Game Balls: Prince Avenue Tops Trinity Christian For State Title

It was a closer game than most thought between Prince Avenue Christian and Trinity Christian for the class A private state championship. 5-star QB [player_tooltip player_id="33652" first="Brock" last="Vandagriff"] and the Prince Avenue Wolverines were a heavy favorite over a young, talented Lions team on Monday evening. While Vandagriff played exceptional well once again, it was junior QB [player_tooltip player_id="33930" first="David" last="Dallas"] who kept the game close for the Lions for the first half. David and twin brother Josh both flashed during the game, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Wolverines, led by Vandagriff, one of the top overall prospects in the country. The future Georgia Bulldog was 18 for 25 for 262 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 76 rushing yards and another touchdown. After senior receiver [player_tooltip player_id="33779" first="Logan" last="Johnson"] got the Wolverines on the board first with a three-yard rushing touchdown, Vandagriff would connect deep to wide-out Jake Pittman for long 45-yard touchdown. Just like that, Prince Avenue took a 13-point lead in the first quarter. That’s when Dallas and the Lions offense turned it up a notch. Without flinching, the Lions marched down the field and found the end-zone when [player_tooltip player_id="33930" first="David" last="Dallas"] found his twin brother Josh Dallas on a 9-yard back shoulder pass for a touchdown. After a key stop from the Lions defense, Dallas would hit sensational sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="34051" first="Aaron" last="Gates"] deep downfield for about 65-yards that flipped the field. Gates showed great athletic ability to make the catch over a Prince Avenue defender, and then took off for 15 more yards after the catch. Gates is one of the top 2023 prospects in Georgia and holds offers from Kentucky, Georgia Tech, among others. The drive would end shortly after when Prince Avenue picked off Dallas in the end-zone. Prince Avenue would take advantage of the turnover and march right down the field. Vandagriff looked like a 5-star on this drive and would connect with [player_tooltip player_id="33779" first="Logan" last="Johnson"] on a 19-yard deep corner route. Vandagriff put the ball in a perfect spot for Johnson who found the end-zone for the second time in the first half. Prince Avenue would take a 20-7 lead into the half and came out firing in the final two quarters. The Lions did they best they could to hold on, but Prince Avenue’s defense, led by defensive lineman BJ Green, secured the victory for the Wolverines. Their pass rush was getting better and better as the game went along and would end up suffocating the Lion’s offense in their attempt for a comeback. Dallas would push his way into the end-zone to make it a 6-point game with 10:40 left, but the game then went into the hands of Vandagriff. With a state championship on the line, Vandagriff led the Wolverines down the field and found the end-zone on a QB run up the middle to secure the victory. As for Dallas, one of the top 2022 QBs in the state, ended the game 19 of 28 for 277 yards and one TD. He showed great playmaking ability and the ability to create plays with his feet. He scrambles well and showed great accuracy all game. They didn’t come out with the victory, but Dallas proved that he has Power 5 potential at the next level. Prince Avenue would take home their very first state championship with a 41-21 victory.