When the new alignments were set for the 2022-23 GHSA cycle, the Stockbridge Tigers were one of the dozens of schools that were sent to new classifications. In the case of Stockbridge, the team went from Class 5A into Class 4A and it saw a jump from a 5-5 finish in 2021 to a 10-3 run to the quarterfinals this past season. Stockbridge is a prominent program that won four-straight region titles (2014-2017) and five in a six-year span (2012-17) with seven-straight quarterfinals appearances. It was during this time that Stockbridge emerged as the strongest contender to bring Henry County its first-ever football state title.
The team produced three-straight undefeated regular seasons from 2015-17 and its 12-2 finish in 2018 was the third time that Stockbridge made a run all the way to the semifinals. Longtime head coach Kevin Whitley stepped down after the 2018 season and Stockbridge produced an 8-3 record in 2019 and a 3-7 finish in 2020 under Steve Boyd. In 2021, longtime assistant Thomas Clark took over and Stockbridge closed out its final season in Class 5A with the aforementioned 5-5 finish.
In 2022, Stockbridge’s 10-3 record produced its first region championship since 2017 and the Tigers were undefeated within the classification prior to its 34-14 loss to state champion Benedictine in the quarterfinals. This promising result generated an excitement within the program that hadn’t been felt since the historic run experienced during the 2014-18 span. This season, Stockbridge has returned as a serious contender and is off to a 4-0 start in Region 5. As a result, Stockbridge is 15-1 against 4A opponents since entering the classification, with its lone defeat coming to Benedictine in last year’s quarterfinals. The latest computer models predict Stockbridge as a 98 percent favorite to repeat as region champs and the team is enjoying a bye after its dominant 48-0 win over Lovett. In Stockbridge’s four games against fellow Class 4A opponents this season, the Tigers have accrued a 202-28 scoring advantage. A win over Woodland-Stockbridge and Pace Academy would secure the region title before their season finale against McDonough.
Coach Clark joined Wednesday’s Alfa Insurance Georgia Prep Sports: Drive for the GHSA State Title for an exclusive interview and it is worth checking out as Stockbridge attempts to be the first school in Henry County to win a state title this season. The interview can be viewed HERE.
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