Region champs
Here is a look at this season’s region champions:
Private
Region 1: No. 9 First Presbyterian (8-2, 5-0). The Vikings, closed the regular season with a 41-7 win over Strong Rock Christian and will host Aquinas, the No. 4 seed from Region 3. This is the Vikings’ second consecutive region title and second since they joined the GHSA in 2010. They have made the state playoffs in 10 of the 12 seasons competing in the GHSA. Prior to that, First Presbyterian had won 13 region titles in the GISA since it started its program in 1973. The Vikings won GISA state championships in 1980 and 1985. They and the other teams in the region – Mount de Sales, Stratford Academy and Tattnall Square of Macon, Deerfield-Windsor of Albany and Strong Rock Christian of Locust Grove – will be returning to the GISA for 2022. First Presbyterian lost in the second round of the playoffs last season, 14-7.
Region 2: No. 5 Eagle’s Landing Christian (4-6, 2-0). The Chargers closed the regular season with a 42-0 win over Landmark Christian and will host Heritage-Newnan, the No. 4 seed from Region 4. This is ELCA’s 11th region title in 12 seasons. The Chargers had their streak of state titles snapped at five last season when they were defeated in the quarterfinals 38-0 by eventual state champion Prince Avenue Christian. All six of ELCA’s losses were to teams from larger classifications. All six teams are ranked, including the two out-of-town teams – Brentwood Academy in Tennessee and St. Xavier of Cincinnati.
Region 3: No. 2 Calvary Day (10-0, 3-0). The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a 44-0 win over Aquinas and will host Mount de Sales, the No. 4 seed from Region 1. This is the third time since 2014 that Calvary Day has finished the regular season undefeated, and the fourth region championship for the Savannah school since 2013. The Cavs advanced to the state semifinals last season before losing to Trinity Christian, 17-7.
Region 4: No. 1 Trinity Christian (10-0, 3-0). The Lions beat No. 8 Pacelli 63-7 to finish the regular season undefeated for the first time in school history. The Lions will get a bye in the first round of the state playoffs. This is Trinity’s first region championship since joining the GHSA in 2018. The Lions advanced to the title game last season where they were defeated by Prince Avenue, 41-21.
Region 5: No. 6 Holy Innocents’ (9-1, 4-0). The Bears defeated Hebron Christian 28-7 to close the regular season. This is Holy Innocents’ second region title in three seasons, but just its third all time. The Bears won nine games for just the third time in program history. Holy Innocents’ will host North Cobb Christian, the No. 4 seed from Region 7, in the first round.
Region 6: No. 4 Fellowship Christian (9-1, 4-0). The Paladins closed the regular season with a 33-7 win over Whitefield Academy. This is their third straight region title and fourth in the past six seasons. The Paladins will host George Walton Academy, the No. 4 seed from Region 8. Last season, Fellowship lost to Trinity Christian, 41-27, in the state quarterfinals.
Region 7: No. 8 Darlington (9-1, 4-0). The Tigers closed their regular season on October 29 with a 43-13 win over Walker. This is their first region title since 2015 when they won five championships in seven seasons. This is the third season in the last four that Darlington has won at least nine games. Darlington will host Hebron Christian, the No. 4 seed from Region 5.
Region 8: Prince Avenue Christian (9-1, 4-0). The defending state champs closed the regular season with a 44-15 win over Athens Christian. This is the Wolverines’ second consecutive region title and seventh in the last 11 seasons. PAC lost its season opener to No. 2 Calvary Day before winning the next nine games. The Wolverines will host King’s Ridge, the No. 4 seed from Region 6.
Public
Region 1: Pelham (6-4, 4-1). The Hornets, unranked, closed the regular season with a 19-7 win over Seminole County. This is the fourth region title for Pelham in the past six seasons, but the first since 2001 without Dondrail Pinkins as its head coach. Pinkins left to coach his alma mater, region rival Mitchell County, this season. Pelham defeated the Eagles in the season opener, 26-12, which gave the Hornets the tie breaker in the league standings. The Hornets were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs last season by Clinch County, 14-6. Pelham will host Screven County, the No. 4 seed from Region 3.
Region 2: No. 1 Irwin County (8-2, 6-0). The two-time defending state champs closed the season with a 35-12 win over Turner County. This is Irwin’s seventh region title in eight seasons. Irwin will host Johnson County, the No. 4 seed from Region 4.
Region 3: No. 3 Metter (10-0, 7-0). The Tigers closed the season with a 38-0 win over Emanuel County Institute, their fourth shutout of the season. It is their third consecutive region title and second season in a row they have gone 10-0. Metter advanced to the semifinals last season before losing to eventual champion Irwin, 44-10. The Tigers will host Seminole County, the No. 4 seed from Region 1.
Region 4: No. 8 Wilcox County (7-3, 7-1). The Patriots closed the regular season with a 35-6 win over Treutlen. This is Wilcox County’s first region title since 2012, which ended a six-year run where the Patriots won five region championships and a state title in 2009. Wilcox won the championship this season in spite of a 49-0 loss to second-place Dublin, which suffered upset losses to the two teams that tied for fourth in the region – Johnson County and Dooly County. The Patriots were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs last season by eventual champion Irwin, 14-0. Wilcox will host Charlton County, the No. 4 seed from Region 2.
Region 5: No. 3 Macon County (9-0, 7-0). The Bulldogs closed the regular season with a 21-13 win over Chattahoochee County. It is their second consecutive region title and fifth in the last eight years. This is the first time Macon County has gone undefeated during the regular season since a seven-year span between 1990-1996 where the Bulldogs didn’t lose a regular season game in six of those seasons. The final year of the run they finished 15-0 and won the state championship, which they did again 20 years later in 2016. Macon County was knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by Warren County, 48-20. The Bulldogs will host Crawford County, the No. 4 seed from Region 7.
Region 6: No. 6 Bowdon (9-1, 5-0). Bowdon closed the regular season with a 44-0 win over Armuchee. It is the second consecutive region title for the Red Devils. They were knocked out of the playoffs last season in the second round by Washington-Wilkes, 34-17. Bowdon will host Commerce, the No. 4 seed from Region 8.
Region 7: Georgia Military College (10-0, 6-0). The Bulldogs closed the regular season with a 41-6 win over ACE Charter. This is GMC’s first region title since 1960. The Bulldogs advanced to the state playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 but were knocked out in the first round by Gordon Lee, 56-0. They will host Manchester, the No. 4 seed from Region 5.
Region 8: Washington-Wilkes (8-2, 4-1). The Tigers closed the regular season with a 49-32 win over Towns County. It is their first region title since 2013, when they finished the regular season undefeated. Washington-Wilkes advanced to the state quarterfinals last season before losing the Brooks County, 47-7. The Tigers will host Gordon Lee, the No. 4 seed from Region 6.
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