

Practices them to to play.

They're going to play this out, try to get this game late, see if they can pull it out.

Kick retreating back to inside the five and finally gets into the end zone.

That was a little risky right there to let it get by him.

But it does roll into the end zone.

So they'll bring it out to the 20 yard line.

Let's take a look at the road to the finals for Creekside.

As we mentioned, they're 14-0 10-0 in the regular season walloped Dalton in the first round, then blanked Ware County.

These are good teams in the second round.

Lithonia in the quarterfinals.

Then Kel and they just made them all look easy.

They have not had a game decided by less than 20 points the entire season.

Since their season opening win at Rome on Rome's home field.

They beat him 48 28.

That's one of those statements.

You tell somebody and they tell you you're wrong.

You must have read the sentence wrong because they have that kind of production offensively.

But now you see them in this game, the ability to play defense and so much explosiveness, all kind of weapons offensively.

Everybody can take it to the home run.

Benson rolling out to the right.

Oh.

Didn't see the defender bounces off of him and then gets hit by Gavin Smith.

Apparently he did not see the guy closing in on him.

And Gavin Smith cleans it up.

And that pass is going to go out of bounds for an incompletion.

Larson Little right here bringing the pressure off the edge and just not seeing him as at all as Kaiden Benson as he rolled out.

They have dropped a flag.

And let's bring Dave in here.

Is this going to be intentional grounding?

So the question becomes here the passer was outside.

The tackle box was fine.

The ball did not cross the line of scrimmage.

So we're looking for somebody in the area.

But it looked like a receiver was standing right there as the ball went over his head.

Yeah they might go number 5 in the area.

Let's watch the replay.

Number 5.

There is no flag on the.

Play Kelly right there is.

That ball sails right over his head right there in his area.

Good job right there by the crew to pick that up.

Yes.

Good job right there.

Getting out of that sack by Benson.

And then deciding to get rid of the ball.

Actually it was Larson Little who hit him first and he shrugged off that sack.

And then Gavin Smith came up there and hit him as he was throwing.

So second down and ten.

So Benson heads up play right there.

We talked about his savvy and his maturity.

Great job right there to get out of a bad situation with no yards lost on the play and Gary Walker with the carry.

Good job there Damien Guyton playing run defense getting down.

And now as we talked about these third and medium third and long third and six here.

This is what Benedictine the Cadets have to get off the field.

You've done the work in the first and second down, stopping the run.

Now get this ball back for your offense.

Third down and six.

Benson sprinting out to his left and gets it out of there.

Overthrows Kelly would have been a first down.

Actually it would not have been a first down.

So fourth down, empty series here for Creekside.

Rowe bootleg keep left.

Just nowhere to go with the ball right there.

Just a bad set of downs right there for Creekside all started with that pressure off on the edge, getting out of the sack.

This cadet team right there quickly taking the momentum back a little.

From that turnover and score by Creekside.

Yep.

So Benedictine a chance to get even closer back into this game as they got two receivers standing at the 50 yard line.

Should get great field position out of this.

Terrell is the punter.

It goes straight up in the air and does not take a Creekside bounce this time.

Bounced backwards and the ball is going to be down at the 39 yard line.

So Benedictine gets a short field.

Wayne with 5-15 to play in the half.

All possibilities here in this situation.

This is where offenses love to load up and try something deep.

We just saw them with the big play down the field to Mallard.

So if the Creekside you got to expect they're going to try to test you up top in this situation.

Benedictine and their road to the finals.

East Forsyth, the first victim in the first round.

Then Cass 217 Central Carrollton.

They beat 80-32 And that's a very good central Carrollton team.

And then Marist in the battle of the Catholics in Savannah.

And they won it 28 20.

Up top Cannon hits his man Mallard again.

So Mallard coming off a 74 yard touchdown reception on the previous series with a big catch right in the middle of the field down to the 13 yard line.

Play.

This time, instead of the wheel route, he just runs the seam route.

Good play.

Action fake.

Just laying it up there for Mallard.

Not going with a little pace, trying to keep this tempo.

And we're at this Creekside defense.

Running a jet sweep to Bubba Frazier and he gets tackled right away.

Good open field tackle right there.

Brought down behind the line of scrimmage.

As Carter Jamison I think number 9 who made that tackle.

Jamison.

Creekside.

Nice job coming playing in the box from that nickel position that safety position.

Getting in there making that play.

100 yards on their last three plays of course 74 coming on that catch and run by Mallard.

And now it's second down.

Cannon spin move rolls to his right.

He's being chased again looking downfield, throwing to the end zone.

Back of the end zone.

Incomplete.

And now it's going to be third down.

And it's all about the pursuit, the relentless pressure, the speed of the defensive front.

And you can see Stephen Cannon.

He's not used to that kind of speed he's throwing.

You're talking about a young man who's fast himself.

But the pursuit of the D line is just not letting him set up and survey the field and even load up his gun to deliver it anywhere.

So third down and 11.

It's a down and distance that the Seminoles love to feast.

That third and long.

Cannon going to throw back the other way and it's caught for the touchdown.

Stanley Smart a little bit of a risky throw, but Cannon threads the needle and gets it to Smart for the touchdown.

Let's see if they go for two.

Great play action fake there.

Fake it as though he's going to hand it off to Smart.

Give Smart a little time right here RPO.

Throw it back to the back.

Good play design right there.

Great execution between those two Cannon and Smart.

They'll go for the single point right here.

Not chase the points just yet.

21 16 kick is up and good 21 17.

And Benedictine has scored a couple of touchdowns back to back.

And they've climbed right back in this game.

You can see the fake right here a little roll out to the right.

Throw back to the running back.

Good job adjusting his body to make this catch.

His Smart here.

Good concentration.

Wow this Benedictine team the last two possessions offensively moving fast and scoring quick.

Absolutely 21 17 with 401 to play here in the first half.

Fun first half.

No doubt about it.

You know you kind of got that feeling when they dropped down 21-3 as it was going to happen here.

I mean Creekside going to blow him out.

But Benedictine has answered with a couple of big plays themselves.

Both teams good football as well, well executed, all the defenses are making plays.

The strategies are working, both teams trying to run the ball to set up the pass.

And the kickoff by John Brenton is going to be taken inside the five yard line and coming right back up the middle and stopped at the 16 yard line by Armani Hill.

That was the return by Armani Hill.

And so Creekside.

Let's see if they can get things going again offensively as Benedictine feeling the energy from their offense starting to play stronger on defense and special teams.

Let's see where they go here.

This set of downs Creekside get back to running the ball.

Witt Francis to me, the offense, when it's ran, the ball stayed in third and makeable at Kayden Benson get the ball out quick on the edge when it's been more effective tonight.

I think one of the things you want to see, Wayne, when you have a team like Creekside in particular, it's just blowing everybody out because what's going to happen when you get them in a close fight and a close game.

Something they haven't experienced.

Can will the pressure make them fold?

Run by Benson, Benson runs it up to the 29 yard line.

First down carry for Benson they spotted at the 27.

Quarterback draw all the way.

Running off the left side behind Martin and Perry.

Good job right there.

Kayden Benson a dual threat.

A true dual threat.

As you can see.

Ten touchdowns rushing this season.

11 now because he had the 49 yarder earlier in this game.

Hand off goes to Kelley Ced Kelley bangs it in there.

Picks up nine on the play.

Six foot 175 senior said Kelley.

He's also their number 2 quarterback.

Coach Dixon says he does a really good job of getting in the nooks and crannies of that offense and finding a play to get, finding a way to get to the second level.

That last run is a great example of that.

With a little trip set, trying to spread the defense out and then run right at him, Keener nine on seven kind of mentality inside here.

Big third down for Creekside offensively.

And we have movement by Benedictine.

And that's going to be a first down for Creekside.

And with the hard.

Part of the snap encroachment on the defense, that penalty is five yards resulting in a first down.

Elam Jamir Lee the jump offsides right there.

The young sophomore with that hard count, getting the free first down.

Man, they really love what they're going to see out of Jamir Lee in the future.

As you take a Creekside offense 16 for 24,514.4 yards per carry, three different players here in the first half with rushing touchdowns.

Walker, Kelley and Benson.

Not that time, though.

Walker gets stonewalled at the line of scrimmage and that was Jamir Lee.

He's got nine offers.

He's a three star in the 2028 class offers from Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

Among those nine.

This time, just working down, playing sound technique, working down the line of scrimmage as Jamir Lee.

That's how you make up for that offside penalty gets you a negative play on the offense.

63, 250 sophomore.

Slow play.

Benson looking and throws it and nearly intercepted.

And it was intercepted at the 49 yard line.

Benedictine got it back.

Play action fake right here by Benson.

Wanted to hit that slant quickly and then tried to move and find it again.

This time Jon Black the corner, reading his eyes and breaking on the ball as he threw this late.

As you can see.

Wanted to hit that slant right there.

Didn't like it.

Went to get out and tried to find it again.

A good job there by Black going down and getting that ball.

Super interception by the sophomore corner right there who read the quarterback's eyes.

Did a great job of reading Benson's eyes and saw the ball was coming back in the middle.

So first and ten Benedictine now with the ball and a chance to get the lead for the first time.

Cannon flushed out of the pocket, running, going to lob it out of bounds.

Cannon Frazier scrambling right.

Big pressure there.

Once again, that pressure is just getting there so fast.

Having to make quick decisions.

Good job of just throwing that away.

Don't want to lose this field position here.

Offense has been very explosive in the last two drives.

Second down and ten.

Less than 2 minutes now to play here in the first half.

Handoff goes to Frazier Bubba Frazier.

He's got blockers.

They engage.

He gets around the corner and all the way down to the 29 yard line.

And that's one of the things Wayne that Danny Britt talked about is his wide receivers.

And what great blockers they are.

And right here kind of switching positions.

Watch Stanley Smart good job of getting in there knocking Zayden Alexander back securing that edge without holding.

Good job by the running back blocking for his receiver mate.

So first and ten from the 29 yard line.

Smart back in there.

At the running back position.

Going to play action fake to him.

He'll be in pass protection.

Cannon scrambling around throws.

Got a man open and it is Stanley Smart who snuck out there and got open.

Look at him.

Use his body to get down to the 1 yard line.

Scrambles.

What a great job of extending this play by Stephen Cannon.

Here you can see going through his progression, feeling the pressure, keeping the eyes downfield.

Good job squaring the shoulders, leaking out late right there as Stanley Smart in the finish.

The finish right there.

That's the kind of finish that takes home a trophy right there by Stanley Smart.

Punishing Carter.

Nick Carter Jamison the nickel who came up to try to make the tackle.

And now they got Cody in there and Guyton on the Wildcat gets stopped at the one.

They had the heavy package in there.

Guyton to run the ball and Kameron Cody the nose tackled in there to block for him.

With the Wildcat 55 coming over trying to deliver the blow.

Good job Cassius Burch getting the leverage to get underneath Kam Cody and make the tackle there on Guyton.

Guyton stays in there in the Wildcat and he's going to throw a little pop pass for the touchdown to the tight end.

Bennett Conaway and Benedictine has come all the way back to take the lead.

44 Bennett Conaway.

And Damien Tim Tebow.

Guyton you got.

It right here showing the run.

Patience.

Using the height and size and just dropping it over for Conaway for the touchdown.

How about that for your bag of tricks.

True complementary football here in this last quarter.

By Benedictine.

Really just taking advantage of when the defense makes the play this time.

False start on the offense.

That penalty 5 yards one untimed down.

This time taking advantage of the short punt and getting in the end zone.

I mean the turnover by the defense once before the short punt, punt and just doing a great job of riding that momentum to take this lead.

P.a.t.

Up and good.

And a 24 21 lead for Benedictine.

They were down 21-3 They now lead 24-21 Look at this.

I love it.

Love the play design.

Love.

You gotta bite up on Guyton.

And the way that he runs so hard, he runs with that defensive mentality and just doing a good job.

Folks.

That's what a five star looks like right there.

And you know, Coach Danny Britt says when you look at him, you're thinking, this is a grown man until you talk to him, and then you realize he's just a 16-year-old kid.

He's been gifted, gifted by God with a lot of athletic ability.

