AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2005 > November > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBeware of bad signs if you fill out bracket
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the most part, I don’t subscribe to the notion of bad signs except for three times a year. One is the day before the NCAA tournament. Another is the day before the GHSA football playoffs. The third, of course, is any time the Georgia Department of Transportation is responsible for the directions.
The bad signs the day before the NCAA basketball and GHSA football events are strikingly similar. It has to do with my brackets. The bad signs are that I actually fill them out.
If your school’s name ends up in the center of my bracket, where the projected champions dwell, the best you can do is pray you’re not a senior. You can kiss your high school career sayonara if you are.
Here’s a worse sign, the most certain omen I have that my brackets are wastebasket-bound: My five pages aren’t even stapled in the correct order. How hard can it be to go Class AAAAA, Class AAAA, Class AAA, Class AA, Class A and then — click! — fasten them together?
Stapling five pages is akin to lotioning your elbows. Whittling 160 teams down to five happy champions is much more akin to sticking your freshly lotioned elbows in your ears.
And while trying to do that might otherwise provides hours of endless fun, today’s task is to ferret out other bad signs that involve the GHSA football playoffs.
Bad sign No. 1: The other team’s name is Dublin. This means it’s time to turn in your uniforms and get ready for basketball season. The Fighting Irish have given up three points all season. The one time someone was supposed to hit them in the mouth was when then-No. 2-ranked Vidalia came to town.
The genius I see in the mirror said Dublin would win but tried to throw Vidalia a bone by saying at least the Indians would score, ending the shutout streak Dublin had going. The Irish left Vidalia boneless, filleting them by 58.
Big, bruising Greene County is likely to give Dublin the best game in the quarterfinals.
Of course, what do I know? The Class AA page was the one that was out of order. Maybe somebody’s trying to tell me that something will happen that will make Class AA stand out.
Bad sign No. 2: Your best shot to beat your opponent came two years ago. Only 48 minutes and Camden County stood between Newnan and a spot in the Class AAAAA final in 2003. But Camden County won 20-10 in the Georgia Dome and went on to the state championship. Newnan dropped to 6-5 last year and 4-6 this season as it prepares for a Camden rematch.
Newnan’s 66-point outburst against East Coweta in the regular-season finale last week speaks to the Cougars’ ability to do the unexpected with Thomas Darrah leading the charge. But let us not get carried away here.
Bad sign No. 3: You’re one of DeKalb County’s two all-time winningest teams. Southwest DeKalb and Tucker, the county’s only 400-game winners, have to play each other in the first round. Southwest DeKalb has gotten past the first round only once in the past five years as newer schools have chipped away at the Panthers’ talent pipeline. Tucker hasn’t gotten past Statesboro, period. And those three teams all are situated in one-fourth of the Class AAAA bracket. With defending champion Warner Robins. Say good night, Gracie.
Bad sign No. 4: The one team that you’d like to sneak up on is the one team against which you’ve already pulled that stunt. How Crisp County would love to saunter into its first-round game, proudly touting itself as just a little ol’ 2-8 team that’s happy to be here.
Unfortunately for the Cougars, they’ve already played that card, and the element of surprise is gone. In 2001, they blindsided Shaw 20-17. If that works twice, it’s an even worse sign for Shaw.
Bad sign No. 5: You’re not taking Washington-Wilkes seriously. With no clear-cut favorite in Class A, and a loss to Lincoln County notwithstanding, the Tigers may be the most dangerous small school still standing.
THE WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
CLASS AAAAA
Winner-Loser
Brookwood-Norcross
Camden Co.-Newnan
Central Gwinnett-Collins Hill
Colquitt Co.-Tri Cities
Dacula-Berkmar
East Coweta-Groves
Harrison-Walton
Lowndes-Douglass
Marietta-Woodstock
Parkview-North Gwinnett
Roswell-McEachern
South Cobb-Kell
Starr’s Mill-Brunswick
Stephenson-Tift County
Union Grove-Glynn Academy
Valdosta-Riverdale
CLASS AAAA
Winner-Loser
Chamblee-Mays
Creekside-Upson Lee
Dalton-Habersham Central
Griffin-Sandy Creek
Lee Co.-Wayne Co.
Marist-Columbia
Northside Warner Robins-Haralson Co.
Rockdale Co. -Murray Co.
Rome -Madison Co.
Salem-Gordon Central
Statesboro-Bainbridge
Thomas Central-Effingham Co.
