On behalf of the entire GPB Sports team, we would like to thank you for watching and supporting Football Fridays in Georgia. To put a wrap on the 2023 season, here is our GPB All-Finals Team from the eight GHSA State Football Championship Games.

Most Outstanding Offensive Player

QB Aaron Philo – Prince Avenue: 31-for-40 passing for 320 yards with three touchdowns in leading the Wolverines to their second straight Class A Division I  Championship with a 49-32 victory over Swainsboro. In his final high school game, the Georgia Tech commitment broke the GHSA career passing record held by Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville, Clemson, NFL No. 1 Draft Pick, Jacksonville Jaguars) finishing with 13,922 yards. Philo also tied the state single-season TD passing record with 56 to  match K’hari Lane, who did it in 2016 for Macon County.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

LB Jacorey Stewart – Milton: seven total tackles (four solor) one QB Sack and one huge Interception as the Kansas commit scored on a 5-yard pick-six with just 0:52 left to seal the Eagles 31-21 victory over Walton in the 7A championship game.

Most Outstanding Two-Way Player

TE/LB – Carson Sloan – Pierce County: On offense had three receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns. On defense had nine total tackles (eight solo) with three tackles for loss. Played every snap on offense and defense in the Bears 48-45 3OT win over Rockmart in the 2A championship game. Also punted five times for 34.0 average, returned a punt 11 yards and held on kicks.

Offense

Pro-Style Quarterback

Aaron Philo – Prince Avenue: GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

E.J. Colson – Cedar Grove: 11-for-16 passing for 269 yards and 4 TD, 11 carries for 37 yards rushing.

Colter Ginn – Perry: 16-for-27 passing for 261 yards and 1 TD.

Dual-Threat QB

Caden McGatha – Pierce County:  53-244 yards rushing for 4 TD. 5-8 passing for 131 yards, 2 TD.

Calliyon Thompson – Rockmart: 16-24 passing for 208 yards and 2 TD as a freshman and was also 15-106 yards rushing with 2 TD.

Kyler McGrinn – Bowdon: 31-221 yards rushing for 3 TD. 7-9 passing for 60 yards and 1 TD.

Jaylen Johnson – Thomas County Central: 6-8 passing for 135 yards and 3 TD. 12-105 yards rushing with 2 TD.

Running Back

Connor Causby – Prince Avenue 24-136 yards rushing with 1 TD. 5-29 yards receiving. 243 All-Purpose Yards. (Also had a big INT on defense).

Fred Brown – Coffee: 35-166 yards rushing and 1 TD.

Trey Brenton – Thomas County Central: 23-154 yards rushing with 2 TD.

Bo Walker – Cedar Grove: 18-129 yards and 2 TD.

Duke Scott – Stockbridge: 28-125 yards and 1 TD.

MaKari Bodiford – Walton: 17-131 yards and 1 TD.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Carson Sloan – Pierce County: GPB Sports Most Outstanding Two-Way Player.

Shane Kelly – Creekside – 10-170 yards and 2 TD.

Dakarai Anderson – Perry: 7-148 yards and 1 TD.

Ben Grice – Woodward: 9-137 yards and 1 TD.

C.J. Dockery – Prince Avenue: 8-100 yards receiving and 3 TD.

Jayden Howard – Stockbridge: 9-82 yards and 3 TD.

Hudson Hill – Prince Avenue: 12-123 yards receiving as a freshman.

Offensive Line

Austin Head – Prince Avenue: 6-0, 265, Senior earning GPB Sports All-Finals honors for the second straight season.

Jaylen Slaughter – Cedar Grove: 6-4, 240, Senior.

Amare Grayson – Stockbridge: 6-3, 280, Senior.

Ty Brown – Thomas County Central: 6-2, 303, Senior

Jerzabeon Grant – Coffee: 6-3, 300, Senior.

Elijah Howard – Pierce County: 6-1, 220, Senior.

Zatavien Vilsaint – Bowdon: 5-9, 250, Senior.

Riley Rushing – Milton: 6-3, 295, Senior

Defense

Defensive Line

Chase Kerns – Cedar Grove: 11 TT, 5 Solo, 1.5 QB Sacks, 3 TFL. GPB Sports All-Finals for second straight season.

Camron Brooks – Thomas County Central: 5 Solo Tackles, 3 QB Sacks.

Cashious Williams – Perry: 8 TT, 5 Solo, 1 QB Sack, 3 TFL.

Malykie Vickers – Bowdon: 8 solo tackles, 1 QB Sack, 2 TFL.         

 

Linebackers

Jacorey Stewart – Milton – GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Defensive Player

Carson Sloan – Pierce County – GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Two-Way Player.

Jerrell Pinckney – Perry: 9 TT, 7 Solo, 2 QB Sacks, 3.5 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 FF.

Tywon Christopher – Thomas County Central: 7 Solo Tackles, 1 TFL, 3 PBU.

Caleb Anderson – Thomas County Central: 7 TT, 5 Solo, 2 QB Sacks, 3 TFL

Jack Lawson – Milton: 8 TT, 5 Solo, 1 INT. His interception was the No. 5 play in the country on Sports Center Top 10.

Nate Davis – Rockmart: Finals-leading 16 TT with 8 Solo and 1 TFL.

David Bucey – Savannah Christian: 9 TT, 5 Solo, 1.5 TFL

Defensive Backs

Demello Jones – Swainsboro: 2 Solo Tackles with a 96-yard INT TD. (Also was 4-76 yards receiving with 59-yard TD catch).

Dee Reddick – Thomas County Central: 10 TT, 8 Solo, 1 QB Sack, 1 TFL. Also had 91 total kick/punt return yards.

Jonah “Bam” Bride – Walton: 9 TT, 7 Solo, 1 INT.

Tavares Simmons – Perry: 10 TT, 8 Solo, 1 PBU.

Ty Redmond – Milton: 4 TT, 2 Solo, 1 INT, 1 PBU

Qua Cooper – Manchester: 8 TT, 7 Solo. (Also had 14-80 yards rushing with 1 TD).

Special Teams

Kicker

Alex Nover – Milton: 1-1 with 37-Yard FG. 4-4 PAT. 4-5 Kickoffs went for touchbacks allowing just 22 kick return yards.

Punter

Hayden Morales – Thomas County Central: 3 Punts for average of 39.0 with long of 40.

Kick Returner

Dee Reddick – Thomas County Central: 91 total yards kick/punt returns including a 59-yard kickoff return to start the game. The Yellow Jackets would score two plays later and 21 seconds into the game had the lead and never trailed in their 49-28 win vs. Woodward in the 6A State Final.