If you’re having trouble still trying to figure out just which region your favorite high school team will be playing in over the next two years, you’re not alone.
The latest round of reclassification by the Georgia High School Association shook things up around the state more than a protein shake in a blender in the morning.
The GHSA implemented a 3.0 multiplier that applied to every member school in the state, which prompted more movement up, down, and sideways than in just about any other time in its 114-year history. It also initiated an exodus among many of its Class A Private schools to GISA, now known as the GIAA.
The sports staff at AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night, for the first time, reached out to other area and state media to see just who we, and they, think will win region titles in 2022.
Each day until opening night AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night will look at one of the seven GHSA regions in the Northeast Georgia area and share our thoughts on how we think things will shake out. We will work from the largest classification (7A) down to the smallest (Class A).
Voting was comprised by members of AccessWDUN, Athens Banner Herald, Blitz Sports Georgia, Forsyth County News, Friday Game Night, Jackson County Herald, North Georgia Sportslink, Potluck Football, WCON-FM, White County News, and WRWH AM/FM.
The teams with the lowest aggregate vote total were predicted to win region titles.
REGION: 8-4A
TEAMS: Cedar Shoals, Cherokee Bluff, Chestatee, East Forsyth, East Hall, Madison County, North Hall, North Oconee, Walnut Grove, (Johnson and Seckinger playing non-region schedules) (In: Cherokee Bluff, East Forsyth, Johnson, North Hall, Seckinger, Walnut Grove; Out: Jefferson, Flowery Branch)
On initial inspection, it looks like this region got easier with Jefferson and Flowery Branch moving out. Look again.
Defending champion North Oconee is still there. Cedar Shoals, the No. 4 seed, is still there. Madison County, a state quarterfinalist in 2019, is still there, and two-time defending Region 7-3A champion Cherokee Bluff has moved up, as did 7-3A No. 3 seed North Hall.
Throw in a rapidly-improving East Forsyth and typically high-scoring Chestatee and East Hall teams and there aren’t any real walkovers, although newcomer Walnut Grove has won just 10 total games over the past five seasons.
It will be an interesting region to track as most of the teams will be breaking in new rosters after big graduating classes.
Cherokee Bluff coach Tommy Jones said it will be the biggest challenge so far for the fifth-year program, which is moving to its highest classification to date.
“We will have to be ready every single week for sure,” Jones said. “Our goal is to be in position for the playoffs and maybe another region title by the end of the season.”
Longtime Chestatee coach Shaun Conley said the Titans may still be the team to beat but felt his War Eagles, who finished sixth last year, could be in the mix this year despite breaking in a new quarterback.
“No doubt about it, North Oconee is probably still the top team,” Conley said. “But I think we can compete this year. We feel we have a chance to win ball games. But it’ll be a tough region again, for sure.”
The AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night voters agreed with Conley. North Oconee was an overwhelming pick to win the region with Bluff tabbed as the runner-up. Cedar Shoals was picked third and Madison County won a tiebreaker over North Hall for fourth.
The key games should include the Titans region opener at home against Madison County on Sept. 16. However, they will hit the road against Cedar Shoals (Oct. 7) and close out the season at Bluff on Nov. 4 in what is expected to decide the region title.
Bluff will find out quickly if it will indeed be in the running for a title opening region play on the road against Madison County (Sept. 9). They do get Chestatee (Sept. 16), Cedar Shoals (Sept. 30) and the Titans all at home where they have gone 12-3 over the past two seasons.
Next up is Region 7-3A.
