AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake Ten: Worst playoff draws
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
They played hard all season long for this. It’s why they sweated in broiling summer temperatures and put themselves through punishing practices. We’re talking playoffs. This Friday, first-round action begins in all state classifications and although bracket matchups come down to the luck of the draw, as the old saying goes, Lady Luck apparently reserved a bigger smile for some squads than for others. And the teams listed in this week’s Take Ten, we think, caught the Lady in the midst of a seriously Bad Draw Day.
10. Central Gwinnett - The Reg. 8 AAAAA two-seed faces R5 three-seed Campbell, possibly this year’s biggest sleeper, in the first round. If the Spartans awake as a true sleeping giant, it’s bye-bye Black Knights. If not, Central gets either Wheeler or county rival Peachtree Ridge in round two.
9. Cartersville - It’s not easy being a top seed in Class AAA. Not when your bracket contains a trifecta of possible future foes such as Hart County, LaGrange and last year’s AAA state title winner, Peach County.
8. ELCA - Perhaps something of an unknown to folks not living in or around Henry County, Eagle’s Landing Christian is making its mark as a private school football power. The hard lesson for the Chargers faithful is that while success brings rewards, it also brings 2005 Class A titlist Lincoln County in the second round.
7. Rome - When in Rome… blah blah blah. We’ll save the cliches. Buck Godfrey hasn’t taken Southwest DeKalb to the playoffs 23 of 24 seasons simply because the Panthers football team had nothing better to do in mid-November. And SWD’s being a fourth-seed means… not much. To them or to anyone else, either. Rome may say “The Buck Stops Here,” but we’re not sure. (Sorry. Couldn’t help ourselves. Score thus far: Cliches 1, Take Ten 0.)
6. Warner Robins - The Demons enjoyed the fruits of topping tough R1-AAAAA for much of the season. But then Tift County came along and snagged the region No. 1 gold seeding for itself, leaving WR to take the silver. Over in R3, Camden County nailed its No. 1 seed, however, and would enjoy the fruits of facing WR in round two. If WR beats pesky three-seed Mundy’s Mill this Friday. Math is hard.
5. Carver-Atlanta - Cinderella’s finally going to the ball after 20 years and posting a 25-157 record since that last playoff appearance in ‘86. In this case, Cinderella just happens to be a four-seed who went 7-2 this season. And so the storybook Panthers earn a long trip to visit top-seed Stephens County. So what does this season’s feelgood city team get for its troubles (and travel)? Either one-and-done or a Carrollton/Gainesville round two go-to. The fun never ends.
4. Etowah - Is there any doubt that the Eagles’ surprising ‘06 season will go down in school history? Well, no. It was Etowah’s first region football title in the history of the program. That’s huge. And for that, they’ll face a No. 4-seeded Parkview team that, while “off” by its lofty standards, is coached by Cecil Flowe, who knows his way around a few state playoffs. If they win, a North Gwinnett squad still smarting over losing the No. 1 AAAAA state ranking to rival Norcross to cap the regular season may await the Eagles in round two. Pick your poison.
3. Marist - How it happened: Marist suffers a controversial early loss to Tucker, for which Coach Alan Chadwick nets a suspension, but then runs the table - rolling off eight straight wins - to finish 9-1. So they’re the R6 No. 1 seed in Class AAAA. Sweet first-round setup, right? Um… no. Not when Ridgeland, an up-and-coming program, is your four-seed startoff match. And then if you win, you meet either Dacula or Sequoyah next. Neither of those teams are postseason neophytes. Go even farther and maybe you hook up with Creekside or Griffin. War Eagle. Rah.
2. Peach County - Whoever coined the overused phrase “Are we having fun yet?” must have known that someday in the distant future, a GHSA Class AAA state playoffs bracket matching Peach County against three-seed Crisp County would spawn from the depths of the aforementioned Lady Luck’s diabolical draw. That anonymous sage also knew many migraines would split heads and pencils would be gnawed to their gruesome early deaths when bracketologists then tried to determine a potential LaGrange-Peach County second round victor. Tough road for the Peachsters to hoe.
