Don’t worry Football fans, the wait is almost over.
Folks all around the State are gearing up for another season to enjoy the grandeur of the Friday Night Lights. For the fans here in Murray County, this season could be especially exciting.
This years GHSA reclassification has landed both Murray County and North Murray in a new Region for the 2022 Football season. Both teams will be joining Region 7-AA this fall. The schools that comprise the new 7-AA are: North Murray, Murray County, Rockmart, Fannin County, Haralson County, Model, and Gordon Central.
Several local pundits have already dubbed this region ‘The SEC of AA football’.
This star-studded Region now has three teams that won Region titles last season: Fannin Co. (7-AA), Rockmart (6-AAA), & Haralson Co. (5-AA).
Not only is this new Region filled with great teams, it also features great Coaching. The Past four Coaches of the Year, as voted on by NwGaFootball will now face-off in region play this season. Rockmart Head Coach Biff Parson won the award in 2018, North Murray Head Coach Preston Poag won in 2019, Fannin County Head Coach Chad Cheatham won in 2020, and Haralson County Head Coach Scott Peavey took home the award for the 2021 season.
Although North Murray didn’t bring home a Region crown last season, they do have a returning Region Player of the Year in Sr. QB Seth Griffin. Griffin earned the 6-AAA Region Player of the Year last season after Passing for more than 2800-yards and accounting for 32 total touchdowns.
North Murray has ridden a wave of success under seventh-year Head Coach Preston Poag. The Mountaineers have reached the playoffs for 6-straight seasons and will be looking for number 7 this fall.
Excitement at Murray County is growing as new Head Coach Kurt Napier is looking to return the Indian Football Program to a perennial Region contender. Murray County has struggled in recent years, they haven’t had a winning season since a 6-4 campaign in 2016. Indian Faithful are hoping that the recent changes will be the spark the team needs to notch their next winning season.
The Rockmart Yellowjackets return to Region 7-AA after a two-year hiatus. The Jackets have won 5-straight Region titles: 2017-2019 in Region 7-AA and the past two seasons in Region 6-AAA. With a large number of returning starters, they are seen as the early favorite in the Region.
Fannin County is the 2-time defending 7-AA champion. The Rebels are coming off of the first back-to-back 10-win seasons in School history. The road to a third-straight Region Title for Fannin now seems much more Challenging.
Haralson County will be joining 7-AA this season after competing in 5-AA the last two seasons. The Rebels are coming off a 10-win season which brought home the first Region Title in school History. Haralson County has become a perennial playoff-team under sixth-year Head Coach Scott Peavey, and will look to continue that trend this season.
Model is coming off a disappointing 3-7 season where the Blue Devils missed the playoffs for the first time under fourth-year Head Coach Jeff Hunnicutt. With several standouts returning this season, Model looks prepared to reclaim their spot in the postseason this year.
Gordon Central enters their seventh-season in 7-AA. The Warriors have not matched the success of their fellow Gordon Schools Sonoraville and Calhoun. Head Coach TJ Hamilton will be entering his fourth season as Head Coach after posting a 6-24 record in his first three seasons at the helm.
Regardless of whether you wear black & yellow or green & white, one thing is certain, great Football is heading your way. Grab your season tickets and get ready, the season is about to get underway.