Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Playoff spots, positioning at stake in this week's high school football games

LaGrange-Troup rivalry to decide which team hits road in 1st round

Heading into the final week of the GHSA football season, the playoff picture has cleared in some aspects but remains muddied in others. Here is a region-by-region look at how the race for the four playoff berths is going:

Region 2-AAA

The four teams headed to the playoffs have been decided, but only two of them know their seeding. Carver is the top seed, and Northside is No. 4. The two teams finish their regular seasons tonight at Kinnett Stadium, but the outcome will have no bearing on their seeding heading into the state playoffs.

Carver is the region champion and will host the No. 4 seed from Region 3 next week in the first round of the state playoffs. Burke County plays Friday at West Laurens for that No. 4 seed.

Northside will open the state playoffs at Region 3 champion Baldwin.

Meanwhile, LaGrange and Troup will play Friday night at Callaway Stadium in a game that means much more than bragging rights. The winner will get a home playoff game in the first round, while the loser will have to go on the road.

The LaGrange-Troup winner will host Liberty County, the third seed from Region 3. The LaGrange-Troup loser will play at Washington County, the No. 2 seed from Region 3.

Region 4-A

Like 2-AAA, this region has two spots nailed down. Greenville is the region champion, and Chattahoochee County is No. 2. Both teams will be at home next week for the state playoff opener.

Brookstone has the inside track to the third seed. The Cougars need a win Friday over Schley County or a Marion County loss to Greenville.

If Marion County wins and Brookstone loses, Marion would be third and Brookstone fourth.

Region 4-A’s teams are matched up with Region 1’s in the first round. Region 1 is sub-divided and is holding playoff games Friday to determine its seedings.

Region 1-AAAA

This one could get complicated as four teams are still alive for the final two spots. Thomas County Central won the region title, and Westside-Macon is No. 2. After that, it could come down to mini-playoff games to decide the final spot.

Harris County, Hardaway and Bainbridge are tied for third at 4-3 in the region. Jones County is a game back at 3-4.

Harris County and Bainbridge control their paths to the playoffs. If they win, they would be in. If they lose, they would need help.

Hardaway, which lost to Harris County and Bainbridge, would be the team eliminated if all three end up in a tie.

The most complicated of the ties would be a three-way with Hardaway, Bainbridge and Jones County. Since the three teams went 1-1 against each other and none played another AAAA team outside the region, the last tiebreaker — the mini-playoff game — would be needed to settle the tie.

Harris County plays at Americus-Sumter, Bainbridge hosts Thomas County Central, Hardaway plays Westside-Macon (tonight at 7 p.m. at Pacelli) and Jones County plays Upson-Lee.

Region 5-AA

The four teams have been determined, but only Callaway as the top seed is set.

Manchester has a one-game lead on Lamar County, but the two teams play Friday, with the winner taking the second seed. If Manchester loses, it will be the third seed. If Lamar loses and Heard County beats Crawford County, then Heard would be third and Lamar fourth by virtue of Heard’s win over Lamar earlier this season.