AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 05
Friday, December 5, 2008
Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s semifinal night in the state playoffs, and the AJC will be at all 10 games around the state.
If you’re not going to one of the big games, hang out with us and talk high school football with other aficionados. We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to a playoff game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com • Send playoffs photos here
We have reporters at all the games tonight, and here are where the AJC photographers will be…
Grayson at Peachtree Ridge
Camden County at Newnan
Griffin at Tucker
Rome at Marist
Lincoln County at Wesleyan
Fitzgerald at Buford
Good luck to all the teams in their Drive to the Dome.
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Prep Picks: Hard to stay neutral about going on the road
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome to the Georgia Dome, high school football fans! Oops, sorry, thought this was last year.
I’m not a big fan of the GHSA, and that isn’t a slight at those fine people in Thomaston. The blame for my dislike with the GHSA spreads all over Georgia because the executive committee is responsible for most of the organization’s decisions. Fine people, but slow to change. That can be good and bad.
Take ties in the state championship game, for example. For years, we heard how it was a shame for someone to make it to the final and “lose” on a tiebreaker. So, we had co-champions. Worked fine for years. Then we have a tie in the largest class and two on the same day, and all heck breaks loose, and “It’s time for a change.” Now, state titles can be decided by a tiebreaker.
Today’s topic is neutral sites.
I always thought that if you were going to have the semifinals at a neutral location, then why not the finals? OK, so they finally changed that, and again, I ask, why shouldn’t all of the semifinal and final games be at neutral locations? (Of course, if writers aren’t complaining we aren’t happy, right?)
You can say what you want about home field not playing a factor, but I would argue that you are not just wrong, but dead wrong. Ask any coach where he would rather play, and home would be the answer. This week, there are several games where home field will play a decided advantage.
Now, I am all for higher seeds having earned the home-field advantage for the first three rounds of the playoffs, but when you get to the semis and the finals, I’m for neutral fields. And it doesn’t just have to be at the Dome. I mean, I’m not expecting Alabama and Florida to have to wait to get into their locker rooms because the Rome-Marist game went into overtime.
There is a nice little stadium off of North Avenue that could be used. Or the “prettiest little stadium in America” down in Statesboro. Or a half a dozen other locations in the state that could be the home to the semis with the finals at the Dome. What do you say, Raynette Evans? You’re the Bibb County athletics director. How about putting together a proposal to have the semis in Macon?
All right, enough of my lobbying, and on to what you came here for —- WINNERS, baby! And only three of them will get the job done on the road.
Class AAAAA
Grayson at Peachtree Ridge: Please forgive me, Grayson. I still love you! That other girl meant nothing to me! You are the one that I want to be with, not that Vikingette from South Georgia. I swear, it meant nothing. Wait, stop throwing all my clothes at me. Honey, please! Fine, be that way. Take Peachtree Ridge on home-field advantage. Gwinnett still rules!
Camden County at Newnan: It would be a great story for Newnan to send Robert Herring out with a state title, but I have a theory about wake-up games. Camden received its wake-up call last week against Woodstock, and coach Jeff Herron (Herron, Herring? Don’t birds —- heron —- eat fish —- herring?) now leads my favorite for the state title. Of course, that could just be a red herring, but still take Camden because it is used to making trips to the metro area.
Class AAAA
Griffin at Tucker: I’m just a Tucker “hater.” At least that is what my e-mail messages tell me. Now, I haven’t had any run-ins with anyone from Tucker that would make me have any disdainful feelings toward the Tigers, but I will keep picking against Tucker.
Rome at Marist: Rome had its wake-up game to end the regular season, and since then, the Wolves have been beasts. But, Marist can take the punishment at HOME. (Sensing the theme?)
Class AAA
Cairo at Carver-Columbus: I’ve always been crazy about Cairo. Love the mascot, love the nickname, love the area. If I could be at any game this Friday night, it might be this one. Sticking with my Syrup, again.
Flowery Branch at LaGrange: Flowery Branch has been on a great run, but the road finally catches up with the Falcons.
Class AA
Fitzgerald at Buford: Man, I want to pick the Hurricanes this week, and against anyone else, I would. Jess Simpson’s Wolves aren’t nearly the juggernaut that they have been in the past, but they won’t lose this one at home.
Calhoun at Brooks County: Going to Brooks County was a long drive when I lived in Middle Georgia. Going from south Chattanooga to Colquitt is an old joke. You can’t get there from here. Brooks makes the Dome.
Class A
Wilkinson County at Emanuel County Institute: Doesn’t Wilkinson County (winner of four state basketball titles in the past 10 years) know that it is hoops season? Coach Pete Geter gets his guards back after the Warriors meet the Bulldogs in Twin City.
Lincoln County at Wesleyan: Lincoln beat Wesleyan the only time the teams played back in 2000, but I’m picking the home upset for the Wolves to get to .500 against the Red Devils.
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