Savannah sports fans witnessed an unforgettable day: two teams, two state championships, both competing on the same day. Jenkins and Benedictine played for Georgia High School State Association (GHSA) state football titles on the same day, showing Savannah’s toughness, pride, and championship standard.
Jenkins took the field at 1 p.m. in the GHSA Division II flag football state championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Later that night, Benedictine played at 7 p.m. for the GHSA Class 4A football title. Together, these games made it a full day of championship-level competition for our city.
I watched Jenkins first on my computer via the GPB stream, then later that night, watched Benedictine at home on the GPB TV channel. Two different games, two different paths — but the same pride. What follows are two championship stories from a day that showed Savannah belongs on Georgia’s biggest stage.
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GHSA DIVISION II FLAG FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Greenbrier 20, Jenkins 13
I watched this one first, like a lot of Savannah did — on the computer, eyes locked on the GPB stream, pulling for the Warriors until the very end. And even though the final score didn’t fall Jenkins’ way, there’s no doubt about this: that program earned statewide respect.
This was a championship game that came down to a few plays.
Jenkins played from behind early, then answered with poise. The Warriors showed exactly what got them to the Benz — toughness, belief, and the ability to respond when things got tight. At halftime, it was clear this game was going to be a fight all the way through.
Late in the fourth quarter, Jenkins did what championship teams do. They battled. They stayed calm. They gave themselves a chance. When Greenbrier tied the game at 13–13 with six minutes left, you could feel the momentum shift — even through the TV.
Greenbrier made the final play a minute later, breaking the tie with a touchdown. Jenkins had chances right up to the final whistle, but sometimes championship games come down to inches and timing.
As a coach, you tip your cap to the effort. Jenkins never flinched. Never panicked. Never stopped competing.
This Warriors team made history just getting there. A state championship appearance. A season that will be remembered. A standard that’s now set for the program moving forward.
Losses hurt — especially on this stage. But seasons like this build programs. They build belief. And they make the next group understand what’s possible.
Savannah should be proud of Jenkins' flag football. The Warriors didn’t just represent their school — they represented the city with class, toughness, and heart.
That matters.
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Jenkins vs. Greenbrier Box Score
Scoring Summary
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GREENBRIER 20, JENKINS 13 |
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| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
| GHS | 0 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
| HVJ | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
First quarter
G - Mamie Cate Pangle 22 pass from Addison Odom (Pangle run)
Second quarter
J - Angelique Fleming 1 pass from I’yama Lee (run failed)
J - A’Niyah Browner 73 pass from Lee (Lee run)
Third quarter
G - Mertz Carrington Meyers 1 run (pass failed)
Fourth quarter
G – Abby Lester 18 pass from Odom (Odom run)
GHSA CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Creekside 42, Benedictine 39
I didn’t make the trip this time either. I watched this one on TV, like a lot of folks back in Savannah. But even through a television screen, you could feel it. The emotion. The swings. The pride. This was high school football at its best — and Savannah had every reason to hold its head high.
Creekside and Benedictine put on a championship game that had everything a coach loves and a fan remembers.
Creekside jumped out early. A 21–3 lead said one thing. Benedictine answered back, saying something else. By halftime, the Cadets had flipped the script and led 24–21. Momentum had swung hard, and you could feel Benedictine’s confidence growing with every play.
That’s when Creekside showed why it’s been one of the best teams in the state — and the country — all season.
The third quarter belonged to the Seminoles. Three straight touchdown drives. Zero points allowed. As a coach, that’s the difference in championship games. Adjustments. Toughness. Focus. Creekside outscored Benedictine 21–0 in that stretch and built a 42–24 lead that changed the tone of the night.
Still, Benedictine never quit.
The Cadets kept fighting. They answered in the fourth quarter and pulled within 42–39 with just 1:04 left. Anyone who knows Benedictine football knew that the game wasn’t over yet. The onside kick was coming. The belief was real.
Creekside recovered it — and that was the final step.
Creekside’s run game was on fire all night, setting the tone and wearing down the Cadets from start to finish. Creekside’s defense came up big when it mattered most, especially in that third-quarter stretch. On the other side, Benedictine quarterback Stephen Cannon and receiver Eron Mallard kept making plays, and the Cadets’ defense came up with key stopswith an interception and fumble recovery to stay in it.
When the clock hit zero, Creekside celebrated its second state title and first since 2013, finishing a perfect 15–0 season and setting a state record for points scored. That’s history.
But don’t miss this point, Cadets don't quit!
Benedictine finished 11–3 and reached the state championship for the fifth time in program history. Four state titles since 2014 already sit in that trophy case — and now a new chapter gets added. This one stings, but it also builds.
As a coach, you respect the preparation and the response. As a fan from Savannah, you’re proud of the fight, the discipline, and the way these Cadets represented their school and their city.
This one didn’t go Benedictine’s way on the scoreboard. But both programs showed what championship culture looks like.
And that’s something worth applauding.
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Creekside vs. Benedicitne Box Score
Game Statistics
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CREEKSIDE 42, BENEDICTINE 39 |
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| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
| CHS | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
| BC | 3 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 39 |
First quarter
C - Gary Walker 45 run (Delano Jones kick), 8:34
B - Parker Lewis 28 field goal, 2:53
Second quarter
C - Cayden Benson 49 run (Jones kick), 7:21
C - Cedric Kelly 96 run (Jones kick), 6:22
B - Eron Mallard 74 pass from Stephen Cannon (Lewis kick), 6:09
B - Stanley Smart 14 pass from Cannon (Lewis kick), 4:01
B - Bennett Conaway 1 pass from LaDamion Guyton (Lewis kick), 0:40
Third quarter
C - Benson 45 run (Jones kick), 8:42
C - Kelly 17 pass from Benson (Jones kick), 5:53
C - Kelly 20 run (Jones kick), 1:33
Fourth quarter
B - Mallard 32 pass from Cannon (Lewis kick), 11:33
B - Cannon 1 run (Bubba Frazier pass from Cannon), 1:04
Rushing: Creekside - Gary Walker 17-149, Cayden Benson 13-133; Cedric Kelly 12-61, Team 3-(-18). Benedictine - Bubba Frazier 4-38, Eron Mallard 4-26, Joshua Washington 5-17, LaDamion Guyton 2-5, Stanley Smart 4, 5, Stephen Cannon 14-(-33).
Passing: Creekside - Cayden Benson 9-17-2-161. Benedictine - Stephen Cannon 11-24-0-213, Joshua Washington - 0-1-0-0, Bubba Frazier 0-1-0-0, LaDamion Guyton 1-1-0-1.
Receiving: Creekside - Damien Henderson 6-123, Cedric Kelly 2-20, Eric Paul 1-18. Benedictine - Eron Mallard 6-140, Stanley Smart 2-42, Joshua Washington 2-20, Bubba Frazier 1-11, Bennett Conaway 1-1.
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Box Scores via the Georgia High School Football Dailyt. To see more, click here.
Photo Credit: Jenkins courtesy Madmanvisuals on Instagram
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