Clayton News Daily

ELCA running back and linebacker Keyante Green leads the Chargers with 1,203 yards rushing.

The Class A private school championship game is a clash of styles.

ELCA arrives with an inventory of star players and an explosive spread offense. Prince Avenue got here as the ultimate team led by a coach with a knack for building winners.

One school will leave the Georgia Dome with its first Georgia High School Association title.

Here’s a look at how each team will try to make history.

When ELCA has the ball ...

ELCA’s offense

When the Chargers’ offense is at their best, there’s a healthy Keyante Green taking the handoff and a dynamic Dalton Etheridge able to beat defenses with his arm and legs. It’s a testament to ELCA’s depth of talent that when both went down with injuries on separate occasions, there were reinforcements ready in Marquis Griffin, Lane Timpson and Davis Carrandi. Don’t forget about ELCA’s tough offensive line that’s helped the Chargers’ spread offense average 369 yards and 45 points per game.

Prince Avenue’s defense

The Wolverines’ defense starts with four-year starting defensive end Tyler Parrish (6-3, 235). He was the Region 8-A Defensive Player of the Year last season with 82 tackles, seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss. And Prince Avenue has quite the defensive coordinator calling the shots — Richard Bell, who was a defensive coordinator at Air Force and Georgia (1989-93) under Ray Goff.

When Prince Avenue has the ball ...

ELCA’s defense

The Chargers defensive unit is full of playmakers. There’s a pair of Division I defensive ends in 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior Isaac Rochell, who’s committed to Notre Dame, and 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior Andrew Williams. There’s linebackers Josh Shockley and Green. There’s a secondary of Bryson Durden, D.J. Curl, Marquis Griffin and Jevius Terry. Collectively, it’s been the state’s top unit allowing just 156.4 yards and 8.4 points per game this season.

Prince Avenue’s offense

Run-and-gun the Wolverines are not. They’re content to churn out yards and hold on to the ball with their Wing-T offense behind running backs Bryce Huff and Carl Mattox. Mattox rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns and Huff had 83 yards in Prince Avenue’s victory against Landmark Christian last week. When they need to pass, quarterback Zack Graham can make the clutch throws. The Wolverines average 35.2 points per game.

Special teams

Cole Dellinger handles all kicking duties for ELCA. He’s solid on kickoffs and has become consistent on extra-points, hitting 3 of 4 last week against George Walton Academy, and field goals. Prince Avenue Christian’s Tyler Foster is a solid kicker, nailing a 35-yarder last week against Landmark Christian.

Coaches

Jonathan Gess, ELCA

Gess is one of the youngest coaches in the Southern Crescent. ELCA hired him in 2007 when he was 28 after three years as offensive line coach and head of strength and conditioning at First Presbyterian. The Citadel graduate has since turned the Chargers into a Class A powerhouse, leading them to three straight 12-win seasons. Gess’ career record is 60-15 for an .800 winning percentage.

Mark Farriba, Prince Avenue

It’d be hard to find a high school football coach with more experience in state championship games. Farriba has participated in 12 high school state title games as either a player, assistant coach or head coach, winning eight. Farriba led First Presbyterian to a GISA title in 1985 and Stratford Academy to a GISA title in 2004. Farriba, now in his sixth season at Prince Avenue, has an overall record of 149-96-3.

How it plays out ...

ELCA wins if ...

the Chargers don’t get overwhelmed by the moment. Two years ago, it got the best of them in a No. 1 vs. 2 showdown against Clinch County in the quarterfinals. Last season, the Chargers lost to a Landmark Christian team in the semifinals it had handled easily during the regular season. ELCA is finally on the biggest stage and it has all the pieces to win Henry County’s first football state championship — and win it convincingly.

Prince Avenue wins if ...

it can force a few ELCA turnovers and make the most of them. In the Chargers’ only loss this season — a 24-19 loss to Washington County — they couldn’t overcome three turnovers. The Wolverines don’t have the collection of star players ELCA does, so they’ll need the ball to bounce their way a few times and turn those opportunities into points.

How they got here

ELCA (12-1)

19-24 Washington County

32-7 Briarwood Christian

47-20 Clinch County

56-14 Hapeville Charter

42-3 Holy Innocents

62-0 Mount Vernon

49-0 Our Lady of Mercy

69-6 Strong Rock

55-0 Pace Academy

43-0 Landmark Christian

42-14 Our Lady of Mercy*

42-7 Savannah Chr.*

27-14 George Walton*

*Playoff game

Prince Avenue (11-2)

48-20 St. Francis

47-6 Hapeville Charter

28-12 Savannah Christian

48-7 Glascock County

40-0 Athens Christian

7-14 Athens Academy

30-0 Commerce

48-6 Hebron Christian

50-35 Pinecrest Academy

14-17 George Walton

42-21 Darlington*

24-7 Athens Academy*

32-22 Landmark Chr.*

*Playoff game