Tucker-SW DeKalb
Ware County-Baldwin
Warner Robins-Douglas Co.
Washington-North Forsyth
CLASS AAA
Winner-Loser
Cairo-LaGrange
Carrollton-M.L. King
Cartersville-McNair
Central Carrollton-Blessed Trinity
Dougherty-Troup
Elbert Co.-Flowery Branch
Gainesville-Oconee Co.
Hart Co.-Pickens
Jefferson Co. -Mary Persons
Northside Columbus-Monroe
Peach Co.-Cross Creek
Perry-South Effingham
Shaw-Crisp Co.
Stephens Co. -Chestatee
Thomson -Washington Co.
Westlake-Banneker
CLASS AA
Winner-Loser
Brooks Co.-Appling Co.
Buford-Westside Augusta
Calhoun-Walker
Charlton Co.-Early Co.
Cook-Bacon Co.
Darlington-Decatur
Dublin-Manchester
Fitzgerald-Thomasville
Grady-Rockmart
Greater Atlanta Christian-Morgan Co.
Greene Co.-Wesleyan
Heard Co.-Dodge Co.
Jackson-West Laurens
Laney-East Hall
Lovett-Pepperell
Macon Co.-Vidalia
CLASS A
Winner-Loser
Bowdon-Whitefield Academy
Bremen-Mt. Zion Carrollton
Clinch Co.-Brookstone
Dooly Co.-Savannah Country Day
Gordon Lee-ELCA
Johnson Co.-ECI
Landmark Christian-Temple
Lincoln Co.-Jefferson
McIntosh Co. Academy-Twiggs Co.
Portal-Hawkinsville
Randolph Clay-Lanier Co.
Seminole Co.-Terrell Co.
Social Circle-Aquinas
Turner Co.-Pacelli
Warren Co.-Commerce
Washington Wilkes-Athens Academy
• Last week: 137-26 (.840) • Season: 1,231-370 (.769) • Reasons to mention Winless Protection Program: 0
Permalink | Comments (53) | Categories: 2005, Darryl Maxie
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Carver Tiger
November 4, 2005 1:11 AM | Link to this
Darryl, I haven’t read any of your columns but I’m an instant fan! This is one great (funny) point after another in rapid succession! I am a ‘76 graduate of a west ga high school with no stake in the playoffs, but after reading this I’m reading to strap on the head gear and go at em if I can stop laughing long enough!
PS My stapling sucks too
By Carver Tiger
November 4, 2005 1:12 AM | Link to this
Darryl, I haven’t read any of your columns but I’m an instant fan! This is one great (funny) point after another in rapid succession! I am a ‘76 graduate of a west ga high school with no stake in the playoffs, but after reading this I’m ready to strap on the head gear and go at em if I can stop laughing long enough!
PS My stapling sucks too
By Mouth of the South
November 4, 2005 2:56 AM | Link to this
I like most of your picks do readers get to fill out a bracket in the past ajc had a contest!! Look for Camden and Lowndes to meet for 5A title, Lee vs. N.S.W. 4A, Dou vs. Peach 3A, Brooks vs. Dublin 2A and Turner vs Lincoln 1A.
By Barbara
November 4, 2005 4:50 AM | Link to this
Hey, where’s the love for Brookwood? I’d bet if Parkview were a contender this year you’d be mentioning them in your lead paragraphs!!
Go Broncos!!
Oh, and go Fighting Irish (Dublin)! (Transplants, here.)
By Joe Turlington
November 4, 2005 7:31 AM | Link to this
The nights Upset!!! Douglas County 28 Warner Robins 24 Douglas County upsets Warner Robins at home and advances!!
Go Tigers!!!!
By Joshua P.
November 4, 2005 8:24 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe taht you have Vidalia losing in the first round. The third maybe but not right now. I love the pick Portal over Hawkinsville, I too have the panthers to move on. I think that Valdosta and Stephenson are the two AAAAA teams that should be on upset alert. I saw both Valdosta and Tifton play this year and in my opinion the wildcats are one and done and Tift moves on. Go Trojans!!!!
By s. Adams
November 4, 2005 9:18 AM | Link to this
All 4A Champions must come through Warner Robins and Northside/WR. Good Luck to all the rest. Go DEMONS and EAGLES!!!
By Ken Long, Jr.
