Region 3-AAAAAA was left relatively unscathed in the GHSA’s most recent reclassification.
Grovetown will depart for Class AAAAA, and Rockdale County will drop from AAAAAAA to join the five returning teams.
That is good news for Evans, the region’s top team in the recently concluded four-year reclass cycle, but not good news overall for a region that has struggled to find its footing on a statewide basis.
Evans won two region titles from 2016 to 2019, reached the playoffs all four seasons and was the only team in the region to post an overall winning record (26-18). The Knights dominated in region play, winning 17 of 20 games in the past four seasons.
However, Evans and the other members of 3-AAAAAA struggled in the postseason since the region was put together in 2016, winning just three of 19 playoff games (Evans, Grovetown and Heritage-Conyers won first-round games in 2017).
Still, Evans will enter the 2020 season as the favorite to win the region championship again. The Knights bring back four players who made first-team all-region last season – kick returner of the year Lleyton Lackey, leading rusher Jofranstar Graham, leading tackler Cortavious Catchings and defensive back Caleb Fleming. Returning quarterback Kaleb Jackson will be without his top two wide receivers, but the Knights attempted only 10.7 passes per game last season. Graduating seniors Victor Garces and Donovan Bradshaw combined for 27 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns.
Evans’ top challenger could be rival Lakeside-Evans, which also has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. Evans’ 14-10 victory over Lakeside in the teams’ region opener last season ultimately decided the championship. Lakeside’s biggest task will be finding a replacement for region offensive player of the year Jaden Taylor, who passed for 1,501 yards, ran for 501 and had a hand in 26 touchdowns. Rising seniors Tyrone Manning (defensive back) and Stephen Cardullo (offensive line) and rising sophomore kicker Will Hattaway were first-team all-region selections.
Heritage, which a region title in 2016 and finished tied for second place with Lakeside last season, is likely to be in the mix, as well. The Patriots should be especially strong on defense. They had eight players make the all-region first or second team as juniors last year. Among them was defensive end Courtney McBride, who was named the region’s defensive player of the year after finishing the season with 51 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 16 QB hurries.
Grovetown won a region title in 2018, but last year the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 when they finished the regular season 4-6 overall and 1-4 in region play. Grovetown will have a huge hole to fill with the graduation of defensive end/linebacker Simeon Barrow, a Michigan State signee who was named the region’s player of the year. All-region selection Jordan Key, who played every position on the offensive, is a key returnee.
Alcovy finished 2-8 in 2019 and has not reached the playoffs since 2013, but the Tigers came close in their first season under former Alpharetta and Lithia Springs head coach Jason Dukes. Alcovy went into the final game of the season needing a victory over Greenbrier to clinch fourth place, but the Tigers fell 21-14.
Greenbrier will move down to Region 8-AAAAA next season after making two consecutive playoff appearances despite regular-season records of 3-7 and 2-8.
The Wolfpack will be replaced in 3-AAAAAA by Rockdale County, which failed to reach the playoffs in four seasons in the highest classification in a region dominated by Grayson and Archer, and to a lesser extent Newton. Rockdale was 4-6 overall and 0-5 in the region in 2019 and 10-30 overall and 2-18 in region play over the past four seasons. The Bulldogs’ last playoff berth came in 2014, but they should be more competitive after escaping the highest classification. Running back Connor Mack and offensive linemen Justin Jones, Christian Anderson and Dana Campbell made second-team all-region as juniors in 2019.
2019 Region 3-AAAAAA standings
Team / Region record / Overall record / Playoff result
Evans / 7-3 / 5-0 / Lost to Houston County 31-21 in first round
Heritage / 5-6 / 3-2 / Lost to Coffee 60-0 in first round
Lakeside / 7-3 / 3-2 / Lost to Valdosta 45-9 in first round
Greenbrier (moving to Region 8-AAAAA) / 2-9 / 2-3 / Lost to Lee County 51-0 in first round
Grovetown / 4-6 / 1-4 / Did not make playoffs
Alcovy / 2-8 / 1-4 / Did not make playoffs
(Team moving in)
Rockdale County (from 8-AAAAAAA) / 4-6 / 0-5 / Did not make playoffs
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