Class 7A

Mill Creek vs. Carrollton

Mill Creek Hawks

Coach: Josh Lovelady

GPB Ranking, record: No. 5, 13-1. Region 8 runner-up.

Playoff results: d. Meadowcreek 59-22, d. North Cobb 43-7, d. Westlake 38-14, d. Milton 48-14.

Top players: DB Caleb Downs, QB Hayden Clark, WR Makhail Wood, RB Cam Robinson, LB Jamal Anderson, PK/P Jacob Ulrich.

Notable: The Hawks are playing in their first state championship game. Their only regular-season loss came against Buford. Clark has quietly thrown for 2,142 yards and 23 touchdowns, with only one interception. He jammed his hand into the turf last week and left the game, but was pronounced OK afterwards. Robinson has run for 1,550 yards and 18 touchdowns and always seems to find a way to move the chains. Makhail Wood has 53 catches for 1,015 yards and 13 TDs and came up with three in the semifinal win. The defense is led by 5-star defensive back Caleb Downs (an Alabama commit) who also play some running back and returns punts, and linebacker Jamal Anderson (a Clemson commit), who is physical and fast.

Carrollton Trojans

Coach: Joey King

GPB Ranking, record: No. 3, 14-0. Region 2 champion.

Playoff results: d. Lowndes 38-14, d. Marietta 47-14, d. Walton 52-27, d. Colquitt County 35-27.

Top players: QB Julian Lewis, RB Bryce Hicks, WR Caleb Odom, DB Kelvin Hill, LB Myles Butler, WR Takare Lipscomb, MLB Brodie Bradburn.

Notable: It has taken veteran coach Joey King only two seasons to get the Trojans back in the state championship game for the first time since 2013. And Carrollton is playing in the highest classification for the first time, a byproduct of the state’s new multiplier that penalizes city schools. Lewis is one of the top freshman prospects in the state; he’s thrown for 3,587 yards and 43 touchdowns. Hicks is a clutch performer who knows how to win; he’s run for 1,573 yards and 17 touchdowns and caugh 54 passes for 561 yards and eight touchdowns. Odom has 57 catches for 954 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Series: This is the first meeting between the two teams.