Two big football coaching changes took place Thursday as Cedartown fired Jamie Abrams, who won 50 games and three region titles in his five seasons, and Flowery Branch hired Michael Perry, a Hall County native who led Union County the past four seasons. By far more surprising was Cedartown’s decision to part ways with Abrams, whose five-season record was 50-14.

Milton quarterback Luke Nickel was so reliable and his team so good that his playoff performance came and went, much like his career, without its proper due. His 20 touchdown passes are a state playoff record, by the way. And they came without an interception.

Terrance Banks, who led Class A Greene County to 10-2 and 8-3 finishes in his two seasons there, is Central Gwinnett’s new football coach. Gwinnett County Schools approved the hire Friday. Banks will replace Larry Harold, who was 12-18 in three seasons.

With one announcing on Christmas, the other on New Year’s Day, two Wisconsin high school football players say they plan to enroll at two-time state champion Milton for the 2025 season. It’s not unusual in Georgia for high-profile high school athletes to transfer, especially to destinations such as Milton, which finished No. 2 in six national polls this season.

Chris Prewett, who led Roswell to 50 wins and two region titles in five seasons, was announced as Dalton’s football coach Friday morning. Dalton, coming off an 0-10 season, is a traditionally strong program that has been mostly mediocre since reaching the Class 6A semifinals in 2016.

North Oconee, Toombs County and Hebron Christian are No. 1 in final AJC/GHSF Daily rankings for the first time after winning their first state championships this week. Milton and Bowdon repeated as champions, while Grayson, Calhoun and Carver of Columbus added to their numbers.

Grayson sacked Carrollton star quarterback Julian Lewis five times, intercepted him twice, forced him to fumble and made his team one-dimensional, holding the No. 1-ranked Trojans to 43 rushing yards in a 38-24 victory. Grayson won its fourth state title, first since 2020, and improved to 4-0 in championship games.

Calhoun scored on its first two possessions for a 14-0 lead and held Jefferson to 225 total yards while forcing four turnovers in winning its fifth state championship, first since 2017 and first under sixth-year coach Clay Stephenson.

Hebron Christian scored on five straight possessions in the first half to take a 35-7 lead and won its first state championship in its 17th varsity season. Devon Caldwell rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Stallworth passed for 172 yards and rushed for 84 and scored four touchdowns.

McEachern capped off its undefeated season with its first state championship after losing in the quarterfinals the past three seasons. “We finally finished the mission,” coach Jake Burgdorf said. “That’s been our motto this season - unfinished business - and we found a way to get it done.”

Milton set a state finals record with 671 total yards while producing a 400-yard passer (Luke Nickel), two 100-yard receivers (Ethan Barbour, Tristen Payne) and one 200-yard rusher (T.J. Lester) in a 56-35 victory over Hughes in the Class 5A championship game Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.