Prep Zone

By jc

December 22, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

Woodstock rules baby……..just wait until next year…ya ain’t seen nothing yet

By gille

December 22, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

in AA how can you still put 6AA ahead of 1AA when 1AA had two teams in the final four and was the only region to sweep the first round and send all their teams to the sweet 16??

By CANESON

December 22, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

MAYBE 3AAAAA IS HOME TO THE 4 WORST TEAMS IN 5A BUT, IT IS ALSO THE HOME TO THE BEST 5A TEAM IN THE STATE. WE BEAT THEM ALL! CAN I GET A AMEN ON THAT!

By John

December 22, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Regions 3-AAAAA and 3-AAAA are the very reason GHSA needs to prohibit schools from playing up. For every Marist that plays well in a higher classification (and LaGrange did so for several years, there are eight more schools that just clutter up the higher classifications. In AAAAA and AAAA, for example, if the Augusta and Savannah schools played where they should play based on size, you could disperse those schools out among the various classifications where they should be. Instead of having Region 3 taking up space in Class AAAA, you could decrease the size of mega regions like 7-AAAA and have better competition.

On another note, it’s amazing how far 6-AAA has fallen in recent years. That at one time was the region to be feared in that classification. Their record outside the region this year was sad. 7-AAAA, on the other hand, was the best it has ever been in terms of depth and competition.

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

in AA how can you still put 6AA ahead of 1AA when 1AA had two teams in the final four and was the only region to sweep the first round and send all their teams to the sweet 16??

That could go either way. I ranked three teams from each of those regions in the final Top 10.

However, the two things in 6-AA’s favor are this: They’ve got Buford, which means it’s the hardest region to win (unless you’re Buford); and they’ve got five very good teams, meaning making the playoffs is very tough. In 1-AA, the ‘big four’ - T’ville, Brooks, Fitz & Cook - were never in danger of missing the playoffs because the next-best team was so weak. In 6-AA, Blessed Trinity - which came a play within beating Buford - failed to qualify. And two Top 10 teams, Lovett & Westminster, had to sweat it out.

Another AA region with a very good argument is 3 because of the depth. In fact, the Maxwell computer ratings put R3 as the top region in AA. That region has more good teams than any other.

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

MAYBE 3AAAAA IS HOME TO THE 4 WORST TEAMS IN 5A BUT, IT IS ALSO THE HOME TO THE BEST 5A TEAM IN THE STATE. WE BEAT THEM ALL! CAN I GET A AMEN ON THAT!

Amen. : )

By yo

December 22, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Region 5A #1 seed lost to #4 seed of region 6. Enough said. At least ALL 4 of region 1 lost to the 4 semi finalists and no one else. Also you failed to mention what region kept Region 2 from winning any first tound games. Care to annie up? I think the Corky Kell classic should be Region 5 against Region 1 and lets decide it on the field. Lowndes against your best (if you can figure out who that is LOL), #2 against #2 etc. Just like regular season you may have to take a vote to figure out who is the best in region 5A since no one is good enough to out right win it. Oh thats right…Etowah (the first round loser to a #4 seed!)

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Also you failed to mention what region kept Region 2 from winning any first tound games. Care to annie up?

MLK finished second place in Region 2-AAAAA despite losing to North Cobb — the SEVENTH-place team in Region 5-AAAAA.

Based on that, I’d have to say that 2-AAAAA went 0-for-4 because it was a weak region that also would’ve gone 0-for-4 had it been paired with 5-AAAAA.

In fact, when I look at the season’s scores objectively, I’m not sure that Tift (which lost to Newnan 42-0 and to Brooks County 35-0) would’ve made the playoffs in 5-AAAAA.

By Gille

December 22, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

3AA was the most competitive region by far, but they had no ‘amazing’ teams that could make a trip to the final four. 6AA wouldove sold me if they could of swept the first round with a GAC win. But for 1AA to have a sweep over 2AA was amazing, expecially with 2AA having 3 teams in the top 5 at some point in the year.

Last year i wouldove put 6AA but this year i gotta give it to 1AA. But i guess thats why they call it opinions and i can agree to disagree.

By yo

December 22, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

So…Etowah #1 in Reg 5 lost to #4 seed Lassiter who lost to Milton who lost to a 3-7 team Campbell who lost to a 2-8 team S. Cobb, a 5-5 team Roswell a 4-6 team Pope and a 3-7 team Centennial. On the other hand what was the records of the teams Tift lost to? Also how did all of those teams Tift lost to fare in the playoffs?

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Also how did all of those teams Tift lost to fare in the playoffs?

How those teams did in the playoffs loses meaning when you consider that Tift lost to some of them 42-0 and 35-0. Remember that Newnan got smoked the next week by a team that Woodstock came within one point of beating.

Please note that I’m not saying that R5 is here to say. But for one season, when you crunch the numbers, I think R5 came out on top.

By bobbylee

December 22, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

1AA can’t win the big ones.

