FOOTBALL
CADE ADAMS
Cade Adams was a beast for the Tigers in the trenches. Teams took notice to avoid running his direction, and even to often put two guys to try and neutralize him. Didn’t work – Adams pounded out 175 career tackles, 25 sacks, 45 tackles behind the line, and had 4 forced fumbles and 4 recoveries. After a 63 TKL (14 TFL), 6 Sack junior season, he followed it up with 49 TKL (20 TFL) and 13 Sacks to guide the Dawson County Tigers to a Region Championship. He was twice an All-State selection, and the DT was a preferred walk-on at Georgia Tech, playing at the NCAA D-I Power Five level!
PIERSON ALLISON
Pierson Allison had to sit behind Cole Wright for a couple of years at Union County before getting his shot. Statistically, he made up for lost time. He threw for 6,090 yards and 56 TD, and the All-State QB added 1,172 rushing yards and another 16 TDs on the ground. That’s good for 7,262 total yards and 72 total TD for the lefty. He had 2,800 passing yards or more in his two seasons as a starter under center, and 30-plus TD in each of those seasons. He led the Panthers to their first-ever state playoff win in 2019. He threw for a school-record 490 yards against Monticello during his senior year, which is among the most yards in a single game in state history. Allison initially went to Berry College, but didn’t log a snap.
PIERSON ALLISON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
MICHAEL BABERS III
Babers was a power back for the Raiders, racking up close to 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, averaging just under 6 yards per tote. A three-time first-team all-region selection and first-team all-area back, he finished as the second-leading rusher in school history. Babers’ top season was his junior 2015 season, in which he had 1,264 yards and 16 TDs, adding 163 receiving yards and 4 more scores. He had 947 rush yds (10 TD) as a sophomore, and was hampered by injuries in his 2016 senior season, but still managed 641 yards and 8 TDs. He has the third-most rushing TDs in a single season (16) in school history, and second-most in a career (34), second-most rushing yards in a game (278), season (1,269) and career (2,900) and second on the all-time rushes list (536). Babers briefly played at Georgia Southern. MICHAEL BABERS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
PEYTON BACKER
Peyton Backer was a two-time All-State player for Rabun County and All-Region selection. He was a force in the trenches with a 90+ overall grade, more than 100 pancake blocks, and on the d-line added 191 career tackles and 8 sacks, as well as 3 forced fumbles. Backer went on to Georgia Southern, where he became a relied-upon player for the Eagles.
LOGAN BARNES
Logan Barnes holds the school record at Dawson with 304 all-time tackles. That includes seven for loss, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Barnes was a two-time All-State and two-time All-Region selection, and was as lock-down a free safety as we have seen. He went on to play at Wofford College. He missed 2 full seasons due to injury.
SAMMY BROWN
‘Downtown’ Sammy Brown graduated as a 5-star LB, one of the top overall recruits in the nation. His career included 345 tackles (27 for loss), 5 INT, 4 FF, 5 Sacks, and 4 Defensive/ST TDs. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 5,869 rushing yards and 82 TD (21st in state history), averaging over 10 yards per tote. He had 641 receiving yards with another 11 TD, and even had 71 passing yards and 2 TD. He left Jefferson as our #1 Legacy RB, and his senior season saw him rush for 2,289 YDS (44th in state history) and 36 TD (27th in state history), 202 receiving YDS with another 4 TD, and 153 TKL (12 TFL). He had 3 seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, closing with a 41-8 overall record for Commerce (2020) and Jefferson (2021-23), with 3 region titles, 4 playoff runs, one Quarterfinals finish and one Semifinals run, and a ridiculous 99 overall TDS (82 rushing, 11 receiving, 2 passing, 4 defensive/special teams). Among his several accolades includes being a 4-time All-American, National Male Athlete of the Year (2022-23), 4-time All-State, 4-time All-Region, 2023 BLITZ Player of the Year (’23), Butkus Award (’23), AJC POY (’23), National POY (’23), and Under Armour All-American invite. He held more than 30 offers, but chose Clemson. SAMMY BROWN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
AIDAN BUTTS
Aidan Butts was a force to be reckoned with for the Indians. The defensive end was a 2-time All-State selection, totaling 164 TKL (56 TFL), and closed his career with 28 Sacks and 7 forced fumbles. His senior year (2023) saw him go for 73 tackles (26 for loss) and 12 sacks, while he registered 75 tackles (26 for loss) and 16 sacks as a junior in 2022. Butts went on to play at Middle Tennessee State University.
TREVAE CAIN
Cain tallied over 3,000 rushing yards and north of 40 TDs in his illustrious career, averaging 7 yards per carry. On the other side of the ball (linebacker) he had more than 50 tackles. Cain was outstanding especially in his senior 2015 season, where he rushed for 1,339 yards and 18 TDs, which was preceded by 871 yards and 15 TDs as a junior. Cain, also had more than 500 receiving yards in his career with 5 TD. He went on to play at Reinhardt University.