1. Griffin - Apparently, going undefeated is just SO overrated these days. Because Da Bears are a two-seed, thanks to preseason predetermination. Or as one of our prep writers put it, “Somebody had to be the region one seed and it wasn’t Griffin.” Because Northside-WR also went 10-0. Anyway, Griffin hosts Bainbridge and then, barring unforeseen first-round disaster (aka “a loss”), would likely face R2 No. 1-seed Creekside and some kid named Eric Berry who we keep hearing amazing things about here at the AJC, namely because we’re the ones reporting them. Griffin and Northside-WR could eventually hash out the whole “Quien Es Mas Macho?” in Region 4 thing in the finals Dec. 15. Weird twist of fate, no? We’re just saying.
Go on. Take Ten. Who got hosed in this year’s state playoffs draw? And of course - tell us why we’re totally wrong.
Permalink | Comments (54) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By aj
November 15, 2006 02:13 PM | Link to this
not sure it matters about who has what draw in AAAAA…camden will dismantle everyone. i can’t believe you guys think we’re the #3 team in the state. you guys are a joke!
By 93CamdenAlum
November 15, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this
Not so fast aj……let’s just take one game at a time. Show people you have class.
By Fatcat1982
November 15, 2006 03:07 PM | Link to this
Dont matter where you put Camden we are Hungry down here in South Georgia Just ask any Division 1 College coach where Camden is and he will tell you where the best food is the best hotel and the 5 players he wants from Jeff Herron this year come feel The FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!
By calvin
November 15, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this
Central Gwinnett will beat the brakes off “Sleeper” Campbell. Campbell is sleeping alright, and they ain’t gonna wake up in time to avoid the beating they will take this weekend. You people do a real good job of selling papers.
Calvin
By Sherrod
November 15, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
The state champ from AAA will come out of the bottom right of the bracket. Three ridiculously strong teams, (Peach, Lagrange, & Cartersville) are there and either of those would sleep-walk to the Dome in the top left bracket. Moving along, some of the region determinations for seeding are a friggin joke….
By bearwin
November 15, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
I agree, Griffin has the toughest draw of any team, the only unranked team they will play will be the first round game against Bainbridge. If the bears can survive, they deserve the state championship hands down. Go BEARS.
By Gwinnett Dad
November 15, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this
Camden County’s likely playoff opponents include Warner Robins followed by Norcross at Norcross to get to the dome. Be reminded that it was a Gwinnett County team that ended Camden’s season last year in their own stadium. Camden barely beat a Gwinnett County team at the beginning of this year that was without 7 players and their starting QB. They lost everywhere except on the scoreboard. Let’s see how Camden does on the football field against some real talent. The record of the rest of 3-AAAAA is no confidence builder. They might be no better than just an average Region 1-AAAAA team, which, top to bottom, has to be the class of the AAAAA State this year. It seems any 1-AAAAA team could be favored to win the State this year because they’re the ones that have been in playoff-like games for most weekends this year.
By Cro
November 15, 2006 04:58 PM | Link to this
What about ECI? 10-0 and what do you get? First round against Hawkinsville, if they win that it will probably be Seminole. If they make it past them it will probably be Lincoln, and providing they win there, it will be another great team in the final. It doesn’t get any harder than that.
By olesarge
November 15, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this
Not so fast there Gwinnett Dad, I spoke with someone about the possible Norcross/Camden matchup and believe it or not it’s heads I win tails you lose what will determine who will host that game. Coin flip simple as that since both teams are number one seeds. Same goes for the championship game if both teams are number one seeds and meet GHSA mandates.
By camden boy
November 15, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this
it dont matter now do it? whoever shows up to play is gonna win. personally i feel camden got a hard road, but it doesnt matter cause we will destroy anything in our way. about the polls, how did we ever go from number 1 at the beginning to number 2? and now were number 3! last time i checked, no one in GA beat us! just some food for thought. and if you think its the region, what about Brookwood and South Forsyth???
