Region play has begun in several Class AAAAA regions and will get under way soon in the others.
Beginning today and continuing for the next several weeks, we’ll take a look at the playoff chances for all of the AAAAA teams. This week we’re looking at 2-AAAAA, where nine teams appear to be chasing the state’s top-ranked team in the title race.
Which teams on the lists below are getting too much credit? Which ones are being underestimated?
Next week we’ll look at Regions 3 and 5, which are home to three of the top eight teams in this week’s AJC rankings.
Region 2-AAAAA
*Locks: Northside-Warner Robins
No. 1 Northside has won at least 10 games for a state-record 16 consecutive seasons and will be favored in every game the rest of the season. The Eagles haven’t missed the playoffs since 1991, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which they don’t make it this year.
*Likely: Warner Robins
Warner Robins’ 19-0 loss to Class AAA Peach County in the opener raised a few eyebrows, but it got back on track with a 44-6 victory against Greenbrier last week to open region play. Expect the Demons to challenge Northside for the region championship.
*On the bubble: Houston County, Jones County, Evans, Lakeside-Evans
Houston County and Lakeside took the No. 3 and No. 4 playoff spots from this region last year, and both opened region play with easy victories last week. Jones County and Evans both finished one game out of fourth place in 2013 and should stay in contention again. Jones County is averaging 54 points in its 2-0 start. Evans lost to Northside 38-6 last week but at least has that one out of the way.
*Long shots: None
*Not this year: Cross Creek, Greenbrier, Grovetown, Richmond Academy
These four teams lost their region openers by a combined score of 183-22 last week. Greenbrier’s 17-14 victory over Grovetown last season was the only region win for either team. Richmond Academy and Cross Creek failed to make the playoffs in AAAA in 2013.
