The only region in the state’s highest classification to go 0-4 in the first round of the playoffs last season was 5-AAAAAA, which sent Lassiter, Milton, Walton and Wheeler to the postseason only to see them lose to Gwinnett County teams from Region 8.
This year the region’s playoff contingent will include Etowah instead of Wheeler, and the Gwinnett competition will come from Region 7, but 5-AAAAAA is in danger of being swept for the second consecutive season. Here’s a look at the four playoff teams from Region 5 and the challenges they face this week:
*Lassiter: The Trojans (7-3) overcame early losses to McEachern and Kell and a surprising region loss to Woodstock to win the 5-AAAAAA title, drawing the No. 4 seed from Region 7. But Peachtree Ridge is not a typical No. 4 seed. The Lions’ only losses came against Collins Hill, Norcross and North Gwinnett, and two of the three games were close. Plus, they were ranked No. 10 before losing the finale to North Gwinnett. Look for Peachtree Ridge to win on the road in what should be the closest game of the four.
*Milton: The Eagles (8-2) had perhaps the worst luck of any team in the field, drawing top-ranked North Gwinnett despite finishing second in their region. North Gwinnett finished in a three-way tie with Collins Hill and Norcross for first place in 7-AAAAAA but dropped to the No. 3 seed when the teams flipped coins to determine seeding. North Gwinnett might be without quarterback Hayden Sphire, but it isn’t going to matter. North Gwinnett should win this one comfortably.
*Walton: The Raiders (6-4) lost to Peachtree Ridge 23-17 in the opener at the Corky Kell Classic. That’s not a good sign for Walton, which is playing on the road against a Collins Hill team that beat Peachtree Ridge a little more than a month ago. Walton reached the state championship game two years ago and is always capable of making a deep playoff run, but this is one of the best Collins Hill teams in the program’s proud history. I expect the Eagles to handle this test.
*Etowah: The Eagles (7-3) made it into the playoffs when Cherokee was upset by Wheeler in the final game of the regular season, and their stay in the postseason is likely to be a short one. Defending state champion Norcross has things rolling, winning seven consecutive games after a 1-2 start that included lopsided losses to Booker T. Washington (Fla.) and North Gwinnett. Etowah hasn’t won a first-round game since 2006, and that won’t change this week.
THE WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
Last week: 156-38 (.804); Overall: 1,638-380 (.812)
CLASS AAAAAA
Winner##Loser
Alpharetta##South Gwinnett
Archer##North Forsyth
Camden County##Westlake
Collins Hill##Walton
Colquitt County##Newnan
Hillgrove##Alcovy
Hughes##Valdosta
Lambert##Brookwood
Lovejoy##Marietta
Lowndes##East Coweta
McEachern##Newton
Norcross##Etowah
North Cobb##Luella
North Gwinnett##Milton
Peachtree Ridge##Lassiter
West Forsyth##Dacula
CLASS AAAAA
Clarke Central##Mays
Creekside##Lakeside-Evans
East Paulding##Creekview
Flowery Branch##Stephenson
Gainesville##M.L. King
Harris County##Glynn Academy
Houston County##Mundy’s Mill
Kell##Allatoona
Lee County##Effingham County
North Paulding##Riverwood
Northside-Warner Robins##McIntosh
South Paulding##Sequoyah
Thomas County Central##Richmond Hill
Tucker##Heritage-Conyers
Ware County##Bainbridge
Warner Robins##Whitewater
CLASS AAAA
Burke County##Crisp County
Carrollton##Northwest Whitfield
Chestatee##Grady
Dalton##Alexander
Griffin##Rutland
Lanier##Carver-Atlanta
Marist##Stephens County
Mary Persons##Eagle’s Landing
Monroe Area##Banneker
Sandy Creek##Cedartown
Statesboro##Cairo
Stockbridge##Westside-Macon
Troup##Gilmer
Veterans##Locust Grove
Wayne County##Monroe
Westover##Liberty County
CLASS AAA
Appling County##Dodge County
Blessed Trinity##Jackson County
Buford##Sonoraville
Callaway##Henry County
Cartersville##West Hall
Carver-Columbus##B.E.S.T. Academy
Central-Carrollton##Pike County
Elbert County##Cedar Grove
Hart County##St. Pius
Jefferson County##Southeast Bulloch
North Hall##Ringgold
Peach County##Chapel Hill
Pierce County##Thomson
Washington County##Johnson-Savannah
White County##Adairsville
Woodward Academy##North Oconee
CLASS AA
Benedictine##Macon County
Bowdon##Model
Brooks County##Screven County
Bryan County##Bleckley County
Calhoun##Manchester
Dublin##Fitzgerald
Greater Atlanta Christian##Rabun County
Heard County##Pepperell
Jefferson##Westminster
Kendrick##Dade County
Lamar County##Metter
Laney##Cook
Lovett##Union County
Thomasville##Westside-Augusta
Vidalia##Taylor County
Washington-Wilkes##Wesleyan
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