Lions, Bulldogs, Indians, Moving to Region 7-AAA

Proposed region alignments for the next two school years from the Georgia High School Association would result in a major change for some northeast Georgia football teams, including Franklin, Hart, and Stephens counties.

With East Jackson moving to AA next school year – leaving just five current Region 8-AAA teams – Franklin, Hart, and Stephens counties would move into a new Region 7-AAA that stretches across north Georgia under the proposal released last Thursday by the GHSA.

Joining Franklin, Hart, and Stephens counties in the proposed new nine-team region would be White Dawson, West Hall, Lumpkin, Gilmer, and Pickens counties.

This creates a region that stretches for a total of 122 miles from east to west.

The two other current remaining Region 8-AAA teams, Oconee County and Monroe Area, would stay in 8-AAA, which would shift south and east to take in Morgan County and schools in and around the Augusta area.

Looking elsewhere, Habersham Central would remain in Region 8-AAAAAA, joined by Apalachee, Gainesville, Jackson County, Lanier, North Forsyth, Shiloh.

Rabun County, Banks County, and Elbert County remain in 8-AA with East Jackson, Fannin County, Oglethorpe County, and Union County.

Schools can apply to be placed within a different region within the same classification.

Those appeals will be heard this Thursday, after which the region alignments will be finalized and will take effect for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.