Number 1 rated edge rusher in the country.

He's just 16-years-old and going off to college here in a couple of weeks.

But what an athlete.

Guyton showing on offense, too.

You know when you look at his defensive stats and they might not wow you.

He's got good stats but they're not fantastic stats.

And some fans said that Danny Britt a couple of weeks ago and said, you know what, he really hasn't done much this year.

And Danny said, usually I would let that slide.

But I said, you know what, sir?

You have no idea what you're talking about.

His presence on the field, just his presence on the field, on defense, makes a huge impact on what we.

Do on those on those Wednesdays and Thursdays, the meetings where you have to go in and he's the guy you circle.

He's the guy that you try to take out of the game.

You game plan around him and how many hats are going to go towards him.

He makes plays go away from him.

He makes it easier for guys like Kam Cody to make plays inside.

Well, he certainly has made his impact felt here tonight offensively and defensively.

Throwing the touchdown pass in his final high school game.

I think he might remember that.

So now Creekside stunned as they were up and seemingly in command.

Heavy rushing Guyton Smushes the quarterback.

But he gets it out of there complete and all the way down to the 38 yard line.

Benson took the hit from Guyton and still got it out there for the big completion.

Pam Henderson finally making an impact on this game right there.

Climbing the ladder to catch that ball.

The explosiveness that he shows you once he has the ball in his hands.

Bam Henderson with the big catch and run to the 38 yard line.

Benson steps up in the pocket.

Now he's going to run.

Going to try to get to the sideline.

And he does easily.

Stepping out of bounds at the 25 with 11 seconds left in the half.

Nice job recognition right there.

Seeing the end go behind him.

You never want to rush a guy like this.

When you look at Jamir Lee never get behind the quarterback when they have that kind of speed.

Big lane there opens up right there.

Benson making the defense pay mo.

Dixon told us that Delano Jones his range is 37 right now.

This would be a 42 yard field goal attempt.

If they try to do that.

Benson guns it.

Oh, it's caught.

Bam!

Henderson might get to the end zone.

He dropped the ball.

Benedictine got it at the two.

He got stripped.

Bam!

Henderson fighting for the extra yards, trying to help his team.

You can see right there the frustration.

Young man trying to get in the end zone.

Good protection.

Step up in the pocket.

Deliver the ball right here.

Wiggling out of a couple of tackles.

But as he tries to fight his way into the end zone, ball just is getting knocked out here.

That was Estabrook 22, who makes the tackle.

And then Black, who had the interception with the fumble recovery.

Great job not giving up on the play by Estabrook.

Cadets and that could have been just a function of Bam Henderson feeling like with time running out, he had to get in the end zone.

They did have one time out left.

If he goes down, they got one time out left.

They run a play from inside the five.

And that's something that you have to communicate on the sideline.

Just a bad break there for Creekside Hardy showing a little explosiveness in the passing game, opening it up, trying to get on the board and put some points up there as they go into half.

So 24, 21 as the teams head to the locker room.

Amazing first half.

Benedictine looked like they might be down and out and they respond with 21 unanswered points to take the lead to the locker room.

And let's send it down to Cody with our Johnny's New York style pizza.

Halftime interview.

With Benedictine head coach, Danny Britt and coach, you go down 21-3 What does it say about your team?

You're leading at the half?

Yeah, no.

So proud of them.

But keep fighting.

You know we were we were hurting there for a minute and but they just kept fighting.

And we talked about that all week.

Just continue to be disciplined and do what we do.

We've earned it.

And they fought back.

Gutsy call early in this game to go for it.

Fourth and one in your own end.

What went into that?

It's crazy.

I felt like they already had so much momentum.

We just could not punt it away and give them another touchdown.

So we had to go for it and I'm glad it paid off.

Well, Damien Guyton got a sack and a touchdown pass.

Tell me about him.

Yeah that's unusual.

And he coached the Phillips put that in early in the year.

We've been working it all year.

So it's beautiful.

Great call.

All right we appreciate it.

Good luck in the second half.

Coach Danny Britt will go give his message to his team.

Leading 204-20-1201 unanswered points for the Cadets coming out of Savannah.

John and Nikki have the halftime show coming up on the other side of the class 4-A championship.

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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Welcome in to our GPB Halftime Show.

We're live from Mercedes-Benz.

I'm Nicki Noto Parmer.

This is John Nelson.

Nelly, this is our last halftime show of the day, which.

Means we are about to close out day one.

But we have had an incredible finish to the half between this Quad-a matchup of Benedictine and Creekside.

It's been outstanding.

It was 73 after one.

It is now 24 21 after two.

So 24 minutes are in the books and let's see 45.

So 35 of the 45 points were scored in the second quarter.

Three scores down to a field goal up.

Benedictine you heard you heard kind of heard.

Danny Britt I got to get him some more throat coat stuff to.

I'll give it to him in the second half.

You kind of heard Danny Britt once again, a lot of faith in his team.

And then the LaDainian, the pop pass.

I'm still.

I'm hey, look, that's a Heisman.

That's a Heisman play is what that is.

When you go for a pop pass at the 1 yard line so couldn't get into the end zone running it.

So you go pop pass from the 120 4:21 at the end.

Absolutely.

Then the Cadets I mean they created a turnover right there at the very end prevented Creekside from scoring.

They've got all the momentum John I'm not sure who gets the ball back for the second half, but it seems like right now the Cadets are cruising.

Yeah.

And we'll find out what the adjustments are.

We'll find out from Reese Dixon what his talk was with his team, with Cody Chaffins coming up in just a little bit.

But before that, we'll find out what's going on with the GHSA executive director, Dr.

Tim Scott coming up around the corner.

But we got some stuff to take care of.

That's right.

And you know all about it because we have been giving awards all well, all day long, if you will.

It's been an incredible season of football and we've been sharing some great, great stories.

Why don't you go ahead and take a look at this one.

One, two, three.

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

Said.

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.

We have our sportsmanship winners.

We have three teams that are now crowned state Championship winners, if you will.

And coming up we're going to of course have more football.

We're going to have more player spotlights.

We're also going to have GHSA executive director Dr.

Tim Scott join us.

What else we got?

We got you coming up around the corner.

Another great story that we got to tell you this season.

But all of that coming up in just a little bit.

Halftime show rolls on from the Benz.

Going to have to go.

Who's going to win in the quarter final.

Nick and Nelly hear you there.

Talk to Tim Scott around the corner on the great GPB.

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We're a part of your community.

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Their job is as honorable as it is rigorous.

As we look on with admiring eyes, we want them to know we are grateful.

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Welcome back into our GPB Halftime Show.

We're currently at the half of our 4-A state title matchup between Benedictine and Creekside.

The Cadets are on top right now, 24-21 We'll have more football coming up, but first, we've been checking in and highlighting some incredible student athletes from all across the state.

Thanks to our friends over at USA pharmacy, and right now we're about to feature a Rockmart baseball player.

His name is Lacey Jaxson, and for or I'm sorry.

Yes, Luke.

Yes, it's Trey.

Luke.

We've had a few of these today.

I'm so sorry, Trey.

But for his motivation and his passion, it is way bigger than baseball.

Take a look.

They weren't twins, but like they grew up almost like they were.

There was a boating accident and he was on the raft.

He fell off and she didn't.

Nunn day go by, I. Don't think about her.

I think he went 13 and, oh, you know, he hit leadoff pitch shut out in the semifinals, shut out in the state championship.

The final out is made and he's looking up in the sky.

Everybody just knows when they see that picture.

They know what he's doing and what he's playing for.

And thanks again to our friends over at U-save Pharmacy for helping us share wonderful stories like Trey, stories of true grit and determination.

Well, as we spoke earlier, we've got a lot more things coming up around the break.

Be sure to keep it right here on GPB.

We've got more exciting things coming ahead, especially an interview with GHSA director Dr.

Tim Scott.

It's all coming up.

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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.

Grape.

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 into our GPB Halftime Show.

We're almost closing out day one.

John, of our three day Gantlet of Championship coverage here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

All right, so we do have three finals before we get to the second half of game number 4.

Harris County pillar to post.

They go number 132 and 0-1 of the most prolific offenses we've ever seen in flag.

They win Division one over Washington County.

Great season in Sandersville.

Next one up on the board.

Division two was the follow there.

That one was tied at 13 with 4:00 to go.

Greenbrier goes back to back to what Nick?

Back back back to back to back.

Did I get that right?

Yes.

You did okay.

Wonderful.

Three in a row.

Greenbrier over Jenkins.

Great season for the Warriors coming out of Savannah 20-13 Then the first of the tackle football finals for now for Bowdon.

That's one more back.

Yes, it is absolutely true.

Bowdon sets history.

It is rare air.

It is West Rome.

It is Elka, it is Buford and it is now Bowdon.

You can add to at least four championships in a row.

Elka has got five.

That's next year.

And there you go.

Lincoln County 35.

31, six feet short, doctor Scott.

Oh, man, that was so close, wasn't it?

Six feet short.

Well, you already said his name, Dr.

Scott.

We've been waiting all day to have the executive director of the GHSA with us live and in person.

Because, Dr.

Scott, I feel like every time we've talked to you or seen you, it's been on zoom and over the computer.

Yeah, that has been lately over zoom a lot of times.

Yeah.

So it's so good to have you here with us real quick and out of the gate.

We want to know what is something that maybe you want people to better understand about the role that the GHSA plays across the state?

Well, our job number 1 is to promote education based athletics, and that's what we try to do each and every day.

We want to provide great facilities for our kids and and provide great opportunities for them to participate and do that, knowing that it's education based and that's what comes first.

All right.

So two of the first three finals we had today were in flag football.

Yes.

And it's been great to see the sport continue to grow.

Another 10% increase in the number of schools that are now north of 300.

And you're still you're looking at 20:06 and we're not done with 20-5 What's what's being thought about for the future.

So you know, a big you know, tip my hat to the Atlanta Falcons and Arthur Blank Family Foundation for helping us and working with us.

But we went from 288 teams last year, this time to 311 teams this year, four divisions to five divisions.

And you know, you talk about a gantlet if they keep adding divisions these days, just keep getting longer, you know.

So we are looking at making flag football a fall sport.

It kind of starts late September now, but looking moving it back to August and letting it run, we've got some things that we're talking to the Falcons about and hopefully things can work out and see what happens in the future.

Well, it sounds like in the future you might be helping John and I secure some jobs.

We might have some more games that we're going to be covering, maybe on different days.

I mean, you know.

Gantlet longer if you will.

But it's a fun gantlet.

Yes.

It's so fun.

When you look at these matchups that we've had so far.

We mentioned Bowdon and Lincoln County.

It's pedigrees, it's heavyweights, and all the smaller classifications.

Tomorrow I want to set this up.

I've been referring to it as like the Intergalactic Championship, the Interplanetary Championship, because it's either one versus two, two versus three, three versus two, three versus one.

The anticipation.

What have been the conversations getting ready for the final game when we see you here at halftime tomorrow night with Carrollton.

And oh I'm going to tell you Carrollton and Buford.

That's what Georgia football is about.

And I think when you talk about depending on what poll you look at, each of them could be one in the nation you know, in the top three or four in the nation in multiple polls.

So it's going to be exciting day.

You know, college scouts are out.

Looking at players, talking to people.

This place will be filled with those, I'm sure, tomorrow night as well.

So we're excited about it.

Scouts and coaches alike.

That's always so fun.

When you're roaming the sideline, you're going, oh, I recognize that face, that face, that face.

And then come Saturday, you know, all of the high school football faithful followers, we're going to be like, oh yeah, we saw him playing in the state championship game, right?

So there's a lot of student athletes that we're going to be watching on Saturdays and, and real quick, Dr.

Scott, what do you hope these student athletes are going to take away from their time and experience within the GHSA?

Well.

Hopefully athletics in general is teaching them to persevere.

Continue on.

You're going to get knocked down in life, but you get back up and you keep you keep battling.

When you have something like this here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, I know that you plan about a year out, if not like lights go off and you're ready for the next year to plan.

Seriously, how much planning goes into how many moving parts are there to make something like this?

Go as quickly and do it as well as you do.

