Carver-Columbus Uses Big Plays in 4th Quarter to Beat Hapeville Charter, 24-7, and Repeat as Class AA State Champ

Jakobi Caslin runs for touchdown, JaMarcus Davis scores on pick-6 in final 12 minutes to help Tigers finish unbeaten (15-0) for first time since 2007

Carver-Columbus running back Zach Watts (14), one of the top freshman running backs in the country, leads the Tigers into the Class AA state title game against Hapeville Charter on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. / Zach Watts

Make it back-to-back state football championships for the Carver-Columbus Tigers, who used multiple big plays to retain the hardware for Class AA.

Leading just 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter, Carver scored two touchdowns in just 33 seconds and went on to beat feisty Hapeville Charter, 24-7, on Tuesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Miami.

In finishing unbeaten for the first time since 2007, the Tigers (15-0) got a huge run by freshman sensation Zach Watts to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Jakobe Caslin, and then got a pick-6 from JaMarcus Davis to pull ahead by 17 points.

It is the third overall state championship for Carver. But the Tigers had to overcome a lot of missed opportunities to win their latest one.

In the first quarter, they drove to the Hapeville 10-yard line and freshman sensation Zach Watts raced around right end for a TD but the play was called back because of an illegal shift.  Carver settled for a 33-yard field goal by Kendrick Pearce-Spencer to take a 3-0 lead with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.

After a chop block penalty on a punt return gave Carver good field position at Hapeville’s 40-yard line, quarterback Sebastian Heard threw a beautiful 38-yard TD pass to KJ Miles down the left sideline to put the Tigers up 10-0 midway through the second quarter.

Hapeville (10-5) finally got on the scoreboard with 18 seconds left in the first half when Keylan Pope threw an 11-yard TD pass to Cedric Walker, cutting Carver’s lead to three points.

In the third quarter, a bad punt snap by Carver led to multiple turnovers and Hapeville ended up recovering the ball. However, Hapeville lost a chance to take the lead when it fumbled on a 4th-down quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line, with Davis recovering.

The Tigers then finally got going in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Click on the widget about to Play Pick'Em where you get the opportunity to predict the outcome of this game.

Kickoff is Dec. 16, at 5 p.m., at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Game got a late start because of previous title games running long.

Carver-Columbus is wearing black and Columbia blue uniforms and maroon helmets, while Hapeville is wearing white uniforms with gold helmets.

Pregame Notes

The Tigers of Columbus bring an impressive 27-game winning streak into the game under first-year coach Jarvis Jones, a former Georgia Bulldogs star. He was a two-time All-American linebacker in Athens and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.

Jones has brough his defensive expertise to Carver, which has recorded eight shutouts.

Hapeville Charter out of Atlanta rebounded from a slow start to go on a nine-game winning streak. Since overwhelming Columbus, 48-0, in round one of the playoffs, the Hornets have been in some tight battles.

The Hornets beat Appling County, 35-27; Morgan County, 34-22; and Sumter County, 24-18, in overtime in the state semifinals. The Hornets are seeking their second state title, having won it all in 2017.

Live Updates

(Please refresh this post repeated for live updates and analysis throught the game.)

1st Quarter

Carver-Columbus wins toss, defers to 2H.

Hapeville Charter starts at its 28-yard line.

Multiple penalties give HC 1st down at 41.

On 4th down, Cameron Lear pounds the ball forward for a 1st down!

HC faces another 4th down in Carver territory.

Jaeden Taylor stops 4th down pass play by Hapeville! Turnover on downs!

Carver goes power and Kelston Tarver rips off 3 runs for a 1st down.

Couple of nice passes from Sebastian Heard and runs by Jakobe Caslin drive Carver to the Hapeville to the 10-yard line.

Freshman sensation Zach Watts races 10 yards around right end for TD but Tigers are called for illegal shift.

3rd and goal from 10. Delay of game backs Carver up to its 15

INC pass

FIELD GOAL! Carver takes 3-0 lead on 33-yard field goal by Kendrick Pearce-spencer with 37 seconds left in the 1Q.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Carver-Columbus 3, Hapeville Charter 0

2nd Quarter

DeMarcus O'Neal puts big stop on Hapeville Charter!

Kaylen Pope slips on run, now 4th down for HC.

Huge punt by Chris Booker!

Elijah Page makes big tackle for loss for Hapeville.

Carver-Columbus stopped on pass play at its 29. 4th down and 2. Tigers punt after TO

Hapeville at its 40

Makevious Yancie huge hit for Carver! Hapeville's Jayden Lambert shakes off injury.

Hapeville 4th and 1. Hornets penalized for 5 yards for false start. And then another false start on punt for 4th and 11. HC punts to other 33.

Chop block penalty on Hapeville after punt return. Tigers now at HC 40!

TOUCHDOWN! Carver QB Sebastian Heard beautiful 38-yard TD pass to KJ Miles down the left sideline. Miles bobbles pass and then recovers and catches for score! PAT is good. Carver 10, Hapeville Charter 0 with more than 6 minutes left.

PASS INTERFERENCE penalty on Carver. 1st down for Hapeville at its 49.

Radamon Stiggers running for Hapeville now. But Carver defense is very fast led by Jaeden Taylor!

Hapeville punts again to 16. Carver gets flagged for holding. Tigers at their own 8.