November 4, 2005 9:27 AM | Link to this
I like the thought of you and everyone else overlooking the Hawkinsville Red Devils. Look for them to make a run at a 3rd straight State Championship. The odds are stacked against us with three of the top seven ranked teams in our quarter of the bracket. We will not be overlooking the Panthers tonight as they come to our house to battle at Bobby Gentry Stadium. They will be seeking revenge from a 34 - 7 shellacking from a year ago but my tip of the week is to give up the 15 1/2 points and take the Red Devils!
By Cameron Coltharp
November 4, 2005 9:29 AM | Link to this
The Decatur Dogs will drop a big load on those Darlington Cats tonite. New reserves from the brass section of band are already in dressed out. Slippery field will aid new effort.
By Charlie Britt
November 4, 2005 9:40 AM | Link to this
It’s been a long time since Chamblee has been in a playoff game(1984). I graduated from CHS in 2002, representing the first winning season in 13 years. You better believe I’ll be tailgating for all the games.
Roddy Jones is my hero, and he doesnt even know who I am.
By Cameron Coltharp
November 4, 2005 9:42 AM | Link to this
The Decatur Dogs concoct plans to drop surprise load on the Darlington Cats tonite. Fresh reserves from band’s flatulent brass section prepare to assist battered offense. Slippery field underlies surprise element.
By Mighty Tiger "Swainsboro"
November 4, 2005 9:52 AM | Link to this
I know there are a lot of teams out there that are grateful that Swainsboro Tigers did not make the playoffs this year for the first time in years but we will be back on the prowl again next year. Good Luck to the Dublin Irish and the other teams representing Region 3-AA one of the toughest regions in the state.
By ME
November 4, 2005 10:12 AM | Link to this
I remember a certain columnist having to eat his words once already this year when he all but when out and played the game for MLK during week 4. Unfortunately for him, and MLK, HE couldn’t do that. I won’t even mention our team’s name…I don’t want that certain columnist (who is a sure-fire jinx) to even consider naming us as a projected winner….we will surly lose then!! Get your bowl ready, you may have to eat crow!
By swatguy
November 4, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this
8 of 13 schools from Atlanta city and South Fulton are in these playoffs. Not much mention. Mays, Washington, Douglass, Grady, Westlake, Tri-Cities, Bannaker, and Creekside. Mays, Washington, Grady, Westlake, Tri-Cities and Creekside will win this weekend.
Is this still the ATLANTA Journal Constitution ?
By truedawg
November 4, 2005 10:39 AM | Link to this
i am a Brookwood graduate and im gonna call the 5a title right now…..there is no way anybody is gonna touch cameron smith….and have you seen our quarterback and offensive-defensive line!!!! we’ll holla!!
By swatguy
November 4, 2005 10:42 AM | Link to this
Charlie Britt
You will have only One game. Mays, enough said.
By bufordfan
November 4, 2005 10:52 AM | Link to this
Buford will get by Dublin again in the Dome. They have more experience in the Dome and a hunger like you’ve never seen. It will be GAC-Buford again for the state finals.
By bufordfan
November 4, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this
Buford will get by Dublin again in the Dome. They have more experience in the Dome and a hunger like you’ve never seen. It will be GAC-Buford again for the state finals. Heck, even Dublin fans have agreed that their schedule is “easy”, so there is no comparison.
By Joel Cisneros
November 4, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this
why would you even think of picking Central Gwinnett over Collins Hill?….I know why….1 word…ROCK. He’s been the workhorse for the Eagles this year, racking up over 1,600 yards. I agree Central has talent at the running backs position, but as long as Robinson gets 25-30 touches, the Eagles will soar to victory. My prediction 28-24 Eagles.
By Chamblee Dawg
November 4, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this
Whoa “swatguy,” you need to chill out. Atlanta City schools aren’t mentioned because they are terrible. Chamblee will come to your ghetto stadium with crappy astro-turf and leave with a W, “enough said.”
By swatguy
November 4, 2005 11:14 AM | Link to this
Chamblee Dawg Where does your school’s team play, The Dome? well Lakewood’s turf is even better. You will leave early and eat your words. You have us confused. We in the Swat takes a backseat to No One. You aint heard?
By bsdrvr
November 4, 2005 11:24 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget about the Dacula Falcons. Not too often u have a powerful veer offense run by a passing quaterback. Stop the run and we’ll open it up. Defensive backs beware. For the first time in a long time they are legit contenders.