By William
November 15, 2006 07:45 PM | Link to this
I’m not disagreeing with that Top 10 in any way, but to add on: Roswell has a tough draw as well. For a team that went 9-1 (5-0 subregion), is a former number one, and got jipped out of the region 6 number one seed on a technicality, the Hornets will have a tough playoff trail. They start by hosting a very good Collins Hill team, then, if they can win, will travel to play region champion Brookwood. Sounds like fun…
By highschoolfan
November 15, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this
olesarge - be aware that it’s not simply a coin toss to determine host school when two teams have the same region seed. Stadium seating capacity will come into play this year. AAAAA schools must have 6000 seats. Here’s the wording from the GHSA By-Laws, GHSA.NET, for quarter-finals and finals. If both teams have the same seeding, the following procedure will be used: If both sites meet or exceed GHSA standards, a coin toss will determine the host site. If only one site meets or exceeds GHSA standards, that school will host. If neither site meets or exceeds GHSA standards, the Executive Director will designate a neutral site.
By Wake Up GSHA & Coaches
November 15, 2006 09:06 PM | Link to this
Wake up GSHA and high school coaches-playing home field in the play-offs is dumb. Make things a more even and play neutral sites throughout the play-offs. It’s a better method to determine which is really the best team.
By let'em eat onions
November 15, 2006 09:12 PM | Link to this
Dear Gwinnett Dad, Region 1AAAAA folks are like those south Georgia onion growers that have everyone thinking the soil makes their onions ‘different’…good marketing ploy but it’s baloney. So is the fact that “Region 1-AAAAA team, which, top to bottom, has to be the class of the AAAAA State this year. It seems any 1-AAAAA team could be favored to win the State this year because they’re the ones that have been in playoff-like games for most weekends this year.” Region 1AAAAA has said that so much this year they even believe it themselves…like the onions, it’s baloney. A group of equally good teams that are going to cause a lot of people to eat crow (or onions) when they bomb-out in the play-offs.
By Back Off
November 15, 2006 09:20 PM | Link to this
camden boy, you’re embarassing yourself when you reference losing to only Aiken, SC. I’m from across the river from Aiken and they are a good team but no where near an elite team. They also beat a SC AA school the following week by a narrow margin. That doesn’t say much for Camden. I’m embarassed they beat a highly ranked AAAAA Georgia team.
By toothless in the south
November 15, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this
can 1aaaaa teams keep their 20+ year old players off the field this year. this is a game for normal high school aged kids.
By salt on the Camden wound
November 15, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this
I would like to add a fact to the earlier statement; “Be reminded that it was a Gwinnett County team that ended Camden’s season last year in their own stadium.” Also be reminded that Dacula was actually a 4AAAA sized school. Their student population last year caused them to move down this season. Dumped in the quarters by a smaller classification school…ouch!
By olesarge
November 15, 2006 09:53 PM | Link to this
Highschoolfan-you are correct in what you’re saying and that is what I ment by meeting GHSA mandates. By the way, who beat who-m last year or 10 weeks ago doesn’t really matter now do it? Congrats to all the teams that has made it this far, but now it’s win or go home and may the best teams win.
By joe
November 15, 2006 10:00 PM | Link to this
No doubt there are some tough draws this year.
I just hope Central Gwinnett’s out of conference opponents have helped the Black Knights prepare for the Campbell Spartans.
Looks to be a great game.
By sljah
November 16, 2006 04:50 AM | Link to this
Why is’t camden getting any respect, the last time I checked, they have made it to the DOME 3 of the 4 years, and winning a state title and for the record, the camden has come a long way from the first game against brookwood which started a new QB, and Aiken did not beat camden, camden beat themselves. Why does south georgia get any respect, I beieve that we have won the last 3 state titles!!!!!
