ATLANTA — Defending state champion Carver-Columbus will have a chance to repeat tonight when the Panthers face No. 7 Hapeville Charter in the GHSA Class 2A state championship game.
Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Carver (14-0) enters the title game unbeaten and aiming to add another championship to a growing football tradition in Columbus. The Panthers are led by first-year coach Jarvis Jones, a former Carver standout who later starred at the University of Georgia before returning home to lead his alma mater.
The Panthers’ offense has been balanced and explosive, even with a freshman at quarterback. Sebastian Heard has thrown for 1,623 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Carver’s ground game features a three-headed rushing attack. Kelston Tarver leads the way with 1,386 yards and 21 touchdowns, followed by Zach Watts with 977 yards and 17 scores and JaKobe Caslin with 813 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Carver’s defense has been the foundation of its championship run. The Panthers recorded eight shutouts during the season and are allowing just 5.4 points per game. Texas A&M signee Tristen Givens anchors the unit, which helped Carver enter the playoffs ranked No. 3 in the GHSA’s Postseason Formula ratings.
Hapeville Charter (10-4) arrives in Atlanta riding a nine-game winning streak after a loss to Carver-Atlanta that decided the Region 5 championship. The Hornets entered the postseason ranked No. 12 in the postseason formula ratings and have knocked off three state-ranked opponents during their playoff run.
Quarterback Keylan Pope has fueled the surge, throwing for more than 300 yards in each of the Hornets’ last three games. The offense is built around an experienced line led by Alabama signee Chris Booker, with Ray Damond Stiggers and all-region selection Traeven Jones carrying the load in the running game.
Defensively, Hapeville is led by Alabama State signee Zion Crawford, who has seven interceptions this season. Crawford was joined on the all-region team by defensive back Anthony Brooks, linebacker Rashad Williamson and defensive lineman Chauncey Sibley.
Hapeville is seeking its second state championship after winning the Class 2A title in 2017 under coach Winston Gordon, the school’s only head coach since it opened in 2011.
Carver leads the all-time series 2-1, though Hapeville won the most recent meeting, a 34-26 decision during the 2023 regular season. The Panthers will look to even the score on the biggest stage, just as they did in 2007, when Carver won its first state championship under coach Dell McGee, now the head coach at Georgia State.