By Carlos

December 22, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

Woodstock rules baby……..just wait until next year…ya ain’t seen nothing yet

Really? How will next year be better? The Wolverines made an amazing run but you lose your spark plug on offense (Trotter) and your big 2-way lineman, along with several others. I don’t see how you’ll come close to matching what you accomplished this season. O’Brien is a heck of a coach, but I don’t recall any classes coming up through the pipeline to help him out.

By JC

December 22, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Carlos….Woodstock has a very deep and talented pool of players. The 9th and 10th graders are an awsome bunch and the 11th graders are on par or even a bit better then the seniors we are graduating this year.

By Reeze

December 22, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

Why rehash things that don’t matter…Get to the players of the year…..And also where are the comparison numbers for attendance and $$$$ for the ever so popular move of the semi’s from the Dome…Hadn’t heard a thing…If it we’re a success the GHSA surely would let the world know….While we’re on the subject …How about getting Ralphie Swearngin on your blog for a little Q&A

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Reeze:

The financial numbers for the Dome won’t be finalized until January. We’ll write about it then. Attendance numbers were about 44,000 for the two days.

As for players of the year, I had that blog two weeks ago. They will be announced Sunday. But they’re not in concrete yet, so if there are opinions on those, we’re listening.

By Todd Holcomb

December 22, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Also, here are the top rushers, passers and receivers in the state among those who have reported to us. It’s my Christmas present to Reeze, who called me this morning on rehashing old, meaningless stuff. Reeze: You won’t find a list like this elsewhere:

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/prepsports/entries/2008/12/22/leaderboard_sta.html

By NC

December 22, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Woodstock has 1 good team every 3 or 4 years. They had a great team in 05, and now a great team in 08. Dont expect them to stay that consistant, especially since most of their athletes will be going to the new school opening up on Arnold Mill. Woodstock will be an after thought shortly, and Coach O should find a new place, bc the talent level is about to dip in the WHS district.

By yo

December 22, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Point is, I dont think the number 3 seed 1AAAAA Tift loses to Lassiter. Even if they had to travel to Atlanta. In head to head competition Region 5 would have lost the first 2 games (whoever they called 1 & 2) against Lowndes and Northside. I don’t see them winning 4 of the other 6 matchups if it were head to head. They would have to do that to simply break even. It would have been interesting to have seen Woodstock against Camden another week besides right after the bruising battle Camden had just had with Northside. The game Camden had so geared themselves up to play and that everyone had been talking about since yhe Lowndes/Northside game. #4 team from region 5 coming in after Northside would of been taken more lightly. Just a natural way of life. Having said all of this, I understand this blog will probably get more attention if you can find a way to reason some other region besides 1AAAAA as being the better region.

By HoyaDawg

December 22, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

I have been saving these words for the perfect time all year. The perfect time has come. YO, SHUT-UP! That is it. My last post of the season. That felt good SHUT-UP YO! Region 5AAAAA is the best. Region 1 put all of their eggs in one basket, and that basket got droped.Grayson, PR, Harrison, East Paulding, and 7 teams from region 5 could have beaten Lowndes this year.That includes Etowah. Etowah got beat by the pass… something that Lowdes hasn’t figured out how to do.K.mt, and Mceachern could have beaten any team from region 1. why would you want to play in the corky Kell classic… as much as you cry about the championship games being played in Atlanta.

By yo

December 22, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

HoyaDawg only to beat R5 butt….over and over and over. The all talk “forever without a championship region” “wanna be the bests”….that is Region 5. At least we had a basket to put our eggs in…something you wouldnt know any thing about.

By WERYER

December 22, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this

It’s CHARKEY/KAWB COWNEY!

By Gwinnett is Great

December 23, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

well here is the thing todd region 7 AAAAA has put a team in the state championship the last three years. no other region has done that. that alone should get them past region 5. they usually stop playing football before thanksgiving

By doc

December 23, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Region 3 (Camden) beat a team from all of the stronger regions I believe. Norcross and Peachtree Ridge(7), Creekside, Newnan(4), Northside(1), Woodstock(5), So Region 3 beat 2 teams from your #2 region(Norcross, Peachtree Ridge), and 1 team from your #1 region(Northside), and 2 teams from your #5 region(Creekside,Newnan) and 1 team your best region in the state(Woodstock). Say what you will The Camden County Wildcats are 5A State Champions. Region strengths are a non factor when it comes to getting it done on the field. I give 1 5A it’s respect, 2 games and done in the state playoffs don’t leave you room for argument this year. So the truth if we go by blogs is that Region 3 took on and beat the best region 5A teams the state had to offer. No what if scenarios, just the facts.

Go Cats Go.

