To find the state’s leading rusher, passer and receiver, search no further than northwest Georgia.
Chattooga’s Zayden Cook (leading rusher with 1,328 yards) and Trion’s Kade Smith (leading passer with 1,409) are from the same county. About 30 miles closer to the Tennessee border is Heritage of Ringgold, where leading receiver Cody Bryan (701 yards) is having a standout season.
Cook and Bryan have held the top spot before. Smith rose to the top by passing for 227 yards last week in a 35-28 victory over Robbinsville, N.C. Trion is 6-0.
Smith’s season total is one yard ahead of Cherokee’s Tanner Savasir and two head of last week’s leader, Houston County’s Antwann Hill, whose team was idle.
Smith made GACA all-state last season, passing for 1,815 yards, but Trion’s offense then relied mostly on Kobe Maddox, a 2,000-yard rusher. Now Trion needs Smith to pass a little more.
“He’s like having a coach on the field,” Trion coach Sean Patrick said of his senior. “He has such a good understanding of what we are trying to accomplish. He’s done such a good job of getting us in the right play and distributing the ball where it needs to go.”
Smith has offers from Sewanee and Bluffton. He’s also an outstanding baseball shortstop but wants to play football in college.
Here are the GHSA yards leaders through six weeks. They do not include games played this week.
Rushing
1,328 - Zayden Cook, Chattooga (A-I leader)
1,017 - Darrian Roberts, Atkinson County (A-II leader)
977 - Emadd Howard, Walnut Grove (4A leader)
903 - Elijah Hayes, West Hall (3A leader)
889 - Xavier Rucker, Allatoona
855 - Josiah Allen, Wheeler (6A leader)
848 - Jaylan Aquino, Drew
847 - Zo Smalls, Savannah Christian
818 - Brayden Tyson, Brookwood
805 - Daniel Smith, Mill Creek
804 - Alvin Ricks, Wheeler County
803 - Zion Johnson, Newton
778 - Quinterrius Gipson, Kell
769 - Hudson Hulett, North Murray (2A leader)
764 - Andrew Beard, Prince Avenue Christian
755 - Tysean Wiggins, Commerce
755 - Joshua Troup, Richmond Hill
754 - Bryian Duncan Jr., Cairo
745 - Kalil Townes, Lovett
744 - Nick Woodford, Northeast
723 - Anddreas McKinny, Bryan County
713 - Reante Byrd, Hephzibah
701 - Dominique Ball, Westover
699 - Demetrius “M.J.” Dowdy, Winder-Barrow (5A leader)
692 - Tyrese Woodgett, Coffee
684 - Reginald Glover, Northeast
682 - Kadiphius Iverson, Westside-Macon
681 - Aaron Bryant, Clinch County
680 - Walker Poyner, Lake Oconee Academy
678 - Shane Marshall, Irwin County
673 - Christian “Deuce” Lawrence, Thomas County Central
658 - Mark Howard, Woodland-Stockbridge
657 - Kelby Tymes, Marion County
656 - Michael Battle, Pelham
638 - Javen Parker, East Paulding
636 - Amari Latimer, Sandy Creek
629 - Jitt Carr, Monroe Area
622 - Roderick Fuller, Treutlen
616 - James Skelly, North Paulding
612 - Chris Cole, Brooks County
612 - Lawson Sullivan, Fannin County
608 - William Heck, Brunswick
608 - Jason Familia, Long County
607 - Jeremiah Tatum, Kennesaw Mountain
605 - Ousmane Kromah, Lee County
603 - Jeremiah Frost, Ringgold
596 - Jeanarion Kamga, Westside-Augusta
594 - Noah Laban, Denmark
590 - Naeem Odeniyi, Westlake
585 - Mason Hollingsworth, Whitefield Academy
584 - Tojuan Peyton Jr., Lanier
583 - Jonaz Walton, Central-Carrollton
583 - Brayden Slaughter, Heritage-Ringgold
582 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
582 - Earnest Mcintosh, McIntosh County Academy
580 - Kimauri Farmer, Carrollton
574 - Christopher Wilson, KIPP Atlanta
573 - Brandon Lyons, Duluth
572 - Benjamin Plemons, Chestatee
572 - Reid Giles, Rabun County
571 - Antavious Richardson, Greenville
566 - Christian Monfort, Morgan County
564 - Qindaruis Brown, Swainsboro
559 - C.J. Gray, Temple
556 - Austin Drye, King’s Ridge Christian
554 - Kyle Davis, Lakeside-Atlanta