Oh, there's a lot.

And so first of all, thanks to the Mercedes-Benz staff, I mean, those guys do a great job.

They work with us, but our staff in the office and the people that we get to work with in not only in our office, but like tonight, Earl Etheridge received a service award for the Georgia High School Association.

Well over 50 years of working with the organization.

And he's got a team of people.

So it all comes together.

And I'm very fortunate to get to be a part of it.

But there's a there's a lot of work that goes into it with a lot of different people, and I'm thankful to have those folks on my team.

Yeah.

So that that planning is a year out.

But Dr.

Scott, what is your what is your week this week championship week look like for you?

I mean is your phone on Do Not disturb or are you all access.

What does that look like?

Oh no.

We're dealing with basketball and wrestling issues and talking to coaches about eligibility.

We're still we're still continuing on.

Matter of fact our office is still open in Thomaston.

They're working.

There's just part of us are here, and so but this week is really big and focused here.

But the prep work was early, but now the games get to play.

And like I say, the staff here at Mercedes-Benz is great and we're thankful to have them.

I mean, you had meetings today that you were getting into that you were having to like 9 hours long, that you had to wait for you to get here.

We can't thank you enough for being here.

This is appearance one of three we got a lot to talk about.

Can't wait to see you at halftime for the game tomorrow where we can talk about one versus two versus three versus two versus.

Oh absolutely man.

Thank you all for what you do.

Appreciate it.

Well thank you for what you do for all the student athletes across the state of Georgia.

We appreciate your time.

Yes, ma'am.

Two quarters down.

We got the third quarter coming up around the corner.

Cody is going to catch up with Maurice Dixon, find out what his adjustments might be.

Benedictine Creekside around the corner.

We're done here on the 100 level.

Let's go down to the floor.

After the break.

We'll find out what's going on for the second half.

The end of day one from Mercedes Benz.

Stick and stay.

We'll be right back.

Is a proud partner of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Football Fridays.

Cigna Healthcare mission is to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

Visit cigna.com to learn how you can support your physical and emotional well-being.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at Opioid Response Info.

With boots on the ground and suspended mid-air.

Our lineworkers are everywhere.

Behind every turn switch are those who put it all on the line to illuminate lives down the line.

Their job is as honorable as it is rigorous.

As we look on with admiring eyes, we want them to know we are grateful.

Georgia's electric membership Cooperative celebrate the life sustaining contributions of our Lineworkers storm or shine.

Thank you for being our lifeline.

Georgia's EMCs so much more than electricity.

The GHSA football playoffs and championships are brought to you by Alfa Insurance.

We're more than just an insurance company.

We're a part of your community.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home, because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at Opioid Response Dot info.

Welcome back.

Start of the third.

Quarter Benedictine leading Creekside 24 21.

And time now for our next Johnny's Pizza halftime interview and back down to Cody Chaffins.

Here with Creekside head coach Mo Dixon, and coach.

That momentum has swung.

You guys seemed in control at 213, you trail three at the half.

How do you break down that second quarter?

Turn the ball over man.

We can't have turnovers.

That turnover led to the momentum being switched.

So we got to hold on to the ball make some plays.

Second half.

What was your message to the guys in the locker room besides just the turnovers.

We just got to consistently dominate our job.

I think when we turn the ball over, we didn't communicate well on the back end and that caused some laxatives.

They were able to get some big plays, so I just got them composed.

Remember we've been here before and we can get ourselves out the hole.

We just got to keep playing.

You're a team that's dominated other teams all year.

Is your team ready for a fourth quarter fight tonight?

I mean, we've been working since January 4 17.

We're ready for all of them.

We go eight quarters.

That's the right answer right there.

Coach Mo Dixon and his Creekside Seminoles trailing three at the half Matt.

All right.

Thank you Cody.

And when I hear what he's saying.

But it almost seemed like when they got that 213 lead, they thought they might have knocked out Benedictine.

But they were wrong.

Yeah.

They were looking around trying to figure out why aren't y'all just laying down and Benedictine Coach Britt has his team in a groove.

They took advantage of the momentum and they got back in the game and took the lead.

They did.

Let's take a look at those first half highlights.

And it started with Creekside and the run by Gary Walker for the touchdown.

Physical in that first drive.

Running the ball right at Benedictine Gary for the big touchdown.

And then Kaiden Benson here Brett King again 49 yards to go up 14-3 Short touchdown run by Ced Kelley.

At that point it's 21-3 All the momentum for Creekside.

And right here the big play down the field.

Get the ball to Ballard for the touchdown.

That went 74 yards.

And then they hit Mallard on another big play.

Set up this touchdown pass to Smart.

And now they are in a groove and decide to go to Wildcat.

Little jump pass there by Guyton.

The Conaway the big tight end to take the lead.

And then into the half final play.

Creekside they got a time-out left.

Bam Henderson struggling to get into the end zone instead of just going down and using that final time-out and having a play inside that five yard line, they missed an opportunity right there.

As you take a look at the totals here, the Creekside totals are -92 yards.

So not quite 259 right now the mix up in the stats.

But you take a look at those stats.

What jumps off the bat.

Well at first Creekside with the 340 yard touchdowns, you thought they were going to blow the doors off this game.

But the ability of Benedictine to get a couple of turnovers and cash them in the rush yard, the Disparicy Creekside dominating that you expect they're going to get to that in the second half again.

So should be a very interesting third quarter and into the fourth is Creekside.

I thought the question from Cody was very relevant.

Are your guys ready for a fourth quarter fight because they haven't had many of those, maybe just one this entire season?

Yeah, not a lot of not a lot of evidence to support Coach Dixon's views, but he's confident that his team is poised and they're able to do this.

This is a veteran group.

A lot of guys that played a lot of football, played a lot of football together.

So he has a lot of confidence.

It's going to be they're going to have to get off to a quick start here in the third quarter.

That.

Meantime, the story with Benedictine is, you know, they have all the momentum.

Do they still have that momentum as they come out for the start of the second half?

And now here's the last half of the season.

All those statistics, all those points that some other team gave up.

It doesn't really matter right now.

It's about who can execute and not beat themselves.

Both offenses have shown they can move the ball.

They're going to have to make sure they have clean football here in the second half.

That would.

Clark and me right now.

Another fabulous football game.

We had a tremendous one a D-2 championship game earlier today where Bowdon won their fourth consecutive state championship with a 35-31 win over Lincoln County.

That game ended with the ball at the three yard line.

And this game, it looks like it's going to be just that exciting going down.

Benedictine and showing a lot of composure in this game, and they have the players, the big name players are showing up for them, and that's what they're going to need to defeat.

Creekside here in the second half.

Creekside Seminoles get that rushing attack going kind of control.

When they had, they struggled.

I think Coach Dixon mentioned it.

It was just a thing of turnovers and it's that bad break there at the end with Bam Henderson not getting down trying to score.

He gave up that ball.

Second half kickoff is brought to you by Heads Up Georgia.

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And so remember we were talking about Creekside.

They want to get that ball first at the start of the game.

And it worked well for him.

But now Benedictine with the momentum gets the ball to start the second half.

Let's see how their offense gets back to a groove.

Being able to find that passing game there late in that second quarter and start making some plays.

Another short kick.

They got Frazier up there to take it at the 16 yard line and Bubba Frazier in trouble back there.

Gets corralled right away at the 19 yard line.

So good job.

Even though Frazier ends up with the ball in his hands.

Tyree Colzie down there to make the kick coverage.

Tackle.

And this defense Creekside force second and third and long.

That's when they had success in that first quarter.

It was winning first downs and forcing Benedictine into those second, third and longs where they could rush the passer.

So Stephen Cannon six for ten passing 153 yards.

Couple of touchdowns in that first half.

Going to hand the ball off to Washington.

Joshua Washington gets 1 yard, gets stonewalled right away.

Nice job.

A lot of success made on those jet sweeps in the first half by Benedictine.

Nice job here.

Staying Pat, staying at home out on the edge.

Good job working your way down the line of scrimmage there and making a play.

Joshua Washington's an interesting story.

Here's a young man that 510180 senior.

He was that size when he was a freshman.

Got a lot of offers then, but he hasn't grown since.

So now looking for a college football home.

Smart gets tackled right away.

Again, another fine tackle by Decari Farley Farley their leading tackler this season.

1067 TfL and five quarterback sacks.

He's a young man who transferred in from Jonesboro High School.

Nice job playing his technique.

There's Farley and now third and eight.

This is where his defensive front likes to let loose.

Defensive coordinator likes to bring a lot of pressure.

Late Dawgs inside by the linebackers.

They had some success with that in the first half.

Heavy rush.

It's coming.

Ball is out and cannon gets back on top of it.

Great pressure coming on the safety blitz from Carter Jamison.

Nice job once again.

They're not going to sit back.

This is their down and distance.

This is what they love to do nine right.

They're coming clean off the edge.

Fortunate enough for Stephen Cannon he was able to get back on that ball.

But Creekside this defense they don't sit back in those down and distances.

They feel like they have the speed that can close on a quarterback and not let him get the ball off.

So Cannon is also their punter.

So this will be the first time that he has punted tonight, as he's standing halfway deep in his end zone line drive kick kicks it away from the return.

Man.

It still might be returned.

And nope.

Paul, Alexis or Henderson elects not to come up and field it.

So Creekside does come out of it with good field position at the 47 yard line.

Can you get this run game going again?

The offensive line was clicking there for about a quarter and a half.

Being able to run the ball inside right at Benedictine, able to take care of Cam Cody inside.

We saw there in that second quarter a lot of late runs by Kaiden Benson as well.

Gary Walker their leading rusher, six carries for 69 yards, 45 of it came on that touchdown run we showed you at halftime.

Benson going to quarterback run it.

And he's going to get about 3 yards.

Make it 4 yards.

Make it 5 yards at the 48 yard line.

As Benson kept going.

Getting a little push there by his offensive line.

Good job there by Rockmore over there at that right tackle.

Just pushing his quarterback forward for about 3 yards.

You can see at 6:52 80 junior why he is a highly prized prospect at that right tackle position.

Second down.

Handoff goes to Ced Kelley and Ced Kelley will not be able to get the first down.

First two plays.

Concerted effort to get the run game going, something they did there in that first drive where they basically didn't even throw the ball here.

Starting off the second half the same way.

So now third down and two for Mo Dixon Crew diamond set at the top and the run Benson breaks into the open.

Another long touchdown run for Kaiden Benson.

Cayden Benson.

What an outstanding play right here by Kaiden Benson.

Diamond set four receivers to the top trying to spread the defense off.

Good block there by that right side over there.

Robertson and Moore.

And then just the speed the explosiveness right there to get out of that tackle by Jojo Sutton is Cam Benson.

Kaiden Benson now has a 49 and a 45 yard touchdown run in this game.

And Creekside is back on top.

P.a.t.

Up and good by Jones and his 28 24.

Weighing this very well could be a game with last team with the ball wins game right.

Just a great job right there.

And we talked about can they find themselves.

They find themselves.

They got back to running the ball right there.

Quarterback draw something they started using in that second quarter.

Kaiden Benson and his speed off of that right side just exploded through the secondary for another big run.

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So Creekside able to get a stop on defense, turn it into a short field and turned it into a 45 yard touchdown run by Kaiden Benson and the Seminoles are back on top.

Short kick to the near sideline.

This time, Mallard has it glanced off, his hands out of bounds.

Looking for Mallard right there.

The sideline was there.

Ball went out of bounds.

And now you still feel that pressure for Benedictine that they're going to have to keep pace.

Can't let this Creekside offense explode up 21 20 points here and try to catch up in half again.

Stephen Cannon brings his guys back out there.

Three star quarterback.

He's rated as high as the number 37 quarterback in the class of 2026.

Did sign with Texas Tech back earlier in this month, so he's already locked down on his college decision.

Hand off goes to Washington on the sweep.

Stiff arm.

Can't get by.

Carter Jamison Carter Jamison is just playing like a wild man here tonight.

Number 9 once again, just all out effort here.

Watch him come into your screen right there.

From that secondary position.

Nice job running that play down.

Joshua Washington saw some green grass.

