Six of the Class AAA's eight regions already have begun region play, and Region 2 will join the mix Friday. The smaller four-team Region 1 continues to compete against non-region competition. At midseason, here's a look at each of the eight regions to see who's leading, who's playing to form and if there have been, or could be, surprises:
Region 1: The smallest of the regions – consisting of No. 8 Crisp County, Monroe, Worth and Cook – has one more week before it will enter region play. Crisp County is undoubtedly the favorite after winning the region title for three consecutive seasons. Crisp and Monroe have the best records (3-3) and will meet in the region opener Oct. 18.
Region 2: Three of the top 10 programs – No. 3 Pierce County, No. 6 Liberty County and No. 7 Appling County – hail from this region, and the race for the No. 1 seed begins this week. We are still two weeks away from the first decisive meeting -- Liberty County at home against Appling on Oct. 18. The region likely will be decided in the final two weeks of the season, when defending-champion Pierce County faces Appling and Liberty.
Region 3: The programs in the Savannah region have been beating each other up for the past two weeks, and two teams – Islands and Jenkins – are 3-0 against the locals. Islands and Jenkins will meet Friday to determine the front-runner heading into the final month of the season. Benedictine is 2-0 and a likely favorite to win the region again this year. The Cadets will face Islands on Oct. 18 and Jenkins in the final game of the regular season Nov. 8.
Region 4: Top-ranked Peach County has won the region seven times in the last decade and is trying for four consecutive region titles. The Trojans opened 4-AAA play last week with a 77-14 home victory against Kendrick. Peach, Jackson and Westside-Macon are the unbeatens (1-0) in region play. Pike County hasn't played a region game and will open against Peach County on Friday. Peach County will face Jackson at home and Westside-Macon at the Ed Defore Sports Complex in the final two weeks of the regular season.
Region 5: No. 2 Cedar Grove, Westminster and Pace Academy share 1-0 region records, but Cedar Grove's 41-17 victory against No. 9 Lovett last week gave the edge to the Saints. Cedar Grove has won the region for the past two seasons, with Lovett as the runner-up. Cedar Grove's biggest games will be against Westminster on Oct. 18 and Pace Academy on Oct. 25. If the Saints lose either of those games, it could make for an interesting development in the region standings.
Region 6: Calhoun's 31-7 loss to North Murray on Sept. 20 made for a very interesting Region 6, and for the first time in nearly 20 years the region seems open to challengers. Or is it? Calhoun rebounded with a 48-3 victory against Ringgold last week and is tied with Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe at 2-1. North Murray is the front-runner at 3-0, with Haralson County trailing at 2-0.
Region 7: Since moving into the region in 2016, No. 4 Greater Atlanta Christian has dominated with three consecutive titles. This year should be no different. Three teams – Dawson County, GAC and North Hall – are tied at the top at 1-0. The picture will be a bit clearer in two weeks after the Spartans host North Hall on Friday and travel to Dawson County on Oct. 11.
Region 8: Two ranked programs – No. 5 Hart County and No. 10 Jefferson – are with unranked Morgan County at the top of 8-AAA with 1-0 records. Hart County will enjoy a bye week before hosting Jefferson in a game which will provide an indication on who might win the region championship. Last season, Monroe Area won the title, but many of the top players graduated, paving the the way for challengers.
Class AAA Top 10
1. Peach County (4-1)
2. Cedar Grove (3-2)
3. Pierce County (5-0)
4. Greater Atlanta Christian (4-1)
5. Hart County (5-0)
6. Liberty County (3-0)
7. Appling County (4-1)
8. Crisp County (3-3)
9. Lovett (3-2)
10. Jefferson (3-1)
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