Football: Mary Persons' forfeits could impact NEGa area teams in Class 3A

THOMASTON, Ga. — We already knew the Georgia High School Association’s new Power Rankings System (PRS) would be both exciting and perhaps controversial. But with the GHSA handing down on Thursday that Mary Persons would have to forfeit three wins for use of an ineligible player, how might that throw even more scenarios into the picture?

Only classifications from Class A up to Class 3A will be subjected to the PRS as it pertains to playoff seedings. However, with three at-large bids up for grabs in 3A, how will the Bulldogs, Region 2-3A, and the classification as a whole be affected? 

Region 2-3A is considered to be the deepest in the classification with Sandy Creek (1st) and LaGrange (5th) both ranked, as have the Bulldogs for most of the season. Two of the forfeited wins were in region play.

The Bulldogs are playoff stalwarts, having missed the playoffs just five times since 1991, and just once since 2011. They would have to climb out of the 2-3A basement and finish in the top four in the region (9-teams) or get one of the at-large bids.

In a very deep Class 3A field, the Bulldogs, ranked in the top 10 in almost every prep poll, already were just 22nd overall with a 3-1 record. It will be interesting to see how far they will drop when next week’s rankings are released by the GHSA. Lumpkin County (3-2, 1-1 Region 6-3A) sits 23rd and figures to move up.  White County (2-3, 1-1 Region 6-3A) is 36th and could find itself moving into the top 32 depending on how the new rankings will shake out.

GHSA Executive Representative and Forsyth County Athletics Director Nathan Turner said criteria is in place in the event of forfeits and that this will affect any team the Bulldogs and their opponents will play in the future and have played so far in 2024.

“According to GHSA Constitution By-Law 4.32, each of the regions will set their four qualifying teams by matter of play. Then, the power ranking will come into effect when it needs to be done for seeding purposes,” Turner said. “So yes, this will definitely affect the power rankings since they will now have two more losses, and a region loss added as well.”

Cherokee Bluff in Region 8-3A (.662 PSR) dropped one spot to No. 5 in this week’s rankings and remains the highest-ranked team in the AccessWDUN Sports coverage area in Class 3A.

However, Bears’ coach Tommy Jones said he never looks at the PRS numbers.

“I don’t really pay attention to all that stuff. We just try to focus on ourselves every week,” Jones said.

Bluff (5-0, 0-0 Region 8-3A) was expected to open its region schedule this week on the road against Oconee County but that game was moved to Oct. 17 due to Hurricane Helene rolling through Georgia the past two days.

There were 18 games originally scheduled Friday night in the AccessWDUN Sports coverage area. But Gainesville moved its game with Johns Creek to Wednesday (the Red Elephants won 48-0), two remained on Friday’s schedule, 11 shifted to Saturday, and two more moved their contests to Monday. Towns County canceled its game with Dixie (SC) and a makeup date for the Lanier Christian-Skipstone Academy matchup has not been announced yet.