And then number 9 came in to make the play.

Six total tackles, two TfL for Carter Jamison, 55 total tackles on the season.

Cannon in trouble, throws it away.

Was he down already?

And it looks like from this angle he was down as he tried to throw the ball out.

But big pressure once again.

Tavarre Terrell just getting off the block and exploding to the quarterback.

I thought his knees were already down.

Terrell may have gotten himself another quarterback sack.

His knees are down.

That's a quarterback sack.

That right knee hit the ground right there before he could get that ball off.

You can see.

Watch how Terrell just explodes and that right knee.

Cannon was lucky not to lose the football right there.

So the play is being reviewed and I believe they're going to see what you saw in that Terrell with the quarterback sack.

Greg Norton is our official.

The ruling on the field of an incomplete pass is under review.

Creekside earlier in the game decided to make a challenge play.

And here you can see as he tries to get out of this sack here.

Watch the right knee.

Right there he is.

Down.

Ball is both knees.

Actually from that replay you can see both knees on the ground.

But the right knee definitely is on the ground before that ball is out of his hand.

Dave Reynolds take us through the process.

What's going on now in the booth?

Yeah, just confirming what y'all just talked about.

They have similar angles in the replay booth as well, so this should be a pretty quick review of both.

Knees are down with the quarterback in possession of the football.

So we'll put it back further than where it is right now.

Demari Terrell.

Looks like he's going to pick up another sack.

That'll be 19.5 for him this season.

Just an unreal season for this young junior.

Coach Dixon feels like he's the best defensive player in 4-A.

That's the kind of season he has had.

He's fast, he's aggressive, physical.

Running back, one of those guys, as we talked about former running backs that just Coach Dixon was real with those guys like, hey, it's not going to work out at that position.

Let's try something else.

Three quarterback sacks, seven TfL for that Creekside defense tonight.

And I hope you've been watching our all state team.

We've announced it between games and our Defensive Player of the year.

Deuce Geralds of Collins Hill.

What a force he is.

We've seen him just take over games.

Sometimes he for about 59 of the 60 minutes or excuse me 47 of the 48 minutes.

He's unblockable sometimes.

And then he gets over there and he runs touchdowns.

What a great athlete.

Deuce Gerald just love watching him play.

And our offensive player of the year Kaiden Prothro Bowdon the five star tight end signed with Georgia, closed out his career today with his fourth straight state championship and earlier this month set the state's all time touchdown receiving record.

One of those tweeners tight end receiver combos with great hands, great ball skills as we throw.

Taking a long time here, right here, you imagine they might trying to find.

After further review, the quarterback was down at the eight yard line prior to the incomplete pass.

The ball will be placed at the eight yard line.

It will be third down and the clock will start on the ready for play.

Great explanation there by Greg Norton.

And so instead of the 19 yard line, the ball is going to be at the eight yard line and third down and very long.

Now for Benedictine.

What does this defense like to do in these situations?

They like to go eating.

They like to hunt.

They come from outside, inside a whole bunch of fast athletes.

And you just have to try to make a quick decision.

If you're Stephen Cannon.

Wayne, how about an old fashioned draw play right here, right?

Yeah, just some screen, something real quick to get the ball.

You don't want to make a dangerous throw or try to hold the ball too long here.

So third down Cannon will throw heavy rush.

Makes him step up in the pocket.

He's in trouble again.

He gets sacked at the one Tavarre Terrell and Kenny Fairley.

Initially kind of getting away from the pressure.

Able to step up into the gap and then just the closing speed.

Watch the linebacker there.

Just shoot in there once again.

Carter Jamison or excuse me Major level right here.

Watch eight.

Come to the party right here.

And then just finishing him off right there as Tavarre Terrell.

Well, you cannot put yourself in third and second and long, third and long situations.

These guys will just come hunt.

They will come get you.

Linebacker speed in that front seven at each position.

Just an unusual task to try to take on.

Cannon not a great kick.

Going to kick out of bounds at the 30 29 yard line.

Creekside very short field as they get ready to go back on offense.

And that's a tough situation right there for Stephen Cannon right there.

Taking that big hit on that sack and trying to get yourself composed to punt the ball.

That's a lot, to ask on a young man right there.

He got a gash on his face too.

He's been bloodied negative 28 yards for Benedictine.

Their last seven plays.

So far.

This is kind of playing off how the game started offensively.

Creekside scoring and then the defense coming up with a big play to get him the short field here and Benedictine survived this early wave in the second half.

Hand off goes to, said Walker.

Walker follows his blockers and gets down to the 27 yard line.

So big Jayvon Perry the left tackle signed with Georgia Southern out there running convoy for him.

And nice.

Job there scraping down that line.

Cam Cody the big nose tackle, 63, 295.

This offensive line has done a good job against him tonight.

Second down and seven Benson wants to run it.

Benson with another Reynolds got a first down another lane to run in right there.

Just getting back to his old ways.

Kaiden Benson.

He took over the job.

This was what his bread and butter.

What he lived on running the ball.

And here trying to take home a state championship, willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

So first and ten ball is at the 17 Benson to the air.

Man.

Open touchdown!

Creekside dropped it in the bucket for Ced Kelley 34 24.

Ced Kelley out here.

Larson Little just too much speed right here.

Just a real route outside by Ced.

Kelley just outrunning Little just no chance to get back in that play right there.

Micah Williams tried to get over there, but just a great ball, great route there.

By Ced Kelley.

So I think Creekside has kind of answered our question.

How would they respond in a four quarter fight?

Well, they've come out swinging here in the second half.

35 24.

Kelley touchdown!

Kaiden Benson first touchdown pass of the night to go along with his two rushing touchdowns.

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.

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Creekside last two drives, six plays, 82 yards, 14 points and both drives took less than 68 seconds.

Benedictine went on a three touchdown, 21 point swing and now Creekside has put 14 points on the board to start this second half and playing like they did in that first quarter.

Fast on offense and the defense just forcing third and long zone Benedictine who has to settle down and start getting a couple of first downs.

Another short kick and this one is taken by Henderson.

He gets tackled at the 32 yard line by Colsey.

And that's where the Cadets go back on offense.

Some work to do now.

They're down 11 with 5-47 left here in the third quarter.

Still in a great position here.

Just got to get a couple of plays.

Get some positivity going offensively.

Kind of in shock in a sense.

Again you know they've seen this movie so far once again in the first half.

And now it's right here.

And they just got to start making some plays.

Settle down get the run game going.

Toss goes to Washington.

Washington short side gets tackled by Jamison.

What a game Jamison seven total tackles for Carter Jamison today.

Just a heat seeking missile.

And that nickel safety position.

Just beating the ball carrier to the sideline.

Getting into his legs.

Second and eight here.

Got to stay out of third and long.

This has to be a positive play.

If you Stephen Cannon.

Coach Dixon says he's really improved on his coverage.

This year was really kind of just a box safety strong against the run.

We've seen that that he's very strong against the run and Cannon trying to run against this defensive front for Creekside unsuccessful Burch is there and so is a bunch of other guys too.

Fairley Burch right there.

The ability to retract on their steps.

And we talked about the speed here.

Watch Cassius Burch watch number 90.

They see this quarterback draw how fast they got back into that lane, getting off the blocks.

And you see him after the play.

They're looking up.

They're looking up at the Halo.

Ford.

What a beautiful building.

It is.

Great venue for football.

One of the best football venues in the world and blown up.

Play gets blown up right away.

Decari Farley was not fooled.

Fourth down.

Not fooled at all on this play.

Reading the quarterback, seeing that middle screen there to Mallard watch 19.

He's reading the quarterback.

He sees it.

You see how he slides up under that block of the center and the right guard Noah Brainard great job there.

By Farley.

So fourth down punting situation Major Levell 100 tackles, 11 TfL, a couple of interceptions this season, making his 44th start tonight in his career.

A lot of football Cannon the punt.

Gets it out of there.

Takes a Benedictine bounce and still rolling.

Finally stops at the 20.5.

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So now the onus is really on the Benedictine defense.

They can't allow Creekside another score here.

I know they came back from 18 down in the first half.

I don't think you don't want to put yourself in a situation when you're trying to come back from another 18 point deficit in the fourth quarter.

And not just stop them at you feel like the way the offense is struggling, this defense is going to have to try to get a turnover or get them to short field as well.

Benson on the screen pass goes to Bam, Henderson and bam up to the 33.

First down.

Really just love the way that Bam is willing to run into traffic.

Make guys miss one of those phone booth kind of guys.

Guys that you just swear you have a bead on right now.

We do have a Benedictine player down.

Officials time out.

You see the numbers for bam.

47 catches close to 900 yards coming into the game.

And Coach Dixon feels like bam Henderson.

If he was taller, he's only 510.

If he was taller, he'd be one of the highest ranked wide receivers in the state.

It's just a young man that has the complete.

He's a game breaker.

He has the speed, he has the hands.

Good route runner.

And he's shown you a couple of times when the ball is in his hands, just how dynamic and dangerous he is to take it all the way.

Wayne, this is day one of the three day Georgia high school football state championships.

Our day two schedule kicks off at 10:00 A.M.

With the flag football Division three championship.

Whitewater and North Oconee Division four at noon.

Milton and Blessed Trinity Boys Class one, a D-1.

Toombs County and Worth County.

Toombs County, defending champs.

Hayfield and Carver.

Columbus.

I'll have that game at 5:00.

Rusty Mansell will join me for that one.

And then you and I have the 6-A state and National championship game as Carrollton plays Buford.

And that might bring my pads.

See if I can get into that game.

What a what a matchup right there.

Yeah.

For the first time in Georgia, high school football history, the national championship will be decided in this state as Buford is ranked number 1 in the USA Today Super 25 national poll and number 1 in the ESPN High School Football Top 25, and Carrollton is ranked number 1 in the MaxPreps national rankings.

Should be amazing.

Benson to the air caught by Bam Henderson.

What a catch in traffic.

Weaving through the defense gets to the outside and finally dragged down at the 27 yard line.

Touchdown saving tackle by Larson Little.

Once again climbing the ladder is Bam Henderson to go get this ball for his quarterback.

A little high on the throw.

Go get it for me bam.

And then this is the part the elusiveness the vision the cut.

Only the hustle there of Larson Little able to bring him down right here.

Just weaving his way through traffic trying to score.

Bam bam bam bam bam.

I love the Flintstones.

First and ten ball at the 27 yard line.

Snap right up the middle.

Nothing doing that time.

Kam Cody in there on that tackle.

Cam Cody amazing story.

Senior signed with Clemson a couple of weeks ago, his freshman season.

He died on the football field.

He literally, if you count your heart stopping being dead, he died on the football field.

They resuscitated him for 18 minutes on the football field until the ambulance showed up.

And when he got in the ambulance, he was still unresponsive.

It was one of those Coach Britt telling us the story.

It was hard to even respond.

What a great grab, man.

What a. Catch.

It looks like they're going to say he was out of bounds there.

What a great job going up the ladder right there.

Armani Armani Hill trying to catch his fourth quarterback.

Let's see if he can keep that foot in there and know when he came down.

That left leg is out.

Good call there by the side.

Judge.

Going back to that Cody story, it's it's really unbelievable.

And you can tell the emotion in Coach Britt's voice because Cam Cody dropped dead right next to him on the football field.

So health staff had to keep him alive there for 18 minutes.

What a story.

And for him to bounce back and become such a dominant player headed to Clemson.

That says it all for the talent set guy that coach says sometimes it takes a triple team to block him inside.

73 tackles this season.

13 TfL, 5.5 quarterback sacks.

You just pull for a guy like Cam Cody when you hear that story.

Fourth down, going for it on two to go and it's a first down and more.

That's going to be a touchdown.

Ced Kelley prances into the end zone 41 24.

Great job inside.

Once again.

The offensive line manhandling and handling cam Cody Gavin Smith and Jamir Lee in this situation here.

Good job by the offensive line.

Good reaction.

Good step there by Cedric Kelley.

We knew Gary Walker and his ability.

Sariya Kelley is shining here tonight as well.

Able to be elusive.

The jump cut, getting the gap and then show you the speed to the end zone.

17 point lead for the second time tonight.

