Thomas County Central, Deuce Lawrence Rumble Past Gainesville, 62-21, for Georgia AAAAA State Title: Live Recap

Yellow Jackets explode for 42 second-half points, get state title game record of 380 yards rushing and five touchdowns from Lawrence to win second championship in three years

Thomas County Central running back Christian "Deuce" Lawrence (2), a Wake Forest signee, will lead the Yellow Jackets into the Class AAAAA state title game against Gainesville on Dec. 17, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. / Christian Lawrence

The Thomas County Central Hornets left no doubt who the best high school football team in Georgia Class AAAAA is for 2025, stinging Gainesville, 62-21, on Wednesday night at Mercede-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for their second state title in three years.

Senior running back Deuce Lawrence, a Wake Forest signee, rushed for a state title game record of 380 yards and five touchdowns (8, 71, 45, 20, and 6 yards), and senior quarterback Jaylen Johnson passed for 165 yards and two TDs and ran for 75 yards and two scores to share Player of the Game honors for the Yellow Jackets, who finished unbeaten (15-0) for the second time in three years,

Defensively, TCC's Kobe Carnage made two interceptions and joined linebacker Omari Stephenson, defensive lineman Cam Brooks and safety Dannell Jester in shutting down Gainesville's high-powered running game.

TCC led 21-7 at halftime and put the game away with 41 second-half points. It is the YellowJackets' seventh overall championship.

Gainesville (12-3) was led by quarterback Kharim Hughley, who ran for two TDs and passed for another score.

Live Updates

(Please refresh this page throughout the game for live score updates and analysis)

1st Quarter

TOUCHDOWN! Thomas County Central scores on its first possession: a pass from Jaylen Johnson to Gary Pringle! TCC leads Gainesville, 7-0.

TCC takes over again.

Long pass from Jabari Watkins to Dannell Jester.

TOUCHDOWN! QB Jaylen Johnson races 11 yard up the middle for TD for the Yellow Jackets! TCC leads 14-0 with 4:53 left.

Gainesville gets nice catch from Cameron James for 1st down.

INTERCEPTION! TCC's Kobe Carnage intercepts long pass off great leaping grab.

TCC forced to punt on its 3rd series.

Gainesville nice pass from Kharim Hughley to Landon Williamson.

3rd and 1. TCC stops Gainesville.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Thomas County Central 14, Gainesville 0

2nd Quarter

Gainesville QB Kharim Hughley big run for 1st down on 4th-down play!

Gainesville forced to punt.

TCC Christian Lawrence big 17-yard run around right end.

Gainesville Ayden Cain sacks TCC QB Jaylen Johnson, forces punt.

TCC hits poor punt.

Gainesville inside TCC 40-yard line.

Multiple penalties by GHS backs them up to 38.

TOUCHDOWN! Gainesville QB Kharim Hughley hits TE Cameron James on short pass, who splits defenders, bounces off one tackler and scores on 38-yard catch-and-run! PAT is good. TCC 14, Gainesville 7 with 9:10 left in 1H.

Gainesvile Ayden Cain again! Drags down QB Jaylen Johnson.

Big catch-and-run by TCC star Christian Lawrence for 1st down!

First-down pass from Jaylen Johnson to Jabari Watkins! Ball at Gainesville 47.

Johnson pass to Gary Pringle for 1st down, then another nice pass for 9 yards

Gainesville pass interference on TCC Jabari Watkins in end zone.

Two plays later, TCC's Christian' "Deuce" Lawrence sprints 8 yards for a TD! PAT is good. TCC 21, Gainesville 7 with 6:32 left in 1H. Lawrence with 18 carries, 87 yards.

Gainesville's Sergio Ruiz 4-yard catch for 1st down.

Now, 3rd and 9. INC PASS. Red Elephants forced to punt.

Deuce Lawrence running hard for TCC.

3rd and 2. TC QB Jaylen Johnson stopped on QB option.

4th down. Timeout by TCC.

Trevon Pringle barrels forward for 1st down.

TCC double pass broken up when Gainesville’s Elijah Watson makes big tackle for loss.

Clock runs out.

END OF FIRST HALF: TCC 21, Gainesville 3

STATS: TCC -- 147 rushing, 159 passing, 306 total yards. Gainesville -- 39 rushing, 74 passing, 113 total yards.

3rd Quarter

Gainesville kicks off to TCC. Deuce Lawrence big 44-yard return to TCC 48-yard line!!

Short run by Lawrence.

3rd and 2. Another 1st down run by Lawrence.

TOUCHDOWN: Beautiful pass from Jaylen Johnson to TE Gary Pringle for 35-yard catch and run! PAT good. TCC 28, Gainesville 7, with 10:38 left in the 3Q.

TD OVERTURNED: Gainesville's Legend Wilmont takes KO at 1-yard line, slows down after about 20 yards, then races 99 yards for a TD. However, officials negate score, saying a whistle was inadvertently blown during the play, forcing players to slow up or stop. TCC must re-kick,

Wilmont then hurt on re-kick.