By Mr. Attitude
November 16, 2006 07:02 AM | Link to this
To Gwinnett Dad and others who continually bash Camden for their schedule. I am sick and tired of hearing how Camden barely beat Brookwood when they were down 7 players. For those who attended the game (were you there Gwinnett Dad?), Camden turned the ball over not one, not two, but THREE times inside their own 20 and still won the game. Therefore it is time to own up to the fact the Brookwood didn’t get the job done. And unknowing to many, Camden was short players for the game as well. And how many teams in region 7-5A and 8-5A can claim that they have reached the Final Four in Ga HS football 3 out of 4 years. I have looked at the teams coming out of those aforementioned regions (7 and 8 5A) and they aren’t are real confidence builders either. But real football fans know that there are two seasons in football - the regular season and the playoffs, in which everyone is fair game. Oh by the way, other than Brookwood and Parkview, what teams from those regions can stated that they have lifted the championship trophy?
By 1-AAAAA FAN
November 16, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this
This has been a great year for region 1-AAAAA. There is no VALDOSTA and no LOWNDES CO. That tells you how strong region 1-AAAAA has become. The teams have already played 6 region games that had play-off atmosphere in front of 5-8k per game. You can look at there past games this year and notice how many big games went OT. So for you people that think region 1-AAAAA is weak, don’t bet the home place on it. You’ll loose!
By ACasualObserver
November 16, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
With Peach County, #2-A would be LaGrange. They have virtually the same path. Subjective rankings aside, Peach is the defending state champs whose only loss is to a playoff team in a higher classification. If Peach had scheduled an easier opponent, the rankings could easily be reversed.
By tj
November 16, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this
It sounds like some of the Yankee’s are getting scared to play against the 1-AAAAA powerhouses. Bring it on! GO BIG BLUE!!! BUY THE WAY YOU MAY WANT TO GET YOUR 20 YEAR OLD’S SUITED UP!
By tj
November 16, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this
let’em eat onions; you can’t tell the difference in Vidalia Onions?
By Indian Backer
November 16, 2006 09:48 AM | Link to this
Sorry Carver fans, but the clock strikes midnight up in the North Georgia Mountains. Tauren Poole and Stephens County will turn your coach back into a pumpkin and send you back down I-85. Get ready for a country boy whuppin.
By grangerfan
November 16, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this
LaGrange always gets the hardest draw in the AAA playoffs but in the long run it makes you a better team. This years team had two incredibly tough wins at Shaw and home vs Carver ofColumbus. The LaGrange/Peach County game will be a classic between two evenly matched teams and the winner may well play for the state championship.
By Coffee Trojan Fan
November 16, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this
1 AAAAA is as tough as you get this year, Coffee has been down for a few but we are back this year so u better watch out because we are for real this year. Hiram better have their i’s dotted and t’s crossed because Coffee is very hungry and excitement is all in the air in Douglas and Coffee County.”Go Trojans Go”
By theedge56
November 16, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
I have watched Etowah all year long and yes they have a tough road to hoe in the playoffs. I will promise you this they may not be the biggest team, the fastest team, or the deepest team but the will not quit this team has heart. Regardless of the outcome on Friday deserves recognition for a great season.
By kriddi
November 16, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this
i agree, im looking forward to the peach lagrange 2nd round matchup! when peach wins we will have not only made ourselves the odds on favorite for state champs, but we will be given a big boost of confidence, and taken our biggest threat to back to back titles out of the way! see you in lagrange. GO TROJANS!!!!!!!
By Take Ten@ajc.com
November 16, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this
Just to let y’all know, we thought there were a TON of hard-luck playoff draws this year. And we literally had to limit ourselves to only the ten we thought might be toughest of all. But yes - the Coffees, Roswells, ECIs and other difficult draw schools of the world - we do also feel your pain.
We’re also not picking any school (i.e. - the Central Gwinnett-Campbell matchup at No. 10) to win; we’re just looking at the potential matchups in the brackets if one team defeats another. So, note to Calvin: Nobody at Take Ten or the AJC is picking Campbell over Central or vice versa. We’re just taking a look at the possibilities for the sake of some rousing debate.
