A battle of Top 10 ranked Class 3A football programs is set for 12:00 pm at Georgia State University’s Center Parc Stadium on Saturday as the No. 5 ranked Cedar Grove Saints collide with Region 5-3A foes and No. 8 ranked Carver-Atlanta Panthers.

The Saints (11-3) reached the state championship round for the fourth time in six seasons via a 27-6 win over Appling County (12-2) last Friday night at “Buck” Godfrey Stadium. Quarterback Jamar Graham threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and senior running back Rashod Dubinion added a rushing touchdown in the win.

The defense limited Appling to a pair of field goals led by senior defensive lineman Christian Miller who stopped up the middle of the line getting penetration and a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Miller also had a late fumble recovery to go with an interception by Gary Turner in the final 3:26 of the game to help seal the trip to the finals.

Cedar Grove takes on a familiar opponent in the Carver Panthers (11-2). Carver is one of the Saints’ Region 5-3A foes. The Saints one the regular season meeting 17-0 at Lakewood back in September and own an 8-1 record over the Panthers.

Carver, the Region 5-3A runner-up to Cedar Grove, advanced to the state title game with a 19-17 road win over defending state champ Pierce County last Friday night. The Panthers jumped out 19-3 and held off a late charge by the reigning champs. Pierce pulled within 19-17 with about two minutes to play in the game and a two-point conversion was stopped by Carver to preserve the victory.

The Saints are led on offense by Dubinion with 1,626 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. He is the second all-time leading rusher in Cedar Grove history and 21st overall in DeKalb. Quarterback Jamar Graham has thrown for 1,356 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Seniors Trevon Ferrell (32 catches, 672 yards, 10 TDs) and Janiran Bonner (42 catches, 670 yards, 7 TDs) have benefitted from Graham’s and freshman QB Elliot Colson (703 yards, 8 TDs) passing prowess. Cedar Grove has scored 182 points in four games on the road to the finals for an average of 45.5 per game.

The Panthers’ defense is led by a pair of senior linebackers Devonte Amasiani (140 tackles) and Dialo Mosley (122 tackles). They are joined by defensive end Terrell Lightfoot (50 tackles, 32 TFL). Carver has allowed an average of 14 points per game in the playoffs.

Cedar Grove’s defensive unit has allowed just 22 points per game in the postseason limiting their opponents to 5.5 points. The junior linebacking duo of Everett Roussaw (82 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 INTs) and Quinterio Lawson (80 tackles, 3 sacks) are a force in the front lines. Junior Adonijah Green (73 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 1 INT) coming off the edge and defensive tackle Christian Miller (47 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 16.5 TFL, 3 FR) clogging up the middle give the Saints a big twosome up front.

The Saints defense will be tasked with slowing down a Panthers’ ground attack averaging over 350 yards per game behind a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in senior running backs Jarveous Brown (1,490 yards, 8 TDS) and Quintavious Lockett (1,258 yards, 15 TDs). Quarterback Bryce Bowen is also dangerous with his arm having thrown for 1,473 yards and 14 TDs.

The Saints are making a fifth appearance in the state finals having won titles in 2016, 2018 and 2019. First year head coach John Adams is vying for a state title in his first season at the helm as the Saints want to bring home the title for the fourth time in six years.

Carver is making just its second title game appearance and first since 1967, a 14-12 loss to Dalton.