The Milton (GA) varsity football team will face Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) in a neutral playoff game today at 7 PM at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This matchup is part of the 2024 Georgia High School Football Playoff Brackets: GHSA – Class 5A tournament.
Milton (GA) vs Langston Hughes (GA) AAAAA State Championship Game Info:
What: Georgia High School Football Playoff
Who: Milton (GA) vs Langston Hughes (GA)
When: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Time: In Progress
Live stream: Watch here
Game preview: Milton (GA) vs Langston Hughes (GA)
The 2024 Georgia high school football season has delivered some of the most electrifying matchups, with powerhouse programs Langston Hughes and Milton dominating the state and national rankings. Both teams have showcased stellar performances, resulting in impressive records and eye-popping stats. Here’s an in-depth look at the two programs, their season highlights, team leaders, and how they stack up head-to-head.
Team Rankings & Records
Both Langston Hughes and Milton enter the season with national prominence:
- Langston Hughes: Ranked 42nd nationally, 6th in Georgia, and 3rd in Class
- Record: 13-1
- Region: 7-0
- Home: 9-0, Away: 3-1, Neutral: 1-0
- Points For (PF): 645 | Points Against (PA): 185
- Milton: Ranked 2nd nationally, 1st in Georgia, and 1st in Class
- Record: 14-0 (undefeated)
- Region: 6-0
- Home: 9-0, Away: 4-0, Neutral: 1-0
- Points For (PF): 604 | Points Against (PA): 162
Milton edges Langston Hughes in overall and national rankings, staying undefeated throughout the season, while Langston Hughes follows closely with just one loss.
Team Scoring Averages
Both teams display high-scoring offenses, with Langston Hughes slightly outpacing Milton:
| Quarter | Langston Hughes | Milton |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 14.8 | 12.9 |
| 2nd | 6.0 | 18.5 |
| 3rd | 12.3 | 9.5 |
| 4th | 7.3 | 4.6 |
| Final | 46.1 | 43.1 |
Langston Hughes averages 46.1 points per game, compared to Milton’s 43.1 points per game, reflecting both programs’ ability to light up the scoreboard.
Statistical Comparison
The battle of numbers reveals how each team balances offense and defense:
| Category | Langston Hughes | Milton |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 230.5 | 189.9 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 216.5 | 243.7 |
| Receiving Yards Per Game | 213.6 | 243.4 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 447.0 | 433.6 |
| Tackles Per Game | 95.1 | 77.2 |
| Sacks Per Game | 2.1 | 2.9 |
| Points Per Game | 41.7 | 43.1 |
Langston Hughes dominates on the ground, averaging 230.5 rushing yards per game, while Milton excels in the air, boasting 243.7 passing yards per game. Defensively, Langston Hughes records 95.1 tackles per game, compared to Milton’s 77.2.
Team Leaders
Key players from both squads have stepped up this season, leading their teams to success:
| Category | Langston Hughes | Milton |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | #21 Qwantavius Wiggins – 88.5 | #21 TJ Lester – 117.6 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | #3 Christian Langford – 216.5 | #5 Luke Nickel – 238.2 |
| Receiving Yards Per Game | #15 Maurice Gleaton Jr – 68.7 | #4 CJ Wiley – 76.0 |
| Total Yards Per Game | #3 Christian Langford – 256.1 | #5 Luke Nickel – 257.5 |
| Tackles Per Game | #26 Aji Griggs – 10.6 | #7 Hayden Tumminia – 8.7 |
| Sacks Per Game | #50 Tavaris Dice – 1.0 | #15 Caleb Bell – 0.8 |
| Points Per Game | #1 Jabari Jones – 7.8 | #21 TJ Lester – 11.1 |
Milton’s Luke Nickel and TJ Lester headline their offensive prowess, with Nickel leading in passing yards and Lester dominating the ground game. Langston Hughes counters with Christian Langford, who delivers outstanding performances in both passing and total yardage.
Common Opponents
Both teams share two dominant wins against common opponents Dutchtown and Roswell:
| Date | Opponent | Langston Hughes | Milton |
| 9/20/2024 | Dutchtown | W 57-14 | W 41-3 |
| 11/22/2024 | Roswell | W 31-21 | W 35-20 |
These wins highlight the teams’ consistency against top-tier opponents, though Langston Hughes produced a more dominant victory over Dutchtown.
Season Breakdown
| Team | Overall | League | Non-League | Home | Away | Neutral | Playoffs |
| Langston Hughes | 13-1 | 7-0 | 2-1 | 9-0 | 3-1 | 1-0 | 4-0 |
| Milton | 14-0 | 6-0 | 4-0 | 9-0 | 4-0 | 1-0 | 4-0 |
Milton’s perfect season gives them the edge, but Langston Hughes remains a formidable force, with their only loss outside league play.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
As the 2024 season heads toward its climax, Langston Hughes and Milton stand as two of the most dominant teams in Georgia high school football. Milton’s undefeated record and superior passing attack make them favorites, but Langston Hughes’ offensive balance and defensive strength cannot be overlooked.
With standout players like Luke Nickel and Qwantavius Wiggins leading their respective teams, a potential showdown between Langston Hughes and Milton would be one for the ages, pitting two championship-caliber programs against each other for ultimate bragging rights in Georgia football.
