Tiebreaker guide: 7 regions could have 3-way ties for first place

Seven regions could wind up in a three-way tie for first place after this weekend’s games. Here is how those ties would be broken:

2-AAAAAA – Newton will win the three-way tiebreaker with Tucker and Lovejoy. The tiebreaker is margin of total point differential among games involving the tied teams, with a cap of 15 points. Newton is plus-11. Tucker will be the No. 2 seed, Lovejoy No. 3.

5-AAAAAA – If Etowah beats Roswell, there will be a three-way tie that includes Walton (if Walton beats Cherokee). The tiebreaker is opponents' wins in region play. According to region secretary Bob VanAlstyne, Roswell has the tiebreaker locked up. Etowah can win the title only with a victory and a Walton loss.

2-AAAAA – Northside-Warner Robins will win the title with a victory tonight over Houston County, but if Houston County wins, there will be a three-way tie that includes Jones County (each team finishing 9-1 overall, 8-1 in the region). If Houston County holds Northside to 16 or fewer points, Houston County is the champion. If Northside scores 17 or more in defeat, Jones County is the champion. The tiebreaker is points allowed in games among the three, with a cap of 21 points.

5-AAAAA – If Allatoona (8-1, 7-1) loses to Chapel Hill (not likely), there is the possibility of a three-way or four-way tie involving Alexander, East Paulding and South Paulding (all 7-2, 6-2). The first tiebreaker would be head-to-head. If that doesn't solve it, the tiebreaker is point differential in games among the teams, with a cap of 15 points.

3-AAAA – If Burke County beats Thomson tonight, there could be a three-way tie that includes Liberty County. The tiebreaker is points allowed against teams involved in the tie. Liberty County beat Burke 26-20 and lost to Thomson 42-20, so Liberty (62 points allowed) is out unless the Burke-Thomson game is very high-scoring. Burke (26 points allowed so far) will win the title with a victory of six points or more, provided Thomson is held to 35 points or less. Thomson (20 points allowed) will win with a victory (winning the title outright) or by losing by fewer than six points while also holding Burke to 42 points or less.

5-AAAA – If Carrollton beats Woodward Academy, there would be a three-way tie that includes Sandy Creek, if Sandy Creek beats Fayette County (very likely). If that happens, Carrollton is the champion. The tiebreaker is winning percentage against all Class AAAA opponents. Sandy Creek is the only team among those three that has lost to a AAAA opponent outside of region play (Jonesboro). That would leave Woodward and Carrollton, and Carrollton would have won head to head.