Toombs County defeats Northeast for school's first Georgia Class A Division I state title: Live updates recap

TJ Stanley, Mike Polke lead Toombs County (13-1) past Northeast (12-3) for program's first Georgia Class A Division I state championship

Toombs Quarterback TJ Stanley (14) attempts to break away from Savannah Christian's Elijah Griffin (No. 95) while his Raider teammate LaDamion Guyton (N0. 18) pursues Stanley from behind in a game at Pooler Stadium on Nov. 1, 2024. / Hunter D. Cone / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The scoreboard operator will need to be on their toes when the Northeast Raiders and Toombs County Bulldogs clash in today's Georgia Class A Division I state football championship at 1 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Neither team has state championship experience. Both are seeking their first state title.

The Raiders (12-2) come in averaging 36 points per game on offense. An impressive number overshadowed by the Bulldogs' 46. Save the math. That's a combined 82 points.

Something must give, however. Both teams are equally solid defensively. Northeast is allowing 14.6 points per game while Toombs County surrenders 13.1.

Northeast is led by senior quarterback TJ Stanley (6-foot-2, 208 pounds), a Georgia State commit who has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 2,315 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.

His top target is wide receiver Lagonza Hayward (6'1, 200), who has 50 catches for 739 yards (14.8 average) and 13 touchdowns. A two-way star, Hayward signed to play safety at Florida.

Senior running back Dabvyn Wadley (5'8, 160) is another player the Bulldogs will need to account for. The speedy back is a constant home-run threat, averaging 8.3 yards per carry while amassing 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns in only 11 games this season.

Northeast counters with a star back of its own in senior Nick Woodford (5'10, 203).

After rushing for over 2,000 yards his sophomore year, Woodford has bounced back from a knee injury that cost him most of his junior season to amass 2,494 yards on 231 carries (10.8 average) with 37 touchdowns. Still uncommitted, Woodford is said to be mulling several Division I offers.

Northeast junior quarterback Reginald Glover (5'9, 160) is a dual threat who can hurt you with his arm and legs. Entering today's game, he's passed for 1,153 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 1,245 yards and 13 scores.

Raiders linebackers Santana Balkcom (5'11, 210 senior) and Tailen Sampson (5'11, 188 junior) lead the team with 122 and 112 tackles, respectively.

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

Northeast vs. Toombs County, Georgia Class A Division I state championship game live updates

We're set to go. Toombs County will receive the opening kick.

FIRST QUARTER

Toombs County begins the opening drive at its own 35.

The Bulldogs go three-and-out and punt it to the Raiders. Northeast takes over at its own 31 with 11:02 left.

A big run on a keeper by junior quarterback Reginal Glover gets the ball into Toombs County territory.

TOUCHDOWN! After just missing on a deep shot the previous play, Raiders quarterback Reginald Glover finds running back Nick Woodford for 35 yards. The try fails and Northeast leads Toombs County 6-0 with 8:54 left in the first.

Sensing the need to respond, Toombs County's offense has quickly moved into Northeast territory. They're down to the Raiders' 40 and moving quick.

TOUCHDOWN! TJ Stanley rolls left on an RPO, finds receiver Lagonza Hayward to his left, and Hayward takes it 29 yards. Alex Otero's extra-point is good. and Toombs County leads 7-6 with 5:37 left in the first.

A little nugget on that last touchdown. Hayward, a Florida football signee, celebrated his score with the "Gator Chomp" in Mercedez-Benz Stadium.

Toombs County forces a stop and gets a beneficial bounce on the punt. The Bulldogs take over at their own 48 with 3:44 left in the first.

TURNOVER! After video review, Toombs County receiver Gavin Fletcher has the ball poked out at the Northeast 40 and the Raiders recover. Northeast takes over at its own 38 with 2:17 left.

Another nugget. The head official for today's game is Matthew Dillon, which is the perfect name for the head official of a championship game.

Toombs County forces another punt. This one is much better for Northeast, as it travels 48 yards and is downed at the Bulldogs' 7. They begin their drive with 20 seconds left in the first.

SECOND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN! Wide Receiver Mike Polke takes vertical route from quarterback TJ Stanley, makes a cut and goes 47 yards. The extra-point gives Toombs County a 14-6 lead with 8:28 left in the first half.

Polke (5'11, 188 senior) is going out in style in his final game wearing a Bulldogs uniform. He already has four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Not mentioned was a juggling catch he made near midfield late in the first quarter that saved a potential interception and helped move the chains.

Whoa. Big turn of events as Nick Woodford fumbled on a short run and the ball deflected off of bodies, rolling forward 19 yards where Northeast recovered at the Bulldogs' 5. That was a wild moment.

TOUCHDOWN! On fourth and goal, Reginald Glover passes to Isaiah Stubbs for 3 yards. The extra-point is no good. Toombs County 14, Northeast 12, 6:48 left in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Mike Polke is having a day. He responds to Northeast's touchdown by returning the ensuing kick 92 yards. Alex Otero boots the extra point. Toombs County leads 21-12 with 6:39 left in the first half.