By canefan
November 16, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this
bad luck draws????????? if your team is any good at then it should not even matter, football isnt about draws its about how well coached, skill,and heart. go fitzgerald hurricanes!!!!!
By 1AAAAA football fan
November 16, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this
To let’em eat onions it is not the region 1AAAAA people who have been saying that it is the poll voters, look at any poll from any week this year and you will find no less than 2 teams ranked in the top 10, most weeks more. A couple of weeks as many as 5 of the 6 teams were ranked. The last 2 years the state champs came from region 1AAAAA as well as 3 of the final 8. Don’t hate us because we play in the toughest region in the state.
By charlie #64
November 16, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
do not forget about home-field advantage look for the biggest upset of the year in the hot panthers of americus, upsetting the baldwin braves.
By canefan
November 16, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
o.k. draws, ifeel the weak teams are worried about draws, i mean I realize some teams worry about injury fatigue and all but they have made this far so give your team a break “no pun intended” if you are worried about draws i suggest get out a piece of paper and pencil and get with it, good luck to all the teams and we will see you all this friday.
By HOCO
November 16, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this
Any team from the 1AAAAA is a threat this year but that will be played out in coming weeks, I believe we have students that will decide that. As far as the 20 year olds go, our boys are just alot bigger than yours and if you don’t beleive me just ask some of those college recruiters… nevermind they don’t come out your way.
By Granger48
November 16, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with your comment, but might I add another strong possibility! As I look at the bracket set-up it would not surprise me if all 4 teams from region 2A-B meaning Lagrange, Shaw, Carver and the long shot Troup make it to the Dome from their persprective brackets. Now don’t get me wrong their are some well proven teams that they must contend with in order for this to happen, but taking the quality of the teams and their records I think either one of them has the certain ability to conquer their bracket. Go Grangers
By neojr
November 16, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this
to anybody harping about their teams srtanding in the rankings, rankings don’t mean much in high school playoffs, the 32 teams arent seeded based on state rankings so every one has a chance.
By Clubhouse
November 16, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
What about those that have the 10 easiest rides up the ladder????
By Kenny
November 16, 2006 06:13 PM | Link to this
It’s hard to tell how good Lagranges region is they only play each other.
By NEOJR
November 17, 2006 12:35 AM | Link to this
THE PEOPLE FROM 1AAAAA CLAIM THAT THEIR REGION IS SO TOUGH BECAUSE VALDOSTA AND LOWDNES DIDN’T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, MAYBE THOSE 2 HAVE FALLEN AND EVERYONE STAYED THE SAME, I THOUGHT LOWDNES WOULD FALL OFF BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE SENIORS THEY GRADUATED FROM THE LAST 2 YEARS AND VALDOSTA HAS BEEN ON THE VERGE OF MEDIOCRITY FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS.
By tj
November 17, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
Valdosta may have fallen but they still beat Chattahoochee (19-9) who is in the play-off’s and lost a close game to the almighty Bwood Bronco’s (7-9) and lost to every team in 1-AAAAA so if you look at it that way every team in 1- AAAAA is better or just as good as Bwood and a lot better then Chattahoochee!
By tj
November 17, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
Valdosta may have fallen but they still beat Chattahoochee (19-9) who is in the play-off’s and lost a close game to the almighty Bwood Bronco’s (7-9) and lost to every team in 1-AAAAA so if you look at it that way every team in 1- AAAAA is better or just as good as Bwood and a lot better then Chattahoochee!
By Timothy williams
November 17, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this
OK everybody knows camden is #1.Everytime we play a ATLANTA team we beat them.So qiut getting p** of becouse us SOUTH GEORGIA teams are wipping yall ATLANTA TEAMS, GO CAMDEN COUNTY WILDCATS
By frances
November 17, 2006 11:01 PM | Link to this
and yall say camden aint about s**?? Didn’t we just win our play off game 36-0?? I think so, so give us the credit and stop hatin REGION CHAMPS 6 YEARS IN A ROW AND THEY STILL TALKING S** YALL CANT TOUCH US ITS ALL ABOUT THEM BOYS IN THE BLUE 5A
By jcg
November 18, 2006 08:04 AM | Link to this
Footballers play football; lotteries are always a gamble; ballers ball, gamblers gamble, and ultimately lose.My advice:suit up, ahut up, smash mouths!
