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First-time region champions aren’t finished yet
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The postseason always seems to have its share of “firsts.”
First this, first that ... and this time around, it’s no different...
Two schools got their first-ever region titles as a part of the run in the 2025 season -- Locust Grove and Jackson County.
In the case of Locus Grove, the Region 2-4A champs, head coach Garry Fisher had spent two decades in the college ranks before settling down as a high school coach in Georgia. First, Fisher was a DC at Drew for two years before the Locust Grove gig opened up. He wanted to go somewhere that had a clean slate so he could make an impact.
Fisher has certainly done that. After his first two teams went 1-19, last year was a 5-5 year. This season, the Wildcats are at 9-1 and are in the playoffs for the first time in eight years. It’s the most wins since 2015 and matches the most wins in a season.
I caught up with him as he’s getting ready for a visit from Centennial.
“The goal this season was to play 15,” Fisher admits. “Coming into this season, we had a senior QB, senior D-Line, and a senior defensive front. They worked hard starting back in the summer and we definitely had expectations top make the playoffs and win the region.”
The biggest thing Locust Grove needed to work on from the 2024 season, by their own admission, was the details and getting better at the things that needed improvement. Fisher admits they had Stockbridge on the ropes last season but didn’t finish the deal losing 42-35 on the last play of the game.
“We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds last year,” he says. “But we got better with our reps at practice. We had to coach the team at a higher level, too.”
Coach Fisher also gives a lot of credit to his seniors, the student body, faculty, and staff at LGHS. The expectations and the overall vision for the program is heading in the same direction. And their only loss in region was, once again, to Stockbridge -- by a point.
“I think the community here at Locust Grove has been waiting for the longest time,” Fisher adds. “We had five home games this year and the Henry County region is always tough. We’re all very excited here.”
He admits that the philosophy of “all gas, no brakes” isn’t stopping because of the playoffs. After the win last Friday in Gray against Jones County, they took time to celebrate. But they went ahead and exchanged game film over the weekend to get locked-in as quickly as possible.
“We didn’t have any school Tuesday,” Fisher says. “So, I’ve been on Hudl and seeing how many of our players have logged on to look at the details. Every inch matters. When and how does a D-Back open his hips and how does he point? You’re studying everything.”
Even as the excitement and new, unknown phone numbers are flying into Fisher’s cell, he knows his team deserves every bit of energy and recognition that is coming their way this week and next. The school, predominantly known for baseball, might just be adding the current calendar now with what Fisher, the staff, and players have put together.
Then, you head out to Jackson County and head coach Korey Mobbs gets a region title for the Panthers as the school continues to set personal bests since the school opened in 1980. Only once before had JaxCo won eight games in a season before last year -- 1992. And with the win over Habersham Central, it’s the first-ever nine-win season in Region 8-5A ... and counting.
Mobbs has had an important addition to the staff in 2025 -- former Brookwood head coach Philip Jones. Jones, after his time at Brookwood came to a close, put his name out there for any kind of vacancy. He and Mobbs had some conversations and Jones’ role is an Associate Head Coach/OL Coach/Run Game Coordinator this season. They’ve been of a like mind when it comes to implementation of ideas and you’re seeing a team that is outscoring opponents, on average, 46-10 this year.
“It’s gratifying to be a part of this community,” Jones tells me on his hour commute home after practice. “You can tell Jackson County is on the cusp of something special. The school has doubled in size in the last handful of years. It reminds me of where Gwinnett County was 30 years ago as they were going from urban to suburban. They've invested a lot into their successes here.”
“We knew a region title was possible. Now, we can check that off the list.” -- Korey Mobbs
I asked Coach Jones about having this conversation in July. What would he think if I told him we would be having this talk we’re having now back then?
“It could have gone a few different ways. I would have said you’re maybe a soothsayer or something else entirely. They’re bursting at the seams here as a community and Korey has been building a lot of positive momentum the last few years here. He values your background and your experience as you talk things through looking for solutions. He always reminds people to be present and to enjoy the experience.”
Jones had been looking for a chance to serve and be in a good place -- he's found it at Jackson County.
“I think, after last season, they might have expected what happened on the field,” Jones continues. “Just winning a region title isn’t the be-all-end-all now. They didn’t just ‘happen’ into it and they sense an opportunity to do something, with a win, that they hadn’t done before. Korey always talks about going ‘1-and-0.’ People may think that’s kind of a coach-cliche. But they all believe in it here. It’s about one day at a time, one game at a time, and one opportunity at a time.”
Coach Mobbs was going home from the Booster Club meeting when we caught up.
“I would have told you, after last year, having this talk in this situation, would certainly be a possibility,” he admits. “We wouldn’t use the word ‘expectation.’ But we now can use that word.”
The community, in Mobbs’ observation, has galvanized over the last couple of seasons and everyone is moving in the right direction -- from the top-down...
“We knew a region title was possible. Now, we can check that off the list.”
When Coach Mobbs took the job, he looked at the school history and realized there hasn’t been a whole lot of success. To his point, the program had only three .500 seasons since 2012. And they’ve come from there to this region title after winning game 10 over Hab Central.
“We were fortunate to win at Lanier, where I was before I came here,” Mobbs admits. “But, when you come to a new school, you try not to look at the ‘History Monster.’ We’re in uncharted territory now which makes it a little more sweeter. Everyone can look at these seasons for years to come.”
Mobbs admits that, when he has had conversations about resources, no one has said ‘no.’ It has either been a “yes” or “let’s find a way.”
“Football is the front door to any school,” Mobbs says. “It’s how you carry yourself on the field and in the classroom and if we can bottle up this season, we’ll try to hang onto it as long as we can.”
Mobbs wishes that all those students that had bought in year one could be there on campus to experience what’s going on off the foundation those first-year players built. JaxCo has gone from hosting Coffee last year, and learning from that experience, to being in a “been there, done that” as Glynn Academy will come to town next week.
They’re looking to fix what went under the microscope last week against the Raiders- keeping their routine in a bye week that would match their routine in a game week.
“No doubt, we’re excited,” he says with a smile. “We really do respect Glynn Academy and (head coach) Rocky Hidalgo and will take the week to prepare for them. They're real athletic, tough and well-coached.”
So, for all those of you with firsts or first-time-in-a-long-time, we can’t wait to see all of you in Round One next week as well...
Play it safe, everyone... We’ll talk to you soon!
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