The Bulloch Academy Gators are 11-1 and and headed to a second state championship game in three years on Saturday night at Paulson Stadium. One of the reasons for the Gators' success this fall has been the play of senior Collin Grooms who plays on the offensive and defensive lines.

“I feel like my job on the team is just to do what the coaches expect of me and try and be a leader as well,” Grooms said. “I just try and do my job and come up clutch when they need me to and make big plays and help the team out.

“I think I have a leadership role on the defensive line and try and help us to stay strong and focus on what we need to do in the moment. Our goal is to try and win Friday and play for another state championship.”

“He brings a relentless effort, and a lot of physicality to our team,” said coach Aaron Phillips. “He's really worked hard in the weight room over the off season and he is a dynamic player on the defensive side of the ball. He really gets after the quarterback and runs extremely well.

“He’s very underrated as an athlete in playing on both sides of the football. He's fit right in with our guys the last two years and getting a guy like him in your program and being able to help develop him some more has been great as he is such an asset to our team.”