COLE CHANCEY
Chancey is one of the top rushers in Commerce history, which speaks volumes with the rich tradition they have of elite runners. Chancey racked up 3,644 yards on the ground to go with 44 touchdowns. He rarely took plays off, surpassing 100 career tackles as a safety and hauling in some five interceptions. As usual, Commerce made the playoffs in all four of Chancey’s years. Chancey went on to a stellar career at Harding University, and had a sensational freshman season (1,347 yds, 15 TD). He had 961 yds & 14 TD as a sophomore, 1,375 yds and 13 TD as a junior, and 1,441 yds and 24 TD as a senior. He finished with 5,124 yards and 66 TD to become one of the best players in Harding history.
BRUCE CLARK
Bruce Clark was the first big pass-catcher Dawson truly had. He helped kickstart the golden age of Tigers football. He hauled in 2,200 yards and 30 TDs, and was the favorite target for one of the program’s best in Tyler Dominy. He went on to play at Shorter University, and was a big-time target for the Hawks.
COLBY CLARK
A gamer…that’s what Colby Clark is. The Harding University bound QB took on any and every assignment tasked him by Jefferson over his career, and battled through injuries to help guide the Dragons to victory after victory. Clark finished off his senior season as an All-State honoree, and passed for 563 yards and 9 TD against just one interception, and rushed for 1,108 yards and 24 scores. For his career at Jefferson, he passed for 1,559 yards and rushed for 2,501, and had a hand in 65 TDs (46 rushing, 19 passing). He also contributed at linebacker and corner back during his career, which included an All-State recognition and All-Region honors. Clark went on to play at Harding University.
COLBY CLARK CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
SEVAUGHN CLARK
Clark put together a stellar resume from Dawson County. The running back-turned-quarterback closed his Tigers career with 2,663 rushing yards and 31 TDs, and added 965 passing yards his senior season with 9 TD passes. He earned All-State honors as a RB after his junior year, and as a preseason selection before his senior year. The ultimate team player, Clark sacrificed many touchdowns and rushing yards to go to the QB position for his senior year – something almost no other senior would be willing to do. A “bruiser” back, Clark has ice veins and helped guide the Tigers to its first-ever 10-win season in 2018, and all told played a large part in going 18-6 his two years as a featured player with 2 Sweet 16 appearances. Clark went to UGA as a preferred walk-on and saw limited game action. SEVAUGHN CLARK CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BEN CLEVELAND
Ben Cleveland was a BEAST in the trenches for the Stephens County Indians. Although a consensus 4-star recruit, a couple publications had him as a legit 5-star talent. He was worth the hype, as he was twice named an All-American and had north of a 95% grade throughout his career on the O-Line. He was a top-10 OL in the United States, and went on to have a stellar career at the University of Georgia, starting and playing in a National Championship game. Cleveland was then drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL (3rd Round, 94th Overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft. Entering 2024, he has logged 37 games and 7 starts for the Ravens.
KALEB CRANE
Crane had a stellar career at White County, helping guide the Warriors to one of the quickest turnarounds we’ve ever seen. In 2016, the team went just 1-9. In 2017, Crane was on another level, pounding his way to a 7-4 season that had White County just moments away from making the Sweet 16. Crane was hard to bring down, tallying north of 2,000 yards and 30 TDs on offense throughout his time at White County. He also had 250-plus yards receiving with 5 more scores. On the flip side of the ball, Crane had 100-plus tackles, 5 sacks, and was an All-State player. KALEB CRANE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
AJ CURRY
What an athlete AJ Curry was. He had only one year at Habersham Central, and three years prior at Stephens County. A running back/receiver for the Indians, he converted to quarterback when going to the Raiders. It was an incredible adjustment, and it paid off. He passed for 2,495 yards and 18 TD in his one season as a QB, learning the curve quickly. He rushed for 676 yards altogether, adding 13 more scores. His career numbers include 285 receiving yards and 2 TD. Curry was an All-Region member in 2017 for Habersham. The dual threat ended his career with more than 3,300 offensive yards and a total of 33 TDs. Curry plays now at Western Carolina University after entertaining a handful of big-time offers. AJ CURRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
DONOVAN CURRY
Donovan Curry, younger brother of AJ (above), also made the switch from rival Stephens County to Habersham, and helped get the Raiders back to the playoffs in 2018 after seven years removed from the previous trip. The 2-time All-Region talent balled out for the Raiders, and closed his career with 1,829 receiving yards and 21 TDs. He also tallied exactly 1,000 career return yards on punts/kickoffs, and had 80 tackles (3 for loss), and 3 interceptions (one TD). Curry now plays at Troy University. DONOVAN CURRY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
JAIDEN DANIELS
Jaiden Daniels busted onto the scene as a freshman with 1,425 rushing yards and 13 scores! He built on that with a monster sophomore season as well that saw him put up 1,484 rushing yards and 19 TD, both career-highs. He also threw a 70-yd TD that season. Daniels’ junior season was nothing short of spectacular, as he rushed for a career-high 1,965 yards and 23 TD, and had a 31-yd TD pass to boot. His efforts led the Tigers to a Quarterfinals run and a Region Championship! During his senior season, he made the unselfish move to QB. In a signature win against Rabun, he rushed for 217 yards and 3 TD with some jaw-dropping runs that included 2 70-plus yard TDs. Daniels finished his senior year with 870 rush yds and 10 TD, and his total career stat line was 5,766 rushing yards and 65 TD, with 76 receiving yards and 246 passing yards (3 TD). He also had a KR TD and a pick-6 to get 70 career TDs. He went on to play at Eastern Tennessee State University.
