Entering my 7th season covering high school football in NWGA.

Over the next few weeks we will highlight 3 players from the 54 schools we follow at NwGaFootball.

Team #19: Dawson Co Tigers

One of the four new teams we are following this year. The Tigers had a tough season in ’23 going 2-8, their first below .500 season since 2014. Head Coach Sid Maxwell enters his 10th season at Dawson Co with 2 Region Titles and 8 playoff appearances under his belt.

3 Names to Know in 2024

’25 QB Preston Bannister

Bannister returns for his Senior season after accounting for close to 1400 yards and 10 TDs in 2023, leading the team in both passing and rushing. The multisport athlete had a game high 295 yards passing with 3 passing TDs vs Gilmer.

’25 WR/DB Luke Smith

The Tigers graduate a lot of production from the 2023 team and Luke will be someone that Dawson will have to rely on to step up in the Fall. The 5’9 rising Senior is solid on both sides of the ball and can step in at RB or WR. Tough kid with high football IQ.

’26 RB/LB Owen Wooten

The rising Junior is the top leading tackler returning for the Tigers next Fall. The 5’10 200 LB had 65 TT in 2023, 3rd on the team. Good vision at the line of scrimmage and a physical tackler. Can step in at the RB spot on offense and should see his role increase on that side of the ball in ’24.