AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 19
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Take 10: Thank goodness there’s no high school BCS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If the first round of the playoffs taught us anything, it’s that we should be thankful for a system that actually decides a champion. You’d miss great games like Etowah-Lassiter and Walton-Woodstock.
But between all of this week’s talk of ESPN buying the rights to the BCS from 2011-2014 and president-elect Barack Obama wanting to throw his weight around for a college playoff system, it got us to thinking: What would a bowl system be like at the high school level?
Sure, there are too many regions and too many good teams to properly pick, but we’re going to try anyway. We at Take Ten have thrown together a crackpot system of human polling, guessing, coin-flipping and a computer system edited by picks guru Chris Whitfield. He might not actually know that he’s doing this, but we’re throwing his seal of approval on there anyway.
Here’s your look at the first-ever GHSA Bowl Championship Series, sponsored by Chick-fil-A*:
10: Mohawk Carpets Bowl (Peachtree Ridge vs. ECI) at Phil Reeve Stadium in Calhoun — This annual bowl celebrates one of the state’s greatest industries with one of its most interesting matchups. The undefeated Bulldogs get a selection from Class A after finishing in the top 12 of the BCS standings. Peachtree Ridge played the schedule necessary to warrant an at-large bid.
9: Viking Bowl (Walton vs. Houston Co.) at Historic Martin Stadium in Valdosta — This bowl matchup comes as a direct result of Region 1-AAAAA pride. The area purposely selects one of the top Class AAAAA metro Atlanta teams and pits them against the last place team in Region 1 to prove just how awesome South Georgia football really is.
8: FOX 5 News/Ryan Seacrest Bowl (Dunwoody vs. Carver-Columbus) at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody — This isn’t actually a sanctioned GHSA event, but that just allows Dunwoody to pull out all the stops. Meals provided by Maggiano’s, gift bags sponsored by Foot Locker and a special appearance by Seacrest.
7: AirTran/Private School Invitational (Marist vs. St. Pius X) at Hughes-Spalding Stadium — As we’ve seen from Miami and Florida State over the years, playing two or three times in a calendar year doesn’t diminish a good rivalry. These two schools have one of the best feuds in the state. Since a bowl postseason is really just about money anyway, we’re betting this game would fill the stands.
6: “Success Lives Here” Gwinnett County Bowl (North Gwinnett vs. Northside-Warner Robins) at Robinson Memorial Stadium in Suwanee — This could be the best bowl matchup outside of the title game. You’ve got two powers in Class AAAAA and both teams looking to set up a run in 2009. Besides, we’ll finally get to see if success does in fact live in Gwinnett County.
5: Coca-Cola/DeKalb County Public Schools Bowl (Tucker vs. Stephenson) at Hallford Stadium — The key here is a pairing of two area schools that have never played. You get a key matchup for classification bragging rights. Plus, we’d just really like to see them play.
4: Pancake Bowl (Cairo vs. Newnan) at West Thomas Stadium in Cairo — The Syrupmakers take the Boise State route and pick the home team. The task isn’t easy. Newnan brings firepower and a grudge against being blackballed out of a title shot. Word on the street is that Todd Holcomb once had some bad BBQ at Sprayberry’s, thus the bias in the polls.
3: Dorsey Bowl (Etowah vs. Grayson) at Cantrell Stadium in Powder Springs — This game appears to be one of the more unique matchups on the surface. In reality, both Region 5-AAAAA Etowah and the Rams defeated McEachern during the regular season. The bowl serves as reason for Indians faithful to boo both squads mercilessly.
2: Wright Bazemore Classic (Camden Co. vs. Westside-Macon) at the Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta — This would have chance to be the best bowl game, but neither team would be happy to be here. Elite media bias (yes, us) knocks both teams out of the title matchup and in a fight for second best.
1: GHSA BCS Title Game (Lowndes vs. Buford) at the Georgia Dome — This is the big daddy of them all. The voters decided to give the undefeated Wolves a chance at the big stage, but no one expects them to top the state’s best team. Teams like Camden County and Westside-Macon enter the offseason complaining about not having a playoff system.
*Not really, but we wish because we’d love a sandwich right now
Go on. Take Ten. What are the postseason bowl games you’d like to see? Who would be the teams selected if there wasn’t a playoff? Could Houston County really knock off Walton? Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
Permalink | Comments (82) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Georgia High School Wrestling: AJC & Coaches Top 10 Rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the third consecutive season, Pound for Pound will be all over the mats, bringing you the sights and sounds from tournaments all over Georgia. But for Week One we’ll keep it simple with the first AJC Top 10 and this year’s new wrinkle — the AJC Coaches Top 10.
