When: Wednesday, 4 p.m.

About Jefferson: The No. 4-ranked Dragons (11-3) won the Region 8 championship and were seeded No. 1 by the new GHSA points rankings system. Jefferson is led by quarterback Gavin Markey, who has thrown for 1,424 yards and 16 TDs and rushed for 1,568 yards and 23 TDs. Dallas Russell added 877 yards and 11 TDs for the run-happy Dragons. The top tacklers are sophomore Max Brown, who has 140 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and Rett Hemphill, who has 131 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Hemphill also leads the region with seven interceptions, has blocked a punt, blocked a field goal and recovered a fumble.  

About Calhoun: The No. 8-ranked Yellow Jackets are 11-3, won the Region 7 championship and were seeded No. 6. Calhoun is back in the championship game after failing to make the playoffs last year for the first time since 1999. Junior Sager Quinn was voted the region’s lineman of the year. Others named to the first team include freshman running back Isiah Nalls (916 yards, five TDs), receiver Justin Beasley (69 receptions, 18 TDs), offensive lineman Grant Prine, defensive back Makadan Griffin, tight end Emaree Winston (34 receptions, four TDs), defensive lineman Aiden Adcock, edge Alec Upshaw (81 tackles, four sacks), linebackers Clayton Goad and Blake Hammett (56 tackles, four sacks). Freshman quarterback Trace Hawkins stepped in to pass for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns and has been intercepted only one time.

How they got there: Jefferson def. Monroe 45-6, def. Oconee County 42-6, def. Cherokee Bluff 42-28, def. LaGrange 21-13. Calhoun def. Spalding 31-6, def. Douglass 38-14, def. Peach County 38-28 and def. Stephenson 38-24.

Championship history: Calhoun has won four state championships – 1952, 2011, 2014 and 2017 and reached the finals seven other times. Jefferson won its only state title in 2012 and reached the championship game in 1975, 1977 and 2020.

Series history: The teams have split two meetings. Jefferson beat Calhoun 31-14 in the 2012 state championship game. Calhoun won 39-6 in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.