Cedar Grove junior quarterback EJ Colson (1) takes off on a big gain against Calvary Day in the Saints’ 49-42 semifinal win. Colson and his teammates face No. 4 Savannah Christian on Wednesday at 1:00 pm inside Mercedes Benz Stadium for the Class 3A state title. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The No. 2 ranked Cedar Grove Saints face off with No. 4 ranked Savannah Christian Raiders on Wednesday at 1:00 pm at Mercedes Benz Stadium vying for a fifth Class 3A state title in eight seasons.
Cedar Grove (9-5) played the toughest Class 3A schedule in the state this season that included four Class 7A opponents (two Top 5 ranked teams) and three bigger classification schools (one each from Georgia, Alabama and Florida). They have also faced and defeated No. 1 Calvary Day (13-1) and No. 4 Mary Persons (11-2) in back-to-back weeks in the state playoffs.
The Saints are led offensively by junior quarterback Elliot (EJ) Colson who has accounted for 33 touchdowns on the season. Colson has thrown for 2,375 yards and 27 touchdowns while hitting on 171 of 269 passes with just one interception. He has also run for 6 touchdowns and 831 yards on 121 carries on the ground. The junior is one of only 17 DeKalb players to rush for over 1,000 yards (1,398) and pass for over 2,000 yards (5,710) and one of just eight players to throw for over 5,000 yards.
Sophomore Devin Carter leads the receiving corps with 51 receptions for 923 yards (18.1/rec) and 13 touchdowns on the season. H has 1,340 career receiving yards on 81 receptions and 19 touchdowns. Freshman Andrew Leslie (33-291, 5 TDs) and senior Malachi Miller (23-286, 4 TDs) contribute to the passing game as well.
Junior Boden (Bo) Walker leads the Saints’ rushing attack with 1,450 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground on 232 carries. He is seventh all-time at Cedar Grove in career rushing yards and just seven yards behind William Pratcher’s 2,506 (2006-08) and third all-time in career touchdowns with 37. Walker also has 37 catches for 422 yards (11.4/rec) as part of the passing game.
Savannah Christian (12-2) comes out of Region 3-3A as the No. 2 seed behind Calvary Day (21-42 loss) and has knocked off No. 7 Morgan County and No. 5 Lumpkin County on the way to the state title game. The defense has allowed 25.8 points (103) in the playoffs with a low of 10 versus No. 7 Morgan County.
Defensively, the Raiders have three shutouts this season and three other games allowing 10 or less points. Defensive back Jade Miles had collected 145 total tackles (87 solo, 58 assists) including 11 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks to lead the Raiders. Senior linebacker David Bucey had 111 tackles (68 solo, 43 assists) with 17 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks and sophomore linebacker Reid Penrose has 100 tackles (57 solo, 43 assists) with 3 tackles for a loss.
Cedar Grove’s Javon Beckford (52) takes down Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger in the semifinal win. Beckford has been a stalwart on defense for the Saints all season and leads his defensive cohorts against Savannah Christian on Wednesday in the Class 3A State Championship. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Raiders offense is led by a pair of 1,000-yard rushers on the season in juniors Zo Smalls (245-1808, 30 TDs) and Kenry Wall (99-1036, 15 TDs). Sophomore quarterback Blaise Thomas has thrown for 1,897 yards and 14 touchdowns as he hit on 109 of 164 passes with 10 interceptions.
Bucey leads the receiving corps with 769 yards and 6 touchdowns on 52 receptions. Juniors Logan Brooking (35-506, 3 TDs) and Wall (19-500, 5 TDs) are also big threats in the passing game.
Cedar Grove’s defense has battled some of the top offenses in the state allowing 256 yards per game 27.9 points per game, but over the playoffs has allowed just 24.0 points per game (93) with two game allowing 14 or less. Senior outside linebacker Wesley Brown (104 total tackles, 13 for loss, 6 sacks, 1 INT) leads a Saints defense that has 95 tackles for a loss on the season including 41 sacks. Joining Brown as cornerstones of the defense are junior middle linebacker Keith Bass (93 total tackles, 9 for loss, 2 sacks), junior defensive end Javon Beckford (79 total tackles, 14 for loss, 10 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries), senior defensive lineman Chase Kerns (59 total tackles, 15 for loss, 3 sacks) and junior defensive end Lamarcus Parks (51 total tackles, 13 for loss, 4 sacks).
The Saints are making a third consecutive appearance in the Class 3A State Championship having won in 2021 and lost a last minute controversial 21-17 loss to Sandy Creek a year ago. Cedar Grove also won titles in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
DCSD FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Wednesday, 12/13
MERCEDES BENZ STADIUM
Cedar Grove (9-5) vs. Savannah Christian (12-2), 1:00 pm