Glynn Academy, the preseason favorite of the computer Maxwell Ratings to win Region 2-AAAAAA for the third consecutive season, stumbled a bit in non-league play but has shown no signs that it’s ready to see its championship reign come to an end.
The Red Terrors and Bradwell Institute are two only remaining unbeaten teams after two weeks of region play, and a victory this weekend by Glynn Academy against last-place Brunswick could leave the Red Terrors alone in first place.
Glynn and Bradwell Institute will be jockeying for playoff position with Effingham County and Richmond Hill over the next three weeks. Brunswick isn’t eliminated yet but has to win at least one of its last two games and probably get some help.
We conclude our Tuesday series examining the playoff outlooks for every Class AAAAAA team near the beginning of region play with a preview of Region 2.
Here’s a closer look at each of the teams, broken down by playoff likelihood, in alphabetical order within each group:
Safest bet
*Glynn Academy (4-3, 1-0): The Red Terrors have been streaky, winning their first three games (including a forfeit victory over Fort Dorchester, S.C.) before losing the next three against Wayne County, Ware County and Camden County. A 28-3 win over Richmond Hill was a good start to region play and sets Glynn up for a run at another region title, which would be the 12th in school history.
In the hunt
*Bradwell Institute (3-4, 1-0): The Tigers went 6-0 in non-region games last year but then went 0-4 in region games and missed the playoffs. This year, they were just 2-4 (although against a tougher schedule) heading into region play but got off to a better start with a 27-8 victory over Effingham County. Bradwell Institute has work to do but is closing in on its second playoff berth in nine seasons.
*Effingham County (5-3, 1-1): The Rebels' 4-1 start was their best since 2013. The slumped in their next two games, with losses to Burke County and Bradwell Institute, but bounced back with a 45-14 victory over Brunswick last week. That win might be enough to get them in the playoffs, but a victory over Glynn or Richmond Hill in their final two games might earn a home playoff game.
*Richmond Hill (3-4, 1-1): The Wildcats are better than their record indicates, as their three non-region losses came against Wayne County, Camden County and Liberty County. Their region loss to Glynn Academy (28-3) last week probably sunk their chances of winning their first region title since 1996, but the odds are good that they'll make their school-record third consecutive playoff berth.
Long shot
*Brunswick (3-5, 0-2): After losing their first two region games to Richmond Hill (41-7) and Effingham County (45-14), the Pirates are already in a tough spot with three weekends remaining in the regular season. If they lose to Glynn Academy this week and Bradwell Institute beats Richmond Hill, Brunswick will be eliminated and the other four teams will have clinched playoff berths.
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