Milton runs away from Lee County, advances to Georgia 5A championship game: Live updates recap

Lee County hangs in there for a while, but Milton's offense takes flight for an easy win

Ethan Barbour and the Milton Eagles play Lee County on Friday, Dec. 6, for a spot in the Class 5A Georgia state championship game. / Photo by Matt Christopher (2024)

A reigning state champion takes on a former back-to-back state champion Friday, Dec. 6, for a spot in the Georgia high school football Class 5A final.

The Milton Eagles are the reigning GHSA Class 7A state champions, while the Lee County Trojans won back-to-back Class 6A state titles in 2017 and 2018.

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Both teams are undefeated and nationally ranked in 2024 entering their state semifinal matchup, with Milton ranked No. 4 and Lee County No. 22 in the SBLive/SI national Top 25.

Follow along below for live updates from the 5A state semifinal game between Milton and Lee County, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 6.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

Lee County vs. Milton, Class 5A state semifinal live updates

1ST QUARTER

Kickoff! Lee County drills it into the end zone for a touchback. Milton starts the opening drive on its own 20.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! Luke Nickel drops a 30-yard dime in for Ethan Barbour. It's 7-0 Milton with 9:14 left.

False starts thwart Lee County's first drive, and the Trojans have to punt. Milton ball on its own 26, 6:58 left, leading 7-0.

Short Milton punt and Lee County takes over in Eagles territory.

Lee County goes backward and has to punt right back. Milton ball on the 20 after a big mistake by the Trojans' special teams unit. They could have pinned Milton inside the 5.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! Luke Nickel takes it himself for a 26-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 Eagles. A 44-yard run by TJ Lester helped set it up. 3:15 left.

TOUCHDOWN LEE COUNTY! On fourth and short, Weston Bryan gets the first down and much more on a 71-yard TD run to make it 14-7 Milton with about two minutes left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Milton 14, Lee County 7

2ND QUARTER

Milton starts the quarter with the ball in Lee County territory.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! TJ Lester runs it in from 8 yards out after a big catch by Tristen Payne set it up. 21-7 Milton with 11:50 left.

TOUCHDOWN LEE COUNTY! Weston Bryan plows in from 1 yard out for his second TD of the game. A big kickoff return and run by Ousmane Kromah helped set up the score. It's 21-14 Milton with 10:25 left.

FUMBLE! Luke Nickel doesn't see the snap coming, and it bounces off his face. Justyn Tanksley scoops it up and returns it to the Milton 21.

TOUCHDOWN LEE COUNTY! Weston Bryan again plunges in from 1 yard out and it's 21-21 with 8:59 left.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! TJ Lester breaks a tackle and cruises into the end zone for an 18-yard TD run to make it 28-21 Milton with 7:04 left. Might break 100 points tonight.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! SportsCenter-worthy one-handed touchdown catch by CJ Wiley and it's 35-21 Milton with 59 seconds left.

INTERCEPTION! Ma'Khi Jones absolutely steals the ball from Lee County receiver Jaden Upshaw on a deep ball and it's Milton ball on its own 35.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! Luke Nickel fires a perfect deep ball on the next play, and CJ Wiley reels it in for a 65-yard touchdown. What a finish to this quarter by the Eagles, who lead 41-21 pending the extra point. Brayden Jacobs down injured for Milton. Jacobs limps off the field and the PAT is good. It's 42-21 Milton with 27 seconds left.

HALFTIME: Milton 42, Lee County 21

3RD QUARTER

Second half starts with a touchback. Lee County ball on its own 20.

Quick punt for Lee County. Milton ball on its own 41.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! Luke Nickel scrambles and reverses field to throw to a wide-open CJ Wiley, who scores a 61-yard TD. It's 49-21 Milton.

INTERCEPTION! Ty Redmond makes an acrobatic pick for the Eagles near the goal line and returns it to the Milton 22. 6:32 left.

TOUCHDOWN MILTON! Luke Nickel high-steps into the end zone on a 23-yard TD run to make it 56-21 Milton with 3:25 left.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Milton 56, Lee County 21

4TH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN LEE COUNTY! Weston Bryan scores his fourth rushing TD of the game on a 31-yard scamper. 56-28 Milton.

FUMBLE! Gage Lawrence recovers the Weston Bryan fumble and that will do it for this one.

FINAL: Milton 56, Lee County 21

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports