The world watched in amazement Wednesday night as the longest championship drought in professional sports history finally ended as the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. It had been 108 years! One-hundred-and-eight years of “wait until next year.” Well no more.

Here in Georgia we enter the final weekend of the high school football regular season and we’ll have in-depth, comprehensive coverage on our GPB Inside Edition from 7-11 p.m Friday night. We’ll look at all the crucial match-ups and look ahead to the start of the playoffs when we will return to a stadium near you (or at the very least on your big-screen TV or GPB app) and begin the five-week march to the Georgia Dome.

So as some celebrate the end to over a century of waiting, let’s take a look at the team’s that have a legitimate chance to end some long state championship droughts here in Georgia.

The first program that comes to mind are the McEachern Indians. No team has won more region championships (16) in state history without winning the title. The Indians got to the state championship game in 1998 and lost to Valdosta 21-7. McEachern got to the state semi-finals two years ago and lost to eventual state champ Colquitt County. The Indians are currently ranked 4th in the GPB AAAAAAA Top-10.

How about the Dalton Catamounts in AAAAAA? The Catamounts one and only state championship came in 1967 under legendary coach Bill Chappel. Dalton beat Carver-Atlanta 14-12 at Grady Stadium that December. The Catamounts reached the Finals in 1977, ’78 and 2001 but it’s been 47 years since they won it all. Dalton is currently ranked 2nd in the GPB AAAAAA Top-10.

In AAAAA we’ve got the Stockbridge Tigers. Fans of that Henry County school have been waiting since 1964 when the school opened for the Tigers to raise the trophy. Could this be the year? Stockbridge is tied with powerhouse Buford for #1 in the GPB AAAAA Top-10. Until Coach Kevin Whitley arrived nobody even gave a second thought to the Tigers and why would they? Stockbridge had never even made the playoffs in over 40 years of football with three winless seasons and six, one-win seasons along the way. Under Whitley the Tigers are 54-8 the last 4+ seasons, reached the semi-finals in 2014 and with a win over Union Grove Friday night will have their first-ever 10-0 regular season. I say Kevin Whitley! I say why not now?

How about the Crisp County Cougars? They’ve been playing football at that Cordele, GA high school since 1957 and have never won a state championship. But it goes beyond that. Just a year ago, the Cougars were 3-7. They haven’t had a playoff win since 2004. Crisp County hasn’t had a double-digit win season since reaching the semi-finals in 1995 for the only time in program history and haven’t had an undefeated regular season since 1980. The 2016 Cougars will be 10-0 if they win at Worth County Friday night. Crisp is currently ranked 3rd in the GPB AAA Top-10.

Then you have the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane. People find it hard to believe this team hasn’t won a state championship since 1948. That’s the same year the Cleveland Indians last won the World Series (in keeping with our theme in this blog). But the Purple Hurricane have been there year-in and year-out. Last year they reached the Final before losing to Pace Academy and Fitzgerald has had a double-digit win season 13 of the last 16 years with two state runner-up finishes and four semi-final finishes. The Purple Hurricane are currently ranked #2 in the GPB AA Top-10 so will this finally be their year again?

We could go on all day but here’s a few more Cubbie-like candidates to consider as we get ready to begin our Road to the Georgia Dome. In AA, Rabun County has been playing since 1949 but never won a state championship. Ranked 5th in the GPB poll, the Wildcats are led by Coach Lee Shaw who got Flowery Branch to the state finals in 2008.

In Single-A Private, how about Calvary Day? The Cavaliers have been playing since 1977 with no state championships but their coach Rick Tomberlin knows how to win them. He led Washington County to three state titles and played for two others. Eight-and-oh and ranked 4th in GPB A-Private Top-10, maybe keep an eye on them. And while you’re at it, watch the team that’s 5th in the GPB A-Public Top-10 rankings…Mt. Zion Carroll. If the Eagles can beat #6 Fellowship Christian Friday, they’ll have their first-ever 10-0 regular season and they’ve been playing football at that school since 1956!

So in the spirit of the Cubbies, go get ‘em boys! While wait until next year?