Finally, to close out the fall-all area series is football.Three Athens-area teams made it to Mercedes Benz Stadium, but only one came out with the trophy. North Oconee won their first ever state title, defeating Marist 14-7 in a heated battle late night one for Class 4A.Prince Avenue Christian, a frequent flyer in the championships and back-to-back champion in 2022 and 2023, and Jefferson, who hadn't been to the title game since 2020, took up the schedule on day three, though neither came out with success as Hebron Christian and Calhoun dominated the gridiron in Class A-3A Private and Class 3A, respectively. This is the second time in five years that the Wolverines have lost a state championship game — the other time was in 2021 against Trinity Christian.Cedar Shoals and Commerce will field new coaches in 2025, while Clarke Central transfer quarterback Hezekiah Millender signed with the University of Georgia, the first Gladiator skill player to do so since 2003. Athens Academy's perfect showing was cut early in the playoffs, as was Jackson County's best run since 1992, and Bethlehem Christian managed to get long-awaited revenge on Tattnall Square before they fell from the bracket.All in all, it was another successful fall season in the Classic City, and there's lots to be proud of headed into the new year. Here are the 2024 Athens high school football all-area players.Best Athens-area high school football players for the 2024 seasonApalacheeFavian Williford, senior, running backJason White, senior, tight endDamon Hale, senior, defensive linemanJadon Brown, senior, outside linebackerAustin Pyle, senior, kicker/punterNorman Robinson, senior, linebackerRyan Hansen, junior, linebackerIsaiah Hooks, offensive/defensive linemanAthens AcademyJeremiah Wingfield, senior, linebackerHampton Johnson, senior, quarterbackJamari Welch, senior, running backBryan McClendon, senior, wide receiverKJ Whitehead, senior, defensive backCrawford Grow, senior, tight endJohn Humphries, senior, offensive linemanHank Stephens, senior, offensive linemanBuck Talley, junior, offensive linemanCash Cowart, junior, linebackerElijah Echols, junior, defensive linemanTucker Rhodes, junior, linebackerKeyon Standifer, sophomore, wide receiver/defensive backJalen Welch, sophomore, linebackerAbhi Chawla, sophomore, defensive linemanAthens ChristianBryson Campbell, senior, wide receiverHarper Ford, sophomore, running backLayden Bryson, sophomore, quarterbackSeth Cummings, sophomore, wide receiverBethlehem ChristianTristian Puckett, senior, tight end/wide receiver/outside linebackerZeke Clanton, senior, running back/linebackerJohnny Blue, senior, wide receiverCaleb Craft, senior, linebacker/running backColin Oates, senior, tight endAndrew Delorenzo, senior, wide receiverCoy Buckner, senior, quarterbackAsa Swift, junior, running backCedar ShoalsTim Gresham, senior, offensive linemanMarcus Lawrence, senior, linebackerAnthony Hall, senior, linebackerDexter Thompson, junior, defensive backJeffery Bailey, junior, linebackerTobias Lay, junior, wide receiverDorian Thrasher, junior, wide receiverKeelin McLendon, freshman, quarterbackClarke CentralHezekiah Millender, senior, quarterbackCorey Watkins Jr., senior, running backXayvian Berry, senior, tight endTekit Gill, senior, defensive backSkylier Walter Jr., senior, outside linebackerChandler Wilson, senior, tight endJackson Mullen, senior, tight endLaiji McCalla, senior, defensive linemanKelin Fanning, senior, inside linebackerAnthony Lonon Jr., junior, defensive linemanLa'gracion Little, sophomore, running backCommerceTysean Wiggins, senior, running backMac Mullis, senior, defensive backJaiden Daniels, senior, running back/quarterbackJacari Huff, senior, running backSeth Rainey, senior, tight endMichael Duncan, senior, offensive linemanDante Smith-Hernandez, senior, offensive linemanJeremiah 'Pap' Mintz, senior, defensive linemanBryson Fleeman, senior, tight endBraxton Epps, senior, offensive linemanBoston Brown, senior, offensive linemanWill Harden, senior, linebackerAdam Calderon, junior, kickerTalan Hale, junior, linebackerTy Sorrels, sophomore, defensive backCaden McWilliams, sophomore, linebackerJace Lyle, sophomore, defensive backEast JacksonAaronn Blackmon, senior, defensive linemanLester Jenkins, senior, defensive linemanFletcher Brinkman, senior, punterChase Wingfield, junior, linebackerKole