Carver-Columbus vs. Hapeville Charter: Live Score Updates from the Georgia Class AA State Championship Game

Unbeaten Tigers (14-0) seek first unbeaten season since 2007; Hornets on 9-game winning streak

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

Defending Class 2A state champ Carver-Columbus (14-0) takes on Hapeville Charter (10-4) for the 2025 title on Tuesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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.

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.

4th Quarter

-

	1	2	3	4	F
Carver-Columbus	3	7
Hapeville Charter	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