ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – This upcoming Sunday, Dec. 8, the largest event honoring the 2024 Georgia high school football and flag seasons will occur at the newly built Teamsters Local 728 event hall in Atlanta, featuring the inaugural Score Atlanta High School Football and Flag Awards. Scheduled from 3-5 p.m., the ceremony aims […]
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – This upcoming Sunday, Dec. 8, the largest event honoring the 2024 Georgia high school football and flag seasons will occur at the newly built Teamsters Local 728 event hall in Atlanta, featuring the inaugural Score Atlanta High School Football and Flag Awards.
Scheduled from 3-5 p.m., the ceremony aims to honor the exceptional athletes and coaches from the 2024 flag and tackle football seasons.
You can catch the live broadcast on the Peachtree Sports Network, with a streaming option available on the Atlanta News First app. To watch from home, simply download the free ANF+ app available on streaming platforms like FireTV, AppleTV, Roku, and YouTubeTV by searching for “Atlanta News First.” If you prefer to watch on the go, you can download Atlanta News First for free from the app store on your Apple or Android device. Additionally, you can view it live here on the WANF – Special Events channel.
The event will culminate with the announcement of the inaugural Mr. Georgia (sponsored by SMART Local 85) and Miss Georgia (sponsored by GeorgiaConstruction Careers.com) for both football and flag categories.
As Sunday approaches, five finalists for the Mr. and Miss Georgia Awards have been selected. Below, each of the five finalists will be presented alongside a summary of their achievements this season.
The selection process involved Score Atlanta collaborating with coaches throughout the state, as well as maintaining a weekly watch list that was updated consistently during the season. The two champions will be unveiled on Sunday, marking the end of the ceremony.
The 2024 All-Classification Teams and the Coaching Awards have been revealed and are summarized below. Drew Swick from Collins Hill and Jake Burgdorf of McEachern Flag Football were awarded the overall Coach of the Year honors, which are also presented by GeorgiaConstructionCareers.com. Furthermore, a coach has been honored from each of the eight football classifications, including one Assistant Coach of the Year per classification, and a Coach of the Year for each of the four divisions for flag football has been named. The Ricky Aspinwall Award, sponsored by Heat and Frost Insulators Local 48, will pay tribute to the beloved Apalachee assistant coach Ricky Aspinwall, who sadly lost his life on Sept. 4 at the age of 39 during a tragic school shooting.
There will also be awards for the Breakout Offensive and Breakout Defensive Player of the Year determined for both football and flag football. All awards, with the exception of the Mr. and Miss Georgia designations, will be featured below.
2024 MR. GEORGIA FOOTBALL FINALISTS
Milton, QB, Luke Nickel
As the season began, Nickel was selected as an AJC Super 11 pick and has consistently shone throughout the year. He has guided the Milton Eagles to their finest start since 1952, achieving a 10-0 regular season record. Notably, Nickel has done an excellent job distributing the ball, finding top playmakers Ethan Barbour, CJ Wiley, and Tristen Payne, each exceeding 400 yards in receiving this season. Nickel’s statistics include 2,312 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and a remarkable 66% completion rate. He stands out as one of the most effective passers statewide, positioning Milton as a contender for the state title in 5A. This year alone, he has triumphed over significant rivals like American Heritage (FL), Buford, Blessed Trinity, and Gainesville. Currently, Nickel is committed to the Miami Hurricanes.