553 - Nick Slidell, Alcovy
552 - Zach Belyeu, North Cobb
551 - Andrew Overton, Mount Paran Christian
551 - Will Rajecki, Sequoyah
548 - Kobe Robinson, Norcross
542 - Dabvn Wadley, Toombs County
540 - Ty Jones, Lakeside-Evans
537 - Xavier Bostic, Dublin
535 - J.J. Gant, Hephzibah
533 - Zamarcus Lindley, Douglas County
532 - Kaden Hamilton, Hiram
530 - Carsyn Baker, Hughes
525 - Colby Smith, Southeast Bulloch
517 - Kelian Allen, Banneker
513 - Jalen Stewart, Jasper County
512 - A’merre Williams, Burke County
511 - Isaiah Payton, Woodstock
506 - Xavier Hill, Harrison
503 - Jagger Reed, Murray County
500 - Marquel Deering, Greenville
Passing
1,409 - Kade Smith, Trion (A-II leader)
1,408 - Tanner Savasir, Cherokee (6Aleader)
1,407 - Antwann Hill Jr., Houston County (5A leader)
1,386 - Matt Pearch, Dunwoody
1,377 - Julian Lewis, Carrollton
1,358 - Ben Brown, Wesleyan (A-I leader)
1,336 - Blake Weldon, Schley County
1,287 - Kharim Hughley, Gainesville
1,280 - Kaeden Gilstrap, Walton
1,263 - Devin Edmonds, Jones County (4A leader)
1,250 - Davis Strickland, Morgan County (2A leader)
1,234 - Tucker Perkins, Effingham County
1,233 - Tripp Nix, White County (3A leader)
1,212 - Mason Bryant, Paulding County
1,171 - Tripp Underwood, Stephens County
1,168 - Lyndon Worthy, Worth County
1,164 - J.R. Harris, Central-Carrollton
1,160 - James Mobley, Calvary Day
1,123 - Hunter Campbell, Centennial
1,116 - Weston Taylor, Cambridge
1,114 - Luke Nickel, Milton
1,114 - Darnell Kelly, Peachtree Ridge
1,106 - Michael Buhay, Westminster
1,090 - Chaz Pate, Sonoraville
1,085 - Jaden Duckett, Sprayberry
1,072 - Quinterrion Stanford, Wilkinson County
1,066 - Christian Langford, Hughes
1,059 - Chase Cromartie, McIntosh
1,048 - Michael Johnson, Dutchtown
1,044 - Luke Priester, Chattahoochee
1,032 - Brooks Brien, Cherokee Bluff
1,030 - Julian Shanks, Arabia Mountain
1,030 - Parks Riendeau, Camden County
1,029 - Brandon Wallace, Cross Creek
1,027 - Rashawn Truell, New Hampstead
1,024 - Ryan Hall, North Gwinnett
1,015 - D.J. Hudson, Peach County
1,014 - Titus Watkins, Oconee County
1,005 - Ethan Long, Adairsville
1,004 - Brodie Campbell, Newnan
995 - Carter Triplett, Christian Heritage
989 - Junior Burrus, Brooks County
980 - Jayden Whiteside, Marietta
965 - Jordan Do, Archer
957 - Ethan Daughtery, Lambert
950 - Todd Robinson, Valdosta
947 - Hampton Johnson, Athens Academy
944 - Nick Grimstead, North Cobb
942 - Tyler Niehr, North Paulding
937 - Stephen Cannon, Benedictine
937 - Joshua Scott, Stockbridge
931 - Braylon Carter, Southwest DeKalb
929 - Delancy Alexander, New Manchester
928 - Grant Moore, Brunswick
927 - Max Walraven, West Forsyth
922 - Dream Rashad, Mountain View
912 - Connor Langford, Duluth
920 - Harrison Faulkner, North Oconee
918 - Caden Hight, Heritage-Ringgold
916 - Hezekiah Millender, Clarke Central
916 - Shane Throgmartin, Mill Creek
915 - Mitch Seaman, Lassiter
908 - Elijah Fudge, Spencer
902 - Jayvyn Hickman, Elbert County
901 - Skylar Hamilton, Landmark Christian
900 - Nate Russell, Cartersville
895 - Brock Szakacs, East Forsyth
894 - Jaylen Johnson, Thomas County Central
889 - Cullen McDaniel, Perry
888 - Sean Smith, Westlake
885 - Kamden Kendrick, Union County
881 - Charles Maxell III, Bowdon
880 - Teddy Jarrard, North Cobb Christian
875 - Jaylen Wyatt, Mays
874 - Cayden Benson, Creekside
853 - Xavier Hill, Harrison
851 - T.J. Stanley, Toombs County
844 - Ryan Dean, Temple
841 - R.J. Knapp, Jackson County
841 - Trey Smith, Roswell
837 - Weston Bryan, Lee County
833 - Beckham Jarrard, Statesboro
832 - Hagan Slimp, Crisp County
826 - Darien Keefe, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
818 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
817 - Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek
