Thomas County Central came into the State Championship not only undefeated, but with an offense that averaged 53.3 points per game and needed a whopping 46 points to become the all-time highest-scoring team in Georgia football history. The #2 Yellow Jackets (15-0) did just that, hanging a 62-21 win over #1-ranked Gainesville (12-3) on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Thomas County rolled up a quick lead. As Jaylen Johnson threw a 27-yard TD pass to Gary Pringle, and later in the quarter, Johnson (3-star, uncommitted) kept the ball on a 10-yard TD. The Yellow Jackets were up 14-0 just over halfway through the first, as Kharim Hughley (3-star, Clemson) and the Red Elephants couldn’t get much going offensively.
The defense played well early on, with 5-star defensive end Xavier Griffin (Alabama) piling up the tackles (13 in total). In the second, Hughley found Cameron James on a check down, and he went the distance for a 45-yard TD to get Gainesville within 14-7.
Midway through the second, Thomas County Central added another on a Christian Lawrence (3-star, Wilford) 8-yard TD to make it 21-7. They didn’t let up, as Johnson again found Pringle to open the second half on a long TD and the 28-7 advantage.
Controversy came next, as Gainesville’s Legend Wilmont took the ensuing kickoff back for a TD, though several Yellow Jackets thought they heard a whistle. The touchdown was taken off the board, negating a critical score for the Red Elephants.
The sides traded turnovers, as Jeremiah Proctor picked off Johnson, then Dwight Lewis fumbled it away moments later. It all unraveled after that for Gainesville.
TCC made it 34-7 on a 27-yard TD run for Johnson. Gainesville would finally get back on the board with a 9-yard TD run by Hughley. Thomas County Central would score four more times, though, all by Christian Lawrence.
He notched a 71-yard TD, 45-yard TD, 20-yard TD, and a 6-yard score. Hughley added a 59-yard TD within that.
Hughley had 128 rushing yards and passed for 113, accounting for three TDs for the Red Elephants. Lawrence had 380 rushing yards and five TDs, while Johnson threw for 165 and two scores and rushed for 79 and another two touchdowns.
