Norcross must defeat Collins Hill tonight to qualify for the playoffs, or it will become the first defending state champion to fail since 2006. It was common for defending state champs to miss the playoffs until the mid-1980s, when postseason region playoffs became the norm. Many regions didn't have playoffs through the 1970s, meaning only the region champion advanced to postseason. Then in 1990, the state playoffs expanded to 16 teams, and they expanded again to 32 in 1996, meaning a top-four finish guarantees a playoff berth. Only three defending champions have failed under that format. Here are the defending champs since 1970 that did not play postseason games.
2006 Lowndes
1999 Dougherty
1999 Valdosta
1993 Valdosta
1992 LaGrange
1991 Cairo
1991 Pepperell
1989 Clinch County
1989 R.E. Lee
1982 Douglass (Montezuma)
1982 Waycross
1981 Lowndes
1981 Mary Persons
1980 Redan
1979 Westminster
1977 Avondale
1977 Turner County
1976 Americus
1976 Irwin County
1976 Lyons
1975 Trion
1974 Mount de Sales
1974 Southwest (Atlanta)
1972 Bowdon
1972 Valdosta
1972 Westminster
1971 Lakeside (Atlanta)
1971 Lovett
1970 Coosa
1970 North Springs
1970 Vidalia
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