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: 7-3A
TEAMS: Dawson County, Gilmer, Lumpkin County, Pickens, Wesleyan, West Hall, White County (In: Pickens, Wesleyan; Out: Cherokee Bluff, East Forsyth, North Hall)
Of the seven regions making up the bulk of the Northeast Georgia area, this region is by far the most wide open, and perhaps the most difficult to try and decipher.
The two teams to win the last six region titles -- Greater Atlanta Christian (4) and Cherokee Bluff (2) -- are no longer in the region. You have to go back to 2015 to find the last time a team other than those two (Dawson County) claimed the title.
The Bears and North Hall, who finished first and third in the region last season, moved on to Class 4A. But Pickens dropped down from Class 4A and Wesleyan, a perennial playoff team from the always tough old Class A Private, jumped two classifications and landed in 7-3A.
Dawson County, region runner-up last season, and Wesleyan appeared to be the obvious choices as each has made the playoffs the last seven seasons. And they are the only two teams in the new region makeup that advanced to the playoffs in 2021.
But the Tigers lost most of their starting offensive unit from 2021 while the Wolves are jumping into the highest classification they have ever been in since starting the program in 1998.
Another unknown factor will be how much will Gilmer improve in its second season under future Hall of Fame coach Paul Standard, who led St. Pius to the playoffs 18 times in his 20 seasons with the Golden Lions, including two state championship game appearances. However, the Bobcats last made the playoffs in 2014 and have not had a winning season since then.
White County may have the biggest roster in the region with 80-plus expected to dress out on opening night. They also have the most experience returning at quarterback with sophomore Tripp Nix.
It was a tough call but the AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night voters apparently opted for playoff stability. Dawson County won a narrow vote over Wesleyan to claim the region title. White County was picked third and Pickens fourth.
There are more key games in this region than fingers but based on the final tally, the Tigers' trip to Norcross to take on Wesleyan on Oct. 14 may be the deciding game. But a key game for Dawson County will be another road trip to White County on Sept. 30.
Dawson's Sid Mawell said they aren't taking anyone lightly.
“All the region games are important,” he said. “West Hall is going to be improved; Lumpkin County and White County have a lot of new enthusiasm with new head coaches. So, you can’t overlook anybody.”
White County has never won a region title in its 63-year history. But the Warriors may be the best pick to break into the top two spots of any of the remaining teams and they will find out quickly. They open region play at home against Dawson County on Sept. 30 and then get the Wolves in Cleveland on Oct. 7 a week later. If they can hold serve at home, the Warriors could put pressure on the rest of the region right from the beginning.
“And I’m glad we’re playing Dawson County early because they always seem to get better and better as the season goes on," first-year White County head coach Chad Bennett said. "Catching them early on is big.”
Next up is Region 8-2A.