Gainesville 3rd and 8. INC pass, sails way long.

Red Elephants forced to punt. Monster punt all the way to the TCC 25.

INTERCEPTION: Jeremiah Proctor makes leaping pick for Gainesville.

Sophomore Dwight Lewis big 1st down run!

Kharim Hughley QB run for 4 yards. 2nd and 6 now.

Gainesville's Dwight Lewis fumbles on run after taking big hit by Omari Stephenson! Kobi Carnage recovers!

TCC takes over. Deuce Lawrence another big run for 1st down!

Lawrence another 1st down run to 40.

Lawrence 2 more runs for another 1st down to Gainesville 48

Lawrence another 1st down.

28 carries for 185 now for Deuce.

TOUCHDOWN: TCC QB Jaylen Johnson explodes 27 yards up the middle! PAT fails. TCC leads Gainesville, 34-7.

Jaylen Johnson now 154 yards passing 2 TDs, 68 yards rushing 2 TDs for TCC!

Kharim Hughley nice pass to Philip WIlliams. 1st down

Hughley huge run for Gainesville down inside TCC 20-yard line.

Pass interference penalty on TCC.

TOUCHDOWN! Hughley scores on next play: 9-yard run!! TCC 34, Gainesville 14 with 3:40 left.

TOUCHDOWN: Deuce Lawrence explodes for 71 yards to paydirt! Now has 29 carries for 258 yards, 2 TDs!! PAT good. TCC 41, Gainesville 14 with 3:22 left in 3Q.

Gainesville 3rd and 9. Bad snap. Hughley recovers fumble but is sacked! Red Elephants forced to punt.

TCC 1st down at its 30.

3rd down at its 29.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Thomas County Central 41, Gainesville 14

4th Quarter

1st down pass from Jaylen Johnson to Gary Pringle.

TOUCHDOWN! 3rd and 5 for TCC. Deuce Lawrence races 45-yard run around right end! Now has 318 yards rushing, 3 TDs! TCC 48, Gainesville 14.

TOUCHDOWN! Gainesville 3rd and 4. QB Kharim Hughley 60-yard scramble for TD! TCC 48, Gainesville 21 with 8:54 left.

Gainesville recovers onside kick!

INC PASS

1st down pass to TE Cameron James

Dwight Lewis runs to 25 for 3-yard gain.

INTERCEPTION! Kobe Carnage picks off Gainesville QB Kharim Hughley. 2nd pick for Carnage!

STATE RECORD: Deuce Lawrence sets Georgia state title game rushing record with 347 yards!!

TOUCHDOWN! Deuce Lawrence 20-yard TD run up the middle. Wake Forest signee now has state title game record of 367 yards and four TDs on 37 carries. TCC 55, Gainesville 21 with 4:04 left.

Great pass break-up by Kobe Carnage

INTERCEPTION! TCC's Deandre Andrews makes the pick! 3:02 left,

TOUCHDOWN! Deuce Lawrence scores again on 6-yard run! TCC now leads 62-21 with 2:08 left, Lawrence now with 39 carries for 380 yards, 5 TDs!

TCC's Cam Brooks makes big stop!

FINAL SCORE: Thomas County Central 62, Gainesville 21

	1	2	3	4	F
Thomas County Central	14	7	20	21	62
Gainesville	0	7	7	7	21

Pre-Game Notes

The unbeaten Thomas County Yellow Jackets, who won a state title just two years ago, will look to win their sixth overall championship when they take on the Gainesville Red Elephants (12-2). Thomas County is 5-2 in state title games. Gainesville is aiming for its first state championship since 2012 when Deshaun Watson quarterbacked the team. Watson went on to win a national title at Clemson is currently playing in the NFL.

Players to Watch

Thomas County Central

Jaylen Johnson, Sr., QB -- 2,503 yards passing, 37 TDs, four interceptions; 280 yards rushing, five TDs.

Jabari Watkins, Jr., WR -- 51 catches, 804 yards, 11 TDs.

Christian Lawrence, Sr., RB/SB -- 1.836 yards rushing, 24 TDs.

Omari Stephenson, Sr., LB --67 tackles, including 48 solo and 12 for loss.

Cam Brooks, Sr., DE -- 24 tackles, including 15 solo and 15.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks.

Dannell Jester, Sr., SS -- 34 tackles, including 28 solo; three interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Gainesville

Kharim Hughley, Jr., QB -- 2,344 yards passing, 32 TDs, six interceptions; 252 yards rushing, six TDs.

Nigel Newkirk, Jr., RB -- 1,496 yards rushing, 19 TDs

Philip Williams, Sr., WR -- 41 catches, 614 yards, five TDs.

Xavier Griffin, Sr., LB --96 tackles, including 67 solo and 12 for loss, and four sacks.

Jamarion Matthews, Sr., DL -- 58 tackles, including 46 solo and 21 for loss, and 10 sacks

Darryn Williams, Jr., LB -- 88 tackles, including 64 solo and nine for loss; six interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

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