Two local high schools playing for state titles in Georgia and South Carolina

Two CSRA football teams will be playing for state titles .

The high school football season is over for most teams in Georgia and South Carolina. However, a couple of local teams are still alive and find themselves one victory away from being fitted for state championship rings.  

Burke County went on the road and beat a very good Rockmart squad 35-22 to improve to 13-1 and advances to the GHSA Class AA title game on December 17. Barnwell also moved to 13-1 as Brian Smith’s squad knocked off Manning 37-14 to reach the South Carolina Class AA title game on December 12. 

Here is a breakdown of each matchup. 

4 p.m. Tuesday, December 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta 

Burke County (13-1) vs. Carver-Columbus (14-1) 

Burke County: Franklin Stephens  

 Second season at Burke County (21-4) 

18th season overall (177-42 with two state titles) 

Carver-Columbus: Pierre Coffey  

Third Season at Carver-Columbus (32-8) 

Eighth season overall (67-28) 

Points Per Game: 

Burke County: 41.9 ppg Carver-Columbus: 39.6 ppg 

Points Allowed: 

Burke County: 18.9 average Carver-Columbus: 6.5 average  

A’merre Williams (junior RB): 

159 Carries for 1,674 yards and 31 touchdowns 

17 Receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns 

Sean Vandiver (junior QB): 

86/132 (65%) for 1,817 Yards and 18 touchdowns (only four interceptions) 

84 carries for 536 yards and 13 touchdowns 

Kel’Von Scott (senior Athlete): 

72 carries for 765 yards and nine touchdowns 

30 receptions for 685 yards and eight touchdowns 

Two kick return touchdowns and an interception return touchdown 

Tristan Givens (junior DE): 

Four-star recruit and tenacious defender 

Leads a defense that allowed 54 yards and 6 Points to a high-powered Appling County team in the state semi-finals. 

Has over two dozen Division I scholarship offers, including FSU, Miami, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Michigan 

Jakobe Caslin (junior RB): 

Only 5 feet 9 inches and 160 lbs. but super quick, Caslin rushed for over 1000 yards as a junior. 

Braylon Jakes (Sr. WR): 

Jakes is a big time wide receiver and leading target on a team that loves to put the ball in the air. He has multiple scholarship offers from small college programs.  

2 p.m. Thursday, December 12 at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina 

Barnwell (13-1) vs. Clinton (11-2) 

Head Coaches 

 Barnwell: Brian Smith 

Second season at Barnwell (21-6) 

21st season overall (131-106) 

Clinton: Corey Fountain 

Sixth season at Clinton (52-19) 

11th season overall (108-31 with two state titles) 

Points Per Game: 

Barnwell 30.1 ppg Clinton 40.5 ppg 

Points Allowed: 

Barnwell 10.4 average Clinton 20.0 average  

Cam Austin (senior QB) 

139/ 214 for 2058 yards and 19 touchdowns (only six interceptions) 
152 carries for 755 yards and 16 touchdowns 

Nehemiah Brown (junior RB) 

223 Carries for 1089 yards and 11 touchdowns 

Tushawan Richardson (senior QB) 

61/112 (55%) for 1059 yards and 12 touchdowns (only two interceptions) 

66 carries for 589 yards and six touchdowns 

Javen Cook (junior RB) 

185 carries for 1639 yards and 21 touchdowns 

Barnwell 33 Clinton 27