The new Class AAAAAAA (7A) will have 48 schools, down from the current 64 in today’s highest classification. That means smaller regions (average size six teams) and the need to pick up more non-region opponents.
That’s great news for the first six weeks, as the schedule is loaded with interesting inter-region matchups. The downside is that smaller regions mean less suspense in the playoff chase.
Here are 10 observations from looking at schedules for AAAAAA teams in 2016.
-Whoever replaces Mickey Conn as head coach Grayson will inherit one of the state’s most talented teams, and probably the state’s most challenging non-region schedule. Yes, it’s a peach of a job. The Rams have averaged 11.0 wins since 2007 and won a state title in 2011. The 2016 team will feature quarterback Chase Brice (committed to Clemson) and a pair of blue-chip Peachtree Ridge transfers, defensive back DeAngelo Gibbs (rated the No. 3 recruit nationally) and linebacker Breon Dixon (Peachtree Ridge). Gone reportedly is Conn, who founded the program in 2000. He is set to join Clemson’s staff. Now, for the schedule. Grayson opens at home Aug. 26 against Florida’s IMG Academy, ranked No. 7 nationally last season by MaxPreps. Grayson also will play nationally renowned Hoover of Alabama, McEachern, Deerfield Beach (rated Florida’s No. 20 team overall last season by MaxPreps) and Ramsey, a 7-4 team last season from Birmingham.
-Archer, Grayson’s main rival in Region 8, also plays a stiff non-region slate, although entirely from Georgia. Each of these five made the playoffs last season in the highest class – McEachern (10-2), Peachtree Ridge (8-4), Mill Creek (13-1), Norcross (7-4) and Roswell (14-1). Archer and Grayson meet up Oct. 14.
-West Forsyth, a solid program with eight straight winning seasons, is playing host to Class AA champion Pace Academy on Aug. 26. Pace returns the bulk of its title team and is capable of winning this matchup. Why is this so interesting? Well, the GHSA’s point in shrinking the highest classification and forming the so-called Big 44 (turned out to be 48) was to prevent the unfairness of 3,200-student schools playing 1,800-student schools. So, it’s a little ironic to see West Forsyth and its student body of 2,422 students taking on Pace and its 451. It’s also perhaps ironic that private schools have fought against any multiplier that puts them in higher classifications. Some privates have even suggested that it is unsafe for smaller schools to play larger schools in football, where injuries in such matchups could lead to lawsuits. This is no knock at Pace, however. The Knights, who added a boys basketball state title to its trophy case earlier this month, chose to play in AAA in 2016 despite Class A enrollment.
-McEachern, which features four-star quarterback recruit Bailey Hockman, has played daring non-schedules the past few seasons. It’s not different in 2016. Non-region opponents include Archer (11-2), Grayson (13-1), Jonesboro (11-2), Westlake (10-3) and Camden County (10-2).
-Two-time defending champion Colquitt County is playing American Heritage, plus Tucker, Mill Creek, Roswell, Brookwood and Valdosta. American Heritage was Florida’s Class 5A champion in 2014 and was 9-2 last season. Colquitt has off weeks Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 after a deal with Bessemer City of Alabama fell through. Except one to be filled.
-Lowndes is opening the season at Valdosta in the first non-region meeting ever between these nationally known cross-town rivals. The two have shared a region since 1968. Valdosta is playing in 1-AAAAAA in 2015, but still will play old rivals Lowndes, Colquitt County and Tift County. Region 1 has only four teams. Coffee is the other.
-Camden County, another Region 1 school needing seven non-region opponents, will play travel into Florida for each of its first three games. The Wildcats will play at Oakleaf (8-2) of Orange Park near Jacksonville, Venice (10-2), which is a five-hour bus ride, and then Columbia (12-2) of Lake City. Columbia was a Class 7A semifinalist last season. Camden also is playing McEachern, at home on Sept. 23.
-Westlake, a region champion out of Region 3 the past two seasons, is traveling to AAAA champion Cartersville on Sept. 9. Cartersville features quarterback Trevor Lawrence, rated the No. 1 junior prospect in the country. Westlake also plays at home against McEachern on Sept. 16. Westlake will need the workout. It’s been 10 years since any of the other Region 2-AAAAAA teams have made a real splash in the playoffs.
-Roswell’s run to the finals last season re-established the Hornets as a state power. They’ll have a fitting schedule with non-region games against AAAAAA champion Colquitt in a rematch of the 2015 title game, plus Buford in the Friday night version of the Corky Kell Classic at McEachern. Roswell also will play Archer and also saved a spot for arch-rival Milton on Sept. 30. Roswell and Milton, rivals since the 1950s in north Fulton County, were placed in different regions.
-Two other traditional county rivals -- North Gwinnett and Norcross from Gwinnett – are in separate regions for the first time since 1999. One or the other has won Region 7 eight times since 2006. They’ve been separated again, Norcross in Region 7 and North in Region 6. They’ll play a non-region game on Sept. 9. Note that Gwinnett can qualify as many as 12 teams for the playoffs now that regions 6, 7 and 8 are largely Gwinnett-controlled.
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