Smith, junior, linebackerGray Albritton, junior, punter/kickerJamarion Parks, junior, running backBranturan Callahan, junior, wide receiverDrew Richardson, junior, quarterback/wide receiver/defensive backBrady Saunders, junior, wide receiverBrooks Saunders, junior, wide receiverPaul Jenkins, junior, defensive linemanJackson CountyJosh Mendoza, senior, defensive linemanCarson Odom, senior, kicker/punterLuke Mobbs, senior, inside linebackerCooper Galley, senior, defensive backCaden Daniels, senior, wide receiverJacob Coombs, senior, wide receiverKane Berryman, senior, outside linebackerWren Skinner, junior, tight endTripp Brown, junior, tight endSlade Swierczek, junior, defensive linemanDeacon Wiley, junior, outside linebackerRJ Knapp III, junior, quarterbackDaylan Maxwell, sophomore, quarterbackRobert Spry, sophomore, wide receiverJeffersonGavin Markey, senior, quarterbackRett Hemphill, senior, linebackerJoshua Causey, senior, running backTalan Childress, senior, wide receiverAshley Eckert, senior, offensive linemanJohn Morgan Kinney, senior, offensive linemanTyler Oglesby, senior, offensive linemanKelan Butler, senior, defensive linemanJayden Yang, senior, defensive linemanMickell Puttman, senior, running backLi'randy Martin, senior, running backDashaun Keith, senior, defensive backDallas Russell, junior, running backDalton Dye, junior, wide receiverTayor McCall, junior, kicker/punterChance Payne, junior, defensive backMax Brown, sophomore, linebackerMadison CountyJustin Smith, senior, offensive linemanBrady Collier, senior, offensive linemanCarson Craig, senior, defensive backTrynt Latimore, junior, running backDa'Shun Brown, junior, running backCason Hillsman, junior, defensive backMax Miller, junior, linebackerJR Harris, sophomore, defensive linemanGarrett Smith, sophomore, linebackerMonsignor Donovan CatholicDylan Arnold, seniorJaiden Foote, juniorKade Evans, juniorTimothy Tyler, juniorChris Velasco, freshmanCharlie Wentworth, freshmanNorth OconeeLandon Roldan, senior, wide receiverCarter Mink, senior, offensive linemanPatrick Elliott, junior, defensive linemanAJ Fick, junior, defensive linemanMaddox Brice, junior, linebackerLuke Burnett, junior, linebackerCharlie Hawkins, junior, defensive backDarien Elder, junior, offensive linemanNolan Bloom, junior, defensive linemanKhamari Brooks, junior, linebackerHarrison Faulkner, junior, quarterbackDallas Dickerson, junior, wide receiverBraxton Goolsby, junior, wide receiverOconee CountyZach Week, senior, linebackerAsher Broadnax, senior, offensive linemanTitus Watkins, senior, quarterbackTyler Garrett, senior, defensive linemanCole Johnson, senior, defensive backJames Holland, senior, wide receiverGavin MacDonald, senior, defensive linemanKmari Morrow, senior, defensive linemanBryce Queen, senior, punterConner Jackson, junior, linebackerCaiden Wood, junior, running backNate Nelson, junior, offensive linemanMason Hall, sophomore, tight endBryce Hudson, sophomore, offensive linemanOglethorpe CountyReid Coley, senior, offensive linemanDarius Heard, senior, athletePayton Prince, junior, running backBrock Barrett, junior, offensive lineBraxton Edmondson, junior, punterPrince Avenue ChristianChristian Garrett, senior, defensive linemanGaines Scoggins, senior, defensive backThornton Hester, senior, wide receiverCaleb Chandler, senior, offensive linemanJake Atha, senior, offensive linemanJack Lanier, senior, defensive linemanMac Bradley, senior, linebackerKyler Giddens, senior, linebackerMason Townsend, junior, offensive linemanCJ Dockery, junior, wide receiverBrice Williamson, junior, tight endAndrew Beard, sophomore, running backHudson Hill, sophomore, running backJudd Shoemaker, sophomore, defensive backColin Durning, sophomore, linebackerWestminster ChristianAsa Morecraft, juniorJosiah Richards, juniorNoah Goodwin, juniorEzra Fish, juniorEthan Townsend, juniorColin Greene, juniorMikey Asher, sophomoreEl Barnett, sophomoreWinder-BarrowAidan Scott, senior, offensive/defensive linemanJamarcus Hester, senior, inside linebackerCameron Gresham, senior, inside linebackerCamden Hodge, senior, quarterbackMason Woods, senior, offensive linemanMatt Greiner, senior, defensive linemanDemetrius 'MJ' Dowdy, junior, running backKenyan Glasper, junior, running backXavier McCoy, junior, outside linebackerLondon Munoz, sophomore, wide receiverGiovanni Tuggle, freshman, defensive back