Seminoles will try to build an 18 point lead.

Flag out on the P.a.t.

He.

So he might have a. Encroachment on the defense.

That penalty half the distance to the goal one untimed down.

Jon Black.

They're just trying to get a jump on this ball coming off the corner, lined up in the neutral zone.

So when you get the half distance here to go for two.

Right here they're just going to tack on the points.

They have all the momentum go up 18 here just late in the third.

The p.a.t is up and good.

Delano Jones has been perfect on his Pats tonight.

Right here.

Just a great job.

Kelley able to navigate the penetration inside by Cam Cody as you can see.

Get back up into that gap and then just explode.

And the heartbreaking part of that play, you could see Coach Britt running down the sideline trying to get a Time-out call.

But before he could get it called, the ball was snapped.

And the next thing you know, Cedric Kelley is in the end zone.

Second rushing touchdown of the night for Ced Kelley.

Benedictine came back once.

Can they come back a second time?

Watch coach Britt is sprinting up at the top.

He's trying to get a Time-out right there.

But too late.

The ball was snapped.

Nothing that the umpire the referee could do for him.

Right there and then it ends up being a touchdown.

That's got to be a frustrating feeling when you see that your defense is in trouble and you try to get that Time-out and you can't get it in time.

Another short kick.

Let's see.

Frazier is going to have a chance to return it.

They need a big return right?

Here he goes.

Full speed ahead and gets tackled at the 38 yard line.

A little bit better field position.

Let's see if Benedictine can do something with it.

With 127 to play here in the third quarter.

, and Benedictine went 21 point unanswered.

And now Creekside is going 21 point unanswered.

Now, if you Benedictine, you find yourself where you're going to have to open up the offense, you're going to have to get some scores, because we've seen Creekside be able to go out and run the ball and get four or five first downs, just running the ball and eating up clock.

So you're going to have to get on the board fast.

You got to get the ball in Bubba Frazier hands.

He's like world class sprinter type guy, ball up in the air, incomplete.

He signed with Notre Dame.

They don't sign slouches.

So you know he's really good.

You got to get him the ball.

Yeah really haven't.

Sometimes you just got to force it and run set plays where you let a talent like that just go out and make a play.

You got one or two routes you max protect and just trust him to try to make a play for you because you feel like you got to tack on before this quarter ends.

You feel like you got to score here in the next minute and 22 seconds to end this third.

Consensus four star class of 2026 already signed with Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago here.

Cody tell you earlier, he's part of that state champion.

Four by 100, four by 200 track team relay team that won the gold medal at the state championship.

They run Joshua Washington there with no success.

Once again, Carter Jamison up there in the box making plays.

Hayden Dixon is up there as well.

These safeties playing at a different tempo, playing downhill.

Benedictine.

Third and ten.

This is the down and distance we know pressure comes.

This defense loves to bring pressure.

You kind of get the feeling if Creekside can get a stop and score on their next possession, they knock him out.

Cannon pump fake.

He's being chased, firing across his body, incomplete.

Washington was trying to come back and make the catch and good coverage right there by the Seminoles.

There is a flag out on the play.

You got a holding call right here on Benedictine as the quarterback went to exit the pocket, you could see the jersey get Poole right there.

On the.

Collyn Ward.

Left tackle.

Fourth down.

Been a tough night for those guys trying to get in front and stay on blocks with this extremely quick Creekside defensive front.

And it's just a speed in the high school level.

You look at the size and most of the guys up there are 25255, 260 but in a six foot package, it's kind of like a 280 pound guy.

And then you just have the speed.

They play tough downhill to get you into those third and long situations, and then they just come with a lot of pressure.

And quarterbacks are not adjusting even Coach Dixon, when we talked to him said, you know, if you haven't seen it, you don't know how to handle it.

And it seems that in those down and distances, Benedictine has not really had success.

Cannon punting, good punt this time.

Fair catch called for and made at the 32 yard line by Bam Henderson.

And that's where Creekside will go back on offense.

28 seconds to play here in the third quarter and you get the feeling they score right here.

They might put this game out of reach for Benedictine.

And they're going to run the ball and not running it in a way that they can't score.

That's how they've been getting in the end zone.

And with Benson and his ability to run it as well, just a dangerous team running the ball as we talked about, had 62 touchdowns coming into the season.

They have five rushing touchdowns tonight.

Yeah they're running the ball.

So this is when they wheelhouse.

Now you just want to stay in bounds.

Let the clock run.

And ball security.

It is a wide open offense.

That doesn't mean they throw the ball all the time.

It's wide open with their running game.

So first and ten.

Now Benson does want to throw.

They're going to set up a screen and unable to bring it in with the one hand is Ced Kelley.

Right there just Francis feeling like Benedictine is going to play the run.

Try to get out there with the screen a little better.

Pass right there by Benson it was set up.

Good timing out there on the edge, but just a bad pass there by the quarterback.

Talked to Mo Dixon about making history.

Does this team, are they cognizant of the history they can make go 15-0 for the second time in program history, win a state championship?

Benson on the run Benson gets about five on the play.

Are they cognizant of that?

You know, you become the all time winningest coach in program history.

Go 15-0.

You know, set the state scoring record, which is now up to 845 points on the season.

He says all that's great, but if you don't win the state championship, it doesn't mean anything.

Yeah, all that winning just to lose is kind of how he made the phrase, and that's what he's trying to avoid having such a spectacular season and coming up short.

Creekside one quarter away from the second state championship in program history and the first for coach Mo Dixon.

Fortson.

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Let's send it down to Cody.

For is up on this Creekside sideline.

The message here.

Just keep going.

One more stop.

One more stop for the defense.

They said.

Let's make them tap out.

We'll see if they can wrap it up.

12 more minutes.

What's amazing about the Mo Dixon story is that when he took over, came back to his alma mater in 2017, they were in bad shape.

They called him just a couple of weeks before the season started because they didn't have a coach.

They went 0-10 that year.

He remembers getting trounced by Mays and Douglas County and getting beat down badly.

They made the playoffs every year since and since 2021.

They are phenomenal.

58-11 win number 59 would be the state championship tonight.

Coach Dixon he kept receipts in his mind.

He kept receipts.

He doesn't want to hear nothing about all that running up the score.

He took his time where he was the team that got beat.

And now he has the big stick.

And he's out here shining here tonight.

He said nobody cared when they were getting the score run up on them.

And here's a look at their last four playoff appearance.

They got to the semifinals last year losing to Maris.

Lost to Coffey in the finals in 2023.

Warner Robins stood in the way in both 21 and 22.

Fourth quarter.

Creekside has.

And tonight could be history.

The second 15-0 state championship in program history.

What's amazing is that it's such a rare thing.

We might have several of them here in the bins this week.

Ball up in the air.

Wide open is Henderson.

He got twisted around.

Couldn't make the catch and Benson is hurt on.

The play down right now.

He is down.

I think Guyton got to him as he threw the ball.

Trying to air it up, throw it out to their best player.

Damien Henderson just coming up a little short there and you can see Benson laboring.

See here at the end as he tries to wind up and throw Guyton unloading right there.

Benson giving up about 60 pounds in that took about 180 versus 245.

A lot of weight right there.

245 grown man.

Fourth down.

They keep the offense out there.

They run the screen pass and it is intercepted by Black.

His second pick of the game.

Tremendous pressure once again by LaDamion Guyton here.

This time beating Jayvon Perry to the inside bringing the pressure again to Kaiden Benson.

You can see taking the hit.

Tried to air the ball out.

You surprised they went for it on fourth down.

Very surprised in this case right here.

But look at the pressure.

Look at the move there by Guyton just barreling down.

Oh my goodness.

The big hit right there on the quarterback.

Great inside move swim move.

Big pressure.

Like I said a few moments ago 245 grown man hitting you full speed.

That's going to hurt for a while.

So now Benedictine following the interception by Black his second of the night has it first and ten at the 32 yard line.

He's had two interceptions and a fumble recovery tonight.

Cannon pockets breaking down.

He's being chased throwing on the run and incomplete.

No flag on the play.

The entire defensive front right there.

Just a jailbreak.

Williams Farley excuse Fairley and Burch all beating their man up front.

Just chasing Stephen Cannon out of the pocket.

Nowhere to go with the ball.

Did a good job getting out the pocket and throwing it away.

Yeah, Cannon has had very little opportunity to set his feet and throw tonight.

Second down.

Cannon quick drop lobs it up there from Mallard jump ball and touchdown Mallard somehow comes down with it.

That's a 50 50 ball here.

Just airing it out South Stephen Cannon warming up throwing these kind of routes out to the receiver here.

Just laying it up here one on one matchup Aaron Mallard versus Sean Williams here Williams has his head around right there.

Good position.

Just climbing the ladder.

Concentration strong hands.

Look at the hands right there by Mallard to bring that in.

Amazing catch by Mallard I don't know how he came down with it.

I thought for sure his Sean Williams was going to break that up, but a super catch second touchdown reception of the night for Aaron Mallard.

My player is better than your player in that situation.

There.

Mallard going up, catching it at the apex.

Having a little conversation after the play there with Sean Williams, but what a great throw to air it out.

Leave it hanging by his quarterback and letting him go up and get the ball.

I'm sure that's not the first of the conversation.

That was just the exclamation point at the end of that particular conversation.

Wow, what a play.

And now it's 42 31.

You don't pull out the onside kick just yet, do you?

Not yet.

Wade defense got you the ball back.

You want to keep this deep?

I'm going to give Creekside any momentum.

Try to pin him deep one more time.

Get the short field against this defense.

Let's see if John Brenton can put it into the end zone.

You can see the Creekside front line.

They're aware they're looking for that onside kick.

They're not going to bail out early.

They're going to make sure he kicks this ball before they move.

Straight on.

Kick will be returnable from the four.

Coming around.

This way.

Hill gets around the corner and Hill runs it up to the 34 yard line.

Armani Hill.

And that is where Creekside will go on offense.

Now let's check in with Cody.

Yeah, Kayden Benson came off the field after that big hit by Guyton went into the tent.

They were working on his left shoulder a little bit.

You can kind of see it slumping as he runs back out there, but he wasn't going to let him not go back into the game.

So he is back out there.

Don't let him take your helmet away.

So first and ten when they start grabbing your helmet that means you're coming out.

Just don't take it off.

That's how you do it.

Just keep it on.

But you imagine Creekside is going to get to running the ball as we talked about.

That's what they've dominated this game with being able to run the ball.

The big plays in the run game.

Kind of go back to their decision to go for it on fourth and four.

On their side of the 50, that probably was not necessary.

You're being aggressive.

That's your mentality.

But maybe overly aggressive right there.

You're worth the clock.

The clock run down.

Big run right here breaks into the open and all the way down to the 36 yard line goes Walker.

Nice job.

Gary Walker just a power back.

Great balance right here.

Get off of these these little hits as he works his way through.

Just running through the arm tackle.

Six feet, 200 pound junior had 8100 yard games this season.

And that puts him at 90:09 yards rushing for the night.

Benson is their leading rusher with 134.

Consider that he had only 372 yards in their first 14 games.

Hand off goes nearside run right here by Walker again and he gets down stays inbounds.

Love how he made that decision.

That was a business decision right there to make sure nobody pushed him out of bounds.

Felt like he wasn't going to get the first down.

But he stayed in bounds to keep that clock going.

And now you see the offense starting to make sure they're deep into the play clock before they snap the ball.

They're up to the line with 20s on the play clock.

Will they hold them there.

You see half of the offensive line.

They're standing up.

It's hard to get down in that crouch and stay in that crouch for that long, isn't it?

Lactic acid starts building up when you're in that crouch stance.

Gary Walker scrambles forward for the first down at the 22 yard line.

That's that's a real thing.

I mean, if you get those offensive linemen down in that crouch and hold them there for 20 plus seconds, it becomes a difficult thing.

Yeah.

Game 15.

This offensive line is done a great job up front blocking.

They got Devin Harris in there at that tight end position.

All the big bodies in there now.

First and ten ball at the 21 milking the clock.

See the offensive linemen.

Only one of them is down in his crouch right now.

Handoff goes to Walker.

