We put it to a vote, and the public picked Habersham Central senior Austin Wood as the LAST FINALIST to be up for the BLITZ Football Player of the Week award. Wood earned 12,402 votes out of 29,283. He joins J Ben Haynes (White County), Zach Holtzclaw (Dawson), Joshua Pickett (Habersham Central), Malaki Starks (Jefferson), and Gunner Stockton (Rabun County).

FINALISTS

J Ben Haynes – White Co SR QB #8

STATS: 1,657 pass yds, 16 TD; 592 rush yds, 15 TD *missed 3.5 games; 2nd Time POY Finalist; Preseason All-State
TEAM: 8-3, Region 7-AAA 4th; State Playoffs; #5 State Ranking; Only team to beat undefeated Cherokee Bluff (Region Champs and ranked #8)

Zach Holtzclaw – Dawson Co JR QB #10

STATS: 2,731 pass yds, 27 TD; 75 rush yds, 5 TD; Top Passer in Class 3A; 1st Time POY Finalist; Presason All-State
TEAM: 6-5, Region 7-AAA 3rd; State Playoffs 2nd Round; Defeated #5 White Co; one of top scoring offenses in Class 3A

Joshua Pickett – Habersham Central SR QB #1

STATS: 1,009 pass yds, 9 TD; 1,674 rush yds, 25 TD; 2nd Time POY Finalist; Duke commit; 3* CB; Preseason All-State
TEAM: 6-5, Region 7-AAAAAA 3rd; State Playoffs; Defeated #8 Lanier; Won 2 games in one week to clinch playoffs and 3-seed

Malaki Starks – Jefferson JR QB #24

STATS: 382 pass yds, 10 TD; 965 rush yds, 14 TD; 2nd Time POY Finalist; 5* ATH; Preseason All-State
TEAM: 11-0, Region 8-AAAA Champions; State Playoffs 2nd Round; #1 State Ranking; Defeated #1 Rabun County & #5 Flowery Branch & #9 Hart County; Top 5 offense in Class 4A

Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co JR QB #14

STATS: 2,621 pass yds, 40 TD; 1,159 rush yds, 21 TD; Top Passer in Class 2A; 3rd Time Finalist for POY; Reigning Back-to-Back POY; South Carolina commit; 5* QB; Preseason All-State; Preseason All-American
TEAM: 10-1, Region 8-AA Champions; State Playoffs 2nd Round; #1 State Ranking; Defeated #2 Prince Ave & #10 Bremen; Top Offense in Class 2A

Austin Wood – Habersham Central SR CB/WR #21

STATS: 315 rec yds, 3 TD; 293 KR yds; 9 INT, 46 TKL, 2 FFum, 13 PD, 4 PBU
TEAM: 6-5, Region 7-AAAAAA 3rd; State Playoffs; Defeated #8 Lanier; Won 2 games in one week to clinch playoffs and 3-seed

LAST FINALIST VOTING RESULTS