Phil Jones gives his score predictions for every 2025 Georgia high school football state championship game.
Private (Class 1A-3A): Calvary Day vs. Hebron Christian
The Hebron Christian Lions are one of the four defending state champs from 2024 that have made it back to the 2025 title game and are looking to win it all for a second consecutive time.
They’ll be taking on a team that is looking for its first ever football state championship in Calvary Day. The Cavaliers have been knocking on the door for the past few years, finishing with 10 wins last year and 13 wins in 2023, but haven’t made it to the state final since 2013.
Calvary Day pulled an upset in the semifinals by defeating favored Fellowship Christian 24-7. They’ll likely be the underdog in this one too.
Phil’s Pick: Hebron Christian 38, Calvary Day 24
Class 1A Division-II: Lincoln County vs. Bowdon
The Bowdon Red Devils are not only looking to defend their state championship, but are going for their fourth state title in a row.
Bowdon is led by senior receiver and athlete Kaiden Prothro, who will attend and play for the University Georgia after this final high school game.
Prothro’s performance has been a tour de force this season, in these playoffs, and during his career with the Red Devils. He broke the state touchdown reception record earlier in these playoffs, and he now has 65 career touchdown catches. He can score many other ways, as he has proven in just the last two games, scoring on a pick six and on a blocked field goal as part of two straight four-touchdown games.
The 2025 Lincoln County Red Devils are looking for their first state title in 19 years, with their last Georgia high school football state championship coming in 2006. They are not strangers to winning it all in the Peach State, however, as they have won a total of 11 prior championships.
Phil’s Pick: Bowdon 35, Lincoln County 28
Class 1A-Division I: Worth County vs. Toombs County
Some championship matchups include teams that have overachieved and been on a roll in the playoffs, and then there are championship matchups that just seem to have the two best teams still standing at the end. The latter is this game.
The Worth County Rams are undefeated and have been our highest ranked Class 1A team all season long, even jumping into the top 10 late in the season. They are undefeated and have looked solid on both the offensive side of the ball as well as on defense.
The Toombs County Bulldogs are the defending state champion, and they too have looked every bit the part of a team ready to defend their title. They have suffered only one loss on the year, an early season defeat at Barron Stadium to the Rome Wolves, a Class 5A team.
Both teams are just about even with their points per game averages. Toombs County is averaging 40 points per game, while Worth County is averaging 41.1 points per game. The Bulldogs are led by outstanding quarterback Joseph Owens, while Lyndon Worthy guides the potent Rams offense.
Both teams have stingy defenses too. Toombs County’s defense is allowing just over 13 points per game, while Worth County’s defense is allowing a little more than 12 points per game.
This will be the first meeting ever of the two programs.
Phil’s Pick: Worth County 22, Toombs County 20
Class 2A: Carver-Columbus vs. Hapeville
The Carver-Columbus Tigers will be trying to make it two state titles in a row when they take on the Hapeville Charter Hornets, who will be making their return to the state finals for the first time since 2017.
Carver has the longest winning streak in the state, with their semifinal victory over Burke County giving the Tigers their 26th consecutive win.
Hapeville began the season with four losses in the first five games, but have won nine games in a row, including the four playoff rounds.
Phil’s Pick: Carver-Columbus 45, Hapeville 14
Class 3A: Sandy Creek vs. Jefferson
The Jefferson Dragons are returning to the Class 3A state title game after losing to Calhoun in last year’s final. The Sandy Creek Patriots are also returning to the Class 3A state final after they won it in 2022.
The Patriots are led by four-star running back Amari Latimer, a West Virginia commit, whose touchdown run late in the game sealed Sandy Creek’s semifinal win over LaGrange. Amari Latimer’s brother, Geimere Latimer, led Sandy Creek to that 2022 state championship.
Jefferson is led by running back Darren Pinkard and linebacker Mack Gaddis on defense.
Phil’s Pick: Sandy Creek 28, Jefferson 14
Class 4A: Benedictine vs. Creekside
The Creekside Seminoles have put together one of the scariest offensive displays of any team in the state this season. In fact, they’ve scored a total of 803 points, a new state record. Creekside broke the previous record of 792 points, which was set by the 2022 Hughes state championship team.
Creekside last played for a state championship in 2023, a 31-14 loss to Coffee, and they last won a state title in 2013.
Creekside’s opponent is Benedictine, who won the state championship in 2022 over Cedartown 14-13. Benedictine is 11-2 overall this season, while Creekside enters the game undefeated at 14-0.
Phil’s Pick: Benedictine 35, Creekside 33
Class 5A: Gainesville vs. Thomas County Central
After nearly being forced to play with just half of their normal roster a few weeks ago, the Gainesville Red Elephants have overcome that and all other potential challenges they were facing from their involvement in a fight with Brunswick that occurred in the quarterfinals and will be playing for the 2025 Georgia high school football Class 5A state championship.
Their opponent will be the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, who have breezed through the state playoffs with little resistance, winning by an average of 38 points behind the strength of strong defensive play and an offense that is scoring an average of 56 points per game.
Gainesville seems to have been inspired from its battles with the GHSA; in the two games since the fallout from the Brunswick game, Gainesville beat the previously undefeated Hughes Panthers and won the semifinal contest against Rome.
This matchup will be a good one.
Phil’s Pick: Thomas County Central 45, Gainesville 35
Class 6A: Buford vs. Carrollton
Some are calling this one a battle for a state championship and national championship in one. It’s a statement of the strength of high school football in Georgia when you have three different teams having been considered as the No. 1 team in the country in just a matter of weeks.
The Grayson Rams were ranked No. 1 prior to their game against the Carrollton Trojans in the state quarterfinals two weeks ago. Then when the Trojans defeated the Rams 31-14 in stunning fashion in that game, it knocked the then top-ranked Grayson squad out of their No. 1 spot. That elevated Carrollton into the top spot by MaxPreps, while USA Today put Buford into the top spot.
Both Buford and Carrollton are headed to Mercedes-Benz Stadium after impressive wins in their semifinal matchups last week. Buford completely dominated Valdosta 39-7, and Carrollton defeated North Gwinnett 48-21.
Carrollton is seeking its first state title under head football coach Joey King and its eighth in school history. Buford is going for its 15th state championship. Both have an opportunity to win a national title as well.
