Sandy Creek beats Jefferson for state football title

Another title is heading to Tyrone. On December 17, Sandy Creek High beat the Jefferson Dragons 27-7 to claim the 3A state football championship.

“Unbelievable feeling. I couldn’t be more proud of these kids, these coaches, and our school community. It was a joint effort,” said Sandy Creek coach Darius Smiley. “I’m tickled pink because we are state champions.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Patriots broke through with a 15-yard Amari Latimer touchdown. Evan Harvey blocked a punt on Jefferson’s next series to set up a short Caleb Hill scoring run.

Jefferson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and it stayed a 14-7 Sandy Creek lead at halftime.

Another special teams miscue by the Dragons gave the Patriots the ball inside the 5 early in the second half. Hill scored from 2 yards out to extend the lead to 21-7.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Latimer broke away on a 25-yard touchdown run to finish the scoring in a 27-7 victory.

“It feels great,” beamed Latimer after the game. “I’m so excited.”

It was a fantastic night for the Sandy Creek defense as they allowed no points for the Dragons.

“It feels amazing. Everything we worked for all season, from the tough practices, from the early mornings and the late nights, it all paid off in the end,” said senior defensive end Evan Harvey. “I’m super proud of the team, and I’m super happy.”

Quarterback Caleb Hill was named MVP. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 167 yards and ran for 78 yards with 2 touchdowns. Running back Amari Latimer ran for 98 yards and 2 scores on 22 carries.

The Patriots finish a dominant season with a perfect 15-0 record with only one win by less than 16 points. This marks the fifth state football championship, joining the teams of 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2022. They are also a perfect 5-for-5 when reaching the title game.