815 - Sean Vandiver, Burke County
812 - Elijah Seaney, North Forsyth
806 - Thomas Winston IV, Miller Grove
799 - Charlie Cannon, Coosa
799 - Hayden Jones, Pickens
793 - Lawson Sullivan, Fannin County
789 - Tristan Parks, Hampton
786 - Hudson Deline, Pope
778 - Gavin Nuckolls, Northwest Whitfield
776 - Graham Burmeister, Woodstock
764 - Brett Sturm, West Hall
763 - Zabrian Boler, Mundy’s Mill
756 - Ace Hatcher, ACE Charter
755 - Ethan Latimore, Hiram
750 - Montavious Banks, Carver-Atlanta
Receiving
701 - Cody Bryan, Heritage-Ringgold (3A leader)
676 - Jaylen Elder, Morgan County (2A leader)
660 - Keyon Standifer, Athens Academy (A-I leader)
640 - John Stuetzer, Pope (5A leader)
628 - Zach Stair, Riverwood
627 - Isaiah Mitchell, Houston County
619 - Jamarion McKinney, Dutchtown
592 - Elijah Green, Marietta (6A leader)
591 - Cam Nixon, Cross Creek
590 - Jaivon Solomon, Jones County (4A leader)
590 - Travis Smith Jr, Westlake
578 - Kendall Sims, Schley County (A-II leader)
567 - Ethan Willingham, Trion
537 - Xavier Buckner, Mount Zion-Carroll
535 - D.J. Avery, Chattahoochee
522 - Porter Allison, Dunwoody
507 - Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon
505 - Tamari Curry, Washington-Wilkes
499 - Clayton Coppock, Mays
489 - Christian Ward, Walton
488 - Christian Smith, Lambert
477 - Steele Ingram, North Cobb
476 - George Lamons, Brooks County
475 - Thomas Blackshear, Calvary Day
474 - Kamari Maxwell, New Hampstead
472 - Randy Parker, Lithia Springs
460 - Carter Hayes, Wesleyan
459 - Zion Hudson, Peach County
457 - Elyiss Williams, Camden County
451 - Chris Hutchinson, Alexander
451 - Casani Bartlett, Lovett
450 - Kenyan Glasper, Winder-Barrow
449 - Kaden Thompson, Cherokee Bluff
445 - Kobe Lewis, Kennesaw Mountain
443 - Craig Dandridge, Cambridge
438 - McCord Purdy, Pickens
436 - Bubba Frazier, Benedictine
436 - Ryan Mosley, Carrollton
434 - Landon Roldan, North Oconee
431 - George Sabb, New Manchester
430 - Brady Marchese, Cartersville
429 - Kiel Sparks, Perry
422 - Jeremiah Roux, Mundy’s Mill
415 - Jo’Van Freeney, Landmark Christian
414 - Colby Alexander, Archer
412 - Ryan Wells, Effingham County
411 - Maddox Young, Union County
409 - Caylen Brunson, Spencer
401 - Brice Whitely, ACE Charter
401 - Anthony Bell, Paulding County
396 - Erik Ronning, North Gwinnett
394 - Logan Stokes, Trion
393 - Kobe Adeleke-Hokes, Peachtree Ridge
392 - Jeremiah Ware, Gainesville
385 - Danny Boden, Dunwoody
385 - Jahsaun Clarke, Norcross
380 - Malik Brightwell, Newton
378 - Ramique Thomas, Southwest DeKalb
374 - Zeke Whittington, Habersham Central
372 - K.T. Thompson, Cherokee Bluff
372 - Shane King, Gainesville
372 - Gabe Daniels, Greater Atlanta Christian
371 - Demarcus Gardner, Cedartown
367 - D’ontae Fulton, Worth County
366 - Jack Griggs, Greater Atlanta Christian
366 - Myles Cobb, Wilkinson County
365 - Charlie Idom, Christian Heritage
362 - Mason Hall, Oconee County
361 - Jorden Edmonds, Sprayberry
360 - Gus Anderson, Newnan
358 - Hudson Cocchiara, Cambridge
356 - C.J. Wiley, Milton
354 - Chasen Jones, East Hall
353 - Braydan Jones, Dade County
352 - Lagracion Little, Clarke Central
352 - Gaines Clark, White County
350 - Davon Swinton, Stephens County
349 - Wes Vail, Wesleyan
348 - Javin Gordon, Stephens County
343 - M.J. Mathis, Houston County
340 - Deshaun Fedd, Crisp County
339 - Lawrence Tolbert, Riverdale
338 - Jackson Harrell, Centennial
336 - Brady Holbrook, North Forsyth
335 - Aiden Taylor, Grayson
333 - Mark Manfred, Sprayberry
332 - T.J. Umenyiora, Mount Pisgah Christian
332 - Jordan Hudson, Schley County
331 - Jayden Farley, Worth County
328 - Geno Houchins, Mount Pisgah Christian
327 - Sean Green, Camden County
326 - Collins Price, Lassiter
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