TYLER DOMINY
Dominy was a 2-time All-State quarterback, and shredded opposing defenses for over 7,500 yards in his career, including 69 TDs. He added 12 rushing scores and helped lead the Tigers to a state playoff berth in 2012, his senior year. He still holds the school record for passing yards in a game (412) against Forsyth Central that 2012 season, which puts him in elite company of rare feats in the state of Georgia of 400-yard passing games. Dominy is in the BLITZ HOF as a basketball player as well, and played a full career at UNG in that sport. Dominy won both BLITZ POY in football and basketball his senior year. His total stat line at QB: PASSING: 6,548 yds, 69 TD; RUSHING: 1,000 yds, 12 TD; TOTAL: 7,548 yds, 81 TD. TYLER DOMINY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
KEVIN ELLISON
Ellison was one of the country’s top dual-threat quarterbacks during his senior year at Habersham Central. The option QB put up school records for rushing yards (4,372) and rushing touchdowns (63) in his illustrious career. He also passed for 1,412 yards and 15 TD. His 80 career all-purpose TDs (1 receiving and returning as well) put him 5th on the all-time state list for all-purpose TDs. His senior year of 2011 consisted of a mind-blowing 2,183 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns, adding 1,025 passing yards and 12 scores. He led the Raiders to a state playoff appearance. Ellison was the BLITZ 2011 Player of the Year. He was highly recruited, and went to Georgia Southern as a two-star recruit. He holds school records in many categories: longest touchdown run (94 yds), most rushing TDs in a game (5), season (32) and career (63), points scored in a season (200) and career (394), rushing yards in a season (2,183) and career (4,372) and career rushes (625). Five times he recorded more than 220 rushing yards in a game, and is one of only 13 Raiders ever to be a four-year letterman. Named the AJC Class 4A POY in 2011. He had an outstanding career at GSU, rushing for 3,368 yards and 35 TD, while passing for 3,225 yards and 19 TD. His sophomore season (2014) featured 1,096 rushing yards and 12 TD while passing for 1,001 yards and 5 TD; his top season for the Eagles. Ellison played professionally for the Milano Rhinos of the Italian Football League. KEVIN ELLISON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
CAL FAULKNER
Cal Faulkner became a generational talent for Lumpkin County. The WR-turned-QB, who also stars on the other side of the ball, is the highest-recruited player in Indians football history. The 3-star committed to Georgia Tech. But his high school career has been nothing short of stellar. As a freshman, he caught 29 passes for 266 yards and a TD, and had a rushing score as well. Then he exploded as a sophomore with 48 receptions for 677 yards and 9 TD, and had 2 rushing TDs as well as a pick-6, some passing yards, and a ton in the return game. So with nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 13 total TD, he suddenly moved to QB as a junior. The result…a first-ever region title for Lumpkin and Quarterfinals run. He threw for 1,706 yards and 19 TD against just one INT, adding 929 rushing yards and 17 TD, making him one of the top returning QBs in the state heading into his senior year. He had 1,253 passing yards (10 TD, 2 INT), and rushed for 674 with 11 TD. His final numbers: 2,996 pass yds (29 TD), 1,676 rush yds (30 TD), and 1,057 rec yds (12 TD).
BAILEY FISHER
36-4 as a starter under coach Lee Shaw, and three of those losses came in the state quarterfinals or deeper. A true winner, and there’s not been one like him. The Wildcats GOAT Bailey Fisher took his team to the 2017 title game, won four straight region titles and three 2A Quarterfinal runs or deeper. He closed his career with 113 TD passes, fourth most all-time in state history, and 9,383 yards, sixth most all-time. He tallied 170 career touchdowns (113 passing, 57 rushing), while rushing for 3,075 yards, giving him a total of 12,458 total yards of offense. Fisher rarely stayed in for full games and played only sparingly as a freshman in 2014. His numbers could have been tops in state history. His senior year was better than we’ve ever seen — 3,341 yds passing and 43 TD, as well as 1,283 rush yds and another 27 TD on the ground — all career single-season highs and Rabun County records. Fisher had a hand in 70 touchdowns that season, and was a three-time BLITZ Player of the Year. Fisher went on to play at Tennessee Tech University, where he was the Conference Rookie of the Year and followed it with an insane sophomore season. He then went to Gardner-Webb and guided the Bulldogs to the Big South Conference Championship. He had 5,024 yards and 36 TD passing at GW with 456 rushing yards and 17 TD. At TTU, he had 4,304 yards and 32 TD passing and 835 and 13 rushing. The college totals – 9,328 passing yards and 68 TD and 1,291 rushing yards and 30 TD. What a career! BAILEY FISHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
JADEN GIBSON
The GOAT of receivers in Georgia football history! Jaden Gibson was already on his way to a phenomenal career in his freshman and sophomore seasons at Dawson County, but he leveled up at Rabun County in his final two seasons. He had 1,300 receiving yards and 11 TD in his career when deciding to team up with Gunner Stockton. He put up video game numbers with 1,878 receiving yards and 19 TD as a junior, smashing his previous two season stats combined. He put up 6 200-yard receiving games, the most such in state history. His senior season for Rabun County saw him total 1,950 receiving yards (2nd most in a single-season ever) and 29 TD (single-season state record) on 109 catches. He is one of only a few wideouts to eclipse 3,000 career yards (5,124 – most in Georgia history) and 30 TD (59 – most in Georgia history). Against Elbert County in his senior year, he put up career-highs with 13 catches and 285 yards (8th most in single-game in history). That same game he passed the all-time yardage mark (on his 3rd TD of the game), and the 4th TD of the game was the state receiving TD record. He was part of back-to-back Region Championships and Quarterfinal runs for #1-ranked Rabun County. Nobody better at WR…5,124 yards, 59 TD, 274 receptions. Gibson was a Region Player of the Year, BLITZ Player of the Year, 3-time All-State selection, and one time All-American who went on to NCAA D-I in the Power Five at Virginia. JADEN GIBSON SR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