By gwinnett is great

December 23, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

doc this discussion is about the best team is about the best region. from top to bottom. camden was the best team in the state. but region three is not one of the better regions. no doubt about it

By gwinnett is great

December 23, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

doc this discussion is not about the best team it is about the best region. from top to bottom. camden was the best team in the state. no doubt about it. but region three is not one of the better regions. no doubt about it

By Homet

December 23, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Todd you are talking about Kennesaw Mtn being so tough but East Paulding beat them 27 to 7 in the “BONEYARD” and we have Harrison there for the 09 season…

By far the toughest team EAST faced this year was WOODSTOCK…they beat EAST “IN THE BONEYARD” and cost EAST the Region title!!! Woodstock was for real this year and they showed it by going deep into the playoffs…

Region 5 AAAAA has some VERY tough teams and EAST had a tremendous season one in this region. Several of these teams seem loaded again for next year also…dang I want to start the countdown clock already!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

By Big Pappi

December 23, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Homet - Start the clock! Just the fact that there is still discussion on this blog says it all! I still believe that Etowah was the better team when we faced you. We may have proved it when we dismantled Harrison and Oh yeah we beat Woodstock as well. See you next year, hopefully at our place. Go Etowah!

By The Truth

December 23, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

7-AAA with Gainesville and Flowery Branch. Heck, even an 8-2 West Forsyth team didn’t make the playoffs. Can’t depend on N Hall anymore. Their days of alleged illegal recruiting have been snuffed out by the county school administrator. Must be some truth to it if the big man gets involved.

By Todd Holcomb

December 23, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

well here is the thing todd region 7 AAAAA has put a team in the state championship the last three years. no other region has done that. that alone should get them past region 5. they usually stop playing football before thanksgiving

I’m talking 2008 only. If we’re talking history, then it’s 1-AAAAA.

Todd you are talking about Kennesaw Mtn being so tough but East Paulding beat them 27 to 7 in the “BONEYARD” and we have Harrison there for the 09 season

Never said K-Mountain was better than EP. Just said KM was the best team that didn’t make the state playoffs.

By wildmanhoya

December 23, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

Homet you are still as goofy as ever

Tood was talking about teamns that did not make the playoffs. That is where K. Mountain comes into what he was saying. Why in the heck do you always have to twist things back to E. paulding? Maybe that long walk from the bus to the locker room at the Cobb did more than tire your team out and cause them to lose the game. maybe just the though of it fried your brain cells because they surely cannot all be working right. By the way, while the walk to the locker room might have been further than you like at least our visitor locker room is right next to the field unlike several other places where it takes 5 minutes to get there and back. Next Excuse is what?

Merry Christmas to all. .

By catpaw

December 23, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this

Look at where CAMDEN finishes each year,we somehow figure out HOW to beat the best teams in the state every year!!!!! See you all in Sept.at the corky kell.Oh I forgot to mention,CAMDEN 5-0 in the kell classic.MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

By Who Cares?

December 23, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this

Who really cares which is the best region in Georgia? It’s like selecting the best midget high jumper. Everyone knows Texas rules the high school football world and Georgia is second-tier. As a season ending note, two of the four top ranked high school teams are from Texas and three of the top eleven. There would be more but they start knocking each other off during their playoffs. I stopped reviewing the list at number 15 and had yet to see a Georgia high school listed. Oh well, maybe next year.

By trublu

December 23, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this

No one is saying that Camden is a bad school, they play in a fairly weak region. They are a good team from a horrible region. Historically Region 2-AAAAA (or the old 2-AAAA when it was the highest classification) is run by Warner Robins, and NHS took a few here and there. WRHS won 3 state championships as a member of that region…doesn’t mean the demons were horrible, just played weak regular season teams.

After this past season, I think Region 1 is still very strong, just ran into some unforseen obstacles in the playoffs. They still held their own, IMO. But the none playoff teams were a bit to be desired, so maybe even 3rd best in AAAAA is more appropriate.

By Camden Alum

December 24, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this

Who Cares?

Sir- Camden County is ranked number 6 in the country by rivals.com, you may have heard of them.. then again being a texas football fan you probly havent.. Also there are only two teams from texas ranked in the top 15 but hey whos counting?

http://highschool.rivals.com/viewrankhs.asp?ra_key=457

By Roland

December 24, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this

Seriously Todd,

Region 6 in 4A is the best in the State bar none end of discussion. Marist, Tucker, SWD, Chamblee, even Miller Grove are all teams capable of beating most teams in in 5A.

By GaSouthAlum

December 24, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

As someone who probably saw a wider diversity of Region 5 and Region 6 games in AAAAA this season, I have to agree with my esteemed colleague. Now, does that mean that if you matched up the top 4 from Region 5 with the top 4 from Region 1 that Region 5 would sweep? Not at all. But depth is the key to this discussion, and I truly can’t think of a deeper region than Region 5, and I think Todd makes a pretty good argument with the numbers.

