Georgia high school record-holders meet in Georgia-Florida rivalry

When Georgia and Florida clash in the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on Saturday, two of Georgia's football legends will take center stage. Rabun County graduate Gunner Stockton, a quarterback for Georgia, holds the state's record for career passing touchdowns with an impressive 177. Florida's Aaron Philo, representing the Gators, boasts the all-time passing yards record at 13,922 yards.

Despite suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of Florida's loss to South Carolina, Philo was selected to start Thursday's game. He missed the subsequent week's contest as his team secured a 27-24 victory over Texas with Tramell Jones guiding the offense.

Adding a layer of significance to the matchup, this year's game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia, the very venue where Philo shattered his state record. Traditionally hosted at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, the rivalry faced relocation until 2028 due to stadium renovations. Although Stockton and Philo have shared the field three times since 2020, they have yet to face each other directly.

In 2020, Rabun County emerged victorious against Prince Avenue Christian with Stockton as the quarterback, backing up former Georgia and Kentucky star Brock Vandergriff. In 2024, Stockton and Philo were both backups when Georgia claimed a narrow 44-42 triumph over Georgia Tech. Last season, Stockton started in the in-state rivalry while Philo served as a backup to Haynes King.

Saturday's matchup will mark the first head-to-head encounter between Stockton and Philo, with substantial playoff implications at stake. Both teams enter the game following a bye week, Georgia (4-1) eager to rebound from its lone defeat to Auburn, while Florida (3-2) comes in buoyed by its win over Texas.