Walker's going to pick up a couple of yards on the play.

They're happy with that because now they've burned the clock below nine.

This is.

What you call your four minute offense where it's really just the same play on the other side.

You just keep trying to fall forward and secure the ball and try to get a first down.

Look at that 9.4 yards per carry running the ball.

They've allowed only one sack tonight.

That offensive line has been big.

Second down and nine.

Direct snap goes to Kelley, said Kelley, holding on to the football.

Gets driven back by Guyton.

Damien Guyton still in there fighting a man amongst boys, working his way through, weaving his way through all that traffic to come up with that tackle.

Seven total tackles for Guyton got a quarterback sack, a TfL and a touchdown pass.

Creekside.

The situation going to run the ball here.

You feel quarterback draw most likely here.

Kayden Benson.

He's been there plus one in the running game today.

Setting up the pass going deep and a jump ball incomplete.

Is broken up.

Trying to get the ball to Ced Kelley.

And good job there.

That was Larson Little I think the linebacker got matched up on the running back.

That's the kind of matchup that you want.

But he made a nice play on it.

He got beat earlier in this same situation with Kelley right there.

Real route taking a big hit once again Kayden Benson this time just not able to come up with the ball trying to adjust to the ball and got there a little early.

That left arm got in there a little early by Larson Little.

So they'll keep the offense on the field on the fourth down and ten will not try a field goal from here.

This would be about a 37 38 yarder.

Benson straight drop back heavy rush is coming.

Fire to the far side to Henderson.

He will not get the first down, so the Benedictine defense holds.

Unfortunately, having to come back to get this ball took him out of first down.

Yardage was bam Henderson.

So waiting for the signal here.

They still have not set the ball, but the Benedictine defense coming off the field, the offense coming on, they hold and they get the ball back.

When we get back with 7:33 to go.

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7:33 to go in regulation Creekside up 11 Benedictine back on offense at their 13.

To the far side and throws it behind the shoulder of Frazier.

Good coverage out there by Sean.

Trying to get the ball to their top receiver.

Bubba Frank Frazier.

And it's Benedictine team.

They're going to have to get vertical.

They still feel like they're going to have to make some chunk plays here.

They're in striking distance here.

And you feel like this is the drives to really close that gap.

You got to put some points on the board.

Well you got to figure under normal circumstances you only have two possessions left in this game.

So do the math.

They got to score.

Play action.

Cannon being flushed out of the pocket and throw hit as he throws incomplete at the 28 yard line.

Broken up.

Nice play over there by Sean Williams who got beat on the touchdown pass earlier.

Gets his hand in there and breaks this one up.

Nice coverage.

Trying to extend the play.

Stephen Cannon but the pressure right here.

Late dog coming right there 19.

Our man Farley once again in there making a play.

Yeah.

Didn't didn't get his hands on it.

It just glanced off the hands of the wide receiver.

But he was there to run him out of bounds.

So third down and ten.

This is the.

You can't you can't punt here.

No you this situation you got to go for it.

You can't give them the ball back.

So you need to get at least half the yardage right here.

Maybe get seven or eight.

You got to go into a four down mentality in this, this this third and long.

Time-out is going to be called.

Time out.

Creekside that is their first charge.

Time-out of the half.

First time out that Coach Mo Dixon has used here in the second half.

So we'll step aside as Benedictine has some decisions to make.

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722 left in regulation Matt Stewart Wayne Gandy Cody Chaffins our entire fabulous Emmy Award winning GPB team with you here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, wrapping up a fabulous first day of the Georgia High School Association state championships in Benedictine under the gun.

Now facing third down and ten.

Cannon heavy rush coming up the middle.

Gets it out of there.

Frazier cannot run under it.

Double coverage back there.

Sean Williams Tyree Colzie just trying to put some air under it for Bubba Frazier.

And we talked about here not being able to find yourself punting the ball.

It's tight decision.

I don't think you can give them the ball back.

Yeah I know, but I mean at fourth and ten your chances of converting on this and basically if you don't convert game over.

So are you ready for it to be game over with 7:00 to go?

Try to extend the Coach Britt setting the punt team out here.

Yeah, I mean, I, I just don't think you can give the ball to Creekside right here.

And still trying to make a decision about this situation.

Time-out's going to be called.

That's a tough situation right here to.

Not a situation that you want.

To be in.

That is their first charge time out of the half.

Execution is a premium.

We've seen Cannon punt not had a lot of success punting the ball tonight either.

So you imagine this ball is going to be good field position if it doesn't get a bounce for Creekside.

Benedictine has never lost a state finals.

This is their fifth all time state finals.

They have never lost.

They won back to back earlier in this decade when the games were played across town at Georgia State Stadium beat Cedar Town in 2022.

That game was played in a monsoon, except it was cold.

It was a cold monsoon and they got a goal line stand on the final play of the game to beat Cedar Town 14 13, and then they beat Carver Columbus in 2021.

But they've never lost a state finals.

But here they are down 11 points with 7:16 to go.

Right now Creekside doesn't have anybody back.

They're just going to let play punt safe.

Don't want to run into the kicker and they're just going to let this ball lay up wherever it lays up.

Cannon oh nice kick because he gets a huge bounce at the end of it.

And it finally rolls dead at 30 1 yard line.

That's what you call flipping the field.

And that's where Creekside takes over.

So now if they can get a three and out stop, they still got a shot.

And maybe not even a three and out, but a stop pretty quickly.

Yeah.

You got to get a stop here.

You're three and out, not just for time but for field position.

Benedictine has not really been able to take the ball 70 80 yards.

So they need the short field.

They need to get in the end zone quick.

Creekside you imagine they're going to come out in that run heavy formation once again, try to run the ball or spread them out with that diamond formation or trips left, trips right and try to let him run quarterback, draw.

They've rushed for 310 yards tonight.

Creekside.

Along with the quarterback keeper, they're just safe ball security.

You want a first down.

But if you can just execute run the clock down, shave another minute and 45 off.

They've scored 42 points tonight Wayne.

And that's two touchdowns 15 points below their per game average.

So in that regard Benedictine has done a good job.

Yeah they they have him on the ropes.

Only 42 points.

Keener by Benson.

Here's the now you got to make the tackle.

You got to make the play.

No penalties.

You can see Benson laboring that left arm kind of hanging there.

But he's a senior.

This is his last year.

He wants a championship.

He's laying it on the line.

He is been everything and more for this team this season.

Trying to put the crowning touch on his marvelous high school football career.

And hopefully, and I certainly believe it will continue in college.

It's just a matter of where is that going to be?

Might have to wait until signing day the next one to figure that out.

So fourth down and a time-out.

I think it's going to be called by Benedictine wisely.

So not going to let him just bleed the clock on down.

So stops the clock at 531.

But that will leave Benedictine with just one time-out.

Remaining.

That is their second charge time-out of the half.

Ivory Creekside just got to execute and get this ball off.

It's been a couple of times here tonight.

We've seen some close encounters in the punt game.

So wrapping up our first day of coverage here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow night.

At this time we'll have the 6-A final as Carrollton takes on Buford two 14-0 teams, both of them ranked number 1 in different national polls, playing not only for the 6-A state championship but also the national championship.

And neither team has ever been in that situation where both teams were on the line.

And you got to.

I'm serious Matt, I might bring my pads, at least my helmet, I think.

Or a chin strap, something that game needs.

But two heavyweights we've had the pleasure of watching this season.

It should be a great game.

It will be a great game.

They run the fake.

And all the way down to the 37 yard line on the run by Gary Walker.

Direct snap right to got the look they wanted up front.

Big hole for Gary Walker to run through.

Just great execution up front keeping the ball.

Now in a situation where they can really put this away with a couple of first downs and never really give Benedictine the ball back.

Wow, what a play.

What a play.

Call by Mo Dixon and his staff after Danny Britt had burned the time-out, thinking he's going to get the ball back.

And now the first down by Creekside.

Walker again on the carry.

So Walker with that run right there went up over 100 yards.

They've got 2100 yard rushers here tonight.

Walker is at 1:43 and Benson at 1:38.

345.

Total rushing the ball for Creekside tonight.

Dominant up front running the ball regardless of who's carrying it.

The offensive line is executed.

You haven't had a lot of penalties or at all up front and just doing a good job finishing blocks and these backs, Coach Dixon said.

He feels like he has as good a running back room as anyone in the state.

We'll see if this Benedictine offense can regroup.

You can kind of see they were thinking they were getting off the field.

That's not the case.

As Benson runs out of bounds, he had no choice.

He didn't want to there, but he had to.

Let's go down to Cody.

You talk about the future for Kaiden Benson.

It might be an HBCU.

Well, it's a who's who of HBCU coaches here on the sideline.

Tuskegee, Albany State, Famu, Howard all down here.

Keep an eye on number 7.

So maybe there is a future there.

Yeah Tuskegee is the only one that's offered.

And my question to those coaches is why haven't you offered yet.

What more do you got to see?

Right.

He's showing you the complete package, the ability to throw the ball this season, along with what we already knew is speed and athleticism.

And congratulations that Tuskegee has already pulled the trigger and made that offer.

But I would like to give the young man some choices here.

He's had a marvelous career, fabulous senior season.

Looks like he's going to cap it in the biggest possible way with a state championship.

And he might even get the towel.

Which would definitely make him.

I mean, the towel.

I mean that's everybody plays for the towel, right?

The crowning.

Jewel, the Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game towel.

That was the player of the game in the state championship.

That says it all.

And I got a towel.

Yes.

Yeah.

We've had some players like Cam Woodard Carrollton he's he's won a couple of them this year.

Time-out's going to be called by Creekside Creekside.

That is their second.

Fourth and nine.

So they're they're facing decision time here.

Do you punt it or do you just try to pick up the first down?

I don't think it I don't think either one is a bad decision.

Whatever you do, I think you're okay doing it.

Either one of them right here.

You you're in a win-win.

The punt.

The only thing you know, most likely you're vulnerable to have it blocked.

So don't be surprised if he just ran the ball.

Once again.

Quarterback draw.

Well, when we were talking about the Carrollton Buford game, that's just one of the many games we have on the air for you tomorrow.

It starts with the flag Championships.

Wiley Bauer Mallard.

Pardon me.

Wiley Ballard.

Dave Reynolds on the call for Whitewater, North Oconee, Milton and Blessed Trinity, and then Toombs County and Worth County.

Larry Smith and Sam Kershaw there for that one.

Hapeville and Carver.

I'll be joined by Rusty Manziel and then Wayne back in the booth with me for the 8:00 6-A championship.

Carrollton and Buford.

Of course, you will remember that Carrollton knocked Buford out of the state playoffs in the state semifinals.

In the final game ever at Tom Riden Stadium back a year ago.

Fourth down.

They keep the offense out there.

Benson scrambling to his right, throwing right there in the middle.

Bam!

If he can get the first down, can put this game on ice and it's going to be close.

And got an assist right here.

By LaDamion Guyton as he's trying to clean this play up.

Kind of pushed him forward.

He was about a yard short until Guyton hit him.

Watch right here.

The effort.

We've seen this kind of effort all night long by Bam Henderson right here trying to get upfield.

Watch the assist here a little short and gets a yard.

Gets knocked forward a yard there to make it a closer measurement.

So he did not get it though.

They signal ball goes over on downs.

So Benedictine is going to get one more crack at this thing on offense.

And then if they can score a touchdown, then they pray for some kind of miracle recovery on an onside kick or something like that.

But you got to score the touchdown first before you start thinking about all that.

Let's see if they try to get this ball, force it to Mallard.

You imagine he's going to find himself in a double coverage situation, but he's been there.

Big play down the field here out on the edge.

You know they just have not been able to get the ball to Frazier like you would want them to.

Four carries 38 yards one catch for 11 yards.

And now he's been nicked up the last couple of weeks.

Ball up in the air for Mallard.

Mallard has been their big play guy all night.

Flag comes out.

I thought if anything, Mallard was the guy initiating the contact.

Tight coverage Tyree Colzie that step out there with about.

They've been going at it all night long.

He's been their big play receiver tonight.

Pass interference on the defense.

That penalty is 15 yards.

First down.

