As the old adage goes, it’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season.
But Lanier Christian will have to do just that on Friday if it wants to claim its second straight GAPPS 11-man state title.
The top-seeded Lightning (8-3) will take on No. 2 seed Creekside Christian (7-4) at Northgate High School in Newnan, hoping they can improve on, or at least duplicate, their come-from-behind, 24-13 win over the Cougars three weeks ago.
LCA fell behind 7-0 before most people had taken their seats when the Creekside Christian’s Ian Terrell printed 70 yards for a score on the opening play of the game. LCA coach Joel Lulinski said it was an uphill battle after that.
“The way we won that game was through pure heart,” he said. “We were saying you have to keep the ball out of his hands and he showed why. He is extremely dangerous. They’re definitely a force to be reckoned with.
“Our game plan this time: keep it away from No. 2. He’s one cut away from a touchdown whenever he touches the ball.”
Terrell has had an outstanding season for the Cougars, rushing for 1,221 yards on 140 carries (8.7 yards/carry), for 12 TDs with 7 100-yard games. But Creekside is not just a one-man team.
Sr. QB Tyler Keith (85-of-157 1,288 yards, 22 TD, 5 INT passing; 49-252 yards, 4 TD rushing) has had a stellar season and they have four receivers with 200-plus yards and 21 TDs combined, led by Jr. TE Sam McGinnis (23-389 yards, 7 TD).
“Usually for us the spark that we needed to get us going comes from our defense. We’ll need them to do that again,” Lulinski said.
But the Creekside defense has been stout all season as well. The Cougars have amassed 28 TFL, 7 sacks, 6 INT, and recovered 10 fumbles. The Lightning have turned it over 13 times in 2025.
LCA will need big games from its Big Two of sophomore QB Kellan Mack (1,063 yards, 6 TD, 5 INT), senior TE William Martin, who leads a receiving room with 31 catches for 511 yards and 6 TD, and a host of running backs who have had to take over for senior Ben Hargis, who was injured midway through the season after compiling 504 yards and 9 TD to that point. Junior Asher Acton (200 yards, 2 TD) and sophomore Mikah Criste (98 yards, 1 TD) along with senior Drew Kalinauskis (82 yards, 5 TD) have all had their turn in the backfield.
“We had a few turnovers in that last game and we can’t do that again and expect to win this time,” Lulinski said. “There was a lot of adversity for us in that game, injuries and the bad start. But I feel we’re in a little better spot right now. We have a lot of guys who have contributed.”
One reason for being able to overcome the adversity that hits every team during the season is a more challenging schedule in 2025.
“What I was looking for this year was to be challenged,” Lulinski said. “We played some GHSA teams and played a bunch of GIAA games, you know, to make us better. I think that has been a big factor in our guys not panicking.”
A win would give the Lightning back-to-back titles, which has not happened in the GAPPS 11-man since Central Fellowship Christian Academy out of Macon (now in the GIAA) last did it in 2020-21. But Lulinski said they’re not worried about any extra pressures.
“I don’t think it’s any more pressure. They know what they need to do,” he said.” They’ve been around it for a while now. These kids have had so much adversity already that they kind of welcome it.”
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