With the conclusion of the Fall Sports season in 2024, six teams met the criteria to be included in the BLITZ Hall of Fame (Teams).

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.

STEPHENS COUNTY INDIANS

Coach: Wesley Tankersley
Record: 8-5
Accomplishments: 2A State Quarterfinals, Region 8-AA 3rd, #2 State Ranking

The Indians had an up-and-down season. The important thing is they finished strong while making a bit of history. In fact, the season really featured bookends of success with mixed results in the middle. After a 3-0 start, Stephens County held a #2 state ranking. Then came a game at #1 Jefferson where the Indians lost in the second half late. What followed was another defeat to Oconee County and blowout losses to both Prince Avenue Christian and Hebron Christian with a win over Franklin mixed within. Granted, all the losses were to state-ranked teams. But suddenly the team was 4-4 with a couple games left. A gritty 3-point win over rivals Hart County got them back on track, and they won the finale against East Jackson before a historic playoff run. First came a win over North Murray, then a shocking upset at #3-ranked Callaway to propel Stephens into the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. 3-star RB Javin Gordon finished off his career with a stellar season, rushing for 1,064 yds and 17 TD along with 558 rec yds and 3 TD, a passing score and a return for a TD. SR Tripp Underwood (2,466 pass yds, 25 TD), SR Brock Tankersley (600+ offensive yds, 8 TD; 162 TKL, 2 INT) and brothers SR Jonah Swinton (838 rec yds, 11 TD; 4 INT) and JR Davon Swinton (541 rec yds, 5 TD) as well as SR Jakob Lunsford (93 TKL, 24 TFL, 5 Sacks) led the team.

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.

WHITE COUNTY LADY WARRIORS

Coach: Yarixa Oakes
Record: 32-10
Accomplishments: 3A State Final 4, Region 6-AAA Runner-Up, #2 State Ranking

The Lady Warriors were phenomenal all season long, going 32-10 in total while holding a #2 state ranking at White County’s peak. The girls won 71 of their 108 sets overall, and had a 12-match win streak during the season. In the playoffs, the Lady Warriors beat Cedar Grove, Monroe Area, and then LaFayette in the Quarterfinals to reach the Semis. They dropped the finale to Jefferson, but had a fantastic run. The senior trio of Jenna Pratt (294 kills), Emma Kerley (286 kills), and Sarah Jarrard (272 kills) led the offense, while Pratt had 105 aces as well. Kerley (69 blocks), SR Mya Yeh (404 digs), and SR Baylie Rae Vandiver (237 digs) were leading defensive players, and Vandiver (394 assists) and SR Kalynn Watkins (494 assists) set the table.

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.