Just about every team enters a season looking for a region title, or at the very least to be in that conversation. Here’s the last time each of our local football teams made that preseason goal a reality.

BANKS COUNTY

The Leopards have never won a region title in their history going back to 1958. The program has 228 wins, but hasn’t yet notched a 10-win campaign either. However, the team was very close a few times, being a win shy of a region crown and hosting playoff games in 2016, 2011, and 1997. The 1981 team had a 9-1 overall record also and were ranked #5 in the state. That’s arguably the best season in school history. 1996-97 were pretty special as well.

COMMERCE

One of the most storied programs in the entire state all-time with 652 wins in 99 seasons (100th is this year), Commerce has won 20 region titles and has made 40 state playoff runs, including a current streak of 26 years in a row. The 2023 Tigers went 11-2 on the way to the Quarterfinals, and ran their way to a region crown behind the trio in the backfield of Jaiden Daniels, Tysean Wiggins, and Jacari Huff.

DAWSON COUNTY

Dawson County won its second region title in 2022 with an 8-3 record overall. It was a pesky bunch that included Kade Moledor, Dom LeBlanc, Elijah Smith, and others. The Tigers’ first region title in 2015 came with Coey Watson at QB and Tucker Maxwell hauling in most of the passes that year. The skill position group was special, and the defense was pretty solid as well under coach Sid Maxwell. That Tigers team went 9-4, and they’d win 10 games a few years later in 2018. This program has 12 state playoff appearances, one Quarterfinal (2015), and 209 overall wins going back to 1967.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

The Lions have two region titles in their history, taking both back-to-back in 1991 and 1992. The second one came with a 9-4 overall record and a Quarterfinals run as well as a #6 ranking. It stands as the best season in Franklin County history, which dates in some fashion to 1924 with 266 wins and 16 playoff runs.

HABERSHAM CENTRAL

Habersham Central’s history claws back to 1970 with 285 all-time wins, 11 state playoff trips, and five region titles. The last one of those for the Raiders came in 2007 with Tavarres King hauling in catches from Bo Hatchett, with Gene Cathcart running the show. That was the second in a row for Hab Central.

JEFFERSON

The Dragons have won five region titles in a row, each year from 2020-24. Last year’s team went 11-4 on the way to the Benz, playing for a state title with Gavin Markey at the QB1 position. The common denominator of the last four championships has been a Brown in the program. Sammy Brown starred for Jefferson from 2021-23, and Max Brown has been a part of the last two. The Dragons are a storied program with 517 wins, a state title, 27 playoff runs

LUMPKIN COUNTY

The Indians have posted 205 wins since 1961 at their inception, notching eight playoff runs. They have one region title, coming just a couple of years ago (2023) with a 12-1 season under coach Heath Webb and his star QB Cal Faulkner along with bulldozer RB Mason Sullens. It remains the best season in school history.

RABUN COUNTY

With 432 wins dating back to 1949, Rabun County has a proud tradition that includes 15 state playoff runs and 10 region titles. Nine of those came in a row under Lee Shaw from 2014-2018, Jaybo Shaw from 2019-2021, and Michael Davis in 2022. The QBs on those teams included Collin Grant (’14), Bailey Fisher (’15-’17), Gunner Stockton (’18-’21), and Keegan Stover and Ty Truelove (’22). Rabun has been close in each of the last two seasons, and look to get another one here soon.

STEPHENS COUNTY

The Indians date back to 1923. Their history includes 525 victories, 32 playoff trips, and 16 region crowns. Of those, the 2022 and 2023 teams each won titles, with the first tallying nine wins and the second 10. Those teams had a great offense with guys like Ben Stowe and Tripp Underwood at QB, Javin Gordon at RB, and so many studs on defense and on the line under coach Wesley Tankersley.

TOWNS COUNTY

Towns County has yet to win a region title, but did win seven games back in 2008. They’ve made one playoff appearance and have 80 total wins all-time going to 1969.

UNION COUNTY

The Panthers have 311 wins since 1957, going to 12 playoffs in the process. The program has claimed a pair of region titles in 1972-1973, though in a different era. The 2019 team won 10 games and the 2018 team had nine. However, several years Union had to grapple with arch-rivals Rabun County during the Wildcats’ historic run of nine straight region titles.

WHITE COUNTY

White County goes back to 1958, and the Warriors have 317 total wins and 11 playoff runs. The glaring hole has been the region title. Several teams were close, like the 2010 team led by Ashely Lowery that played for a region title against Deshaun Watson and Gainesville and lost. The 2020 group won eight games and the 2013 team won nine and hosted a playoff game. But so far, it’s been close but no cigar for such QBs as J Ben Haynes and Tripp Nix over the last eight years.