And Mallard five catches for 131 and a couple of touchdowns.

And also 26 yards rushing.

You make the call here Wayne.

What do you think.

Right here.

Tight coverage.

It looks like at Mallard is trying to work back to the ball right there.

And a lot of that is just that Cody never got his head around right there.

Look, as you can see.

Never looked to try to even.

Yeah he was out of bounds by the time he even turned his head around.

Impeded his path on the route as well.

So it was a good call by the officials who've done a fabulous job here tonight.

Dave, you can pass that along to him.

Tell Greg, tell Greg and his guys, they did a great job here tonight.

That's.

So second down 13.

Clock continues to run.

Benedictine has only one time-out remaining.

Crossing route trying to get it to Frazier right there.

And Cannon threw behind him.

Once again.

Just so much pressure up front.

Defensive line.

First down Williams gets a sack.

Now we're in third and long.

This defense.

They're built for this situation.

They want you in this passing situation.

Unreal numbers coming into this game.

We got to give credit to Creekside because you and I wondered what kind of Creekside team we would see in the second half.

Did they have the killer instinct where they built for the fourth quarter fight?

Mo Dixon told us, told Cody told Cody they were they were built for the fourth quarter fight.

And he was right.

Yeah.

He said they were built for eight quarters.

So, you know, he had total confidence that even though they hadn't found themselves in that situation that his team was mentally and physically able to continue.

And they're still playing at a high pace.

Fourth down lined the gain is the other 48.

They got to get there to keep this game going.

Pass is complete and they will keep it going as they go back to Mallard again for another clutch catch at the 45 yard line.

Good job rolling outside the pressure there by Cannon.

Well.

Aaron Mallard has been his guy tonight down the field.

A young junior came into this game as the third receiver in a lot of ways, really has shined here tonight for his quarterback.

Ball caught by Washington Joshua Washington makes two men miss and finally out of bounds at the 30 1 yard line.

Good job right there.

Being patient working underneath there to Joshua Washington.

You're exactly right with Mallard.

He came into the game.

He was third on the team in total catches.

And he has been their top go to guy tonight.

First and ten Frazier on a crossing route.

They can't get it there.

They throw behind Washington and nearly intercepted.

Pass.

Tyvarez Johnson nearly had the pick.

Kind of just floated it out here.

Cannon nothing really on this pass as he threw it.

ZIP on the ball.

Good break there by Johnson to get a hand on it.

Knock it out of Joshua Washington's hands.

Washington actually was the one who broke up the pass because it was going to be intercepted.

He reached back and knocked it out of Tyvarez Johnson hands.

Keeps him on the field on offense.

Just trying to get some more points here.

Try to keep themselves alive for a miraculous finish.

It's going to be tough.

Cannon to the air running the fade route deep incomplete at the goal line.

Flag out.

Once again, that matchup Cody and Mallard and Mallard doing a good job.

Good route, but cozy is just not right here.

You got to look for the ball grabbing.

You can see that right arm.

Easy call there for the official to make.

Very easy pass interference on the defense.

That penalty is 15 yards, resulting in a first down.

I would think that Mallard is going to get some attention here on the recruiting circuit.

This coming spring.

I mean, 510, 175 junior, that Coach Danny Britt described as ridiculously fast and explosive, great deep threat.

We've seen all those things to fit that description here tonight.

I would think that he would be a valuable commodity come this spring.

Yeah.

Good size, great hands.

And the speed is the difference for him.

First and ten new first down at the 16 yard line.

Time running short though 1:38 to go.

Cannon fires off the hands of Washington.

Complete.

Still had a chance here.

Got to get in the end zone.

But you put yourself in a situation that at least you can put some points on the board, whether it's the field goal or the touchdown.

Always like that feeling of getting that touchdown, though.

And.

And leaving that three points to be the decider here, trying to work.

Want to get vertical.

Want to get this ball in the end zone.

Throw some of these routes into the end zone.

If you're Gannon.

Second down and ten.

Cannon on the run.

Knocked down.

There's going to be a flag on that one.

And it's going to be a 15 yard gift right.

There might be a half the distance at this.

Point.

Just a bad mistake there.

By Tanke Holt finishing the play, working to the sideline.

He's clearly out of bounds at.

That point.

Bounds right there.

Farley pulled him out of bounds.

Take Holt just working and just can't make this kind of play in this situation.

Wayne, we've talked about this.

We talk about it every week.

You know big man makes the run across the field.

He can't just he can't just stop.

Can't he.

You know his.

Intentions are.

Run run too far I have run way too far to not get a hit.

In.

After the play, personal foul on the defense.

That penalty is half the distance to the goal.

Third down.

Half the distance in this case only gives.

It's still going to be third and two here.

From the seven.

Minute 18 28 yard line.

And Benedictine has it third and two.

Even though the PA announcer just announced a first and goal, it is not that yet.

Cannon toss goes to Washington.

He wants to throw a pass.

Incomplete fourth down.

Good coverage.

Staying back right there.

No signs that that play was being called right there.

He didn't just kind of threw it as he was running.

Being deceptive right there.

He's Benedictine.

Fourth and two here.

Creekside keep your eye Cannon can't make it with his feet.

So you don't want to get out of your rush lanes.

You want to make him have to throw this ball from the pocket.

Maybe our final, meaningful play of the game right here.

Cannon flushed, chased, running for his life.

Terrell gets around Terrell now, turns up field, gets the first down down inside the one.

Looks like they gave him the touchdown.

He signaled.

Touchdown right.

There as he flipped over to the defender.

Well, I'd like to see the replay on this.

I thought he came down inside the one.

Looks like they're going to line up for the extra point here.

I thought he came down inside the one.

But we'll see.

Here we go.

Pressure pushing him out the pocket.

Getting to the edge.

Finally deciding to get north and south.

And let's see right there he is short.

He's that line.

Yeah.

He's he's on the one yard line right here.

As you can see that elbow right there.

He's down.

Yeah.

The previous play is under review.

I still got it.

But a great decision.

Stephen Cannon being able to get out of the pocket and use the weapon.

We talked about his speed and ability to improvise and extend plays coming up big right there.

So they're going to put this ball down at the one.

And it will be first and goal to go there.

But now you're down to 1:10 to go.

Great job.

As you mentioned by Cannon right here.

Just to get to the sideline then turn upfield as fast as he could.

Saw the green grass and got to pay the price to try to get this touchdown.

But right here with that forearm hits he is down right there at that 1 yard line.

At least having to run one more play to get a touchdown.

Colsey did a great job to get down there and you might be thinking at home, well, how significant is this.

Well it's pretty significant because now you're going to make them run one more play, even if they get the touchdown.

They got to get that onside kick.

But you're cutting into the time that they're going to have to work with.

If all of that were to unfold correctly and in the right way for them, this is going to make them run another.

Play.

Got at least another five, six, 8 seconds on this play based on what they call.

Should be an easy call here.

Probably just looking for what time was left on the clock.

You can see Greg Norton signaling.

Yeah, you can say his elbow was down.

Another look at it right here.

Great tackle by Colsey right there.

And then the elbow down right there.

The one maybe inside the one a little bit.

Elbow down at the one certainly before the ball broke the plane of the goal line.

And.

Cody down on the sideline.

Just informed our producer Glenn Diamond, that the guys down there, the hands team down on the Creekside sideline, is practicing.

Actually practicing.

With them.

Taking ground balls like a shortstop.

And by the way, the Braves did get their shortstop, the Hassan Kim did agree to a one year deal with the Braves today.

A little bit of news for today.

I see Parker Lewis over there for Benedictine.

You can see he's practicing practicing onside kick over there, 94 on the sideline.

And it's all about always about the bounce of that ball.

If you can get that ball just to bounce a little, get a coverage team, an extra step to get in position to recover it.

So I think what's going on here is we'll bring Dave in real quick.

Dave, are they debating the touchdown or just where the ball needs to be placed?

So they've already looked at this a bunch of times upstairs.

They're confirming the lateral spot probably at this point.

Make sure that right.

It should be at the top of our screen here in the booth, that he'll be down short of the goal line at the 1 yard line.

They're not debating whether it's a touchdown, just where the ball is going to be placed.

Correct.

And in my opinion, at least, you know two things here while we're here, under 2 minutes.

There's no coach's challenge under 2 minutes in this video review process.

Same for overtime.

That's all from upstairs.

And then all scoring plays are reviewable right by the booth.

So although they're, they're setting up the PA pretty quickly.

The replay process working through it.

So while you're here, let me ask you, so is the spot of the ball where the elbow hit or where the ball was in the air?

He's got the ball held up in the air.

When the elbow hits he's kind of falling forward spinning forward.

So what's the call?

After after video review, the runner's forearm was down before the ball crossed the goal line.

It will be first and ten.

Excuse me.

Be first and goal at the half yard line.

And the clock will start on the ready for play.

So the ball gets spotted where the ball is.

When the runner is down right?

So where the ball is.

So they had to determine where the ball was up in the air, bring it down to the ground.

And we don't have the pylon camera that we love so much.

Other places.

So so first and goal to go.

Now Benedictine needs to score a quick touchdown right here.

They don't need to dilly dally.

Need to get it in right away.

They don't have Guyton in there this time.

And Cannon on the quarterback keeper.

And he got in for the touchdown.

Late signal right there that it was a touchdown.

Looks like a lineman is on the ground here as well.

So they will be going for two.

But you can see right here.

Let's see if the ball breaks the plane I'm sure if that.

Ball I think this one's going to get reviewed.

To review this I didn't it didn't really get the feeling that the ball broke.

The plane.

Looked like maybe his shoulder broke the plane but not the ball.

And you can see.

Coach Dixon throwing his flag, but Dave is already Dave Reynolds has already told us that coaches can't challenge, but right here I don't see.

That ball.

Ball.

No.

No, it never got there.

Got to the it never got.

There, it never got there.

And that was Carter Jamison number 9 I think coming up from that safety spot to kind of push his shoulder back, that was the Kee his, the the ball was in his right arm and he was leading with his right shoulder and was headed towards the goal line.

And then Frazier Prather Jamison comes up and puts the hit on him and forces the arm back with the ball in it and never broke the plane, at least in my opinion.

Looks like the center Reave Leonard got banged up on that play.

Has to go to the sideline for at least one play.

Getting looked at.

Yeah, he got hurt and missed their first playoff game.

During this last month.

Looks like it took a knock on the head again.

Hopefully he's okay.

Right there.

That's that helmet to helmet right there as they were all colliding in their.

Helmet.

Helmet.

Oh man that hurts.

That hurts.

The ruling of a touchdown is under further review.

Tough kid.

Once again, Matt, as you alluded to, another win for Creekside.

Because even if it takes you another play, another six 8 seconds will come off the clock.

Here.

All of this only helps Creekside right here because I think the this touchdown is going to be called back.

Right there.

You can see Gannon.

Never got there.

Just never.

He tried to push it forward.

But big hit by Jamison.

That just shows you how much a game of inches it actually is.

Jamison comes in there and puts that hit on him.

If Jamison doesn't make that contact, that ball is going to get over.

Get over.

Finishing the play, playing to the whistle and left tackle.

Collyn Ward looks like he's going to move over there to center.

That's what they did in the first round playoff game.

Ward moved over from left tackle and played the center spot when Leonard got hurt that week and couldn't go.

And it looks on these offensive lineman faces, man, they have been in a total war tonight haven't they?

There's been a lot of pressure.

This defensive front has lived up to.

Video review.

The touchdown stands.

Interesting.

Interesting call there Dave.

I didn't think the ball broke the plane.

It's a point of note there on the review process.

You're looking for indisputable video evidence.

And so with that camera angle, with all those bodies in there, that's why you hear the word stands still.

In high school.

I got you didn't look like that was the case.

But I certainly understand the they didn't feel like they had the video evidence to overturn the call.

So it's 42 37 Benedictine running a two point play here.

This is big.

Cannon rolling, throwing.

They got the two.

The Frazier and it's 42 39.

Don't go anywhere just yet.

Great play action fake right there.

Sucking the linebackers, allowing Frazier time to cross the field.

Good throw there.

Strong throw by Cannon man.

