Here’s a region-by-region look at this week’s games and scenarios in the high class. The Maxwell Ratings’ projected margins of victory are provided for perspective.
Two best games: Lowndes vs. Colquitt County for a region title; Brookwood vs. Norcross for a region title. Westlake, Lambert and Grayson also could be region champions after Friday night.
Here we go ...
Region 1 – Sixth-ranked Lowndes (8-1, 2-0) plays at seventh-ranked Colquitt County (5-4, 2-0) for the region title. Lowndes hasn’t won a region since 2010. That’s after winning seven in 10 years (2001-10). Colquitt County is going for its third straight region title. This series is 4-4 since Rush Propst became Colquitt’s coach in 2008. Meanwhile, Tift County (5-4, 0-2) and Camden County (2-6, 0-2) play next week for the third playoff berth in this four-team region.
Colquitt County vs. Lowndes -6
Region 2 – Westlake (5-3, 3-0) can clinch the region title with a home win vs. Wheeler (4-4, 2-1). Maxwell projects that the Pebblebrook-Newnan will decide the fourth and final playoff berth and that East Coweta (6-2, 2-1) and Wheeler (4-4, 2-1) will finish second and third, respectively.
Westlake vs. Wheeler -13
Newnan vs. Pebblebrook -13
East Coweta at Campbell -37
Region 3 – The key game is Hillgrove (5-3, 3-0) at eighth-ranked North Cobb (6-2, 2-1). If Hillgrove wins, it’s Hillgrove vs. McEachern (7-1, 3-0) next week for the region title. But North Cobb is favored and still can claim a share of the title with a victory - if Hillgrove then beats McEachern next week. More likely, the North Cobb-Hillgrove game is for second place behind McEachern.
North Cobb at Hillgrove -11
McEachern at Marietta -32
North Paulding vs. Kennesaw Mtn. -29
Region 4 – Some good games here this week. Not sure Roswell (8-0, 3-0) will beat Woodstock (5-3, 2-1) by 30 after a mere 17-14 escape over Etowah. But assuming a Roswell victory, the region championship will be next week – Roswell vs. Cherokee (5-3, 3-0). That’s even if Cherokee loses to Lassiter (6-2, 1-2). There is also good news for the Etowah-Walton winner. Despite their 0-3 records in region play, this region is in good shape for the Class 7A wild card berth as a fifth-place finisher.
Lassiter at Cherokee -2
Roswell vs. Woodstock -30
Walton vs. Etowah -1
Region 5 – Lambert (5-3, 3-0) can clinch its first-ever region title with a win at Milton (3-5, 1-2). West Forsyth (6-2, 2-1) and South Forsyth (5-3, 2-1) can clinch playoff berths with wins over North Forsyth (4-4, 1-2) and Forsyth Central (3-4, 0-3). Expect Lambert to finish first, with West and South about 50/50 for second and third, and North and Milton 50/50 for fourth and fifth. But don’t be shocked if Milton beats Lambert, either.
Lambert at Milton -10
South Forsyth at Forsyth Cent. -32
West Forsyth vs. North Forsyth -12
Region 6 – Mill Creek has clinched the region title and is off. Mountain View (7-2, 3-2), North Gwinnett (4-4, 2-2), Peachtree Ridge (3-5, 2-2) and Collins Hill (2-6, 2-2) each have two region losses. Maxwell projects it will play out 1. Mill Creek, 2. Mountain View, 3. North Gwinnett, 4. Peachtree Ridge and doesn’t have much faith in Collins Hill.
Mountain View vs. Discovery -38
North Gwinnett vs. Collins Hill -23
Peachtree Ridge at Duluth -41
Region 7 – Norcross (8-0, 4-0) plays at Brookwood (6-2, 4-0) for the region title. Loser will be the No. 2 seed. Expect Parkview and Central Gwinnett to play for third and fourth next week.
Norcross vs. Brookwood -16
Parkview vs. Meadowcreek -42
Lakeside-Atlanta vs. Berkmar -41
Region 8 – Third-ranked Grayson (7-1, 4-0) will be in Alabama on Friday playing Hoover, the top program in that state. The region games back home will be significant. Archer and South Gwinnet are 2-1 in region play. Shiloh and Newton are 1-2. South is the only team that can win the region besides Grayson, so if Archer beats South, South’s hope is gone, and Grayson is the champ. If South wins, the region champion will be next week’s South-Grayson winner.
Archer vs. South Gwinnett -5
Newton vs. Shiloh -15
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