AJC Top 10 All-Class Rankings (Last year’s final ranking in parenthesis)
1. Collins Hill (1): Defending Class AAAAA Dual and Traditional champions, the Eagles are heavy favorites to win both titles again and should continue to charge up the national ladder with visits to the Midwest Wrestling Classic in Kansas City and The Clash duals in Minnesota. There’s nationally ranked talent all over the mat with junior T.J. Mitchell (103-pound champion, 2007; third, 2008); and senior middleweight kingpin Taylor Knapp (champ at 135, 2007) leading the way.
2. Union Grove (3): Although Collins Hill is the clear favorite to repeat as Dual and Traditional champions in Class AAAAA, the Wolverines could be the No. 2 team in the state. There’s plenty of depth, led by state champion Joey Lazor (unbeaten in 2007-08 at 130 pounds) and 2007 champion Justin Crozier, who had an injury default finish to an otherwise dominant 2008. Ryan Devita, nationally ranked Jack Roberts and Wesley Mena are all capable of winning golds.
3. Jefferson (4): Moving up to Class AA shouldn’t be a problem for the Dragons, who won each of the seven Class A Duals titles and eight consecutive Traditional crowns. Three-time state champion Jay Fowler, two-timer Cam Thurmond and two other champions lead a pack of 11 returning state placers.
4. Pope (5): Tough draws and inconsistent wrestling contributed to the Greyhounds’ ninth-place finish at Traditional last season, but lightweights Patrick Anthony and Dexter Bushart return to anchor a team once again capable of finishing in the top 3 in Class AAAAA.
5. Lafayette (T-7): The defending Dual and Traditional champions in Class AA move up a classification with virtually the same group from a year ago. State runners-up Preston McCalmon and Joe Franks head a group of six returning placers that should be in great position to win both titles again.
6. Centennial (NR): Junior Brian St. James, runner-up at 112 pounds last season and a Super 32 placer last month, returns to lead the Knights. Senior Kevin Konigsberg (4th at 125) is the only other returning placer as 103-pound runner-up Kyle Salone moved to Florida and two other placers graduated off a team that finished sixth at Class AAAAA Traditional.
7: Harrison (2): The Hoyas will have to deal with a lot of change. Three-time champion Josh Condon is wrestling at Chattanooga; the Medveds-Alex (140-pound champ) and Ryan (4th at 130) are also gone, and former coach Josh Stephen is an assistant at Collins Hill. New coach Tom Fiacco will still have placers Peter and Lucas Mosher, state runner-up K.J. Bell and a host of others looking to keep the Cobb school at the top of Class AAAAA.
8. Eastside (6): The 112-pound runner-up Jamarkus Griggs was one of three placers to graduate from last year’s Class AAAA traditional champion and duals runner-up, but 2007 champion Joel Stafford (2nd last year) and state placers Trevor Bailey (2nd at 135) and Jonathan Palmer (6th at 171) return.
9. Walton (NR): State champion Jeff Olsen is back, along with 2007 champion Phil Holloway and two-time placer Nolan Legg, to try and get the Raiders back near the top of Class AAAAA (they finished seventh last season after two, top-four finishes the previous two seasons).
10. Whitewater (NR): In a wide-open Class AAAA, the Wildcats appear to be the early front-runners. Four placers return, led by 160-pound champion Chase Penland and 2007 champion Jacob Williamson.
The AJC Coaches Poll
We asked nine current and former coaches to rank their preseason top 10. Here’s the week one poll.
(First place votes)
1. Collins Hill (9) 90 points
2. Union Grove 77
3. Pope 59
4. Jefferson 57
5. Centennial 41
6. Eastside 27
7. Gilmer 22
8. Walton 21
9. Lafayette 19
10. Harrison 14
Receiving votes:
Fayette County 12; Parkview 12; Kennesaw Mountain 11; Grayson 7; Whitewater 7; Camden County 6; Kell 6; Henry County 3; Northwest Whitfield 2; Loganville 1; West Forsyth 1
TAKEDOWNS…
They said it
“Everyone has a chance this year with Jefferson being gone.”
- Bowdon coach Nathan Horsley on the seemingly wide-open Class A
Where we’ll be
Saturday, November 22 — The PFP staff opens the wrestling season at No. 6 Centennial for the Turkey Trot Duals. Joining the Knights will be Kennesaw Mountain, Henry County and Peachtree Ridge, among others.
Tuesday, November 25: PFP heads to Walton, where No. 4 Pope, Kennesaw Mountain and Whitewater will be for a quad meet.
Pin it down and rank the rankings: Let us know who YOUR Top 10 are and how they stack up against Kurt’s — and the coaches’ — picks.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Pound For Pound
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
