There’s only two weeks left in the regular season. That means a quicker pulse for some, while others are already planning their football awards banquet. And this is the time of year when a former enemy can become your newest friend, depending on the playoff scenario.
Here’s a way the playoffs are shaking out with two weeks remaining:
Region 1-AAA: In this subdivided league, the top four teams from each side are in position to advance to state. The No. 1 teams will play the No. 4 team from the opposite subregion, while the No. 2 teams will cross over to play the No. 3 team from the other side. The winners will advance to state.
In Division A, Cook has clinched the championship. Dodge County can sew up the second spot with a win at Pierce County. A Dodge win would leave Appling County and Pierce County tied, with Appling winning the tiebreaker based on last week’s win. If Pierce County beats Dodge, there will be a three-way tie for second place.
In Division B, Jenkins and Southeast Bulloch will be one-two. Johnson can clinch a spot in the region playoffs with a win over Jenkins. If Johnson cannot pull off that upset, the season-ending makeup game with Savannah on Tuesday, Nov. 4, will take on extra significance. If Johnson beats Savannah, the Atom Smashers will be tied with Beach, but would win a tiebreaker based on its 26-9 win over the Bulldogs. If Savannah beats Johnson, that would create a three-way tie for the third spot.
Region 2-AAA: Peach County and Westside Macon meet this week to determine first and second place. Jackson and Rutland meet next and could decide the third and fourth spots, if each win on Friday; Jackson plays Southwest Macon and Rutland plays Central Macon. Jackson would make the playoffs if it wins either of its two final games.
Region 3-AAA: Washington County is the regular-season champion. Laney and Westside Augusta meet on Saturday in a game that will determine second place. Butler and Hephzibah meet on Nov. 7 in a game that should decide the final playoff spot.
Region 4-AAA: In this region, the subregion champions play to determine the first and second seeds for the state playoffs; each will secure a first-round game at home. The No. 2 team from each subregion then crosses over to play the No. 3 team from the other side, with the winners advancing to the state playoffs.
In Division A, Cedar Grove has clinched the first spot and Jackson is secure at No. 2. Third place will be decided on Friday when Towers plays at North Clayton, who each have two subregion losses.
In Division B, Blessed Trinity has clinched first place. The No. 2 spot comes down to the Washington-Westminster game, with the loser taking third place.
Region 5-AAA: Barring an upset, Central Carroll will play at Callaway next week, with the winner emerging as the regular-season champion and the loser finishing as the runner-up. The Rockmart-Cedartown winner should finish in third place, with the loser likely in fourth place.
Region 6-AAA: Calhoun is No. 1 and Adairsville is No. 2. Ringgold will finish third if it wins at North Murray this week. Sonoraville would clinch fourth place by beating North Murray on Nov. 7.
Region 7-AAA: If West Hall can beat Banks County this week, it would set up a winner-take-all game with Lumpkin County in the season finale. If Banks wins, then all bets are off in perhaps the most unpredictable region in Class AAA.
Region 8-AAA: Hart County and Jefferson can set up a championship showdown with wins this week; Hart hosts Morgan, Jefferson hosts Oconee. The two undefeated and state-ranked teams play Nov. 7 in Hartwell. Unless Oconee can win, the Warriors will travel to Elbert County on the final week to determine the third and fourth playoff positions.
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