By fanofhawkins

December 24, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Let me get this straight—Baldwin High School BEAT LaGrange and Carver-Columbus and went farther in the 3A playoffs than both of these teams yet they end up 5th in the polls at 12-1?!? WHAT?!? Why would Baldwin be behind two teams that they beat? Baldwin had a better record overall AND in the playoffs yet they end up fifth. No justice at all….they should have been third or fourth in the state, not fifth.

By Homet

December 24, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Whatever wildmanhoya…

I was simply trying to point out that WOODSTOCK (not EAST, not Harrison, not Etowah or others) was “THIS YEARS” stronger team in 5A AAAAA…

Yeah you beat EAST, one time…one game…but let’s see what happens in “the boneyard” in 09!!! Harrison was supposed to be the “CREAM OF 5A AAAAA”, the BIG DOG!!!…Well you better look around because there are now SEVERAL BIGGER DOGS in 5A AAAAA and you get no more CAKE WALKS like in the past.

This year was a WAKE - UP call to what is going to happen year after year from now on…Etowah is FOR REAL, WOODSTOCK is FOR REAL and like Todd said Kennesaw Mtn. was a team that should have made the playoffs!!!

5A AAAAA is poised to be the new POWERHOUSE region, EAST JV squad beat Harrison, EAST FRESHMAN squad beat Harrison this year and remember…you will see these boys again in 09 and this time “IN THE BONEYARD”!!!

So go drink some Egg Nog and remember “HOW IT USED TO BE” because the future may not be the picture you want to watch!!!

Oh yeah and don’t worry…there is NO TRUTH to the rumor that Santa “borrowed” the cannon for his sleigh… TICK…TICK…TICK…HO!…HO!!!…HO!…

By wildmanhoya

December 24, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

Homet

You are the only person on this blog that constantly has to explain “what you were trying to point out.” Todd’s comment was that KM was the best non playoff team and you have to turn that into that into East is the greatest thing. Time to get over the fact East didn’t win the region as you so boldly predicted nor did they finish second. End of story. Only this year counts in the current discussion so forget about past years and what might happen next year. End of story.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

By Josh

December 24, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

ROLAND

how’d did marist fare vs an average st. pius team. I would put AAA as better than AAAA in every aspect this year. AAAA was just down. An average team won the championship.

By WACO-FAN

December 24, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Camden Alum when i read what who cares wrote i was like dang dude trying hard 2 make Texas sound so great!!!!and another thing i read was the the last four high school national titles have came out of Florida so where is Texas in that mix

By HSBallfan

December 24, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

By Josh: how’d did marist fare vs an average st. pius team. I would put AAA as better than AAAA in every aspect this year. AAAA was just down. An average team won the championship. It was the first game of the season, 21-10 and Marist’s starting QB was benched. Do a little homework before you come on here and start spewing. No doubt AAA had some very good teams, and there’s also no doubt ALL of them, including Cairo, would have their hands full with Tucker. But we’re never going to get that matchup, so your definition of “average” comes off as pretty meaningless unless you can produce some evidence.

By Texas Rules Again and Again

December 24, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this

Fact: There will be more bowl teams led by quarterbacks with a Texas high school pedigree than any other state. Must be something to the level of high school football played in Texas….dude. Question: And why did UGA go to Highland Park, TX for a quarterback? Many years ago majority of the Texas hs teams ran and ran and ran the ball and rarely passed (similar to Grayson, Lowndes, Brookwood, etc). And because of this very few quarterbacks were recruited from Texas by the major colleges. About 10-12 years ago things started to change when 7-on-7 became very popular. Resulting in the quarterback and receiver skill levels jumping off the hs charts. Since then TX leads the nation in skill position recruiting. Nothing but fact.

By wi;ldmanhoya

December 24, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this

Texas Rules Again and Again

What does anything you say have to do with which region in Georgia is the best? The question was not which state is the best. You sound like Homet who always has to twist things to what he wants to say, not what the subject is.

Merry Christmas or do they say that better in Texas as well?

By TO wildmanhoya

December 24, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this

YES THEY DO.

By Todd Holcomb

December 24, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this

Let me get this straight—Baldwin High School BEAT LaGrange and Carver-Columbus and went farther in the 3A playoffs than both of these teams yet they end up 5th in the polls at 12-1?!? WHAT?!? Why would Baldwin be behind two teams that they beat? Baldwin had a better record overall AND in the playoffs yet they end up fifth. No justice at all….they should have been third or fourth in the state, not fifth.

I agree. The AJC had Baldwin ranked No. 3. The AP and coaches’ polls have Baldwin behind Carver and LaGrange.

Region 6 in 4A is the best in the State bar none end of discussion. Marist, Tucker, SWD, Chamblee, even Miller Grove are all teams capable of beating most teams in in 5A.

Roland:

What are you basing that on? SWD lost to MLK. SWD made the QF in AAAA. MLK lost in the first round of AAAAA. Miller Grove, a pretty good 6-AAAA team, tied Redan, a poor AAAAA team. Rome, the No. 3 team in AAAA, lost 10-7 to East Paulding, a borderline Top 10 team in AAAAA.