Cedartown, ATH, Tae Harris
Harris completed his 2023 season as an all-state honoree recognized by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. In 2024, he raised his game and has consistently found a spot on the Mr. Georgia Watchlist each week this season. This year, he has achieved 800 rushing yards and 219 receiving yards, totaling 17 touchdowns. On the defensive side, he has recorded 63 tackles, four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown. Harris showcases his versatility through various offensive roles. He earned the Region 7-4A Player of the Year title and is considered one of the top athletes in the state on both sides of the field. He has contributed to Cedartown’s impressive 9-1 regular season record and is currently committed to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Lee County, RB, Ousmane Kromah
Ousmane Kromah of Lee County is wrapping up his remarkable high school career with another stellar season. A consensus 4-star recruit and Florida State commit, he has propelled Lee County to an unblemished regular season, finishing second in Class 5A rankings as per the AJC. Kromah’s stats for the season showcase 1,003 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, along with 467 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He made a late commitment to the Bulldogs after a competitive recruitment process involving Georgia, FSU, and Auburn. Kromah aims to enhance his already impressive accolades, which include being an AJC Super 11 pick, 2023 6A Offensive Player of the Year, 2023 AJC First Team All-State, and two South First Team All-State selections by GACA.
Savannah Christian, DL, Elijah Griffin
Among the top prospects from Georgia in the 2025 recruiting cycle, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound 5-star defensive tackle, Elijah Griffin from Savannah Christian, stands out. Known for his size and exceptional ability at the line of scrimmage, Griffin has asserted himself as one of the elite players in the state, and among the top recruits nationally. He is consistently ranked in the top-10 across major recruiting platforms and is recognized as one of the top-three players in the state. The senior has amassed 49 total tackles, leading his team with 24 tackles for loss over nine games this season. In mid-October, Griffin announced his commitment to Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Carrollton, QB, Julian Lewis
Julian Lewis boasts an impressive 29-1 record as Carrollton’s starting quarterback and has an overall record of 35-3 with the highly-ranked Trojans, culminating in a perfect 10-0 season. This season, he moved to the Class of 2025 and is just 239 yards (9,761) away from the 10,000 career passing yards milestone despite having just three varsity seasons. Lewis’s season stats include 2,549 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, achieving a career-high QB rating of 144.3 with a state-best 76.6% completion rate. His 132 touchdown passes place him fifth on the all-time list, behind renowned quarterbacks who were four-year starters. The 132 touchdowns are the most by any Georgia QB in their initial three seasons. His performance throughout the 2024 season earned him the Region 2-6A Player of the Year title, and he secured his third regional title notably with a 21-of-26 completion rate for 290 yards and two touchdowns against Douglas County. Additionally, Lewis has thrown six touchdowns in three separate games this season and has scored two rushing touchdowns.
2024 MISS GEORGIA FOOTBALL FINALISTS
Locust Grove, QB, Katie Smith – In her senior year, Smith has propelled Division 2 No. 1-ranked Locust Grove to an unblemished 20-0 record. She has successfully passed for 77 touchdowns and 3,444 yards with a completion rate of 308-of-501.
McEachern, QB, Chelsea Njoku – Njoku currently leads the state in passing yardage this season, guiding the Division 4 No. 1-ranked Indians to a perfect 23-0 record in her senior year. She has thrown 327-of-551 for 3,878 yards and 65 touchdowns, with only 12 interceptions.
Locust Grove, WR, Skylar Anderson – A junior receiver, Anderson has established herself as one of Smith’s preferred targets with 99 receptions totaling 1,107 yards and 21 touchdowns in this season, all contributing to Locust Grove’s No. 1 ranking in Division 2.
Milton, WR, Caroline Marshall – As only a sophomore, Marshall has created a strong impact with 71 receptions for 1,313 yards and 18 touchdowns. She has recorded over 100 receiving yards in three different games this season.
Harris County, QB, Madalynn Cauley – In her junior season, Cauley achieved a passing record of 259-of-368 for 3,224 yards and 53 touchdowns with merely eight interceptions, leading Division 1 No. 3 Harris County to an 18-4 record. She achieved a season-high five touchdown passes in a 47-0 win over LaGrange and in a 63-0 victory against Troup County, both occurring on Oct. 30.