Cooper Galley, senior, defensive backMason Woods, senior, offensive linemanTyler Garrett, senior, defensive lineman Zeke Clanton, senior, running back/linebackerJack Lanier, senior, defensive lineman Best Athens-area high school football players for the 2024 season Apalachee Harper Ford, sophomore, running backIsaiah Hooks, offensive/defensive linemanMax Brown, sophomore, linebackerGarrett Smith, sophomore, linebackerKane Berryman, senior, outside linebackerJosiah Richards, juniorGiovanni Tuggle, freshman, […]

Cooper Galley, senior, defensive backMason Woods, senior, offensive linemanTyler Garrett, senior, defensive lineman

Zeke Clanton, senior, running back/linebackerJack Lanier, senior, defensive lineman

Best Athens-area high school football players for the 2024 season

Apalachee

Harper Ford, sophomore, running backIsaiah Hooks, offensive/defensive linemanMax Brown, sophomore, linebackerGarrett Smith, sophomore, linebackerKane Berryman, senior, outside linebackerJosiah Richards, juniorGiovanni Tuggle, freshman, defensive back

Johnny Blue, senior, wide receiver

Athens Academy

Skylier Walter Jr., senior, outside linebackerBrock Barrett, junior, offensive lineCorey Watkins Jr., senior, running backKade Evans, junior

Dallas Dickerson, junior, wide receiverMason Townsend, junior, offensive linemanThornton Hester, senior, wide receiverJamari Welch, senior, running backTripp Brown, junior, tight end

RJ Knapp III, junior, quarterbackTysean Wiggins, senior, running backKenyan Glasper, junior, running backDa’Shun Brown, junior, running backEthan Townsend, juniorMason Hall, sophomore, tight end

Athens Christian

Judd Shoemaker, sophomore, defensive backJeffery Bailey, junior, linebackerLondon Munoz, sophomore, wide receiverHampton Johnson, senior, quarterback

Bethlehem Christian

Titus Watkins, senior, quarterbackJacob Coombs, senior, wide receiver

Jeremiah ‘Pap’ Mintz, senior, defensive linemanJacari Huff, senior, running backLuke Burnett, junior, linebackerTalan Childress, senior, wide receiverNorman Robinson, senior, linebackerDashaun Keith, senior, defensive back

Cedar Shoals

Dylan Arnold, seniorCharlie Hawkins, junior, defensive backDalton Dye, junior, wide receiverMac Bradley, senior, linebackerCharlie Wentworth, freshmanFletcher Brinkman, senior, punterMichael Duncan, senior, offensive lineman

Reid Coley, senior, offensive lineman

Clarke Central

KJ Whitehead, senior, defensive backBranturan Callahan, junior, wide receiverAnthony Lonon Jr., junior, defensive linemanAJ Fick, junior, defensive linemanNolan Bloom, junior, defensive linemanSlade Swierczek, junior, defensive linemanHudson Hill, sophomore, running backJR Harris, sophomore, defensive linemanMikey Asher, sophomoreJames Holland, senior, wide receiverBrady Collier, senior, offensive lineman

Commerce

Kelan Butler, senior, defensive linemanLayden Bryson, sophomore, quarterbackSeth Rainey, senior, tight endPayton Prince, junior, running backJoshua Causey, senior, running backBrady Saunders, junior, wide receiverBuck Talley, junior, offensive linemanTalan Hale, junior, linebackerBryson Campbell, senior, wide receiverRyan Hansen, junior, linebackerAshley Eckert, senior, offensive linemanMickell Puttman, senior, running backTimothy Tyler, junior

Cameron Gresham, senior, inside linebackerAsa Swift, junior, running backJackson Mullen, senior, tight endJamarion Parks, junior, running back

East Jackson

Andrew Delorenzo, senior, wide receiverKeyon Standifer, sophomore, wide receiver/defensive backAustin Pyle, senior, kicker/punterJaiden Daniels, senior, running back/quarterbackChance Payne, junior, defensive backLi’randy Martin, senior, running backCaleb Craft, senior, linebacker/running backXavier McCoy, junior, outside linebackerAaronn Blackmon, senior, defensive lineman

Cole Johnson, senior, defensive backGaines Scoggins, senior, defensive backKole Smith, junior, linebacker

Jackson County

Seth Cummings, sophomore, wide receiverMax Miller, junior, linebackerColin Durning, sophomore, linebackerTrynt Latimore, junior, running backDorian Thrasher, junior, wide receiverBraxton Edmondson, junior, punterJamarcus Hester, senior, inside linebackerDante Smith-Hernandez, senior, offensive linemanMatt Greiner, senior, defensive linemanFavian Williford, senior, running back

Marcus Lawrence, senior, linebackerCason Hillsman, junior, defensive backElijah Echols, junior, defensive linemanJalen Welch, sophomore, linebacker

