These are the Class AAAA preseason predictions of the Maxwell Ratings, a computer-based ranking system created by Loren Maxwell. The projections are based on historical scores, with 2015 results being most significant.
Here are five observations on the new Class AAAA:
*Region 5 has a couple of heavyweights at the top: No. 1 Cartersville, the defending AAAA champion, and No. 3 Sandy Creek. Cartersville is 3-0 against Sandy Creek and is the only school with three victories against Chip Walker in his 11 seasons at Sandy Creek, where his record is 119-22-1.
*Three DeKalb County-based schools compete in AAA, all within 10 miles of each other. They went in three directions - Druid Hills in Region 5, Marist in Region 7 and St. Pius in Region 8.
*Blessed Trinity joined fellow Catholic school Marist and will play in a five-team region that includes Chestatee, West Hall and White County. The Blessed Trinity-to-White County trek, though scenic in fall if traveling north, is a good 90 minutes by bus. Maxwell considers Blessed Trinity and Marist to be four touchdowns better than their northeast Georgia region rivals.
*St. Pius is oddly pitted in another northeast Georgia region that Maxwell rates as the deepest. St. Pius is rated No. 7. Five schools are among the top 22 in the class, including No. 7 Jefferson, which was pushed up in classification because of the GHSA's new 3-percent rule.
*Region 6 is projected to be the weakest. Pickens, 8-3 last season and Maxwell's predicted winner, is rated No. 25 statewide. Pickens has never won a region championship.
Coming Tuesday: Class AAA
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