Region preview: Restocked Jefferson unanimous pick to win 8-3A

Last season, the writers and guests at AccessWDUN Sports correctly picked four out of eight region champions that involved northeast Georgia teams in the Georgia High School Association. Fellowship Christian (8-A Division 1), Gainesville (8-6A), Jefferson (8-5A), and North Oconee (8-4A) all captured titles in 2023. 

We also nailed 26 of the 32 playoff teams in the eight northeast Georgia regions in the GHSA.

The 2024 campaign will certainly be different as the GHSA dropped down to just six classifications. However, despite the smaller number of overall classifications, there are now 10 new regions among six classifications housing area teams that should bring some exciting action this fall.

A 13-person panel, made up of media members from Blitz Sports Georgia, Friday Game Night, Gwinnett Daily Post, North Georgia SportsLink, WDUN AM/FM, White County News and WRWH AM/FM, cast their votes during the offseason for who they think will win the 10 area regions.

We will look at two regions each day this week, starting with Class A and finishing with Class 6A.

REGION 8-3A -- Defending champion: Stephens County (now in 8-2A)

This was a fierce battle in 2023 with five of the six teams all finishing within two games of each other. The four playoff teams were separated by just one game and the Nos. 2-4 seeds were decided by tiebreakers.

But Oconee County, which finished second, and Monroe Area, which was third, are the only holdovers. And in comes Jefferson, which won Region 8-5A and advanced to the semifinals in 2023. The Dragons have won region titles in four of the past five seasons overall in three different classifications.

Also new to the region are former 8-4A teams Cherokee Bluff and East Hall, while West Hall moved over from 7-3A. None of those three teams advanced to the playoffs last season but all three are expecting to be improved in 2024.

Jefferson lost Sammy Brown, now at Clemson, but returns seven on offense and seven on defense and has the experience behind senior quarterback Gavin Markey and four across the offensive line. On defense, junior linebackers Rett Hemphill and JD Lang, who combined for 251 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 3 sacks are back to lead a unit that allowed just 11.93 points/game last season.

Despite a 5-7 record, Oconee County advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a young group. Most of the offense is back, led by senior quarterback Titus Watkins, junior running back Caiden Wood, and their top three receivers who caught 80 passes for nearly 1,100 yards and 9 TDs in 2023. The Warriors did lose half of their defense, including two of their top three tacklers and their top two cover guys in the secondary.

Monroe Area is coming off a run to the 3A quarterfinals in 2023. The Hurricanes do return 1,700-yard rusher Darrion Manuel but will have a new quarterback in a passing game that only threw for 1,100 yards but was very effective with 13 TD passes in only 122 attempts last season. But they graduated 10 seniors off a defense that allowed just 18.08 ppg. However, junior defensive end Dacian Davis, who had 62 tackles, 18 TFL, and 6 sacks in his first full varsity season last year, returns to anchor a pretty good line.

Bluff has a mix of experienced returners, like the versatile KT Thompson, who is back after missing most of 2023 with an injury. But the Bears also will have to replace a 1,200-yard rusher and break in a new quarterback. The defense will be led by Thompson, Landon Camp, and Tyler Underwood in the secondary but they are reworking a young defensive line.

East Hall returns a ton of young talent that saw plenty of action last year. Junior quarterback Jamarcus Harrison could be one of the region’s more dynamic players with receivers Chasen Jones and Jevon Harrison, who was injured in 2023, leading a speedy and talented group. If the Vikings can continue to improve on defense, they could be a playoff contender for the first time since 2017.

West Hall also is looking to make some noise despite not making the playoffs since 2017 as well. Senior running back Elijah Hayes (1,400-plus yards) is back as is a bigger, stronger, faster junior quarterback Brett Sturm, who is poised for a breakout season of his own. They have three returning receivers as well. Like East Hall, the Spartans defense, which gave up 35.9 ppg last year and will need to improve, will be the key to any playoff run.

Jefferson was a unanimous pick to win the region and they have the talent to run the table. But with Class 3A using the new Playoff Rankings System (PRS) for the postseason, strength of schedule will play a huge factor for teams in this region. It’s possible they could get more than four teams depending on some tough non-region matchups.

The Dragons have to travel to Monroe Area on Oct. 4 and close out the season in Watkinsville against Oconee County (Nov. 1). The region title could come down to that final week showdown.

The Warriors will have to travel to Monroe Area  before the showdown with the Dragons. They open region play at home against Cherokee Bluff (Sept. 27) and also get West Hall (Oct. 11) at home.

Monroe Area does get East Hall, Jefferson and Oconee County all at home. Bluff has a tough start with road games at Oconee County and West Hall. Cherokee Bluff does get Monroe Area and East Hall at Yonah Field over the final three weeks but those are sandwiched around a road trip to Jefferson (Oct. 25) and a playoff run could come down that finish.

East Hall has a tough road with road games against Monroe Area (Sept. 27) to open region and at Cherokee Bluff (Nov. 1) to close out the season. They also have to travel to Jefferson on Oct. 11.

West Hall also gets three road region games. The Spartans open at Jefferson (Sept. 27), head to Oconee County (Oct. 11) and East Hall (Oct. 25) in consecutive games but finish at home against Monroe Area.