By 1AAAAA football fan
November 18, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
To all 1AAAAA bashers from north Ga who said our region was soft or weak 86-28 know what that is? That is the combined score for all region 1AAAAA teams in the first round not including the Warner Robbins- Mundy’s Mill game tonite, which should follow suit. Keep calling us soft, keep overlooking us, we’ll just make it a 1AAAAA party in the dome 12/9!
By Warner Robins Football Fan
November 18, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this
Warner Robins 40-14 over Mundy’s Mill.Looks like 1AAAAA scored 126 to opponents 42 with all four teams alive and well.We all look forward to next week.Just wanted to add all 3 Warner Robins Schools have made it to the final 16.Houston County had 437 yds rushing this week,Warner Robins had 417 rushing,and Northside WR had 398 yards rushing with total points scored this weekend at 116 to opponents 35.Not many counties in Ga can boost all three teams from the same town make the play-offs virtually every year,speaks volumes for the quality of our coaches.Looking for Northside WR to take it all against anyone playing against them this year with Warner Robins and Houston County looking for long play-off runs.Congrats to 1AAAAA and Warner Robins area schools.
By 1-AAAAA FAN
November 19, 2006 08:05 AM | Link to this
Congrats to all the 1-AAAAA region teams and good luck next week. Like Bobby Bowden said several years ago, give me all the recruits from Macon Ga. south to the Florida line and he could win a national championship every year.
By Carver - Columbus
November 19, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this
Note to Sherrod: Don’t be surprised when the AAA champion emerges from the left side of the bracket. Shaw should run the table in their bracket and meet Carver-Columbus in the Dome. Carver-Columbus has the worst draw of any AAA team. Mr. Maxie predicted that #8 Thomson would beat the #5 Carver-Columbus in Columbus. Carver won 8-0. Carver-Columbus is coached by a 2nd year coach and an Auburn grad that played on the team that went 12-0 at AU. Last year the Tiger’s of Carver-Columbus were in AAAA and they had a new coach and system to learn. This is the beginning of a dynasty in Columbus, as Shaw is no longer the dominant team in Columbus. State of GA AAA competitor’s be afraid… Be very afraid, cause the Carver Tiger’s are coming. The same goes for basketball.
By Carver-Columbus
November 19, 2006 04:47 PM | Link to this
History has been made. All four Columbus schools that made the playoffs (A - Pacelli and Brookstone, AAA - Carver and Shaw) have won their first round games during the same year.
Several years ago Columbus schools were considered as being weak and they didn’t deserve to have their own region. Then, in 1987, the Carver-Columbus Tigers beat the #1 in the state and nation Valdosta Wildcats and snapped their 36 game winning streak in Valdosta in the state playoffs.
In 1996, Carver produced it’s second Parade All-American in Jasper Sanks. Now in 2006, the Tigers have something to build on. At one time Carver was in that brutal region with the storied South GA programs (Valdosta, Lowndes, etc.). Now that the Tigers are in a lower classification. I am looking forward to them dominating and picking up the pieces as they begin to build their own legacy.
Carver has always had top-notch athlete’s, they just didn’t have the coach to get them over the hump. Now that we have Dell McGee, the state better recognize that Shaw is not the best team in Columbus. That was evident to me after Carver beat the then ranked #2 Shaw 14-9.
By Carver-Columbus
November 19, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this
Congrats to all of the Columbus schools. Earn your respect!!! And, you will all learn to respect the Carver Tigers. Don’t worry Carver-Atlanta Panthers, we got your back. Go Tigers!
By tj
November 20, 2006 08:24 AM | Link to this
A south GA sweep! GO BIG BLUE! GO 1-AAAAA!!
By camden who
November 25, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
27-7, Camden gets beat, you can stop talking trash now