Class 5A: Thomas County Central 62, Gainesville 21

Recap: Deuce Lawrence set a state finals record with 380 yards rushing yards. He scored five touchdowns on 39 carries. Thomas County Central overwhelmed Gainesville with 667 total yards, 457 rushing, and averaged 8.6 yards per play. The Yellow Jackets scored touchdowns on their first two possessions, going 72 and 68 yards, and on their final five, plus two in the middle. The defense also played well. Cam Brooks had two sacks. Kobe Carnage intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble.

History: The previous rushing record in a final was 320 yards by Brooks County's Omari Arnold in 2021. Lawrence joined Arnold and Creekside's Dexter Knox in 2013 as the only players to score five touchdowns in a final. Thomas County Central's 62 points in a game are tied for second all-time with 2020 Warner Robins and 1971 Valdosta. (Mill Creek beat Carrollton 70-35 in 2022.) Thomas Central finished the season with 808 points, second most in history behind 2025 Creekside. Thomas Central became the ninth GHSA school to win seven state titles. It was the program’s second in three seasons. Thomas Central is 53-3 in coach Justin Rogers’ four seasons, the best record for a current senior class. (Carrollton and Bowdon also have 53 victories but with more losses). The 15-0 finish was Thomas Central’s third (also in 2023, 1997). Gainesville finished 12-3, losing in the final for the second time with its own fourth-year coach, Josh Niblett. Gainesville is 45-8 in Niblett’s four seasons.

Game Statistics

Thomas County Central - 14-7-20-21 - 62

Gainesville - 0-7-7-7 - 21

First quarter

T - Gary Pringle 27 pass from Jaylen Johnson (Carson Morales kick), 7:32

T - Johnson 9 run (Morales kick), 4:53

Second quarter

G - Cameron Jones 38 pass from Kharim Hughley (Logan Gailey kick), 9:10

T - Deuce Lawrence 8 run (Morales kick), 6:32

Third quarter

T - Pringle 40 pass from Johnson (Morales kick), 10:38

T - Johnson 27 run (kick failed), 4:23

G - Hughley 9 run (Gailey kick), 3:40

T - Lawrence 71 run (Morales kick), 3:22

Fourth quarter

T - Lawrence 45 run (Morales kick), 10:08

G - Hughley 59 run (Gailey kick), 8:54

T - Lawrence 20 run (Morales kick), 4:04

T - Lawrence 6 run (Morales kick), 2:08

 Rushing: Thomas County Central - Deuce Lawrence 39-380, Jaylen Johnson 11-75, Jordan McNeil 2-4, DJ White 1-3, Tre’Von Pringle 1-2, Jabari Watkins 1-(-7). Gainesville - Kharim Hughley 8-128, Dwight Lewis 11-32, Rex Greene 6-20, Xavier Griffin 1-6, Syr Hunter 2-6, Team 1-(-14).

Passing: Thomas County Central - Jaylen Johnson 14-22-1-165, Jabri Watkins 1-1-0-45. Gainesville - Kharim Hughley 6-22-3-113.

Receiving: Thomas County Central - Gary Pringle 4-89, Rodney Dunbar 4-61, Jabari Watkins 4-40, Deuce Lawrence 3-20. Gainesville - Cameron James 3-76, Philip Williams 1-20, Landon Williamson 1-13, Sergio Ruiz 1-4.