Region 7-AAAAAA set for another incredible finish

You think the SEC's Western division is tight at the top? Go check out the standings in Region 7-AAAAAA.<br /> <br /> Georgia High School football's very own version of a dead-heat title race bears many similarities to the gauntlet shaping up in the collegiate ranks. And standouts from Mill Creek, North Gwinnett, Norcross and Peachtree Ridge have given area high school fans what should be a true treat over the final two Fridays of the 2014 regular season.<br /> <br /> All four programs are tied with one region defeat apiece -- while Collins Hill lurks just outside the group with two 7-AAAAAA setbacks -- and three of the teams currently at the top will face off over the next two weeks, starting with Friday night's showdown between the Hawks and Blue Devils. <br /> <br /> "When we, as coaches, all looked at the way the schedule was going to line up a while back, we all kind of talked about that the last couple of weeks of the season you could go from a No. 1 seed to out of the playoffs," Mill Creek coach Shannon Jarvis said. "It will make some great football for fans and coaches too."<br /> <br /> Indeed, Hawks fans could be forgiven for salivating at the thought of the next two weeks when their team closes out with defending Class AAAAAA champ Norcross and then Peachtree Ridge (which was a second round playoff foe in 2013). Collins Hill (a Class AAAAAA quarterfinalist in 2013) will also have something to say about the playoff race in 7-AAAAAA, as the Eagles take on first Peachtree Ridge and then Norcross.<br /> <br /> As someone who has already faced all four teams, North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire is both intrigued by the possibilities in store... and glad his team has already run that gauntlet -- defeating (in order) Collins Hill and Mill Creek, falling to Norcross and then bouncing back to knock off Peachtree Ridge.<br /> <br /> "You don't want to take anything for granted, but we kind of like where we're sitting right now," said Sphire, whose 2013 Class AAAAAA runner-up Bulldogs will close out the 2014 regular season against Meadwocreek and Mountain View -- teams with three combined wins and just one in 7-AAAAAA play. "Every one of those games (against the other top teams in 7-AAAAAA) was a war for us. We've got to keep competing now, but our kids have done that every week so far this season. That stretch early in the region season toughened us up."<br /> <br /> Certainly Jarvis knows his team better be ready both mentally and physically for the challenges ahead this week and next, but he likes how his team responded to the 51-41 setback against the Bulldogs, rattling off three lopsided victories -- including a 51-7 domination of Collins Hill last week.<br /> <br /> "We've had our three best games of the season since the loss; we've had great practices, and that's carried over to the games," Jarvis said. "This team has proven very mature and has weathered the positive and negative to be in this position. We like where we are right now."<br /> <br /> The Hawks also feel they learned valuable lessons after just missing out on the 7-AAAAAA postseason party in 2013 and are ready to put those to use.<br /> <br /> "We're not even talking about all the implications," Jarvis said. "It's already out there anyway for the kids to see, so as coaches, we're just going to focus on the next two games, focus on each moment. Last year we got caught up in that (playoff scenario talk) some, and it can get distracting."<br /> <br /> Jarvis noted that he wasn't even sure of the tiebreaker rules should three or more teams end up tied for the championship or other playoff spots.<br /> <br /> A coin toss would come into play if three teams finish locked up for the 7-AAAAAA crown -- the same factor that played out last season, as Collins Hill claimed the crown over North Gwinnett and Norcross (who, despite not finishing as No. 1 seed, went on to meet in the state championship game).<br /> <br /> And with the way things have been going -- both last season and this -- fans should know to expect the unexpected over the next two Fridays.<br /> <br /> "You can't sit down and try to figure it out," Sphire said. "All I know is that it will probably be crazy."<br /> <br /> Jarvis agreed.<br /> <br /> "Any time you win in this league you build huge momentum because the teams in it are some of the best in the state," Jarvis said. "We knew this would be a dogfight from the start. And we're ready for it."

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/10/281227