By go_irish05
November 4, 2005 12:11 PM | Link to this
Wow I am so happy to know that the Dublin Fighting Irish is doing so well this year! I went to high school (‘97) there and I’m currently living in Chicago so it’s pretty impossible to hear about them. I’m glad to know my alma mater is doing well. GO IRISH!!!
By Bronco Fan
November 4, 2005 12:41 PM | Link to this
Irish Fan,
My Brookwood team is in AAAAA and even though Dublin is a AA school, their scores have been scary! I’m not really sure who is playing as well as them at any high school classification. It’s quite impressive to give up only a field goal in season. I’m not sure what the record for lowest scoring allowed in a season but you definitely deserve to be proud. I reside in Gwinnett and hope Buford brings home the AA title, but Dublin’s scores have been something to behold. Good luck to your Irish.
By Chamblee Dawg
November 4, 2005 1:03 PM | Link to this
I hate to break it to you “swat guy,” but artifical turf for ANY high school football team is un-American. Secondly, are you really saying you have better turf than the Dome? Go ahead and tell your mom she can have her computer back and go take a nap because you are obviously delirious.
*Any high school team that uses astro-turf supports Al-Qaeda.
By Vincent
November 4, 2005 1:05 PM | Link to this
i think this is the year the Washington bulldogs finally get to the dome. they have i good of team to it and with the home field advantage playing at lakewood on turf, will give some teams trouble.
By Joe
November 4, 2005 1:13 PM | Link to this
Oh…all that really matters is that Lovett beat Westminster…BOOYAH
By swatguy
November 4, 2005 1:19 PM | Link to this
Chamblee Dogg I mean Dawg, Lakewood and the Dome have the same turf. Lakewoods was installed last spring. Enjoy your words Dawg.
Chamblee must be proud.
By derrick
November 4, 2005 1:32 PM | Link to this
I agree with the previous post. There is very little mention of the Atlanta City Schools. This high school coverage is a joke.
By BannekerMom
November 4, 2005 1:51 PM | Link to this
Don’t under estimate the ability of the Banneker Trojans. I’ll admit that we have struggled a bit this year. But our guys are ready, willing and able to pull this off.
By Chamblee Dawg
November 4, 2005 1:57 PM | Link to this
Swat guy you seem to be contridicting yourself. Lets recap:
Swat guy: “The Dome? well Lakewood’s turf is even better.”
This would obviously imply that Swat guy thinks Lakewood has better turf than the Dome.
But wait!!! Now check out what Swat guy says later…
Swat guy: “Lakewood and the Dome have the same turf.”
Good job Swat guy.
By Chuckie_A
November 4, 2005 2:24 PM | Link to this
THE TROJANS NEED TO JUST FOCUS ON BASKETBALL BECAUSE FOOTBALL FOR THEM IS OVER IN 2005
By SHANE-O
November 4, 2005 2:29 PM | Link to this
HERE IS THE UPSET OF THE SEASON NORCROSS HAVE THEIR “A” GAME ON,SO DON’T BE SORE LOSER TONITE. JUST SAY I TOLD YOU SO.
By swatguy
November 4, 2005 2:34 PM | Link to this
Because the Lakewood turf was installed 5 months ago, it stands to believe it is in a little better shape than the Domes surface which was put in 2003. Can you follow the logic? did you Graduate?
I digress to the other main issue. Mays win, MAAAAAAAAYS Win.
By Lisa
November 4, 2005 2:53 PM | Link to this
It’s all about them bulldog WASHINGTON HIGH IN ATLANTA WE GOT THIS!!!with the help from the the mighty team and of course the bonus player MR. JONES .we will see you at the dome.and this time no cheating we got this!!
By STUCK IN FLORIDA!
November 4, 2005 3:24 PM | Link to this
TUCKER: 35 S.W DEKALD:10
THIS IS OUR YEAR!!!!
By K_Real
November 4, 2005 4:33 PM | Link to this
Once again the AAAA CHAMP will come from the city of Warner Robins. The city of Warner Robins has more Division I players in college than any other city in America. WE EAT, SLEEP, AND BREED FOOTBALL!!!! GO DEMONS!!! GO EAGLES!!!
By David
November 4, 2005 5:22 PM | Link to this
“Mouth of the South”
Huh??? Brooks??? Somebody is picking from the heart and not the head?
By Bill
November 4, 2005 5:28 PM | Link to this
Hey all of you crazy people, MY TEAM is going to win! Not your team, MY TEAM! Do you hear me, fans of OTHER TEAMS? Your team is going to lose to the team that I root for.