FOOTBALL ALL-CLASSIFICATION TEAMS
OFFENSE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chattooga RB Zayden Cook
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Prince Avenue Christian RB Andrew Beard
KICKER OF THE YEAR: Colquitt County’s K Brett Fitzgerald
QB Luke Nickel (Milton)
QB Julian Lewis (Carrollton)
RB Ousmane Kromah (Lee County)
RB Brayden Tyson (Brookwood)
OL Alex Payne (Gainesville)
OL Mason Short (Evans)
OL Brandon Anderson (North Cobb)
OL Cortez Smith (Parkview)
OL Josh Petty (Fellowship Christian)
TE Elyiss Williams (Camden County)
TE Heze Kent (Brunswick)
WR CJ Wiley (Milton)
WR Landon Roldan (North Oconee)
WR Travis Smith Jr. (Westlake)
ATH Todd Robinson (Valdosta)
K Noah Godhard (Blessed Trinity)
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jonesboro S Cortez Redding
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Pebblebrook S KJ Green
EDGE Herbert Scroggins (Benedictine)
EDGE Andre Fuller (Grayson)
EDGE Waylon Allen (ACE Charter)
DT Gregory Jackson (Union Grove)
DT Elijah Griffin (Savannah Christian)
DT Sichan John (Hebron Christian)
LB Savion Husband (Mays)
LB Braxtyn Davies (Northgate)
LB Tyler Atkinson (Grayson)
CB Christopher Hatfield (Long County)
CB Terrious Favors (Carver-Atlanta)
CB Jontavius Wyman (Jonesboro)
S Tae Harris (Cedartown)
S Kortnei Williams (Northeast-Macon)
P William Bates (Ware County)
FOOTBALL HEAD COACHING AWARDS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Drew Swick (Collins Hill)
6A COACH OF THE YEAR: Luqman Salam (Harrison)
5A COACH OF THE YEAR: Brett Vavra (Sprayberry)
4A COACH OF THE YEAR: Dustin Adkins (Ola)
3A COACH OF THE YEAR: Marquis Westbrook (Peach County)
2A COACH OF THE YEAR: Winston Gordon (Hapeville Charter)
A-DIV. I COACH OF THE YEAR: Chad Cheatham (Fannin County)
A-DIV. II COACH OF THE YEAR: Dondrial Pinkins (Mitchell County)
PRIVATE COACH OF THE YEAR: Josh Alexander (Athens Academy)
FOOTBALL ASSISTANT COACH AWARDS
6A ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Greg Carswell (Grayson)
5A ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Jonathan Thompson (Lee County)
4A ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Ruark (Cedartown)
3A ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: John Amofah (Douglass)
2A ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Justin Newman (Carver-Columbus)
A-DIV. I ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Adam Turner (Fannin County)
A-DIV. II ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Doug Huff (Lincoln County)
PRIVATE ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Bruce Miller (Hebron Christian)
RICKY ASPINWALL AWARD: Ricky Aspinwall (Apalachee)
FLAG FOOTBALL ALL-CLASSIFICATION TEAMS
OFFENSE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Columbus QB Serenity Hickman
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: SE Bulloch QB Emma Cate Barron
QB Chelsea Njoku (McEachern)
C Catie Ricketson (Oconee County)
WR Alexandria Lofton (Columbus)
WR Caroline Marshall (Milton)
WR Alana Calhoun (Milton)
WR Lynn Thompson (Whitewater)
RB Kalayah Wesley (Dutchtown)
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Colquitt County LB Amareyia Knighton
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Therrell RUSHER Kaylee Pinkston
RUSH Angelina Williams (Locust Grove)
LB Serenity Hickman (Columbus)
LB Amareyiah Knighton (Colquitt County)
CB Caylnn Singletary (Colquitt County)
CB Aniya White (Paulding County)
S Shiann Carey (Wheeler County)
S Sierra Lowery (Calvary Day)
FLAG FOOTBALL COACHES AWARDS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jake Burgdorf (McEachern)
DIVISION I COACH OF THE YEAR: Marci Cochran (SE Bulloch)
DIVISION 2 COACH OF THE YEAR: Thomas Mills (Loganville)
DIVISION 3 COACH OF THE YEAR: Brandon Harwell (Blessed Trinity)
DIVISION 4 COACH OF THE YEAR: Kassie Smith (South Forsyth)
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