JAVIN GORDON
Javin Gordon was special from the get-go. Despite being a freshman backing up a solid RB in 2021, he still managed to rack up 485 yards and 5 TDs. Then it was his time in 2022. As a sophomore, Gordon reached 1,017 rushing yards with 13 TD, and added 108 receiving and a score. He became the relied-upon option for the Indians in that Region Championship, 2nd Round run season. In his junior 2023 season, Gordon became one of the state’s top rushers with 1,635 rushing yards and 20 TD, and added 273 receiving yards and 2 TD. He had 8 100-yard rushing games that year, including a career-best 201 yards against Franklin County with 6 TDs, putting him among the elite for a single-game scoring list. His senior year featured some more huge games, including a 4-TD night at Franklin. His final regular season game he had 4 rushing TDs and a KR for a TD. In an incredible 2nd Round upset over Callaway, Gordon had a career game with 103 rush yds (2 TD), 71 receiving yds, and a 51-yd TD pass, lifting Stephens County to its first Quarterfinals since 2005. He closed his senior year with 1,064 rushing yards and 17 TD, and 558 receiving yards with 3 TD. For his final stat line: 4,201 rush yds (55 TD), 939 rec yds (6 TD), and 2 K/P ret TDs and a passing TD. Gordon went on to play with Tulane.
BLAKE GOWDER
Gowder was a three-star recruit out of Union County, leading the Panthers as a big-time playmaker. He was ranked the #110 athlete in the country, spending much of his time as a dominating force at tight end while playing at Union County, where he led them to a 6-4 record his senior year in 2009. With 72 receptions for 1,237 yards and 14 TD, he was named All-State by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as well as being named an All-Region selection as TE. He also spent time in the backfield, eclipsing 1,200 yards while scoring 21 touchdowns. His junior year at TE was even better (77 rec, 1,423 yds). On defense (LB) as a senior, he added 76 tackles and an interception. He finished his prep career with 225 receptions, and was a standout in basketball as well as baseball, where he was one of the region’s top pitchers, throwing a no-hitter as a junior. Gowder signed with Vanderbilt, playing three years for the Commodores despite dealing with injuries. He never recorded a stat (tackle, rush attempt or reception) while there.
J BEN HAYNES
J Ben Haynes left White County as the most decorated QB in school history. He set school records in passing yards (7,081) and TD (55), completing 491-of-866, good for 58%. A true dual threat, the 4-year starter also had 2,113 yards and 36 TD on the ground, finishing with 9,214 total yards and 92 TD (he had one TD receiving). He missed a few games in his senior season, which cost him a chance at 10K total yards and 100 total TD. Still, he led the Warriors to a pair of playoff runs. At graduation, he stood as the state’s 36th top passer in yards all-time. His junior year saw him throw for 2,148 yards and 13 scores, along with 981 rushing yards and another 17 TD. As a senior despite missing a handful of games, he threw for 1,774 and 18 TD, and rushed for 814 and 16 TD. Haynes earned a baseball scholarship to play at UNG. J BEN HAYNES CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BRAXTON HICKS
3,490 career yards ranks 5th at the time of his graduation in state history. 46 receiving TDs ranks tops in Georgia history. No other receiver ever posted back-to-back-to-back 12-plus TD seasons. Hicks was part of a dynasty at Rabun County that won 6 straight Region Titles, and left with a record of 48-5, losing only once in the regular season. That includes going 26-0 in region play, and playing in 4 straight quarterfinals games, including the 2017 state championship game run. The UGA-bound wideout had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and hauled in 183 passes. Hicks is up there as one of the best receivers BLITZ has ever been blessed enough to cover, and was a 2-time All-State selection. He was a PWO at the University of Georgia, and was a 2-time National Champion before transferring to Austin Peay. BRAXTON HICKS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
ZACH HOLTZCLAW
Holtzclaw is a true passing QB, almost exclusively. He passed for at least 2,300 yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons, and had 33 total TD as a junior in 2020. As a senior, Holtzclaw put up 2,149 pass yds and 19 TD, and added 98 rush yds and 5 TD. He went on to play at Cumberland University. ZACH HOLTCLAW CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BRODY JARRARD
Brody Jarrard began as a stud running back for the Wildcats. His role changed dramatically, as he became a stud linebacker stopping others from doing what he used to do — avoiding tackles. He finished his career with 229 tackles (24.5 for loss), had 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 4 fumble recoveries. On offense, he had 797 total yards and 9 TD. He had 75 tackles as a junior and 93 as a senior. Jarrard earned a baseball scholarship to play at Truett McConnell University.
