Nine of the 12 semifinal games above Class A pit two region champions. GHSA rules call for a coin flip to decide the home team when like-seeded teams play. How significant is the coin toss? Since 2008, when the semifinals were taken out of the Georgia Dome and put back on high school fields, the home team is 26-15 when region champions face off in the final four. Further, the higher-ranked team (using the AJC's Top 10) is 14-4 when winning the toss and playing at home, but only 11-12 when losing the toss and playing on the road. In other words, the higher-ranked teams on average go from being a clear favorite if they win the toss to a slight underdog if they lose the toss. Here are the nine semifinals in which home field was determined by a coin.
Class AAAAAAA
#2 Roswell at Westlake*
#3 Mill Creek at #1 Grayson
Class AAAAAA
#1 Valdosta at #2 Dalton
Class AAAAA
#2 Stockbridge at #4 Rome
Class AAAA
#7 Mary Persons at #1 Cartersville
#4 Jefferson at #2 Thomson**
Class AAA
#1 GAC at #2 Peach Co.
Class AA
#3 Callaway at #1 Benedictine
#10 Hapeville at #2 Fitzgerald
*Westlake won the coin toss, but the game was moved to neutral Lakewood Stadium because neither school's stadium met GHSA seating requirements.
**Jefferson won the coin toss, but the game was moved to Thomson because Jefferson's stadium did not meet GHSA seating requirements.
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