As members of Georgia’s Region 5 in Class 3A, Cedar Grove and Sandy Creek entered Saturday’s state championship game very familiar with each other.
In 2021, Sandy Creek beat the Saints 40-35 during the regular season. However, CG rebounded the rest of the way and won their fourth state title in five years.
During their 2022 regular season game, Cedar Grove beat the Patriots 49-35 to win the regional title.
Everyone expected Saturday’s rubber-match to be a good one. The game didn’t disappoint.
Sandy Creek won the coin toss and took the ball, leading to a game-opening touchdown drive and a 1-yard scoring run by Travis Franklin.
.@TurnUpTravis with the TD 🏈🔥
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
1Q: @FBCedarGrove 0 @SCHSPatriots 7 #GPBSports pic.twitter.com/Fo3zLGI02t
The Saints, ranked No. 20 in the High School Football America 300, powered by NFL Play Football, tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter on Quinterio Lawson’s TD run.
.@teriolawson3 puts the Saints on the board 🏈
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
2Q: @FBCedarGrove 7 @SCHSPatriots 7 #GPBSports
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Cedar Grove led 10-7 at the half.
THE KICK IS GOOD FROM @AmariForte 👐
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
2Q: @FBCedarGrove 10 @SCHSPatriots 7 #GPBSports pic.twitter.com/NP3IhmXUg7
Sandy Creek, ranked No. 257 in our national rankings, regained the lead midway through the third quarter on quarterback Geimere Latimer’s TD run. Latimer completed 14 of 25 passes for 174 yards and ran 10 times for 53 yards and one touchdown.
.@LatimerGeimere with the KEEPER 🔥
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
3Q: @FBCedarGrove 14 @SCHSPatriots 10 #GPBSports pic.twitter.com/YmfsjENbKk
In the fourth quarter, Cedar Grove took a 17-14 lead on Ricky Lee’s TD run.
TOUCHDOWN @unoricky_ 🏈
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
4Q: @FBCedarGrove 17 @SCHSPatriots 14 #GPBSports pic.twitter.com/uPD3iG6rPS
The game-winning drive covered 70 yards over 12 plays with Franklin again scoring from a yard out.
TD 🏈🔥 @TurnUpTravis
— GPB Sports (@GPBsports) December 10, 2022
4Q: @FBCedarGrove 17 @SCHSPatriots 21 #GPBSports pic.twitter.com/BehrhjaxUy
Many questioned whether Franklin reached the end zone, however, the Georgia High School Association doesn’t use instant replay.