With just five weeks left before the start of the high school football playoffs, it’s crunch time for every team in northeast Georgia as the postseason stretch run gets under way.
After an entertaining first half of the season, every area region is poised for a great finish, whether it’s for a region title or just making a late push for a playoff spot.
There have been some big surprises so far, both good and bad, for area teams. Tops of the negative surprises has been North Gwinnett in Region 7-AAAAAA. The young Bulldogs have struggled on both sides of the ball and find themselves just one more loss from missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.
Among the biggest positive surprises has been Dawson County in Region 7-AAA under new coach Sid Maxwell. The Tigers are coming off a two-win campaign in 2014 and faced major uncertainty. But Maxwell and a new spread offense has them sitting atop the region standings early.
Below is a look at all the area regions and who is still a player and who needs some help to make playoff runs.
Region 8-A
In the all-important Class A power ratings, four teams from Region 8-A are within qualifying range for the playoffs if the season ended this week -- Prince Avenue (6-0, 4-0 Region 8-A), Athens Academy (5-0, 3-0), and Hebron Christian (4-2, 2-2) in Private and Commerce (3-3, 2-2) in Public -- with one more, Athens Christian (3-4, 1-3) sitting in 17th spot in the private setion.
Commerce, ranked fourth in Public, already has gone through the teeth of its schedule and will have a chance to work out some kinks and get healthy with four very winnable games down the stretch against the bottom four teams in the region.
Lakeview Academy (2-3, 1-2) moved up two spots to 27th despite its loss to Hebron last week. The Lions need a win this week against George Walton Academy before running a season-ending gauntlet against Athens Academy, Athens Christian, Prince Avenue, and Commerce. However, if they can find one or two wins down the stretch they could make a leap in the power ratings.
Region 8-AA
Rabun County (5-1, 2-0 Region 8-AA) and Union County (6-0, 2-0) appear on a collision course, once again, for an epic showdown for the top spot in the region next week. Both teams are coming off lopsided wins last week and both feature dynamic offenses.
The Panthers have scored 35 or more in every game so far in 2015 but will be tested against Greene County (3-3, 1-1), which has not allowed more than 21 points over its last five games. The Wildcats have averaged 36.8 ppg during their five-game winning streak but the defense has been impenetrable, pitching three straight shutouts. They get winless Oglethorpe County (0-6, 0-2) this week.
The 2013 region champion Washington-Wilkes (1-4, 1-1) got back into the race with a big road win last week over rival Greene County and has a chance to string together some wins with Riverside Military (1-4, 0-1) and Social Circle (2-3, 0-2) coming up in the next two weeks. The Tigers will have a say in the region title taking on both Union County and Rabun County in the final three weeks of the season.
Region 7-AAA
Many within the 7-AAA circle felt Franklin County (3-2, 2-0 Region 7-AAA) would be a solid contender for a region title in 2015. Not so many figured Dawson County, coming off a two-win season and sporting a new coach, would be ready to make a playoff run just yet.
But the Tigers (3-2, 2-0) will play host to the Lions on Friday with both teams looking for an early shot to take control of 7-AAA. There is still plenty of football left, of course, but the winner of this one will hold essentially a two-game lead because of the tiebreaker over the other. However, Dawson County is winless at home so far in 2015.
West Hall, meanwhile, is fighting to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Spartans (2-3, 0-1) have lost three straight overall and have had two weeks to ruminate over a 17-0 loss to Dawson County. Another loss with a tough finish looming could put them on the brink after being considered the team to beat coming into the season. They will travel to East Hall (1-4, 1-1) trying to reignite their season, while the Vikings have dropped two close games already this season and are 0-3 at Valhalla despite averaging 27.6 ppg on the season.
Another key game will be Lumpkin County (2-4, 0-2) playing host to Fannin County (2-3, 0-1) in a battle for both teams to stay alive in the playoff race. A loss for the Indians could knock them out of contention while a loss for the Rebels would put their backs against the wall with Dawson County, West Hall, East Hall, and Franklin County still to follow.