Jefferson

Rett Hemphill, senior, linebackerLuke Mobbs, senior, inside linebackerDaylan Maxwell, sophomore, quarterbackJadon Brown, senior, outside linebackerAidan Scott, senior, offensive/defensive linemanBoston Brown, senior, offensive linemanXayvian Berry, senior, tight endWill Harden, senior, linebackerAnthony Hall, senior, linebackerJosh Mendoza, senior, defensive linemanZach Week, senior, linebackerTobias Lay, junior, wide receiverCaleb Chandler, senior, offensive linemanTekit Gill, senior, defensive backTim Gresham, senior, offensive linemanCamden Hodge, senior, quarterbackDrew Richardson, junior, quarterback/wide receiver/defensive back

Madison County

Chandler Wilson, senior, tight endAll in all, it was another successful fall season in the Classic City, and there’s lots to be proud of headed into the new year. Here are the 2024 Athens high school football all-area players.Bryce Hudson, sophomore, offensive linemanBrice Williamson, junior, tight endColin Greene, juniorHank Stephens, senior, offensive linemanBryce Queen, senior, punterTy Sorrels, sophomore, defensive backJason White, senior, tight end

Monsignor Donovan Catholic

Mac Mullis, senior, defensive backJeremiah Wingfield, senior, linebackerCaden McWilliams, sophomore, linebackerAsa Morecraft, juniorNoah Goodwin, juniorLa’gracion Little, sophomore, running back

North Oconee

Caden Daniels, senior, wide receiverConner Jackson, junior, linebackerCarter Mink, senior, offensive linemanMaddox Brice, junior, linebackerBraxton Goolsby, junior, wide receiverPatrick Elliott, junior, defensive linemanDarien Elder, junior, offensive linemanChris Velasco, freshmanLandon Roldan, senior, wide receiverNate Nelson, junior, offensive linemanGavin Markey, senior, quarterbackCJ Dockery, junior, wide receiverCrawford Grow, senior, tight end

Oconee County

Jake Atha, senior, offensive linemanHarrison Faulkner, junior, quarterbackGavin MacDonald, senior, defensive linemanBrooks Saunders, junior, wide receiverDemetrius ‘MJ’ Dowdy, junior, running backThree Athens-area teams made it to Mercedes Benz Stadium, but only one came out with the trophy. North Oconee won their first ever state title, defeating Marist 14-7 in a heated battle late night one for Class 4A.Finally, to close out the fall-all area series is football.Robert Spry, sophomore, wide receiverBryan McClendon, senior, wide receiverCaiden Wood, junior, running backAdam Calderon, junior, kickerDexter Thompson, junior, defensive backJaiden Foote, juniorTyler Oglesby, senior, offensive lineman

Oglethorpe County

El Barnett, sophomoreCoy Buckner, senior, quarterbackJohn Humphries, senior, offensive linemanDallas Russell, junior, running backDeacon Wiley, junior, outside linebacker

Prince Avenue Christian

Kmari Morrow, senior, defensive linemanHezekiah Millender, senior, quarterbackLester Jenkins, senior, defensive linemanBraxton Epps, senior, offensive linemanAndrew Beard, sophomore, running backKeelin McLendon, freshman, quarterbackJustin Smith, senior, offensive linemanBryson Fleeman, senior, tight endTayor McCall, junior, kicker/punterJohn Morgan Kinney, senior, offensive linemanKyler Giddens, senior, linebackerAsher Broadnax, senior, offensive linemanCash Cowart, junior, linebackerCarson Craig, senior, defensive backJace Lyle, sophomore, defensive back

Westminster Christian

Gray Albritton, junior, punter/kickerWren Skinner, junior, tight endAbhi Chawla, sophomore, defensive linemanTristian Puckett, senior, tight end/wide receiver/outside linebackerChase Wingfield, junior, linebackerKhamari Brooks, junior, linebackerEzra Fish, juniorDamon Hale, senior, defensive lineman

Winder-Barrow

Tucker Rhodes, junior, linebackerDarius Heard, senior, athleteCarson Odom, senior, kicker/punterChristian Garrett, senior, defensive linemanCedar Shoals and Commerce will field new coaches in 2025, while Clarke Central transfer quarterback Hezekiah Millender signed with the University of Georgia, the first Gladiator skill player to do so since 2003. Athens Academy’s perfect showing was cut early in the playoffs, as was Jackson County’s best run since 1992, and Bethlehem Christian managed to get long-awaited revenge on Tattnall Square before they fell from the bracket.Jayden Yang, senior, defensive linemanColin Oates, senior, tight endLaiji McCalla, senior, defensive linemanKelin Fanning, senior, inside linebackerPaul Jenkins, junior, defensive linemanPrince Avenue Christian, a frequent flyer in the championships and back-to-back champion in 2022 and 2023, and Jefferson, who hadn’t been to the title game since 2020, took up the schedule on day three, though neither came out with success as Hebron Christian and Calhoun dominated the gridiron in Class A-3A Private and Class 3A, respectively. This is the second time in five years that the Wolverines have lost a state championship game — the other time was in 2021 against Trinity Christian.