What scores did you see this season to make you feel 6-AAAA was the best region in the state?

By SoxsidePride4

December 25, 2008 2:19 AM | Link to this

I’m proud to say that the bowl drought for the Irish is OVER!!! 49-21 over Hawai’i. On topic, I could debate on your 5A number 1, You have to remember how region 1 stacked. Out of the 4 teams that made it to the playoffs, They have a combined total of losses out of region play of 1 in the regular season, that was Tift’s loss to Brooks County (AA). Coffee was blowing through opponent’s such as Stephenson and Chapel Hill and then getting destroyed by the Ridge 0-38. Then there’s Northside Warner Robins, who took out the 4A State Champs of Florida (B.T Washington) and kept it close early with Lowndes and was knocked out by the eventual state champion by 8. Then Lowndes, though I have lost alot of respect for this team after what happened at the end of the Grayson game, they had alot of bad breaks and they couldn’t get that talented offense going. Not that brawling is the answer, and should never be. And considering the fact that your “Number 1” region’s champ got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs and that only one team advanced beyond the second round, I still don’t see it as the number one region. Still a very competitive region though.

By SoxsidePride4

December 25, 2008 2:34 AM | Link to this

AAAA is pretty solid. Pretty obvious that 6-AAAA is number one, with the State Champ (Tucker), state Runner up (Marist), Quarterfinalist (SWD) and Chamblee who kept it close against Region 5’s #1 (Sandy Creek). Region 7, is also right, with Rome getting to the semis and Sequoyah and Hillgrove getting to round two, suprisingly the region champ was knocked out first!? But, what’ya gonna do. Region 5 is where there could have been at least 4 teams that could have gone at least passed round two given the chance. Sandy Creek just missing the quarters by losing to Rome by 6. Whitewater getting edge by eventual State Champ Tucker, keeping them in there until about 8 minutes left in the game where it got a out of hand. Villa Rica losing to SC in the Region Title and then losing to SWD, Northgate just couldn’t handle Marist all night and got pumbled by the state finalist 0-42. Also looking at Mays who was once 6-0 and then lost two close ones to Banneker and Villa Rica and then getting pumbled by the Cats of Whitewater 7-35. Banneker, just missing their chance by 3 points in revenge games for Northgate and Whitewater defeating teams whom they lost to earlier in the season and infact, on the same day. Region 4’s got Griffin who made it to the Semi’s and got killed by Tucker (0-34) Shocker! and North Clayton who lost to State power Statesboro, and Mt. Zion the Cinderella story, who came just a single point short of beating Marist (33-34) and shut out Ware 19-0 who beat TCC! Jonesboro made it to round two hooray! then got destroyed by seemingly unstoppable Westside Macon (Tucker showed how “Unstoppable” they were though.)

By yo

December 25, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Texas is just little Mexico where they say Merry Christmas like this “Feliz Navidad”. Texas thinks he/she Rules Again has to get a translater just to post. 6 Person football…just the very number tells you how imperfect the game and the mentality of the state that plays it is. Hey Texas…Larry Holmes (the boxer)always “wanted” to be thought of as the best and respected and so just like you he ran around the world proclaiming “I should be thought of as the best”. Sounds like an inferiority complex to me. In Texas their qbacks call out signals like this “Uno, Dos, Tres…Hut..Hut”. Hey Texas…congratulations on having great qbacks. Now if you could learn how to say the word “team” your teams might eventually get out of their inferiority complexes. Good thing those good qbacks “leave” the State of Inferiority Complex to play in the real football hotbeds and can finally learn their true potential. Texas…the state where good football players leave so they can learn the meaning of team….and oh yea…actually see some good defenses. That is why the smart ones come to the SEC.

By Food for Thought

December 26, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

Posted below are the Region vs. Region records for AAAAA in 2008. Hopefully I calculated correct, but if not I’m sure someone will point it out!!! Region 1 (14-5) Region 2 (1-5) Region 3 (7-8) Region 4 (4-4) Region 5 (9-6) Region 6 (6-8) Region 7 (14-14) Region 8 (8-13)

Looks like Region 1 & 7 have more wins. I realize that some regions may not play as many other Georgia Region games, but what went into your Region 5 pick? Region 5 had only one team represented in the quarters, while both R1 & R7 had 2 teams.

By Reeze

December 26, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

Food for thought…….I did the same as you with the numbers ,and I didn’t see anything that put Region 5 head and shoulders above the rest….Other than region 5 beating up on each other ,Harrison defeating Ridge early on and Woodstocks good showing in the playoffs , I really didn’t see anything that put them above region 1…. And the Top four head to head from Region 1 vs the top four from Region 5 ,Region 1 goes 4-0 or 3-1, and the 1 win goes to Woodstock…….Now if it’s a North/South thingy that would have been a good one …..Camden ,Lowndes,Northside , Coffee or Tift ,Head to Head against Ridge,Grayson,Newnan and North Gwinnette….would be intresting!…3-1 or 2-2 ,could have gone either way……Anyways year in and out Camden ,Lowndes and Northside’s records speaks volumns……50 plus AAAAA teams above the “gnat line” and I could count on one hand the number that could defeat and one more hand the number that could compete with Camden , Northside and Lowndes.