Banks County (4-2, 1-1) has a bye this week but will be a player down the stretch. The Leopards finish with Lumpkin County at home next week before a brutal finish with consecutive road games against Dawson County, West Hall, and East Hall. The Leopards are 2-0 on the road so far in 2015.
Region 8-AAA
Class AAA No. 3 Jefferson (6-0, 2-0 Region 8-AAA) took a huge step last week in its quest for a second straight region title, whipping No. 4 Elbert County (5-1, 1-1) on the road. The Dragons still have to contend with Oconee County (5-1, 2-0) on the road and Hart County (3-2, 0-1) at home to close out the season but barring injuries they look like a team that has potential to make a deep playoff run.
Oconee County has won three straight but faces consecutive road games against Morgan County and Hart County before closing out at home against Jefferson and Elbert County. The Warriors have yielded just three total points with two straight shutouts over their last three games and figure to have a say in the region title.
Hart County still has an outside chance at the region title but will need some help with another Elbert County loss while the Bulldogs win out, which would include a win over Jefferson in the season finale.
Jackson County (3-3, 0-2) is fighting to stay alive in the playoff race and faces a huge task Friday, traveling to Elbert County in the third of a four-game gauntlet with Hart County to follow.
Region 8-AAAA
Buford (4-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAA) and Stephens County (4-1, 2-0) are tied after the first two weeks with four teams -- North Hall (2-3, 1-1), Monroe Area (2-3, 1-1), North Oconee (2-3, 1-1), and White County (1-4, 1-1) all tied just one game back.
The top six teams will all face each other on Friday in the biggest week of the season so far that may help to shed some light on the standings.
Buford travels to North Hall and Stephens County heads to White County as the top two teams face tough road games. Monroe Area plays host to North Oconee.
Chestatee (0-5, 0-2) will play host to Madison County (0-5, 0-3) in a battle of winless teams as one of them will get their first victory of the season.
Barring a huge upset along the way, the region title is still likely to come down to the season finale showdown between Buford and Stephens County at Tom Riden Stadium.
Region 8-AAAAA
Six teams are within two games of first place with four weeks still left to play -- which should make for a thrilling finish. However, Gainesville (4-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA) plays host to Lanier (5-0, 4-0) Friday night in a battle of the only unbeatens left in the region with early leverage toward a region title going to the winner.
Loganville (5-1, 4-1) is lurking just a game back and still has Salem (4-2, 3-2) and Gainesville on the schedule. The Red Devils, however, will need some help after losing to Lanier.
Salem and Winder-Barrow (3-3, 3-2) which has won two straight in thrilling fashion to stay alive, are 1 1/2-games behind. The Bulldoggs still have Lanier on the schedule but their other three remaining opponents are a combined 3-13.
Clarke Central (2-3, 2-2) can get back in the race with consecutive home games against Flowery Branch (3-3, 2-3), Gainesville, and Winder-Barrow but one loss could put the Gladiators behind the eight-ball.
Flowery Branch may have seen its playoff hopes dashed in a tough loss to Winder-Barrow last week but with a finish against Salem and Gainesville, if the Falcons can win out they still have an outside shot. But they will need to find a way to get a road win in Athens.
Region 7-AAAAAA
With four weeks left, the four teams may already be decided.
Mill Creek and Norcross, both 6-0, along with Peachtree Ridge (4-2) and Collins Hill (3-3) all are 3-0 in Region 7-AAAAAA. North Gwinnett (2-4), Meadowcreek (2-4), Duluth (1-5) and Mountain View (1-5) all are 0-3 in the region.
The big question is who will take control over the final month of the season. All four teams play each over the final four weeks.
No. 6 Mill Creek seems the obvious choice initially. The Hawks have yet to allow a single point in region play. However, Peachtree Ridge and Collins Hill are averaging nearly 44 ppg in region play. Peachtree Ridge has allowed just 7 points through the first region games.
The noticeable difference in the standings is the lack of North Gwinnett, The defending region champs will almost assuredly see their 11-year playoff run come to an end.
