With the beginning of the new school year right around the corner, Dawson County fans are getting excited about the upcoming sports seasons.

The new alignment of Region 7-AAA may give Tigers fans more reason to look forward to an exciting sports year.

With powerhouses Buford, North Hall and White County moving to bigger regions, the Tigers look to be one of the stronger schools in the newly aligned region. The three departing schools took three of the four playoff spots in football last year.

Region 7-AAA will add two new schools for the 2014-2015 season. Franklin County moved from Region 8-AAA to Region 7-AAA for the upcoming sports season. But, the most impactful addition may be Lumpkin County.

The addition of Lumpkin County offers Dawson fans what could be the best rivalry in the area as the Indians move back to the same region with the Tigers for the first time since 2005. In football, the old neighboring foes have met just four times since playing every season from 1980-2005.

A breakdown of records from last year could shed some light on what Tigers fans may expect in the upcoming football and softball seasons.

In football, West Hall is the only team from a year ago to advance to the playoffs. The Spartans recorded an overall record of 6-4 and a region record of 2-5. However, the Spartans lost several key players from last years playoff team.

East Hall finished last season with a 5-5 overall record and a 2-5 region record, Lumpkin County ended their season with a 2-8 overall record and a 2-5 record in Region 8-AAAA, Fannin County went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in region play and Banks County had a dismal 0-10 overall record and a 0-7 region record.

Dawson County had the best region record out of the teams in the newly aligned Region 7-AAA, going 3-4 in regional action and 5-5 overall.

If the numbers indicate the strength of the teams in the region, then the Tigers look to be in good position to make a run at the Region Championship and the state playoffs in the 2014-2015 season.

The new alignment should be a source of excitement for fans of Lady Tigers softball, as well.

The addition of Franklin County into Region 7-AAA could prove to be the biggest obstacle for the Lady Tigers in the upcoming season. Franklin County amassed a 26-7 overall record and a 11-3 region record in Region 8-AAA last year.

Banks County, Fannin County, Lumpkin County each had above .500 overall records last year, making each one a solid opponent on the diamond. East Hall finished one game under .500 last year, but were able to go 9-5 in regional action.

West Halls dismal 2-23 overall record and 0-13 region record from last season could translate into easy victories for the Lady Tigers when they match up with the club.

The Lady Tigers went 15-10 overall and 9-5 in the region last year in the diamond.

The loss of the top three schools in Region 7-AAA last year and the additions of Franklin and Lumpkin counties should make Tigers football and softball fans excited about the upcoming sports seasons. If last years numbers are any indication, Dawson County should find itself in good position to find success on the grid iron and the softball diamond.

The new alignment means that basketball, wrestling and baseball should all be wide-open playoff races as well.