Ten players to watch as these two Middle Georgia teams vie for state football title

A pair of Middle Georgia teams are set to play in a GHSA state football championship game on Friday.

Dublin will take on Brooks County at 1 p.m. while Warner Robins is set to take on Buford at 4:30 p.m. The two teams have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and will need contributions from all over the field to take home the title.

Here is a look at 5 key players from each Middle Georgia team.

Dublin

Linebacker Romello Height: The Miami commit is one of the best linebackers in the state. He has elite speed at the position and can range from sideline-to-sideline. He is a solid tackler but can also defend the pass — he’s had a key interception in the playoffs already. Dublin has also used him on offense this season as a pass-catcher. The ability to play multiple positions and make an impact from anywhere on the field is what makes him dangerous.

Running back Jacques Evans: He runs with authority and by the fourth quarter he has defenders questioning whether they want to take a hit from him. He has more than 2,000 yards rushing and more than 35 touchdown runs. He is hard to bring down because he simply runs through most defenders. He has been a force all season and is part of the best rushing attacks in the state.

Running back Zion Kemp: Evans gets a lot of the attention in this offense but Kemp has proven to be just as dynamic. In the semifinals against Thomasville, Kemp ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries. Kemp’s ability to change the game on one carry is what makes this Dublin rushing attack so dangerous.

Quarterback Markelle Mitchell: Mitchell is a dynamic athlete. The thing that jumps out most when watching his film is his ability to get away from defenders. Just when it looks like he is going down behind the line, he turns it into a big gain or a touchdown. He doesn’t throw the ball a lot but typically hits his guy when he does. It already hard to contain the Dublin running backs, adding Mitchell in the mix makes this offense nearly unstoppable.

Defensive tackle Kahlil White: The Dublin defense is centered around Height at the linebacker spot. But it all starts up front with White. He moves offensive linemen out of the way in his pursuit of opposing quarterbacks. He also serves as a primary run stopper. He closes to the ball well for a big guy. White sets the tone for the entire defense with his smash-mouth attitude.

Warner Robins

Quarterback Jalen Addie: Addie might be the most improved player from game one to now. He came into the season with little quarterback experience. He was thrown right in and responded well. He has turned into the ultimate dual-threat quarterback. Addie seems to make the right reads on each play. His growth has been one of the biggest reasons Warner Robins is back in the title game.

Linebacker Ahmad Walker: There are certain players who make an impact each and every game in some way. Walker is that guy for the Demons. He is a hard hitter from his linebacker spot. He rushes well off the edge. He creates havoc which creates mistakes for his opponents. He might not get to the quarterback or the ball carrier but he makes his presence felt. Warner Robins also uses him in the power run formation on offense. Walker is fast so he can break a touchdown run on any given carry.

Running back Jahlen Rutherford: The biggest thing Rutherford does for Warner Robins in establishes an attitude. He runs with force and tends to tire out a defense. This allows his other backfield mates like James Smith to come in and take advantage as a speed back. Rutherford has hit his stride the past few games as he has been able to gash opposing defenses for big gains. He helps the Demons control the clock and sets up for the play-action pass to one of their dynamic receivers.

Wide receiver Marcayll Jones: Jones broke the all-time record for single-season receiving yards in Georgia state history last year. His encore performance hasn’t quite been that impressive but he has been met with far more double teams and an offense that has become a bit more run-oriented. Jones is special once he gets the ball. The Memphis commit is also a great decoy as he opens up the field for other receivers like Armon Porter and Ty Carr. Jones suffered an injury in the semifinal game against Starr’s Mill. If he is able to play in state title game he could be the biggest difference-maker.

Defensive back Jatavious Bryant: As good as the offense has looked in recent weeks, it is the defense that has led this team to the state title game. Bryant is a key part of that as a pass defender. He consistently finds ways to make big plays for the defense. Whether it is an interception, a pass deflection or a touchdown-saving tackle, Bryant has been the guy providing it.