By Food 4 Thought

December 26, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

Reeze…..I graduated from a Region 5 high school. It was competitive but let me tell you that the quality of ball is different within Region 1 and even Region 7 teams this year. Todd has no hard data to back this up just an opinion, which HEY thats what keeps us talking!!

By Todd Holcomb

December 26, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

W-L records outside the region are deceiving here because R1 plays much weaker non-region competition. It’s not even close. Most of the teams that R1 plays pre-region are from lower classifications.

You also need to look at margin of victory. Woodstock played Camden County to the end, but Tift County and Coffee were slaughtered against teams that were not as good as Camden.

In fact, R5’s top eight teams never lost to a non-region game by more than 10 points. Even McEachern (the #6 team in 5-AAAAA) was within 10 points of Grayson, just like Lowndes. But R1 teams got beat by 25 or more four times by non-region opponents.

If you really want to crunch numbers, let a computer do it. Kenneth Massey, who ranks teams for the BCS, rates R5 better than R1 by an average of 1.7 points per team. And if you throw out South Cobb and Cherokee and compare R5’s top eight against R1’s top eight, the margin swells to 5.75 points better per team.

I’m not as confident than R5 is better than R1 as I am that R5 played better than R1 in 2008.

And finally, this is not a north-south argument. The average AAAAA team south of Macon (among those w/ legit enrollment numbers) is clearly better than the average metro AAAAA team.

By slalom1

December 26, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

TODD, Baldwin did NOT beat LaGrange. They beat Troup 9-7.

By NHS

December 26, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

Forget strongest region…not having XAVIER BACON in the top 12 players is a joke. The man was THE OFFENSE for Northside this year. Without him they were a .500 team at best.

By slalom1

December 26, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

fanofhawkins, Get your facts straight. Baldwin DID NOT beat LaGrange. They BARELY beat Troup 9-7. (FYI: Troup was a 4-7 team). Also, Baldwin DID NOT advance as far in the 3A play-offs as LaGrange and Carver. Both LG and Carver made it to the semis. Baldwin lost in the quarter finals to F. Branch 35-17. Furthermore Baldwin was over rated all season by simply “dropping down” in classification. It did not work out well for Shaw and Troup. And, it will not make much difference to Baldwin. In fact, Baldwin’s chances may have been better in 2008 if they had remained in 4A.

By Food 4 Thought

December 26, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this

Todd….I’m not as confident than R5 is better than R1 as I am that R5 played better than R1 in 2008.

Thank you for saying that….

would you consider a teams/regions performance in the playoff an indication of how strong they compare/played against other teams/regions? Lets face it this is the best form of region vs region competition. Lets crunch those numbers for a while!!! Even a computer can tell me that R5 had one team past the 2nd round.

In fact, the same rating system you quote (Massey) has Lowndes rated higher than Grayson and Grayson rated higher than Peachtree Ridge…..and we all know how that turned out. I’m not saying its north vs south……I feel that Region 7 performance was stronger than the cinderella story R5.

By slalom1

December 26, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

Texas Rules Again and Again, The great state of Texas is fortunate to have you as the official spokesperson of the “lone star state”. I love Texas. Starting with rodeos. Also have fond memories of long walks with my girl friend through the “back 40” on summer nights while side stepping the cow patties.(missed them a few times. But who cared?) Everyone in Texas has stepped in bull caca at one time or another. The real test of a true Texican is whether or not you have ever drank water from a “hoof print”. Hopefully you have. “Hook em horns”. And…GO 6 man teams!

By McMan

December 26, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

Mceachern is the best non-playoff team

By What Yo?

December 26, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

Yo-Yo, your post makes no sense. Sorry to see that you are so jealous of Texas high school football.

By AAAA FAN

December 26, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

Region 6-AAAA was without a doubt the best region in AAAA and will be again next year. I see SWD as being a strong title contender with a host of key players returning and with their new long over due Sports Complex facility the SWD Panthers will finally have the fitness and training equipment that other schools have always had.

By yo

December 27, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

What Yo? I have never been to a Texas (little Mexico) blog to post. It would be a waste of my time. Possibly beneath me. Glad you decided to bring Texas over to the big leagues of high school football blogs. Now don’t you have a Louisana border to guard to keep your bunch in little Mexico? I would hate to see one of those Little Mexico teams stray outside your borders and get their tails whipped. Always safer for Texas teams to stay in little Mexico you know. That way you can keep on claiming to be the best and never have to prove it. Slalom quit going pc on me. A little school from Georgia 1 and a big school from Texas 0. Yea I’m jealous of your loss record against Georgia AA schools.

