No. 1 Buford and No. 3 Griffin, the defending Class AAAA state champion, seem destined to meet in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Barring a stunning turn of events, Buford will be the top seed out of Region 8-AAAA and will be placed in the same bottom-left corner of the playoff bracket as the top seed out of Region 4-AAAA, which almost certainly will be Griffin.
The Wolves won back-to-back Class AAA state championships in 2012 and 2013 and have won 31 straight games overall. In its first season in Class AAAA, Buford (6-0, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA) has won its first three region games by a combined scored 152-17.
The Bears (6-0, 2-0 Region 4-AAAA) have won 21 straight games and have not lost a region game since 2011. They’ve won their first two region games this season by a combined score of 82-22.
(Link to Class AAAA playoff bracket)
Buford and Griffin have never played. Their first meeting certainly would be a dandy, even if takes place in the quarterfinals. With the two perennial state powers paired in one quadrant, other contenders, No. 2 Sandy Creek, for example, obviously have a much easier playoff path.
The Patriots (6-0, 1-0 Region 5-AAAA) aren’t as big of a lock to claim the top seed out of their region as either Buford or Griffin, but they’re definitely the favorites. If Sandy Creek does earn the top seed out its region, the Patriots will be placed in the bottom right corner of the bracket in the same quadrant as the top seed out of Region 1-AAAA, likely Thomas County Central or Cairo, who play this week.
St. Pius X took control of Region 6-AAAA with last week’s win over Marist. If the Golden Lions go on to claim the top seed, they would be placed in the top-right quadrant.
The Region 7-AAAA winner—No. 5 Cartersville is the favorite—will be put in the top left of the bracket, on the same side as Buford and Griffin.
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