Haha that's true. Did any of those Elkin teams ever even play the SMC champion during those years? Besides eventual state champion Swain in 2004 ( a game Elkin got dominated in), I don't think they did. They beat a few SMC teams in the 1a playoffs during their state title years during that time period but never faced the SMC champion. In 2002, Murphy was the SMC champion but played in 1aa. Elkin played Hayesville in the fourth round of 1a and needed a Hail Mary miracle to win. Murphy dominated Hayesville that year. In 2003, Hayesville won the SMC but inexplicably lost in the playoffs before facing Elkin. Elkin ultimately ended up beating runner up Swain by two points in the third or fourth round of the 1a playoffs. Hayesville handled Swain that year. In 2005, Murphy won the SMC again but played in the 1aa playoffs. Elkin ended up having to go through Cherokee (I believe it was) in the 1a playoffs. Don't remember much about 2006 but I think Cherokee was the SMC champion. I think the braves got upset in the 1a playoffs that year so Elkin didn't have to play the SMC champion that year either. The titles Elkin won in 2002 and 2005 might not have happened had they faced the SMC champion, and 2003 would have been a challenge too.