By yo

December 27, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Tift 2nd straight trip to Atlanta and Coffee 3rd straight trip to Atlanta. How many points do you suppose that was worth in the so called blow outs? Newnan 7 Tift 0 at 1/2 time. Slalom I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t include any region 5 teams in your North/South war….LOL. Todd take out the lower classification schools that 1AAAAA played and 1AAAAA was 15 and 5. Includes playoffs and Florida state champ that Northside destroyed. Take out Miami Washington and then 14-5.

By Todd Holcomb

December 27, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

ODD, Baldwin did NOT beat LaGrange. They beat Troup 9-7.

I know. I wasn’t agreeing that Baldwin beat LaGrange. I was agreeing that Baldwin should be ahead of LaGrange in the final rankings.

I can’t get past these two scores:

Baldwin 22, Carver 0

Carver 24, LaGrange 0

would you consider a teams/regions performance in the playoff an indication of how strong they compare/played against other teams/regions?

Yes, but only when I consider who the teams played in the playoffs. R5 played against stronger teams in the playoffs than R1.

Tift beat MLK in the playoffs. But North Cobb (the #7 team in R5) also beat MLK. So big deal.

You have to consider the strength of the opposition.

Forget strongest region…not having XAVIER BACON in the top 12 players is a joke. The man was THE OFFENSE for Northside this year. Without him they were a .500 team at best.

The issue is not whether Bacon is among the 12 best players. It’s whether he’s among the two best running backs.

This is the first season that I’ve coordinated the selection of the All State teams, and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Bacon is great. I saw him play twice. Everybody knew he was getting the ball, and he still churned out yardage.

But there at least a handful of RB’s in Class AAAAA like that this season. Ean Pemberton of Grayson rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and led his team to the SF. Michael Boydston of Walton rushed for about 1,850 in just 11 games. Etowah’s Ryan Boykin ran for 1,700 in 11 games. Bacon rushed for fewer yards than those guys, and they didn’t make first-team All State either (although Boydston got the not from the Associated Press).

We just thought Toney Williams (Milton) and Brandon Jacobs (Parkview) were better. I don’t think either had great talent around them, especially Williams. But they produced. They’re going to SEC schools for a reason.

By Food 4 Thought

December 27, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Yes, but only when I consider who the teams played in the playoffs. R5 played against stronger teams in the playoffs than R1.

You are now sounding like “Camden will never win it all because of their region competition” We all know that they can and probably will again

You continue to make my case for me. Stronger competition from other regions knocked out #1 seed from R5 after round 1 and after round 2 only the Cinderella story remained. Looks like stronger teams are within other regions.

Stop comparing to R1 and just say that you are comfortable giving the “Top Region” honors to a region that can’t and never will take it deep into the playoffs

By north fulton watcher

December 27, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Why does the AJC continue to value high school players by their possible future performance and not their efforts in the present? I imagine there are dozens (if not hundreds) of AAAAA players who performed better this season than Centennial’s Euclid Cummings, yet he is honorable mention all-state because he is a college prospect.

I’m guessing there are players like him on the other all-state teams, but he’s the only one I saw play this past season. Given the choice between selecting a player who excelled at the high school level but is not a big time college prospect and a talented athlete who colleges think might project into a player in several years, the AJC will go for the prospect every time.

Too bad for the kids who work their rear ends off as high school players and excel on the field, but get overlooked because they don’t project to being stars at the next level.

By Todd Holcomb

December 28, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Why does the AJC continue to value high school players by their possible future performance and not their efforts in the present?

That’s fair criticism. I’m not going to discuss a specific player, but in general, I agree that we (both the AJC and the AP voters) too often are swayed by ”prospect status,” especially with linemen, when stats don’t always tell the story. We don’t ALWAYS do it, as you assert. I can give you a list of a dozen or more top recruits who weren’t selected. There’s a 160-pound defensive lineman from Ware County who made it over two teammates who are D-1 recruits. So we try to base it on on-field performance, but each year, a few will make it that probably shouldn’t.

By SportsFan31313

December 28, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry Todd,

I have to disagree with you on this one. In 5-AAAAA I only see two Schools that were worth mentioning. That is 5-AAAAA Harrison and East Paulding. The rest of them were just not there.

You could rank 3-AAAAA as the worst team but there was one that made to the second round beating a Region 4-AAAAA in the first round, and you have Region 3-AAAAA State Champions Camden County.

Harrison was one and done this year if i am not mistaken. East Paulding went to Round two just as Region 3 AAAAA Bradwell Institute.

Nonetheless, I will gibve Region 1-AAAAA as the toughest Region in the State this year.

By SportsFan31313

December 28, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

Hey Todd,

Sorry about the typos. I am sure you know what i am saying……

By wildmanhoya

December 28, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Harrison was one and done this year if i am not mistaken.

