Several of the spring sports teams had stellar seasons. Some stood above the rest. Here are the Fall Sports Teams of the Year for 2024.

FOOTBALL

JEFFERSON DRAGONS

Coach: Travis Noland
Record: 11-4
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up, Region 8-AAA Champions, #1 State Ranking

The Dragons were at it again in 2024. Despite entering ‘Life Without Sammy Brown’, Jefferson and legendary coach Travis Noland held a #1 state ranking and re-tooled the offense accordingly. The result (32.7 pts/game) didn’t quite match last year’s (38.0), but Gavin Markey truly emerged as an elite QB in the state with his ability to pass and run (1,551 pass yds, 16 TD; 1,659 rush yds, 24 TD). He was complimented with a stable of ball-carriers like Dallas Russell, Mickell Pittman, and Rett Hemphill. Talan Childress, Dalton Dye, and RJ Hinton headlined the receiving group, and Hemphill teamed up with Power 4 prospect Max Brown, 4-star Kelan Butler, and Jayden Yang to create an insane defense (16.2/game) that allowed 14 or less 9 times. Jefferson went perfect at home (9-0) and rolled through the region until a hiccup in the regular season finale against Oconee County in an OT loss. The pair met again in the second round of the state playoffs a few weeks later, and the Dragons proved that to be a fluke. The playoff run was a thing of beauty, as Jefferson outscored opponents 150-53 in the first 4 games leading up to the State Championship. The Dragons fell 20-7 to Calhoun at the Benz.

SOFTBALL

BANKS COUNTY LADY LEOPARDS

Coach: Rhett Carroll
Record: 31-6
Accomplishments: 1A DI State 4th Place, Region 8-A DI Champions, #2 State Ranking

The Lady Leopards were unbelievable. With an ace like SO Peyton Gaylor (26-3, 1.42 ERA, 191 K) and star hitters such as SR SS Desiree Trudel (.451-13-35), SR 3B Allison Murphy (.306-4-26), SR OF Reese Murphy (.345-2-33), SR 1B Cylee Whitfield (.340, 36 runs) and SO 2B Tylee Strickland (.315-7-32), this group was loaded. Banks County blasted opponents, outscoring them 274-102 while going 17-2 on the home field and 31-6 overall, working a 13-game win streak, and winning yet another Region Championship! In the playoffs, the Lady Leopards demolished rivals Commerce in the first round, outscoring them 20-3 in a sweep. Vidalia was a similar result in the second round, as Banks swept behind a 15-5 total score. That got the team to Columbus. An opening win over Haralson County, 9-7, propelled them closer to a state title. A loss to eventual Runner-Up Toombs County pushed them to the elimination bracket. They rebounded with a 3-2 win over Social Circle before falling to Bremen to finish 4th in the state.

VOLLEYBALL

JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Brittani Lawrence
Record: 36-5
Accomplishments: 3A State Champions!, Region 8-AAA Runner-Up, #1 State Ranking

The Lady Dragons played with heart, as the program always focuses on, and this year’s motto ‘Seize the Moment’ was so fitting. Jefferson, ranked #1 throughout the season, didn’t win their 6th straight region title, but rebounded to make a magical playoff run. In the end, Brittani Lawrence’s team won their first State Championship after going 36-5 overall and dominating to the tune of 87-16 in sets overall. Rematches in the postseason run included taking on Chestatee in the Elite 8 and White County in the Final 4, as well as Calhoun in the State Championships. Jefferson repeated the previous results with wins, including a 3-0 win over White and 3-0 over Calhoun to finish as dominant as they had been the whole season. Region POY, SR OH Kaytlin Johnson (435 Kills, 216 Digs, 63 Aces), SR S Eva Claire Nelson (980 Assists, 134 Digs, 103 Aces), SR MH Amelia Pilgrim (196 Kills, 36 Blocks), and others like SR OH Jolie Guenther and JR MH Hannah Howard were instrumental to the team’s special run.

GIRLS XC

DAWSON COUNTY LADY TIGERS

Coach: Jonathan Tinsley
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up, Sectionals 5th Place, #2 State Ranking

The expectations were always high for #2-ranked Dawson County. The Lady Tigers delivered, finishing as the State Runner-Up, stepping it up after a 5th-place run at Sectionals. At state, JR Hayden Hand (7th), JR Addison Smith (22nd), and SO Maria Gloeckner (23rd) were solid, with JR Ryleigh Adamson and freshmen Ella Carrington and Sarah Carrington, and SO Caroline Hughes all placing in the top 63.

BOYS XC

JEFFERSON DRAGONS

Coach: Timothy Lees
Accomplishments: 3A State 3rd Place, Sectionals 3rd Place, #2 State Ranking

Jefferson had one of the most talented lineups in the state heading into the season. The Dragons showed out at sectionals with a 3rd-place finish, and duplicated that at the State Championships. The #2 state ranking in the season proved how great this team was. Seniors Brock Brush and CJ Jeffords finished back-to-back at 5th-6th at the state met, with SO Finn Wakeman coming in 15th. Their run along with the remaining harriers got Jefferson up on the podium.

CHEERLEADING

JEFFERSON LADY DRAGONS

Coach: Christy Potts
Accomplishments: 3A State 3rd Place, Region Runner-Up, #3 State Ranking

The Lady Dragons were the 2nd-highest scoring team in their region to eventual State Champs Cherokee Bluff. At the State Championships, Jefferson once again had a fantastic performance, finishing 3rd place overall in the talented classification.