Fellowship Christian and McIntosh County Academy are playing for state championships despite not having winning records a year ago. It has happened 50 teams since 1948, when the GHSA began administering the state playoffs in all classes, that a team has reached a state title game after going .500 or below the previous season. Through history, those teams are 17-31 in the finals. Here are the 17 times it has happened since 1990.

2016 McIntosh County Academy (2015: 4-7)

2016 Fellowship Christian (2015: 5-5)

*2015 Eagle's Landing Christian (2014: 7-7)

2013 Charlton County (2012: 5-6)

*2010 Chattahoochee (2009: 4-6)

*2010 Brookwood (2009: 6-6)

*2008 Wesleyan (2007: 5-5)

2002 Dublin (2001: 4-7)

2002 Brookwood (2001: 5-5)

2000 Fitzgerald (1999: 4-6)

*2000 Americus (1999: 5-6)

1996 Putnam County (1995: 3-6)

1994 Manchester (1993: 4-6)

*1994 Colquitt County (1993: 0-6)

1991 Colquitt County (1990: 5-5)

1990 Brown (1989: 1-9)

1990 Charlton County (1989: 5-5)

*Won state title

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.

About the Author

Featured

The Midtown Atlanta skyline is shown in the background as an employee works in Cargill's new office, Jan. 16, 2025, in Atlanta.  (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com