You are mistaken. The Hoyas lost to Peachtree Ridge 17 -7 in a second round game that was 0 - 0 at the half and 10 - 7 late in the game.

By Todd Holcomb

December 29, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

In 5-AAAAA, I only see two Schools that were worth mentioning. That is Harrison and East Paulding.

That’s one more team worth mentioning than in 2-AAAAA, 3-AAAAA and 4-AAAAA. Bradwell, MLK King and East Coweta (the second-place teams in those regions) do NOT make the playoffs out of 5-AAAAA. The AP poll, the AJC poll, the coaches poll and every computer poll that I’ve seen agree with that assessment.

Also, you forgot Woodstock, which made the quarterfinals and lost to Camden County 18-17.

Truth is, for those who refuse to look at anything except the number of rounds won in the state playoffs, I’m not going to get very far in this argument with them.

But I’ll try again. First, we’re talking about the strength of the WHOLE region, not just the four playoff teams. Second, rounds won in the playoffs have as much or more to do with region vs. region matchups than it does with the strength of a region.

And finally, why do the computer rankings put Region 5-AAAAA ahead of Region 1-AAAAA? Just because a computer says it doesn’t make it so, but does anyone have a theory about why an objective analysis of the scores of every game played in Georgia leads to this conclusion?

By Food 4 Thought

December 29, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

5 - State’s best non-playoff team: Kennesaw Mountain Maybe R5 should have put Kennesaw Mountain in playoffs because their 4 “best region” honors teams could only win 4 playoff games.

3 - Home of the four worst teams in AAAAA I fully understand that the state champion came from this region and more games were played, but R3 which is Todds worst region managed to win 6 playoff games.

Listed below are how each region did in playoff’s.

R7-7 wins, R3-6 wins, R1-6 wins, R5-4 wins, R4-4 wins, R8-3 wins, R6-1 win, R2-0 wins,

It looks as if Todd’s region 5 winner is middle of the pack.

You can give me all that mess about competition level during the early rounds, if’s, and but’s. There is nothing anyone can do about the competition level during the playoffs unless you are the GHSA!! Im sure Camden & Northside were happy to meet during round 2!!

Todd never heard anything back from you on the Massey ratings that had Lowndes higher than Grayson and Grayson higher than Peachtree Ridge.

By 1-AA

December 29, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

This was an even season for the teams in 1-aa. You had thomasville as the rank team in the final. With COOK in the region there was no ranking for Cook. AJC ranked three of the region teams in the top ten. BROOKS CO. won the region and was ranked no. 3. FRIG. was ranked no. 4 in the polls. That mean that the region won their goals in the playoffs. Their goals was to reach the final four. Two of the four playoff teams reach the final four. I am one that belive that for the first time in ranking the regions you might have gave the the no. 1 post to the region with the state champion. Please remeber this in the future. Class AA might been the top rank class in the state(that’s another polls). CLASS AA HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR IN THE STATE OF GA(NATIONAL).

By NSeagle78

December 29, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Region 1 AAAAA is the best it ain’t even close. Lowndes suffered from a lack of discipline but by far had the best talent in football.

By yo

December 29, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Todd How do you feel about this as an all classification Top 10 rankings? 1.Camden 2.Newnan 3.Lowndes 4.Grayson 5.Buford 6.Peachtree Ridge 7.Cairo 8.Northside 9.Etowah 10.N. Gwinnett

By SportsFan31313

January 7, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this

Greetings wildmanhoya,

I apologize for the mistake. But my assessment remains the same. I only see two teams there in Region 5-AAAAA. Thats Harrison and East Paulding. I don’t how the AP Poll, the AJC Poll, and the coaches Poll came up with that. But I wasn’t very good in math anyway. LOL..

By SportsFan31313

January 7, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this

Greetings Todd,

I agree with you at some point. You do have Woodstock whom took it to Camden County in the 2nd Round of th playoffs. I just don’t understand how did these assessment by the coaches and the computer rankings access that?

I was looking at those Teams and I just cant see any of the other teams in Region 5-AAAAA that could or would beat Bradwell Institute or a Camden County out of Region 3-AAAAA. I juts can’t see that Region 5-AAAAA being the toughest Region in the State.

You say “Truth is, for those who refuse to look at anything except the number of rounds won in the state playoffs, I’m not going to get very far in this argument with them”.

Well lets look at Regular Season. I haven’t had the opportunity to look at those teams 2008 schedule in Region 5-AAAAA to see whom they have played. But maybe you could help me out here. Do you think that Region 5-AAAAA schedule is tougher than Region 1-AAAAA? Your opinion. Not the Massey, AJC, Coaches, or AP Polls.

If so, will you explain to me and help me understand? I am quite sure you have South Georgia Region 1-AAAAA Fans would like to know too.

I kind of like Food For Thought’s Assessment too.

By observer

February 26, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this

Todd Keep in mind this was Bainbridge’s first year under Ed Pilcher. It takes time to build a power house program. Give it a couple of years.