2019 GHSA STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Class AA
Brooks County vs. Dublin Friday, December 13 | 1:00 PM By Seth Ellerbee
B
BROOKS COUNTY 10-4, REGION 1 NO. 2 SEED
rooks County is riding momentum from its semifinal victory over Callaway, when it took a 20-0 lead early only to see it vanish when Callaway took a 35-26 lead late in the third quarter. The Trojans cut the lead to 35-33 and recaptured the lead with 8:14 left to take the 39-35 victory. Brooks is in its first finals appearance since its 1994 championship. The Trojans lost in the semifinals in 1997, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2017. Brooks County is relatively balanced and averages 230 rushing and 149 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback Ni’Tavion Burrus leads the offense and is 122-of-215 passing for 1,970 yards and 21 touchdowns with 130 carries for 658 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore back Omari Arnold leads the ground game and has 195 carries for 1,697 yards and 21 touchdowns. Sophomore Willie Brown, senior Raquan Manning and senior Devin Edwards are favorite wideouts.
2019 RESULTS MITCHELL COUNTY.....................................63-50 W CLINCH COUNTY..........................................38-14 L BAINBRIDGE................................................27-26 L DUBLIN........................................................49-35 L THOMAS COUNTY CENTRAL........................38-22 W B.E.S.T. ACADEMY.........................................54-8 W THOMASVILLE..............................................31-20 L
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EARLY COUNTY...........................................28-13 W FITZGERALD................................................28-24 W BERRIEN.......................................................42-6 W WASHINGTON COUNTY................................42-14 W ROCKMART...................................................41-3 W METTER.........................................................35-6 W CALLAWAY..................................................39-35 W
D
DUBLIN 13-1, REGION 3 NO. 1 SEED
ublin features one of the most prolific and productive backfields in the class, if not the state, and Brooks County’s defense will be tested by it. The Fighting Irish average 413 rushing and not quite 30 passing yards per game. Last week in the 55-45 semifinal victory over Thomasville, running back Jacques Evans, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior, rushed for 280 yards and five touchdowns — in the first half. He finished with 380 yards. On the season, Evans has rushed for 2,559 yards and 43 touchdowns to lead the running backs. Senior Zion Kemp and Marcus Adams will also threaten defenders from the backfield. Kemp, Adams and Evans have combined for over 5,000 yards and 70 touchdowns on the ground. Junior quarterback Markelle Mitchell has only attempted 27 passes and of his 13 receptions, seven went for touchdowns. He adds 55 carries for 148 yards and six touchdowns behind Dublin’s big three backs.
2019 RESULTS EMANUEL COUNTY INSTITUTE......................21-0 W SWAINSBORO.............................................35-13 W BROOKS COUNTY........................................49-35 W EAST LAURENS...........................................77-13 W BLECKLEY COUNTY.....................................41-32 W DODGE COUNTY............................................35-6 W SOUTHWEST................................................70-16 W
NORTHEAST................................................56-21 W SUWANNEE (FL)..........................................77-48 W WASHINGTON COUNTY.................................27-23 L EARLY COUNTY.............................................32-9 W BREMEN......................................................45-26 W HAPEVILLE CHARTER..................................35-12 W THOMASVILLE.............................................55-45 W
