Tucker linebacker Gerry Vaughn (8) tracks down Northside quarterback Tobias Oliver in the Tigers’ 22-7 Class 6A semifinal victory last week. Vaughn leads a Tiger defense that will go toe-to-toe with Valdosta in the state championship game on Friday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The No. 4 ranked Tucker Tigers finish the season on the same field they started it as they take on Georgia’s version of “Title Town” in the No. 1 ranked Valdosta Wildcats at the Georgia Dome on Friday at 8:00 pm.

Valdosta (13-1) brings a storied state championship history (23 titles) into its first state championship game since a loss to Camden County in the 2003 and is believed to be the nation’s winningest high school program at 888 wins, 222 losses and 34 ties in 104 seasons (1913-2016).

Tucker (13-1) plays in just its fifth state championship tilt, but fourth since 2008 having won titles in 2008 (Marist 15-3) and 2011 (Lovejoy 22-7). Tucker has a pretty impressive overall record as well with 527 wins, 217 losses and 14 ties in 68 seasons (1949-2016) according to the Georgia Football Historians Association. The Tigers finished 14-1 in 2008 avenging its only loss of the regular season and was a perfect 15-0 in 2011.

The Tigers put together another big defensive effort to reach the semifinals allowing No. 5 ranked Northside of Warner Robins just 196 total yards in a 22-7 semifinal victory.

Valdosta capitalized on a pair of muffed punts against No. 2 ranked Dalton on the way to a 27-6 victory.

The two teams have faced three common opponents this season in Class 7A Colquitt County, No. 5 ranked Northside of Warner Robins and Stephenson. Tucker was 3-0 winning 21-20 at Colquitt, 31-0 against Stephenson and the 22-7 win over Northside last weekend.

Valdosta knocked off Northside 14-6, lost to Colquitt 35-24 and defeated Stephenson 31-21 last weekend.

Tucker has rushed for 3,468 yards (247.7/game) this season led by a pair of 1,000 yard rushers in senior Chris Broadwater (1,088 yards, 21 TDs) and junior Taurean Taylor (1,315, 16 TDs).

Senior quarterback Xavier Shephard has thrown for 1,632 yards (154-86-5, 56.0%) this season and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 181 and 3 TDs. His main target is junior wide receiver Josh Vann (57 receptions, 1,203 yards, 13 TDs). Vann’s 1,203 years receiving this season is third best for a DeKalb County receiver, his 13 TDs is tied for 7th on the DeKalb list, and his 57 receptions is 10th on the DeKalb list for a season. Vann has 1,787 career receiving yards and is just 187 yards off the career receiving list.

Tucker’s Taurean Taylor (with ball) has rushed for 1,300 yards this season. Taylor and teammate Chris Broadwater (1,088 yards) give the Tigers a 1-2 punch against Valdosta. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Place kicker Adam Lippy has 76 points this season and needs just two points in the championship game to break Ricky Peacock’s record of 77 at Tucker in 2008 to move into fourth all-time on the season kicking points list in DeKalb.

The Wildcats defense is led by senior linebacker James Bushware (96 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT) and junior linebacker Zakoby McClain (80 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 sacks). Senior defensive back Antwon Kincaide (69 tackles, 8 TFL) and senior defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell (46 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 sacks) are also key factors on the Valdosta defense.

Valdosta has two-headed quarterback attack led by junior Hunter Holt (973 yards passing, 12 TDs; 500 yards rushing) and senior Josh Belton (849 yards passing, 8 TDs; 302 rushing 2 TDs). Senior wide receivers JR Ingram (796 yard receiving, 3 TDS) and Jontae Baker (269 receiving, 2 TDs) provide threats down the field for the Wildcats.

Tucker’s defense has allowed just 211.4 yards of total offense per game during the playoffs while collecting 14 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss and 8 turnovers.

Junior linebacker Gerry Vaughn had 8 tackles against Northside last week and leads the Tigers with 75 tackles on the season along with 6 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks. Senior defensive lineman Aaron Sterling, who had a 44-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Northside, had 73 tackles and leads the team in sacks (14.5) and tackles for a loss (19.5) while senior linebacker Brian Strozier has 47 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

Junior defensive end Antonio Showers has 53 tackles, 9 sacks, 9 tackles for a loss, an interception, 3 caused fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. Junior safety Jalen Jefferson is third on the team in tackles with 71 and has three interceptions (game sealer against Northside) and 1 fumble recovery.

Valdosta holds a 9-1 record in the playoffs against DeKalb, including 5-0 in championship games, with Martin Luther King holding the only victory in the playoffs against the Wildcats, a 21-18 win in the 2007 second round.

DeKalb championship entries Tucker and Cedar Grove give DCSD two teams in the state championship round in the same season for the fifth time since Tucker (lost) and Avondale (won) in 1963. The other three times include 1972 (Lakeside and SW DeKalb both winning), 1981 (Columbia and Peachtree both losses) and 1991 (Cedar Grove loss, Lakeside co-champs).

Ten DeKalb teams have played for state titles winning 12, including two co-champions, led by Avondale (3, 1958, 1963, 1976), Lakeside (3, 1970, 1972, 1991), SW DeKalb (2, 1972, 1995) Tucker (2, 2008, 20011), Dunwoody (1, 1993) and Redan (1, 1979). Cedar Grove (1991), Columbia (1981), Lithonia (1969) and Peachtree (1981) all reached the finals before falling.

Tucker is the only team to have played for a state title since 1996 loss by Lakeside and the only team to win state titles (2) since Southwest DeKalb’s 1995 championship until Cedar Grove reached the Class AAA final this year.

DCSD FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, DEC. 9
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
GEORGIA DOME
CLASS 6A
Tucker (13-1) vs. Valdosta (13-1), 8:00 pm

CLASS 3A
Cedar Grove (12-2) vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (13-1), 1:00 pm