Toombs County gets a stop and Northeast punts it away. The punt is downed at the Bulldogs' 3.

Northeast's defense gets a crucial defensive stop and forces a punt to give the ball back to the offense at its own 35 with 2:09 left in the half.

A big turnover just got wiped out by penalties as a tipped pass by Toombs County's Gavin Fletcher was picked off by teammate Alex Scott at the Bulldogs' 35, but offsetting penalties wiped out the play.

Toombs County forces a punt. Lagonza Hayward returns it to the Northeast 47 with 54 seconds left in the half. An illegal substitution penalty before the first play pushes it to the 42.

TJ Stanley evades pressure, steps to his right and finds receiver Justice Wilds for 29 yards, down to the 10 with 33 seconds left.

TJ Stanley is sacked by junior linebacker Tayvon Shivers at the 12-yard line and the clock rolls down to two seconds before Toombs County calls timeout. Fourth down.

FIELD GOAL! Alex Otero connects from 25 yards on the final play of the half to give Toombs County a 24-12 lead. Big play of note here: Otero missed the kick from 30 yards, but official Matthew Dillon nabbed Northeast for encroachment, moving the ball up five yards and giving Toombs County another shot. Otero's second try was down the middle.

Halftime: Toombs County 24, Northeast Macon 12.

Northeast will receive the opening kick of the second half. The Raiders face a crucial drive as they trail by two scores.

Toombs County dominated the yards category in the first half, racking up 267 yards to Northeast's 129.

THIRD QUARTER

Northeast begins the second half at its own 23.

Nick Woodford with a 26-yard run down to the Toombs County 8 sets up first-and-goal.

TOUCHDOWN! On the 10th play of the drive, quarterback Reginald Glover takes a keeper 6 yards for a score. The extra-point is blocked. Toombs County 24, Northeast Macon 18, 8:27 left in the third quarter.

Special teams play has made a difference in this game. Toombs County has a kick return touchdown and Northeast has failed on three extra-point attempts in this six-point game.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! A huge stop by Northeast, as senior defensive tackle Jakwon Woodford (6'1, 255) blew up the center and affected the snap exchange on fourth and inches. The ball goes back to Northeast at its own 48 with 6:42 left.

Northeast goes three-and-out and punts it back to Toombs County with 5:14 left in the third. The Bulldogs take over at their own 28.

Northeast senior linebacker Elijah Jordan (5'7, 155) gets a huge sack to force a punt.

TURNOVER! Kadayvious Mccall forces a fumble on the punt return and Alex Scott recovers it for Toombs County at the Northeast 27 with 3:49 left in the third.

TURNOVER! Northeast gets it right back, as Santana Balkcom picks off TJ Stanley at the Raiders' 5 and returns it 19 yards. Northeast takes over at its own 24 with 3:25 left in the third.

TURNOVER! Mike Polke makes another play. This time he picked off Reginald Glover at the Bulldogs' 30 and returns it seven yards. Toombs County has the ball back at its own 37 with 1:29 left in the third.

FOURTH QUARTER

Toombs County elects to punt facing fourth and a yard from their own 48, but a personal foul for a chop block on Northeast gives the Bulldogs a new set of downs at Northeast's 39. Penalties have killed Northeast. The Raiders have been flagged 7 times for 55 yards.

TURNOVER! On the next play following the penalty, linebacker Tailen Sampson forces a fumble and Jordan Wiggins jumps on it at the Raiders' 44 with 10:59 left in the game.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Facing fourth down at the Toombs County 49, Northeast's Nick Woodford is wrapped up behind the line by Bulldogs sophomore defensive lineman Zaylen Davis (6'0, 220) to force the turnover.

TJ Stanley converts a gutsy keeper on fourth down to give Toombs County a new set of downs at the Northeast 18 with 6:48 to go.

TOUCHDOWN! Junior Justin Powell takes a handoff up the middle 12 yards. Alex Otero kicks the extra-point. Toombs County leads 31-18 with 5:21 to go. The call by coach Buddy Martin to go for it on fourth and 2 proves to be the right one.

Northeast elects to punt on fourth and long deep from its own territory with 4:16 left. Toombs County takes over with a chance to ice it.

TOUCHDOWN! Toombs County quarterback and Georgia State signee TJ Stanley races 28 yards to put the exclamation point on this one. Alex Otero boots the extra point and Toombs County leads 38-18 with 1:04 left.

Final: Toombs County 38, Northeast Macon 18. TJ Stanley had 319 total yards in his final game for Toombs County, and he goes out Georgia Class A Division I champion.

For the first time in program history, Toombs County seemingly came out of nowhere this season to claim the Georgia Class A Division I championship. The Bulldogs (13-1) set school records for wins along the way.

Northeast, also appearing in its first state title game, kept it close until the end, but finish the season 12-3.

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