Benedictine Tops Carver-Columbus 35-28 For GHSA 4A State Title
On Friday, the Benedictine Cadets returned to the mountain top to be crowned kings as they defeated the Carver-Columbus Tigers 35-28 to win the Georgia High School Association Class 4A state championship. The Cadets, would strike first on the opening drive of the game which was capped with a Justin Thomas rushing touchdown on a third and goal carry, as they would go up 7-0. The Tigers would eventually respond in the second quarter when Devin Riles hit Cameron Hudson for a 23 yard touchdown pass. They would fail on the point after attempt and would trail 7-6.
The Cadets would score on the ensuing possession thanks to a Holden Geriner 61 yard touchdown pass and Benedictine would go up 14-6. Carver, not to be outdone, would answer with a touchdown of their own as Jaiden Credle would find the end zone on a 59 yard rushing touchdown. The Tigers would make good on the two point conversion and the game would be tied 14 all at the half. In the third quarter, the Cadets would go up by a touchdown, but Carver would put together a drive that looked to potentially tie the game, Credle would fumble the ball and the Cadets would recover in the end zone for a touchback.
That would prove to be a costly mistake for the Tigers as Benedictine would score on the first play of the ensuing possession and take a 28-14 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Tigers would score and add a two point conversion to cut into the Cadets lead, but Benedictine would answer as Geriner would throw his fourth touchdown of the game as they would go on to win 35-28. After the win, Geriner said capping his senior season with a state title was “unbelievable”. The Auburn commit added, “this is what everybody dreams for”. The win is the Cadets first title since 2016.