How do I know these things, you ask? Because I have said them. MY TEAM 45, THE OTHER TEAM 0
Signed, a stereotypical high school sports fan.
By John
November 4, 2005 11:34 PM | Link to this
You forgot about bad sign # 5: the other team’s name is Walton. Walton 27, Harrison 26
By Angela Smith
November 5, 2005 7:16 PM | Link to this
SWD 10, Tucker 2 YOU GOTTA BELIEVE!!! This … .is … panther territory …YOU …BE … WARE! Rockdale County Bulldogs we’re comin’ to get ‘cha!!!!! Class of ‘84 REPRESENT!!!!
By Jaguars
November 5, 2005 7:31 PM | Link to this
Why Stephenson High School can’t get some love? This team only lost was to Brookwood. If you look at the numbers from the Brookwood game, Carmen Smith only had 11 yards on seven carries in the first half. They only scored on big plays in the first half.
By Julian
November 6, 2005 1:40 AM | Link to this
Everybody wants to count MLK out of the playoffs early but the talent will always be there and we will be in the playoffs every year until MLK closes
By Brad
November 6, 2005 4:06 PM | Link to this
Darryl always looking to hear more about Thomas County Central. The team is loaded, and has potential to make a run. Tough defense and dual back threats as well as an improving passing attack. This team has been hampered by injuries in the past but seems to be well equipped to go deep this year. Your thoughts……..
By Indians
November 6, 2005 8:12 PM | Link to this
Jaquars~Stephenson doesnt stand a chance agains East Coweta Friday! Stephensons’only lose may have been to brookwood but,who in the world have yall played.. Brookwood is the only AAAAA team to make it in the playoffs from yalls schedule…
By calhoun mom
November 7, 2005 6:20 AM | Link to this
Love your comments and opinion. How do you think Calhoun will come out? Just don’t put us in the championship bracket. We want to go all the way. Good season and we hope it continues.
By Bronco Fan
November 7, 2005 8:40 AM | Link to this
It’s amazing that a Stephenson fan would even mention the Brookwood game. Even though Cameron Smith did not get much yardage in the first half, a game is decided in two halves and by a team, not one player. No matter how you look at it, you can not clean up the smack down Stephenson got of 42-21. I didn’t want to go there, but you did. I guess anytime a team loses, there are those who try to find a way to justify it…”if this” or “if that”. The point is that you got blown out. I’m sure that you’ll say that Stephenson is a much better team than the beginning of the season, but every team should be better since the beginning of the season and that includes Brookwood.
By Lovett Parent
November 7, 2005 12:54 PM | Link to this
Lovett will upset Buford this week.The biggest upset of the year.
By Indians
November 7, 2005 8:27 PM | Link to this
yea dont count EC in with the camphionship bracket, but next year will be even bigger for EC…
By BULLDOG
November 7, 2005 10:30 PM | Link to this
IT IS A SHAME FOR YEAR AJC WOULD GIVE DOUGLAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL NO RESPECT IN SPORTS—U PICK THEM TO LOSE AGAINST WARNER ROBINS THEY WIN—U STILL GIVE THEM NO RESPECT—HAD WARNER ROBINS WON U WOULD HAVE HAD A SPECIAL WRITTEN ON THEM BUT THAT IS OK—OUR KIDS WILL EARN THERE RESPECT
By Bronco Fan
November 8, 2005 7:41 AM | Link to this
Hey Bulldog,
I’m a Brookwood fan and I will give u respect. That Douglass County win was a big one. Warner Robbins is a powerhouse and I read an article about this game early Friday. A friend sent me a phone text while I was at the Brookwood game telling me the final score of that game. I was a bit shocked, but impressed. Congrats!
By al
November 8, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this
Man who make these brackets, how do u have the #1 team & #2 team on the same side of the bracket, they have Camden co. & brookwood on the same side,this is stupid. #1 & #2 is suppose to meet in the championship game if everything goes right, and neither team losses
By P.C. Fan
November 12, 2005 11:44 AM | Link to this
I have just read all the comments from all over the state and there are some great teams this year still playing; including the Peach County Trojans.After starting 0-3 our QB returned to help the best player in the state( Chris Slaughter ),have another great year.If you haven’t seen this kid play you need to look him up.He’s amazing and Auburn got a great reciever. Good luck to everyone.