AUSTIN JONES
Jones became one of the premiere players in the state of Georgia. The “Swiss Army Knife” as we often called him, Jones could change a game in any capacity as a go-to wide receiver, a ball hawk at the safety position, or flipping the field on a punt return as he often did. Jones was a core piece for a Wildcats team that made a State Championship game and the quarterfinals all four years he was on the team. The 3-time All-State player put up 2,282 career receiving yards with 24 TD. He also had 1,112 punt/kick return yards with another 5 TD, and all-told had 3,556 all-purpose yards with 31 scores. On defense, Jones tallied 354 tackles (18 for loss), had 10 interceptions, 15 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. Jones multiple D-I offers, and played a full career at Furman University. AUSTIN JONES CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
COLE KEENER
Keener really became a true playmaker as a junior, so he was a late bloomer in that regard. That season (2016), he 504 receiving yards and 5 TD, adding an interception on defense at the safety position. But no one predicted his crazy senior year. The Wildcat star earned All-State honors in the Championship Game season for Rabun, collecting 1,008 yards receiving with 13 TD, and had 388 kick return, 16 punt return, and 80 interception yards to give him a collective 1,492 all-purpose yardage season. But here’s where he was even better. At safety, he was a ball hawk who picked off 10 passes and deflected 8 others. He had 15 TDs (13 REC, 1 KR, 1 INT) and had 50 tackles that season. All told, he closed his career with 2,189 all-purpose yards and 22 TDs, as well as 11 interceptions and 74 tackles. COLE KEENER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
TAVARRES KING
The Habersham Central (c/o 2008) star receiver was far and away the best deep threat in the state during his incredible career. He led the Raiders to deep state playoff runs in his last two years, and gave the Raiders back-to-back Region Championships. King still holds almost every receiving record in school history, and is currently sixth in state history in career receiving yardage (3,270 yds) and third in state history for most in a single season (1,641 yds on 100 catches in 2007). He owns the top two spots in Habersham history with passes caught in a single game with 12 and 11, and the top spot in career catches (207) and single season (100). He also holds the Raiders mark for single game receiving yards (207), season receiving yards (1,641) and career (3,270), as well as season TDs (17) and career (37). He is one of only 13 Raiders to be a four-year letterman. King was named 1st Team All-State twice by GACA and by the AP and AJC, and was named 4A State Player of the Year by GACA twice and once each by the AP and AJC. TK went on to a stellar career at UGA that saw him become one of the top go-to targets for the Bulldogs in his last two seasons. He played so well that he was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2013 NFL Draft and saw time with the Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New York Giants, with whom he caught a TD pass in the NFC Playoffs in 2017. He played several years in the NFL.
MASON KINSEY
Kinsey was a gamer for the Raiders, morphing into a true leader on and off the field. No one had a better motor than him, and he almost never took a play off. He left Habersham as the second all-time leading receiver behind fellow BLITZ Hall of Famer Tavarres King, recording some 1,355 yards and 10 TDs, while adding 15 tackles and two interceptions. He had 718 yards (4 TD) as a senior in 2015 and 637 yards (6 TD) as a junior, and was twice an All-Region selection and once All-Area. He caught nine passes in a game on three separate occasions. Kinsey is third on the single-season and career reception list for Habersham, hauling in 54 passes as a senior and 82 overall. His career-best as a Raider came with a 9-rec, 175-yd performance in 2014. He also put up the third-best receiving total in a single season (in yards) with his 718 as a senior. He played at Berry College, where he followed his sophomore season as one of the top receivers in the country (77 rec, 1,245 yds, 17 TD; all Berry records) with an equally impressive junior season. He had 3,343 yards and 50 TD for Berry, both school records, and added 67 rush yds and 2 TD, as well as 587 kick/punt return yds and a TD. After his senior year, which saw him shatter all BC records for receivers, he was snagged up as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans. He played in several NFL preseason games, and caught a TD in Atlanta with the Titans. He’s currently in the Titans organization, and has been in 9 NFL regular season games with 2 catches for 9 yards and 100 kickoff return yards.
CAM LACY
Few players changed a game in as many ways as Cam Lacy did for Stephens County. His career saw him total 2,264 receiving yards and 22 TD on 119 receptions. He finished with 32 total TD, as he also had 1,270 kick/punt return yards and 7 TD. Defensively, he had 90 tackles and 6 interceptions, and was a 2-time All-State selection. His junior season saw him collect 1,023 receiving yards and 8 TD on 44 catches, and he had 857 and 11 on another 44 receptions as a senior, but also had 628 kick/punt return yards that season. Lacy was listed as a 3-star recruit and went on to play for Middle Tennessee State University. CAM LACY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
SHAWN LOVELL
Shawn Lovell was an undisputed leader on the Rabun County dynasty that made four straight Quarterfinal runs, including a State Championship in his junior 2017 season. It’s hard to quantify what he did, but Lovell at the center position took great pride in protecting his quarterback (Bailey Fisher & Gunner Stockton), or running back. Yes, the skill players get most of the glory, but what Lovell did in the trenches earned the praise of his teammates, and as Fisher (one of the state’s all-time best) once said, “he makes my job easy.” Lovell paved the way for 22,420 yards of offense throughout his time at Rabun, including 300 offensive touchdowns. For his efforts, he was honored with All-State recognition. Lovell earned a spot to play at Mars Hill.
