The Stephens County eight and under football team is a champion.

Stephens County defeated Franklin County 38-0 Thursday night in the championship game at the Rose Lane football fields at the Recreation Center in Toccoa.

Stephens County will have one team in tonight’s all-star football finals.

Stephens County’s 8 and under team will play Franklin County in the championship game tonight for that age bracket.

The game will be at the Rose Lane football fields at the Recreation Department beginning at 6 p.m.

Stephens County is also hosting the 10 and under and 12 and under championships. Stephens County does not have teams in those two championship games.

The preseason gasports.com boys’ and girls’ basketball polls have multiple Region 8-AAA teams in the top 10 in the state.

First, looking at the girls’ poll, Franklin County has been ranked fourth in AAA in Georgia. Kendrick from Region 2 is ranked first. Other northeast Georgia teams in the top 10 in AAA include East Hall and Gainesville.

Moving to the boys’ poll, Hart County is ranked seventh, while Franklin County is ranked eighth in the poll. South Atlanta from Region Four is ranked first in the state, while East Hall, Flowery Branch, and Gainesville also represent northeast Georgia.

Stephens County opens the 2008-2009 basketball season on Tuesday, December 2 at home against East Jackson. The Indians and Lady Indians open region play on Friday, December 12 against Hart County at home.

Of course, you can keep up with Stephens County high school basketball all season long right here on AM 630 WNEG and wnegradio.com.

A Stephens County Indian baseball player will continue his career at the collegiate level.

Cody Martin made it official Friday afternoon when he signed on the dotted line to play baseball at Auburn University.

Martin said Auburn just made him feel comfortable.

“I was just comfortable with everything,” said Martin. “I liked the campus and I really like the coaches. They made me feel like I could be a part of them and family.”

Martin went on to say that he knows he will have to put a lot of work in to step onto the plains and contribute.

“Obviously, I am going to have to work hard to go down there and start, but they are looking at me on the infield, at third base mostly,” he added.

Cody also played football for the Indians. Football Coach Travis Noland is also the athletic director at Stephens County High School. He has been there for the past few years and said he is excited for Cody.

“Anytime you have a young man go to a Division I school and get an education, it is exciting,” said Noland. “It has been fun to watch him mature and grow. He has been through a lot of good times and a lot of bad times to get where he is and there is no doubt in my mind he will be very successful at Auburn.”

Cody, a senior this year, played on last year’s Indians’ squad that finished as the runner-up in the AAA state baseball tournament.