You got to give these teams so much credit here tonight.

Twice now Benedictine has come from a big deficit.

They just won't die.

They just won't quit trying to squeeze every second out of this game.

And now they've got a chance to run an onside kick.

They got to recover that kick.

And then if they recover that kick, they're a field goal away from tying it and sending it to overtime or touchdown from winning it.

It's all about the bounce here for Parker Lewis.

Can he get this ball to bounce?

Give his coverage team time to get that 10 yards.

Big pressure here.

Creekside is.

Some of the players are warming up on the sideline getting ready anticipating this happening.

No quit no die in Danny Britt team.

And now they are a kick recovery away from still having a chance here.

Of course Creekside if they can cover this thing they can all but celebrate.

And here is the onside kick.

The bounce and Creekside did they get on top of it?

I think they did.

They covered it well and it will be the Seminoles ball at the 48 yard line.

Benedictine has only one time-out remaining and then Creekside can take the victory formation and win the state championship.

Great job here by Red Hill right there sitting in there and taking that hit.

Those big bodies are coming trying to knock that ball out there.

As you can see having to pay the price to cover that ball.

Good job of sitting in there catching it off the bounce and absorbing the hit.

So first and ten with 0:64 to go.

Benedictine has one time-out remaining.

Let's see what they line up in here.

I don't think they'll start taking a knee just yet.

Although they could they could take a knee right here and have Benedictine burn the time-out and then just knee it out.

Looks like they're going to go to victory formation here.

And just they don't have to run.

They don't have to really run a meaningful play.

They're doing it though out of the shotgun which is always a scary thing.

And there's the knee and the time-out called right away by Benedictine.

Time-out Benedictine.

That is their third and final time-out of the half.

But the math is working against the Cadets now because they have no opportunity to stop the clock any longer.

And Creekside has to run only two more plays and they can do the same thing again twice more and hoist that state championship trophy.

There it is.

Creekside Coach Dixon.

Talking to him, you just felt the confidence he had and that his team could take care of business.

And they found themselves down at halftime.

They had to make some adjustments at halftime, and they were able to do it.

We wondered how they would react in a tough game, tight game.

And both these coaches just great guys.

And we've known both of them a while.

And Mo Dixon, of course.

Developed a great fondness for him, and talking to him and working with him over the year.

And Benson takes the knee.

They'll need to do that one more time, and then they can celebrate their first state championship since 2013.

And just the second.

In the program's great history.

This school opened back in 1990.

After the merger of Campbell of Fairburn and Palmetto High School, and there it is.

Creekside 2025 state champions and a perfect 15-0 finished the season with a state record 845 points scored.

They complete the deal and they celebrate here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

What a great job here tonight.

Both sides of the ball Coach Dixon you look at this team able to run the ball early.

Get behind and then still be able to make big plays running the ball.

And then there's the defense consistently getting this team in situations where they could get to their specialty.

And that is sacking the quarterback getting after the quarterback.

That was the key for them.

What a great win for Coach Dixon and his staff.

There's something weighing when you win the state championship.

It's another something.

When you win the state championship and you go 15 and.

Oh.

Yeah, it's a perfect season, a dream season, a team that went out and set a record and they kept saying like, how are you going to keep this 57 point a game average up?

And they came in and put 42 on tonight.

And still walked away with a state victory.

And I think that's what makes it sweet that you was able to check all the boxes.

Along with getting records, you also was able to hoist the trophy.

Yeah.

And congratulations also to Benedictine state runners up.

First time they've ever lost the state championship game.

But I tell you what, they never quit.

They never died.

They squeezed every second out of this game and they made Creekside Battle until the very end.

They truly validated why they should be in this game here tonight.

You know, they took the body blows and then they gave some body blows.

You can see right there.

Coach Dixon excited, happy.

Finishing the mission.

So much jubilation there in Big Fella.

But Benedictine Coach Britt and his team, you got the feeling like they was up for the challenge.

And they showed you that they were.

They were keeping pace as long as they could in this game and the fight in them just really is something that shows you the coaching staff and the head coach's mentality.

There's the hugs for the family.

Wow.

Just the emotion.

You can see it just pouring out of the big fella right now.

And we know what he went through in 2017.

When he came back to his alma mater, the program was in shambles and they went 0-10 that year.

And he talked about it as we said, taking receipts, getting the water dumped on his head right there.

Poole and trust me, when you talk about Mo Dixon and the times we've interviewed him, he has this cool collective attitude.

So to see all that jubilation and pride that's beaming in his face right there.

That is amazing.

The TV stations all crowding around him, getting comments from him.

It feel really good for Mo Dixon.

You really do, because he has done a heck of a job at his alma mater on the south side.

The University of Creekside.

University.

Trying to change the mentality and the approach of the program and.

And we might have another South Side champion coming up later in the day, Sandy Creek later in the week, Sandy Creek, just a couple of miles away, playing for the three, a state championship on Wednesday.

And we've seen Langston Hughes win it on the South side.

A lot of talent on the south side of Atlanta.

Creekside wins the state championship for the second time in school history.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Georgia School Association.

Alfa Insurance life.

Congratulate.

How great is Kaiden Benson here tonight?

Someone make that kid an offer.

Make the kid an offer.

Come on now.

Just a great game.

After a tremendous season to still come in and put up the big numbers here tonight.

Running the ball.

The offensive line did a great job.

Gary Walker Cedric Kelley just great running the ball.

And you saw with Kaiden Benson tonight they haven't had to run him this season.

And obviously you want to protect your quarterback as well.

But when you get to the final game of the season, all that goes out the window, you don't have to protect him and save him for anything else.

And you saw that dimension of his game.

The real dual threat ability of Kaiden Benson.

Yeah, something that almost like it was a trick play.

And then you remembered that's what he was known for early in his career.

And the emotion on his face as well, and really paid the price, put in the work.

His teammates, as we talked about a group that's been together for three or four years.

All right, let's send it down to Jon Nelson at the podium.

Thank you very much, Matt Stewart.

It is.

Time to present the final trophy.

For day number 1, time to put a bow on it.

First and foremost, let's give a shout out to everybody that came from Benedictine.

Came down from the coast, came up the coast.

Great.

Once again, support for the cadets.

Fantastic season for Danny Britt, Benedictine and the Benedictine family.

But it is time to present the final trophy.

And I'm going to come all the way down here.

Time to present the final trophy for day number 1.

And to do it, the executive Director of the Georgia High School Association, Dr.

Tim Scott, and our friends from Alfa Insurance.

Guys, what a game tonight.

What a great game tonight.

Creekside.

And on behalf of Alfa Insurance will present the state Championship trophy to Creekside High School.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

We've seen it on a bunch of T-shirts around here.

And a bunch of sweatshirts from the swamp to the Benz.

What was that ride like to go from the swamp?

Go through 15.

Score north of 800 points and come out on top.

Tonight.

It's all about the work, man.

The ride was nothing but a reflection of the work that we put in to get to this point.

Everything was about finishing, man.

That's what we tried to do tonight.

Just finishing Wynn game 15.

First title since 2013 for the campus.

And it's a campus that once again as a school Creekside 1990.

So in 36 seasons, you finally get number 2.

How sweet is it knowing that with this group, especially with this group of seniors, that you completed the race and you've got the second state title for this school?

Man, this started a long time ago, man.

And Duncan Park, man in the Makel Youth League.

These kids chose to come and play at Creekside and commit to something bigger than themselves.

It's about being selfless, and it's about working toward the goal that you can't see.

But if you keep climbing, if you keep scratching, you're going.

You're going to get to where you got to get to.

All right.

I'm going to turn my I'm going to so you can turn your right shoulder and look at your fans.

You and I always finish one interview every single time with two words.

This time these two words mean at state championship number 2.

Hit me with those two words.

Man, y'all already know, man.

Try it.

Pride.

State champs for the first time since 2013, Matt and Wayne will put a bow on it.

Cody champions will have Georgia Cotton Commission Player of the game coming up in just a little bit.

That is day number 1 here at Mercedes Benz.

Congratulations, man.

All right.

Thank you John I know exactly where Duncan Park is.

Rec ball is such a big deal in south Fulton County.

It really is the root of what they were able to do at Creekside High School.

Yeah, it galvanizes them.

It puts them in a program.

These kids play together.

The the love that they have for each other.

And me.

And you called a game a couple of years ago, and you see all those freshmen and sophomores, if you can keep them there, they eventually become seniors.

And that's what Coach Dixon is talking about.

Just having this group together, you can kind of see the potential and it arrived tonight.

From the days of Eric Berry, one of the greatest high school football players I ever saw in my life and have had the opportunity to call two tonight and a second state championship for the Creekside Seminoles.

It's been fun to watch.

Yeah, it was a great game.

They came out, they started off fast, fell down a little bit.

But to see the resolve they had coming out in that second half, going on a 21 point run and really shutting the doors on Benedictine.

You know, when we talk about the 42 points and the scoring record, but how about the ferocious defense?

That was a big part of the story tonight.

Even though they gave up 30-9 points in the game, the pass rush on Stephen Cannon not allowing the Texas Tech commit to ever really set his feet and throw the ball downfield.

He was always running for his life the whole night.

It didn't get the plays time to develop.

You're talking about getting him off the mark, making him move, making him scramble.

It was just consistent.

It was frequent.

It was different guys.

They just kept harassing him to make plays with his feet and the speed it just lived up to, as when we interviewed Coach Dixon, he talked about his defense hunts.

They hunted today.

All right, let's send it down to Cody.

Here with Kayden Benson.

Our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.

Kaiden three touchdowns tonight.

Two rushing, one through the air.

How's it feel to be a state champ?

It feels amazing.

I mean, it.

Feels like everything we worked for, everything we pray for.

I mean, I live by the scripture.

Romans 818.

The trials of today will not last forever.

God is turning your pain into purpose and you're struggling to testimonies.

When you keep that in mind and you keep working, you get what you're supposed to get.

No high school team in the history of the state of Georgia scored more points than your offense did this year.

Tell me about these guys.

Well, it's not just the offense.

The defense too, with them giving us the ball back.

We got to execute on offense.

Listen to Coach Trent do what we supposed to do live right.

Execute everything, folds and plays out like we're supposed to.

I watched you today and you had a great game running the ball, but you also took some hits and watch you on the sideline.

You weren't going to let him not let you get back out there.

Of course I mean, this game 15 is everything we work for.

We started this January 17 and ever since then it's just been an uphill climb and we finally hit the mountaintop.

All right.

Well, Matt Stewart said it plenty of times tonight.

Somebody make this kid another offer.

He's earned it.

Kaiden Benson our Georgia Cotton Commission player of the game.

They are perfect.

They are record holders.

The Creekside Seminoles.

And it certainly would be nice for him to pick up some offers.

Now the season's over.

You got another signing day coming up that first Wednesday of February.

I think he's shown enough in his career.

And here tonight on the biggest of stages to get some more offers.

I mean, he had a fabulous night tonight in Creekside had a fabulous season.

He showed out in front of the scouts.

That's always the best way to get more offers.

And Creekside Tribe Pride.

They did show up tonight.

The bull's eye was on them and they lived up to billing.

Indeed they did.

Here's a look at day two and Mercedes-Benz Stadium starts at ten with flag football.

Whitewater, North Oconee, Milton and Blessed Trinity follow 2:00 the class one, a D-1 championship.

Defending champion Toombs County going up against Worth County at five.

You got April Charter taking on defending champion Carver Columbus, and then at eight, the Georgia 6-A state championship and the national championship.

As Carrollton takes on Buford.

What a day we have lined up for you on Tuesday here on GPB.

Once again, the final 42 39 Creekside wins the state championship, knocking down Benedictine.

And now for my partner, Wayne Gandy Cody Chaffins.

Our entire fabulous Emmy Award winning GPB team.

I'm Matt Stewart, so long from the Benz.

Had a great day, great day number 2 coming up shortly.

Trophy to Creekside.

High School.

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Heads up, Georgia.

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

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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.

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GPB will now return to the following program already in progress.

Hey coach.

Hey, coach!

Hey, you guys standing on that landing, you got to go off the clock, run down the.

See you.

Brother.