ASHELY LOWERY
The White County star two-way athlete is in our Hall of Fame for both football and basketball. Lowery had a heck of a prep career on the gridiron, becoming one of the state’s most feared running back and defensive back. In his senior year in which the Warriors made the Sweet 16, Lowery ran for 1,340 yards with 15 TD (6.8 YPC). He added 258 receiving yards with a TD and passed for three more scores. On the flip side in 2010, he totaled 112 tackles and 2 interceptions. Despite his success, he was a self-less teammate who gives more credit to them than he does himself. His junior year was just as impressive, with 1,175 rushing yards and 12 scores (8.2 YPC). He goes down as perhaps the best to suit up for White County, and was twice named the BLITZ Player of the Year (2009, 2010). Lowery went on to play for the University of Kentucky as a safety, compiling over 150 career tackles and four interceptions as a Wildcat. ASHELY LOWERY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
JOSEPH MANCUSO
Mancuso silently became one of the top signal callers in the state of Georgia. He led his Union County Panthers to three straight state playoff trips and finished his prep career with 8,110 passing yards (10th in GHSA history) and 88 TD (5th in state history) with 2,048 rushing yards with 21 TD. His junior season included over 3,000 passing yards and 35 TD, with over 2,000 passing and 1,000 rushing in his encore performance. His 109 total TD rank third most all-time in Georgia. Mancuso, also a standout baseball player, was BLITZ Football Player of the Year in 2013 and Baseball Player of the Year in 2014. Mancuso’s career was pushed by a strong support system, including his loving family, and has excelled in overcoming adversity throughout his life. Mancuso played at the Univ. of Richmond. He was the star QB from 2019-2021, and finished with 5,696 passing yards and 40 TD along with 1,549 rushing yards and 19 TD for the Spiders. Mancuso then went pro to the Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League, throwing for 623 yards and 11 TD while rushing for 54 yards and 4 TD in 2023. JOSEPH MANCUSO CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
LUKE MARTIN
Luke Martin (6’3, 225 lbs) was a mainstay at LB for the Tigers during a pivotal part of the historic seasons under coach Sid Maxwell. Martin was an absolute monster on defense, collecting 328 tackles between just his junior and senior season, and finishing with well over 400 for his career. He added a pair of sacks and a few interceptions, and even had some cameo appearances at tight end, where he added a couple TDs and 122 yards. He had a school record 185 tackles (20 for loss) as a senior, and 133 (1) as a junior. The UNC-Charlotte linebacker was named All-State at Dawson as a senior, and earned 7-AAA Defensive Player of the Year honors. He was 1st Team All-Region three times. At UNC Charlotte, Martin finished with 150 tackles (4.5 TFL), a sack, 2 INT, a FF, and a TD.
ZACH MATTHEWS
Matthews was the all-time leading rusher at Lumpkin County (3,804 yards, 47 TD), and added some 100 tackles as a linebacker. In the run game though, he made his biggest contribution, averaging nearly six yards per carry. Matthews had to move from a fullback to a running back to a run-first quarterback, then back to fullback. While his role changed, his production did not. Matthews went to play at the University of West Georgia.
ZACH MATTHEWS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
TUCKER MAXWELL
Maxwell was a next-level talent in two sports (baseball & football) but wound up going pro in the former. However, he was a standout wide receiver for Dawson County in one season there, and fetched over 1,500 yards receiving with more than 20 TD in his football career. He added more than 30 tackles and 5 interceptions on defense. Maxwell, also a BLITZ HOFer in baseball, was a large reason why the Tigers won the 2015 region title and advanced to the Quarterfinals. Maxwell was a one-time Player of the Year (baseball), and went on to play baseball at UGA before being drafted by the Phillies in the 2019 MLB Draft. TUCKER MAXWELL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
CLAY NELSON
Clay Nelson was a 2-time First Team All-Region selection while anchoring the front line for the Raiders. Overall, he was a 3-time All-Region selection who graded out at 90% and registered 72 pancake blocks. Nelson went on to play college ball at Berry College.
KYLE OAKES
Kyle Oakes was a beast in his final two years at Towns County. Multiple times in both seasons he was the state’s rushing leader in Class 1A Public. He finished with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and took the Indians to new heights they hadn’t seen in decades. He finished his career with a 1,648-yd rushing season with 21 rushing scores in 2021, adding 147 in the receiving game with a pair of TDs. That gave him over 3K total yards and over 40 TD in his career!
