12/11/2023
Class A D1 State Championship
Monday Dec 11, 2023, at Mercedes Benz Stadium
Prince Avenue Christian Academy Wolverines 13-1 against Swainsboro Tigers 12-2.
The class A D1 State Championship Football game will be a rematch of the two teams from last year. Like last year's game, Prince Avenue comes into this game with an explosive offense led by quarterback #11 Aaron Philo (Ga Tech commit). Philo is one of the most prolific passers in Georgia High School history, with over 13,000 passing yards and 152 career touchdowns. Philo's 13,600 yards trails only Trevor Lawernce (13,900) and Gunner Stockton (13,652). Philo's 156 touchdowns trail only, Lawerence (161), and Stockton (177).
Swainsboro presents its usual hard-hitting, stifling defense and speedy, outstanding running backs on offense. The Tigers are led by All-American Demello Jones (UGA commit). Jones is one of the most talented and versatile athletes in Georgia high school. Jones has over 3,000 yards rushing with 40 touchdowns, 700 yards and ten touchdowns receiving, over 500 yards and six touchdowns passing, over 130 tackles, and over five interceptions in his career.
These two will be the headlines, but both teams have abundant talent.
Swainsboro Defense
The Tigers' defensive front is stout. Elijah Holley, Aiden Foskey, Davon Coleman, and Try Turner are big, fast, and strong. They play the run well, and they can put pressure on the quarterback. Linebackers Lamarcus Webb, Jylerris Williams, and Jerrod Steward are the Tigers leading tacklers. Webb leads with 157, Steward 145, and Williams 99. Jabios Smith provides depth with an athletic, big frame who can play the run, blitz, or drop into coverage.
Bryson Tarver, Schuyler Coney, Qin Brown, Jordon Williams, LJ Morgan, and Jones give Swainsboro an abundance of talented defensive backs. They are aggressive tacklers and cover the pass well. The experience gained by Jones over the summer competing against the top receivers and quarterbacks in the country has been valuable. His ability to see and break down the passing games and get his teammates in position will be important against PAC.
Bryson Tarver has four interceptions, and Schuyler Coney has 2.
Offense
Jordon Williams is Swainsboro's leading rusher with 1,212 yards and 16 touchdowns. Demello Jones has 1160 yards and ten touchdowns, Qin Brown has 992 yards and 16 touchdowns, Bryson Tarver has 418 yards and seven touchdowns, and Jabios Smith has 323 yards and seven touchdowns. The Tiger's offensive line of #51 Palmer, #58 Long, #53 Worthen, #57 Benjamin, #56 Ricks, and #54 Christian Tarver, along with tight ends/fullbacks #8 Steward, #33 Watkins, #31 Gamiza and receivers #4 Morgan, #20 Coney, #3 Benjamin, #29 Mason, and the running back all block well and give the backs the openings they need to utilize their speed.
Swainsboro has rushed for 4,227 yards and 54 touchdowns and passed for 527 yards and seven touchdowns.
Prince Avenue Christian offense
Philo leads PAC offense with 3,786 yards and 49 touchdowns. #12 Jake Bobo has passed for 99 yards and one touchdown. #2 Hill is the leading receiver with 939 yards and 15 touchdowns, #4 Dockery is next with 694 yards and 10 touchdowns, #5 Causby has 610 yards and six touchdowns, #16 Hester 413yards and 6 touchdowns, #17 Hurley 483 with five touchdowns and #34 Tallmadge 386 yards 3 touchdowns.
Causby is the leading rusher with 829 yards and 12 touchdowns. Philo follows with 525 yards and 12 touchdowns, Talmadge has 253 yards and one touchdown, and Bobo has 162 yards and one touchdown.
Defense
#33 Bradley leads PAC defense with 125 tackles followed by #3 Kiddens 122, #13 Scoggins 74, #6 Darling 64, #12 Bobbo 53, #15 Pittman 62.
Comparisons
Prince Avenue defeated Irwin County 41-7, and Swainsboro defeated Irwin 26-0. Prince Avenue averages 50 points per game and gives up 15. Swainsboro averages 30 and gives up 10. PAC's only loss was a 45-26 defeat to Mary Person. Prince Avenue has scored over 40 points in every other game this season. Swainsboro's two losses were to Dublin and Bleckley County.
Coaches
Greg Vandergriff is in his 8th season at Prince Avenue. Before coming to PAC, Vandergriff was the defensive coordinator at Woodward Academy from 2006 to 2016. Vandergriff was also the head coach at Kell High School in 2003 and at Campbell High from 1999 to 2001. He also served as the defensive coordinator at Wheeler High School. Coach Vandergriff's record at PAC is 96-12. His total record is 112 -36. Prince Avenue won the state championship in 2020 and 2022 and was in the finals in 2021.
Coach Scott Roberts is in his 7th year as head coach at Swainsboro and has a record of 79 wins and 32 losses. Coach Roberts began his career as a receiver’s coach in 1997 at Irwin County and then moved to Cario High. He came to Swainsboro as head coach from 2008-2009, then served as offensive coordinator at Washington County and Tift before returning to Swainsboro in 2017. Coach Roberts and the Tigers played for the championship last year and were in the semifinal in 2021.
"You just sort of know what to expect, what they're going to do," Prince Avenue coach Greg Vandagriff said."They're basically the same team, we're just trying to cue in on certain personnel, where they line up and how to respond to that."
