Three new football-playing schools will enter Class AAA in the 2018 season and two, for certain, are immediately going to impact the competition levels of their respective regions. Jefferson and Benedictine have storied athletic histories, and Cherokee Bluff, one of the state's new schools, will enter a tough region (7-AAA) hoping for a successful debut season.
In Region 3-AAA, Savannah's region, Class AA power Benedictine will move up to face the local competition of Beach, Groves, Islands, Jenkins, Johnson-Savannah, Savannah, Southeast Bulloch and Windsor Forest.
The Cadets have been the pinnacle of Class AA football for several years, recording undefeated regular seasons in 2015-2017. In 2016, Benedictine capped an undefeated season with a 40-26 victory against Fitzgerald in the state championship game. Last season, Benedictine was not challenged through its first 10 games, outscoring opponents 382-87 with two shutouts. The closest game was a 12-point victory against Swainsboro, 30-18. The Cadets stormed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, defeating Berrien 56-14 and Jefferson County 70-21 before falling to Hapeville Charter in the quarterfinals.
A season that could have yielded back-to-back undefeated seasons was cut short, and Benedictine's time in Class AA was coming to a close. In the upcoming season, the Cadets will stir up the Savannah football stage, while bringing a level of competition that will challenge each team in the region.
A new, yet familiar, chapter will be added to Jefferson's legacy when the Dragons enter Region 8-AAA again after being in Class AAAA for two seasons. Jefferson moved up to Class AAAA following reclassification in 2016, and this season it will face familiar foes once again after a successful appeal to rejoin Class AAA. The Dragons will compete with the likes of East Jackson, Franklin County, Hart County, Jackson County, Monroe Area and Morgan County.
In 2015, its last season in Class AAA, Jefferson went 9-1, 5-1 and lost to Oconee County, 36-35. In 2016, Jefferson went undefeated through region 8-AAAA and dropped one regular-season game to Thomson, 42-20.
Cherokee Bluff will have its hands full entering one of the toughest regions in Class AAA. For more information see the March 27 blog on the Bears here.
Benedictine's 2018 schedule
8-17 vs. Burke County
9-7 at Blessed Trinity
9-14 vs. Groves (*)
9-21 vs. Savannah (*)
9-27 at Johnson-Savannah (*)
10-5 vs. Windsor Forest (*)
10-11 at Islands (*)
10-19 vs. Southeast Bulloch (*)
10-26 at Beach (*)
11-3 vs. Jenkins (*)
(*) – region game
Jefferson's 2018 schedule
8-17 at Oconee County
8-31 at West Hall
9-7 vs. Southside SC
9-14 vs. Gainesville
9-21 vs. East Jackson (*)
9-28 at Franklin County (*)
10-5 vs. Hart County (*)
10-12 at Morgan County (*)
10-19 vs. Monroe Area (*)
10-26 at Jackson County (*)
Cherokee Bluff's 2018 schedule
8-18 vs. Whitefield Academy
8-24 at Denmark
8-31 at Johnson-Gainesville
9-7 vs. Athens Academy
9-21 vs. North Hall (*)
9-28 at Fannin County (*)
10-5 vs. Lumpkin County (*)
10-12 at East Hall (*)
10-19 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (*)
10-26 at Dawson County (*)
(*) - region game
