The Sporting News High School Football Game of the Week: No. 1/SN No. 1 Buford [GA] vs. No. 3/SN No. 2 Carrollton [GA]

In early November, the top-ranked IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders appeared to be on a crash course to face a St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers team that was likely to be ranked No. 2 (and, currently, is No. 2 in The Sporting News Composite Rankings. that will be released Wednesday).

Instead, roughly six weeks later, the nation's two top-ranked teams in The Sporting News High School Football Top 25 both hail from Georgia as the No. 1/SN No. 1 Buford [GA] Wolves will face the No. 3/SN No. 2 Carrollton [GA] Trojans Tuesday night for Georgia's GHSA Class 6A state championship.

It's a game that could also decide the national championship, a decision that will be announced here at The Sporting News on Friday, December 19.

Both Buford and Carrollton have beaten all challengers to date in 2025, a streak that will end for one of them in Tuesday's championship contest. Buford is the favorite via the rankings with Carrollton making a fast climb into contention over the past month, including a 34-14 takedown of the previous No. 1 Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams on November 28.

They have one shared opponent – the stout eleven from the Douglas County [Douglasville, GA] Tigers, a team that Buford actually faced twice. The Wolves beat the Tigers, 34-26, way back on September 12, and then beat them again, 30-15, in the Class 6A quarterfinals on November 28.

For comparison, Buford's two relatively close games against Douglas County contrast with Carrollton's thorough 55-22 victory against the Tigers on October 31. Those outcomes suggest that Carrollton might only be the underdogs in the rankings; on paper, they appear more than capable of holding their own against top-ranked Buford.

But that's why they settle these games on the field and not on computer screens. We expect a tight game Tuesday night with both sides having a chance to win it if they play the brand of football they play best.

MORE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

• How last week's top teams fared
• The latest Sporting News High School Football Top 25 — National Week 18: December 16
• The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense 2025
• The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense 2025

No. 1/SN No. 1 Buford [GA] Wolves vs. No. 3/SN No. 2 Carrollton [GA] Trojans

LAST WEEK'S GAME OF THE WEEK No. 10/SN No. 6 Allen [TX] Eagles vs. No. 22/SN No. 25 North Crowley [Fort Worth, TX]. Panthers

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia | 8 p.m. EST local

Local Media Coverage: Atlanta Journal-Constitution High School Sports

School Athletics Websites: Buford Wolves Athletics | Carrollton Trojans Athletics @Carrollton_High

School Social Media: Buford Wolves Athletics @bufordathletics | Carrollton Trojans Athletics @Carrollton_High

PREVIEW

Both teams enter the game with 14-0 records.

Buford recruits

Carrollton recruits

Buford stats

Carrollton has used two quarterbacks in all 14 games with Mason Holtzclaw providing the steady leadership of a senior while freshman CJ Cypher gives them a dynamic playmaker who has actually taken more snaps at quarterback. Cypher has passed for 2,178 yards with 26 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions while Holtzclaw has 1,212 yards with 7 touchdowns and a single pick.

Five Trojan receivers have at least 22 receptions led by the dynamic duo of senior Peyton Zachary.

MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF HEADLINES

• Florida 2025 playoff brackets (7A/6A/5A/4A)
• Georgia 2025 playoff brackets (6A/5A/4A)
• Louisiana 2025 playoff brackets (Division I/II)
• Texas 2025 playoff brackets (6A/5A/4A)