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

For the Love of the Game by Ashley 'A.B.' Brown 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.  Georgia Class AA State Championship Game  4 p.m. Tuesday, December 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta  Burke County (13-1) vs. Carver-Columbus (14-1)  Head Coaches   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   Top Players  Burke County  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  Carver-Columbus  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.   Burke County 23 Carver Columbus 21  South Carolina Class AA State Championship Game  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   Top Players  Barnwell   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  Clinton   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