How does this Thomson football state title team stack up against previous Bulldog champions?
Thomson football earned its sixth state championship in program history Friday.
Nothing connects generations like shared experiences with a single football team. The Thomson side of the stands at Center Parc Stadium were filled with what was likely most of the town, including dozens of alumni wearing coveted letterman jackets.
In what's likely going to mirror conversations across McDuffie County until the next state championship, it's time to see where the 2022 team stacks up among the other five Thomson state championship teams. Admittedly, ranking these teams involves countless nitpicking and splitting of hairs, but it wouldn't be fun otherwise. We're talking about six state title teams with a combined record of 82-1-1.
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Here's how the six Thomson football state championship teams stack up against one another, in our opinion:
6. 2022
Record: 14-1
Region 4-AA champs
Thomson’s first state championship in two decades was significant for multiple reasons. Coach Michael Youngblood became the fourth coach in program history to lead the Bulldogs to the top of the mountain. For Youngblood, it was his fourth state title. He won one as a player at Burke County (1997) and two as an assistant with Tucker (2008) and Burke County (2011).
The season began with an inauspicious start in the form of a three-point loss to Burke County, but the Bulldogs made sure they wouldn’t be in that position. The only other close call in the regular season was a month-long, 15-14 win over Laney. Thomson was dominant in the state playoffs where senior tailback Jontavis Curry shined the brightest. The Bulldogs’ final three wins came over higher seeds, including the 32-27 win over No. 1 Fitzgerald in the state championship game.
It serves a great next chapter for "Ghosts of The Brickyard" author John Barnett.
Game story: Jontavis Curry shines as Thomson beats Fitzgerald in GHSA 2A title game
Photos from Atlanta: Thomson wins GHSA 2A state championship game against Fitzgerald
5. 1985
Record: 14-0-1
Region 2-AAA champs
Luther Welsh’s second state championship, this also marked the second instance of back-to-back state titles in program history. Thomson's regular season was highlighted by knocking off top-10 ranked Washington-Wilkes 21-7. The lone blemish came with a 14-all tie against 4A Newton.
Thomson defeated Cedartown 27-7 in the 3A state championship game. Quarterback Terry Pettis went on to play at Georgia Tech, while tight end Pat Simmons played at Georgia.
4. 1984
Record: 15-0
Region 2-AAA champs
This marked the first of Welsh’s three state championships and first of two 15-win seasons. Thomson defeated Westside both times the teams met, first in the regular season and second in the region playoffs. The Bulldogs upset No. 1 Marist in the 3A state championship game, 27-17.
Both the 1984 and 1985 teams allowed fewer than six points per game to opponents, while scoring at least 38. Linebacker Jessie Hatcher continued his football career at Clemson, while tailback Jerry Mays went on to Georgia Tech.
3. 1967
Record: 12-0
Region 2-A champs
Thomson’s first state championship in program history. The Bulldogs finished with an unblemished record, highlighted by Top-10 wins over Washington-Wilkes (7-0) and Statesboro (34-20). Paul Leroy’s final season at the helm ended with dominant performances in the then-two-round state playoffs. Thomson defeated Cook (semifinals) and Westminster (finals) by a combined 59-0.
It’s important to note the 1967 team surrendered just 26 points over 12 games (20 to Statesboro, six to Butler).
2. 2002
Record: 15-0
Region 3-AAAA champs
This was Welsh’s third and final state championship. The 2002 Thomson team was just the second 15-0 team in program history (both under Welsh). The Bulldogs opened the season with a 44-13 win over 3A No. 6 Hart County and followed it up with a top-5 win over Washington-Wilkes (28-7).
From that point on, Thomson kept its No. 1 ranking the rest of the season. They added another top-5, regular-season win with a 40-7 stomping of Statesboro and cruised through the postseason. The Bulldogs defeated Thomas County Central 42-27 for the 4A state championship.
This team is also known for producing a pair of future South Carolina Gamecocks in brothers Jasper and Casper Brinkley. The Minnesota Vikings drafted Jasper in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and he played six years before retiring after the 2015 season. Linebacker Danny Verdun (Georgia) and athlete Deon Palmer (Louisville) were also standouts on the 2002 team.
1. 1968
Record: 12-0
Region 2-A champs
Back-to-back state championships have become a theme in Thomson, but the 1968 title capped off a 24-0 run for the Bulldogs with two different head coaches. Joe Compton’s first season leading the program ended the way 1967 did, with a 12-0 mark, region title and state title. The Bulldogs earned Top-10 wins over Statesboro and Washington County, outscoring them by a combined 74-6. For the season, they outscored opponents 35-6, on average.
Thomson opened the semifinals by hammering Americus 34-7, a game in which both teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Atlanta Journal and Atlanta Constitution. The Bulldogs secured the second-straight championship with a 7-6 win over Carrollton in the title game, capping off Thomson and NFL legend Ray Guy’s career with his second ring.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Ranking the best Thomson high school football teams in history
