It’s playoff time!
According to Georgia High School Association football director Tommy Whittle, three schools appealed their power rating, but none were upheld by the appeals committee.
Here are the official playoff brackets after all appeals. The Class A playoffs will begin next Friday, Nov. 22:
Private
Top Bracket
No. 1 Calvary Day (10-0) vs. No. 16 Christian Heritage (5-5)
No. 8 Landmark Christian (8-2) vs. No. 9 Mt. Pisgah Christian (7-3)
No. 5 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (4-6) vs. No. 12 Athens Christian (7-3)
No. 13 First Presbyterian Day (7-3) at No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian (8-2)
Bottom Bracket
No. 3 Mt. Paran Christian (10-0) vs. No. 14 Stratford Academy (6-4)
No. 6 Savannah Christian (9-1) vs. No. 11. Pacelli (7-3)
No. 7 Tattnall Square Academy (9-1) vs. No. 10 Pinecrest Academy (7-3)
No. 15 St. Francis (7-3) at No. 2 Aquinas (10-0)
-- Our Lady of Mercy (6-4) was the last team out. The Bobcats were No. 12 two weeks ago in the power ratings but losses in the final two weeks of the season to ELCA (19-11) and Landmark Christian (48-14) dropped them out of the field of 16. Additionally, the combined record of the teams OLM beat was 16-43, though one of them was over Lumpkin County (5-5), a playoff team in Class AAA.
-- The worst resume for a playoff team belongs to No. 16 Christian Heritage of Dalton. The combined record of the teams the Lions defeated this season was 18-32, which included two wins over 4-6 Fellowship Christian – one in the regular season and one in the Region 6 crossover game.
-- Pinecrest Academy (7-3) of Forsyth is in the post season for the first time since the Paladins joined the GHSA in 2010, and won the most games since 2009 when they went 11-2 and advanced to the Georgia Independent Schools Association state semi finals. The combined record of the teams Pinecrest beat this season was 25-45.
-- Athens Christian (7-3) advanced to the state playoffs for third year in a row, but this time posted a winning record. The Eagles made the post season with records of 5-5 last year and 4-6 in 2012.
Public
Top Bracket
No. 1 Marion County (10-0) vs. No. 16 Greenville (5-5)
No. 8 Mt. Zion-Carroll (7-3) vs. No. 9 Emanuel County Institute (8-2)
No. 5 Charlton County (9-1) vs. No. 12 Lincoln County (7-3)
No. 13 Jenkins County (7-3) at No. 4 Hawkinsville (9-1)
Bottom Bracket
No. 3 Mitchell County (6-4) vs. No. 14 Calhoun County (7-3)
No. 6 Commerce (8-2) vs. No. 11 Clinch County (6-4)
No. 7 Claxton (7-3) vs. No. 10 Dooly County (7-3)
No. 15 Atkinson County (6-4) at No. 2 Irwin County (8-1-1)
-- By winning the Region 1 title, Mitchell County (6-4) jumped from No. 18 to No. 3 in the power ratings because region champions are ranked first. The Eagles will have a rematch with the only other Region 1 playoff representative, No. 14 Calhoun County, in the first round. Mitchell County won the first meeting, which ended up being the de-facto region title game, 12-8 on Oct. 31. The combined record of the other five teams in Region 1 this season was 9-41.
-- The seven wins posted by Calhoun County this season are the most the Cougars have earned since they went 8-3 in 1993.
-- Mitchell County's region championship bumped Schley County out of a playoff spot. The Wildcats had moved from No. 17 to No. 16 in the power ratings, with a 48-34 win over Brookston in the final game of the regular season. Senior Tre Minter rushed for 424 yards on 42 carries and three touchdowns in the win.
-- Atkinson County (6-4) is in the state playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Rebels will have a rematch at No. 2 Irwin County, the Region 2 champions. Atkinson County was the only team in the region to push Irwin County, losing 21-14 on Oct. 31.
Region breakdown
Here’s the makeup of the playoff field by region:
Region 1: 2
Region 2: 4
Region 3: 5 (4 from Division A, 1 from Division B)
Region 4: 5
Region 5: 2
Region 6: 6 (3 from Division A, 3 from Division B)
Region 7: 5 (3 from Division A, 2 from Division B)
Region 8: 3
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