Amari George big tackle for loss for Hapeville.

Rashad Williamson a big tackle for loss for Hornets, and then Rayqwan Stiggers records another TFL for Hapeville! But officials are reviewing if TO was called.

Now back to 3rd and 14

Carver forced to punt. Short punt. Hapeville has ball at Carver 29!

Carver defense swarms Traeven Jones.

Hapeville QB Keylan Pope scrambles to left, throws pass to the middle and hits Jayden Lambert, who then fumbles the ball away and DeMarcus O'Neal recovers for Carver at 5-yard line. Play under review. Possible targeting.

Penalty backs up Hapeville to 14.

Hornets drive inside 5-yard line. False start on Hapeville backs them up to Carver 9.

Makevious Yancie makes big stop on Hapeville's Raydamon Stiggers.

TOUCHDOWN! On 3rd down, Hapeville QB Keylan Pope rolls right and hits Cedric Walker for 11-yard TD pass with 18 second left! PAT is good. Carver 10, Hapeville 7.

Long spectacular KO return by TJ Woodson brought back on holding and personal fouls by Carver.

END OF FIRST HALF: Carver-Columbus 10, Hapeville Charter 7

3rd Quarter

Hapeville kicks off to Carver.

Zxavier Crawford makes big tackle for Hapeville, forcing punt. Holding penalty on Hornets.

Carver strips Hapeville QB Kaylen Pope, who recovers ball.

Carver defense forces another punt.

Hapeville forces punt. Rashad Williamson and Anthony Brooks playing well for Hornets' defense.

Carver bad snap on punt leads to fumble recovery in end zone for Hapeville but ball is lost again and recovered by Carver’s Jaeden Taylor, who then returns a short ways before losing ball. Hapeville player then recovers and returns for a few yards before losing ball and one of his teammates recovers.

Hapeville takes over at 9-yard line but goes to 4th-and-goal and then fumbles the ball on sneak with Carver’s JaMarcus Davis recovering.

Big pass to Carver's Tristian Givens for 1st down.

Speedy Hapeville defense forces 3rd and 19. Carver freshman Zach Watts gains good yardage on pass catch but Tigers are short of 1st down. 4th and 9. Carver punts with less than 1 minute left in 3Q.

Penalty on Carver again.

Carver defense punishes Hapeville. End of 3rd quarter.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Carver-Columbus 10, Hapeville 7

4th Quarter

Big run by Hapeville’s Raydamon Stiggers for 1st down wiped out by holding penalty. Now, 3rd and 13.

INC pass and Hapeville punts out of end zone for touchback.

Jakobe Caslin nice run for 1st down.

Carver sensational freshman Zach Watts explodes for huge run inside Hapeville 15-yard line.

Carver 2nd down from 6 and Jakobe Caslin bulls down to 1-yard line and then goes off left tackle for touchdown! Tigers make PAT, lead Hapeville, 17-7, with 6:49 left.

PICK-6! JaMarcus Davis with 39-yard interception return down the right sideline for TD! PAT is good! Carver-Columbus leads Hapeville Chapter, 24-7, with 6:16 left.

Hapeville Central's Radamon Stiggers explodes for 50-yard-plus KO return nto set up Hornets at Carter 40!

INTERCEPTION: Carver's Makevious Yancie picks off QB Keylan Pope, stops Hornets' drive with less than 5 minutes left.

4th and 2 and Carver QB Sebastian Heard picks up huge 1st down with less than 3 minutes left!

PASS INTERFENCE penalty on Hapeville gives Carver 1st down with 54 seconds left!

Kelston Tarver runs down to 26-yard line of Hapeville and then Carver runs out the clock to repeat as Class AA state champ!

FINAL SCORE: Carver-Columbus 24, Hapeville Charter 7

	1	2	3	4	F
Carver-Columbus	3	7	0	14	24
Hapeville Charter	0	7	0	0	7

Players to Watch

Carver-Columbus

Sebastian Heard, Fr., QB -- 1,623 yards passing, 19 TDs, eight interceptions.

Kelston Tarver, Sr., RB/ATH -- 1,386 yards rushing, 21 TDs; multiple offers, including Georgia State and Kennesaw State.

Zach Watts, Fr., RB/ATH -- 977 yards rushing, 17 TDs; 10 offers, including Georgia, Texas A&M, FSU, Georgia Tech.

Keimaurii "KJ" Miles, Sr., WR -- 15 catches, 485 yards, four TDs.

Jaeden Taylor, Soph., MLB/ATH -- 151 tackles, including 55 solo and 36 for loss, and seven sacks.

Tristian Givens, Sr., OLB/DE/WR -- Texas A&M signee; 91 tackles, including 34 solo and 28 for loss, and 11 sacks.

Antavius Watts, Sr., FS/SS --Mississippi State signee; 81 tackles, including 29 solo and eight for loss, and three interceptions.

Hapeville Charter

Keylan Pope, Jr., QB -- Passed for more than 300 yards in last three games.

Cedric Walker, Sr., WR

Raydamon Stiggers, Soph., RB

Chauncey Sibley, Sr., DL -- All-Region selection.

Zion Crawford, Sr., CB/FS -- Alabama State signee; All-Region selection; seven interceptions.

Anthony Brooks, Sr., DB/WR -- All-Region selection; offer from Clark University.

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Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962