Section Branding
Header Content
Class A Private Preview: Athens Academy Vs. Eagle's Landing Christian
Primary Content
Class A Private
Athens Academy vs. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy
Wednesday, 10 a.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Athens Academy Spartans
School location: Athens
Record, ranking: 13-0, First place in Region 8.
Coach: John Alexander, 44-6 in five seasons.
How they got there: Def. Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 27-13; def. Calvary Day 25-19; def. Prince Avenue Christian, 28-21.
Top players: RB Payton Bowles, TE Barrett cLanahan, WR Deion Colzie, OL Charles Clarke, DL George Smith, LB Lovic Smith, DB Kurt Knisely, PK James Williams, QB Palmer Bush, RB Joseph McElhannon
Playoff history: Athens Academy is looking for its first state championship.
Eagle’s Landing Christian Chargers
School location: McDonough
Record, ranking: 12-1, First place in Region 5.
Coach: Jonathan Gess, 130-27 in 13 seasons.
How they got there: Def. Trinity Christian 48-14; def. Darlington 42-6; def. Savannah Christian 70-21.
Top players: QB Brayden Rush, RB Keaton Mitchell, WR Devon Dorsey, DB/WR Justin Robinson, DB Johnathan Youngblood, OL Evan Zember, OL Cody Carden, WR Justin Menard, LB Michael Meneely, DL Marquis Byrd, OL Shedrick Rhodes. .
Playoff history: The program has won five state championships – 1996, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017. They are trying to win their fourth straight.
Notable: Eagle's Landing Christian def. Athens Academy 41-3 in the final last year, the first game played at Mercedes-Benz. ... ELCA leads the series 2-0.