KOLT OWENBY
Kolt Owenby has long been gone from Union County, but the Panthers’ QB was a true dual threat monster. Before Union ever had T Bentley, Joseph Mancuso, Cole Wright, Pierson Allison, Logan Helcher, or Caiden Tanner, the Panthers had an All-State talent in Owenby. He collected 92 total TD, including 37 total TD as a senior in 2009. He totaled 7,046 passing yards (59 TD) and 2,507 rushing yards (33 TD), slinging a lot to DI talent Blake Gowder. Owenby went on to play at the University of the Cumberlands.
LEVI PATE
At 5’11, 250 pounds, Pate may seem a little on the smaller side for a lineman. But he always played above that. Pate was named All-State at OL for Commerce AND All-State at DL, and was also a multi-All-Region selection on both sides of the trenches. The Harding University lineman played exclusively on offense, but was a beast who rarely if ever took a snap off as a Tiger. He graded out over 90 to the best of our knowledge, had over 150 pancake blocks, and over 150 career tackles.
BRYANT SHIRREFFS
Bryant Shirreffs led the Dragons to a State Championship in 2012, which is more than enough. He was reliable and solid for Jefferson, totaling 5,519 passing yards and 53 TD as well as 2,158 rushing yards and another 37 TD. That gave him 90 total TD exactly and nearly 8,000 yards of offense. Shirreffs had a short stay at NC State before transferring to UConn, where he had a stellar career that included passing for over 6,500 yards and rushing for over 1,000, combining for 37 TD (31 passing, 6 rushing).
MALAKI STARKS
Starks, a 5-star recruit who was at one point the nation’s top overall recruit, went on to UGA. First, he had a sensational career for the Dragons. Unselfishly, he took on the QB role in his junior and senior year after shining as a safety and running back as a freshman and sophomore. He ended up with over 3,200 total yards of offense and 49 total TD (2 receiving), and added 10 picks and 85 tackles on the flip side with another pair of scores. He led Jefferson to a state title game appearance as a junior in 2020. Starks was named an All-American and All-State selection two times. He was an All-American as a freshman on UGA’s 2022 National Championship team, picking off Bo Nix in his first-ever game in the season-opener. As a star defensive player, he racked up multiple All-SEC and All-American honors while becoming a 2-time Champion at UGA.
MALAKI STARKS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
GUNNER STOCKTON
The 4-time All-American and All-State player had arguably the greatest career in Georgia football history. He ended his career with the most total TD (254) and yards (18,024) as well as most passing TD (177) in state history. His 13,652 passing yards were second only to Trevor Lawrence, and he was 46-7 as a starter. His teams won 4 straight region titles and each season went to the Quarterfinals or deeper. He put up one of the all-time best seasons as a senior with 70 total TD (55 passing and 15 rushing). He had 4,134 passing yards and 956 rushing yards, and a career-best QBR of 151.9. He threw 55 TDs against just 1 interception. He went on to play at UGA, and was the nation’s top 5-star QB. He was pivotal to UGA’s 2022 National Championship as the Scout Team QB weekly. He got to shine in Georgia’s bowl game win in 2023, and has a stat line of 148 passing yards and 2 TD along with 63 rushing yards entering the 2024 season. GUNNER STOCKTON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
MASON SULLENS
Mason Sullens totaled 3,641 rushing yards and 53 TD, adding 255 receiving with another TD – giving him a grand total of 54 TD and 3,896 yards. He started showing out as a sophomore in limited reps, racking up 243 rushing yards and 2 TD in 2021. In his junior 2022 season, he became a household name with 1,101 rushing yards and 18 TD, adding 148 receiving and another score. Sullens became at one point the state’s leading rusher for several weeks in his special senior 2023 campaign. He rushed for a school record 2,281 yards (50th most in state history) and 33 TD while guiding the Indians to their first-ever Quarterfinals run and Region Championship. Sullens had 4 200-yard rushing games in his final season, including a school record 268 against White County with 4 TD in a 4 OT thriller. He had 3 4-TD games in that All-State season. Sullens left his mark as a two-time 1,000-yd back and one of the best to ever play for Lumpkin. Sullens went on to play for Andrew College. MASON SULLENS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
CHAZ THORNTON
Thornton was an electric running back for Stephens County, rushing for 6,309 career yards, surpassing Heisman Trophy Winner Herschel Walker’s career high school rushing totals to finish sixth all-time in the state standings. Thornton was the Region 8-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year, and named second team all-state after a solid senior season (1,756 yds, 24 TD). Three times he was an all-region, first-team pick. In his 2012 senior campaign at Stephens, Thornton averaged more than six yards per carry and nearly 160 rushing yards per game, adding two receiving scores. Thornton’s accolades includes an all-state selection by the AP, AJC, and Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) following his 2011 junior season in which he was also named 8-AAA Player of the Year. Thornton led the Indians to 30 wins in his four years, including four state playoff trips (one second round appearance). He went on to Georgia Southern as a two-star recruit, putting up 137 rushing yards with a TD in two partial seasons. CHAZ THORNTON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
COOPER TURNER
Cooper Turner set program records with 1,683 receiving yards and 11 TD catches. He was one of J Ben Haynes’ favorite targets to throw to. He approached 1,000 yards as a junior and had a solid senior season as well. Turner was a late-bloomer on the varsity scene, but did significant damage for the Warriors in his final two years at White County. His 110 career catches also has him atop the school record board (as well as single-game record of 10 receptions). He was twice named All-Region.
