It's the time of the season to look at each Class AAA region to see where the usual suspects stand and which teams might challenge for a title run. In some regions, the defending champions appear to be shoe-ins. In others ... well, some might not even make the playoffs.
Here's the breakdown:
Region 1
Crisp won the region for the past two seasons with unbeaten 4-0 records. The four-team region means each team in 1-AAA will have two more weeks before it dives into the region play. This year, Cook, Crisp and Monroe each are 2-3.
-- Cook
Region Record: 0-0
Overall: 2-3
Crisp County
0-0
2-3
Monroe
0-0
2-3
Worth County
0-0
1-4
Region 2
Last year, Liberty County successfully defended its region title with a second consecutive undefeated 5-0 record. This year, Liberty's path to a three-peat won't be decided until Oct. 5 against Tattnall County (0-4). Pierce County, 4-0 this season, should be a top-contender for the Panthers.
-- Pierce County
0-0
4-0
Liberty County
0-0
2-1
Appling County
0-0
2-2
Brantley County
0-0
0-3
Long County
0-0
0-4
Tattnall County
0-0
0-4
Region 3
Jenkins' claim as the AAA football power in Savannah could take a turn as it looks to defend its title for the third consecutive season. The Warriors opened their region test against Savannah on Sept. 7 before its Johnson-Savannah game was cancelled because of the threat of bad weather. Southeast Bulloch, Windsor Forest and Johnson-Savannah are each 1-0 in the region. Benedictine, the newcomer in the region, has yet to play a inter-league contest and will face Savannah on Friday
-- SE Bulloch
1-0
3-0
Jenkins
1-0
2-1
Windsor Forest
1-0
2-1
Johnson (Sav.)
1-0
1-2
Benedictine
0-0
1-1
Beach
0-1
0-3
Groves
0-1
0-3
Islands
0-1
0-3
Savannah
0-1
0-3
Region 4
Peach County has won the region title three of the past four seasons and 10 of the last 15, with three state championships scattered in – 2005, 2006 and 2009. It will take divine intervention for Peach County to not win the region again this year. Pike County gave the Trojans the best test last season during their 6-0 run through the region, but Peach won 49-21 ... which came a week after shutting down Kendrick 82-0.
-- Pike County
0-0
4-0
Jackson
0-0
2-2
Peach County
0-0
2-2
Westside (Macon)
0-0
2-2
Central (Macon)
0-0
1-3
Kendrick
0-0
0-4
Rutland
0-0
0-4
Region 5
This region is arguably, and consistently, the most difficult region to pick a winner. There is just too much talent. Cedar Grove won it last year and looks to be the top contender this season. But Westminster won in 2016, and given the talent that litters the region with the likes of Lovett and Pace added to the mix, it could be a tightly-contested race.
-- Cedar Grove
0-0
3-1
Pace Academy
0-0
2-2
Westminster
0-0
2-2
Lovett
0-0
1-3
Redan
0-0
0-4
Stone Mountain
0-0
0-4
Towers
0-0
0-4
Region 6
This split region -- North and South – has been won by Calhoun forever. I get tired of counting how many times the Yellow Jackets have won it. Let's figure it like this: Hal Lamb arrived in Calhoun in 1999. He did not win that year or 2000, But since then, Lamb has not lost a region title. It would be more likely for the Eagles to get back together than Hal Lamb not winning the region title this year.-- Calhoun
2-0
4-0
Lakeview-FO
2-0
3-1
Haralson County
1-0
3-0
Adairsville
1-1
2-2
North Murray
1-1
2-2
Coahulla Creek
1-1
1-3
Sonoraville
0-1
1-2
Ringgold
0-2
1-3
Murray County
0-2
0-4
Region 7GAC is the go-to team to speak of when Region 7 is the topic of conversation. The Spartans have won their region title four years in a row – two in 6-AA and then the past two years in 7-AAA. That's not likely to change this season.-- Dawson County
0-0
4-0
North Hall
0-0
4-0
GAC
0-0
2-2
Lumpkin County
0-0
2-2
East Hall
0-0
1-3
Fannin County
0-0
1-3
Cherokee Bluff
0-0
0-4
Region 8
Monroe Area’s resurgence last year and into this year has shaken up 8-AAA. Add in Jefferson, which dropped down from AAAA, and you have a few new contenders for Morgan County, last year’s champion, to deal with. Monroe Area will begin its region test at Morgan County on Friday.
-- Monroe Area
0-0
4-0
Jefferson
0-0
3-1
Jackson County
0-0
2-2
East Jackson
0-0
1-3
Franklin County
0-0
1-3
Hart County
0-0
1-3
Morgan County
0-0
1-3
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