Four Teams Could Stand in the Way of a Tigers Repeat
The Carver-Columbus Tigers are the overwhelming favorite to repeat as state champions in the 2025 Class 2A playoffs.
Although they are seeded as the No. 3 team in Class 2A, behind No. 1 Carver-Atlanta and No. 2 Rockmart, I consider the defending state champions to be not only the best team in their classification, but one of the most talented all-around teams in the state, with a roster that boasts approximately 16 Division I-bound athletes.
The defending Class 2A state champion Tigers just finished with a perfect 10-0 2025 regular season record. Six of those 10 wins were shutouts, and for the season Carver-Columbus outscored opponents by an average of 48-5 per game.
Last year, the Tigers finished 14-1 on the way to the state championship.
How dominant has Carver-Columbus been over the past two seasons? Since their stunning 15-6 loss to Harris County in Week 3 last season, the Tigers have won 23 straight games with 11 shutouts. In their five playoff games last season, they outscored their opponents 245-41, an average of 49-8.
Make no mistake: The 2025 2A state championship will go through Carver-Columbus.
Admittedly, the playoffs will provide a bit of a tougher path for Carver-Columbus than their regular season opposition, including a potential second-round opponent that could be a difficult matchup for the Tigers of head coach Jarvis Jones.
The No. 3-seeded Tigers will be heavily favored against their Round 1 opponent Redan, who is seeded 30th out of the 32 playoff teams.
First Possible Roadblock for Carver-Columbus
If Carver-Columbus wins their opening-round playoff game, they could meet Crisp County in the second round.
The Cougars are the No. 14-seeded team in Class 2A, and despite their 4-6 overall record, they finished 3-1 to end the season, including impressive wins over Pierce County and Cook. Of the six losses Crisp County had this year, five were decided by one score or less. The lone exception was Fitzgerald, which beat Crisp County 30-7.
Crisp County will host Stephens County in their Round 1 matchup. The Indians are 5-5 overall and seeded No. 19 but finished 3-2 in Region 8-2A along with Prince Avenue Christian, although the Wolverines won the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed, leaving the Indians with the No. 3 seed.
Crisp County head coach Justin Newman is the former defensive coordinator for Carver-Columbus and made the move to Crisp County this offseason following the Tigers’ 2024 state championship. If anyone knows Carver-Columbus’ offense, it’s Newman. Stopping Carver-Columbus’ offense might be a bit more challenging.
Three Remaining Challengers to Carver’s Throne
If Carver-Columbus is able to make it out of their side of the bracket and back to the Class 2A state title game, there could be a few worthy challengers waiting to end their chance at a second straight title.
Carver vs. Carver
Carver-Atlanta is the top seed in the Class 2A postseason ranking formula, and they are perhaps the top challenger to face and defeat the Tigers in the state championship. After all, if the two teams sharing the same name do indeed meet in the playoffs, the finals is where it will happen.
Carver-Atlanta is also undefeated, although their path to 10-0 included a couple of tight games. They didn’t luck their way into the top seed, and they’ll be tough if, indeed, they do see the Tigers in the state championship.
However, if Carver-Atlanta does somehow make it to the state finals, they would need to get past another of the three teams I have chosen as a team that could challenge Carver-Columbus for the Class 2A state title.
Sumter County
The Sumter County Panthers are the one team that actually came close to defeating Carver-Columbus this season.
Other than Harris County, Sumter County is the only other team that has even come close to beating Carver-Columbus in the past two seasons. Carver-Columbus led the game 2-0 through three quarters before Sumter County took a 7-2 lead in the fourth quarter. Carver-Columbus scored late in the game to win 8-7.
Can Sumter County repeat that same formula if the two teams meet again?
If they do meet, it would be in the state championship game, with Sumter County on the opposite side of the bracket, the same as Carver-Atlanta. Sumter County is the No. 9-seeded team in this year’s Class 2A playoffs.
Morgan County
The Morgan County Bulldogs are 10-0 and on quite a run over the past three seasons, including this year. They finished 11-2 last season and were 10-2 in 2023.
Led by All-State running back Christian Monfort, Morgan County is the No. 4 seed in Class 2A. Similar to Carver-Columbus, Morgan County routed each of their opponents this season and are looking to make that leap in this postseason after coming up short in last year’s quarterfinals.
Rockmart
The Rockmart Yellow Jackets are 9-1 heading into the playoffs, with their only loss a 39-14 defeat at the hands of Cartersville.
Rockmart can make a run at Carver-Columbus, but would meet them in the semifinals if both teams advance that far. Rockmart is the No. 2-seeded team in the Class 2A playoff brackets.
Burke County
The Burke County Bears faced Carver-Columbus in last year’s state championship game after their 13-1 run through the semifinals, but Burke County was no match for Carver-Columbus, with the Tigers winning comfortably 52-14.