HARLEY VAUGHAN
Stats literally can’t show the impact of Harley Vaughan. He was an elite lineman throughout his time at Dawson County, and that was only the beginning. Vaughan was instrumental in getting the Tigers to the state playoffs as a senior, and became a two-time All-American at the University of West Georgia (where he holds the record for most games played/started), and thereafter he was invited to the Falcons Rookie Camp to have a shot to make it into the NFL.
JOSHUA WADE
Wade is one of the top lineman to play for the Raiders, and coach Benji Harrison claims he’s the best OL he has ever had in 20-plus years. A three-year starter, he was a two-time 1st Team All-Region pick, and was voted the team’s ’19 best offensive player. He graded out at 90+ every week, and recorded 50 pancake blocks as a senior in 2019. Wade went to Reinhardt as an OL at 6’2 and 285 pounds.
JACKSON WEBB
Jackson Webb may be one of the more underrated defensive players in the golden era of Rabun County football. A vital part of a state championship appearing Wildcats team. In total, the defensive end racked up 262 total tackles, including 40.5 for loss. He had 23.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a blocked kick.
COEY WATSON
No one played with more heart than Coey Watson, as he led the Dawson County Tigers when playing with knee and shoulder injuries, neither of which is easy when you’re a dual-threat quarterback. Watson closed his epic high school career with 6,928 passing yards and 65 touchdowns, adding another 2,002 rushing yards and 41 scores. In total, he amassed 8,930 yards of offense and 106 touchdowns. His name appears in the all-time leaders in passing yards in Georgia, as well as touchdowns. He took Dawson to the state playoffs in three out of four seasons as starter under center, including a quarterfinals run in his sophomore 2015 season. Watson went on to play a season at Shorter University. COEY WATSON CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
LANG WINDHAM
Lang Windham was a speedy back who got it done in the ground game and in the passing game. After a 1,378-yard sophomore season with 17 total TDs, he was set for a bigger junior year. In 2021, he had over 1,400 total yards, going for 812 on the ground (13 TD) and 664 yards receiving (9 TD). He closed his career with 4,431 total yards and 49 total TD. That includes 3,108 rushing yards and 35 TD. His senior season had a final tally of 918 rushing yards, 10 TD, and 162 receiving yards. He was part of a special run for Rabun County behind Gunner Stockton for a couple of years. LANG WINDHAM CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
CHARLIE WOERNER
Even as a freshman it was clear Charlie Woerner would be a stud athlete at Rabun County. The nephew of former UGA great Scott Woerner played under coach Lee Shaw for the Wildcats. To assign him as any other position on offense other than “Athlete” would be misleading. He was at one time a 1,000 yard rusher as a running back, but also collected a 1,000-yard receiving season as a wideout, and could line up as a tight end as well. He was just as dominant defensively, eliminating the deep threat and was always one of the first to the ball on every play. Woerner, a quiet and respectful young man, closed his prep career with four trips to the state playoffs (34 wins), including back-to-back region titles. He tallied over 5,000 yards of offense, accounting for 66 TD. He recorded 2,358 yds rushing (36 TD) & 2,703 receiving (30 TD). He also had 428 tackles (17 for loss) and 12 INT for 249 return yards. Woerner was our 2014 Football Player of the Year and Track Athlete of the Year in his sophomore year. Woerner had a solid career at UGA, where he played in the 2018 CFP National Championship. He had over 250 receiving yards and a TD, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Entering 2024, he’s played in 65 NFL games with 11 receptions for 120 yards as a primary blocking TE, and 25 tackles on special teams. He played in the 2024 Super Bowl for the 49ers before signing a big deal with the Atlanta Falcons. CHARLIE WOERNER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
COLBY WOOD
Wood was a phenomenal talent for the Dragons, rushing for 5,785 yards, and hauled in 852 receiving yards as well from the backfield. The elusive runner, all told, put up 89 total TDs and 6,637 yards of offense. He shined on defense as well, with 100+ tackles and 10 career interceptions, and was a 3-time All-State player. Wood initially went to Wofford, but did not play. COLBY WOOD CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
COLE WRIGHT
The dual threat QB Cole Wright ranked as one of the tops in the state in total yardage in his two years under center. Wright was backup his first two years at Union County, with former Panthers great and BLITZ Hall-of-Famer Joseph Mancuso in place at the QB position through 2015. Wright entered his 2016 junior year with only 160 passing yards (19/31 passing) with exactly no touchdowns and one interception. He put himself on the map with an excellent 2016 campaign that saw him throw for 1,853 yards and 15 TD, while rushing for 1,450 yards and 20 TD. His senior year was even better, as he threw for 1,938 yards and 19 TD, throwing just 3 picks and completing 57% of his passes. He rush for 1,140 yards with 14 TDs, averaging 10.5 yards per tote. His total (in just two years as starter) was 3,951 passing yards (34 TD) and 2,676 rush yards (35 TD), to give him a grand total of 6,000 offensive yards and 69 TDs. Wright went on to play at Army-West Point. COLE WRIGHT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BLITZ 