Out of the eight regions in Class 4A, it looks like Class 7A is going to be one of the most competitive playoff races and also distinct from to how things shaped up in 2022. Last year, Cedartown swept its way to the region crown with a 40.2 average margin of victory and there was a three-way tie with Central-Carroll, Heritage-Catoosa and Sonoraville each finishing 3-2 in the region. Northwest Whitfield finished fifth and was 5-5 overall and Southeast Whitfield closed out a 4-6 campaign. Northwest Whitfield missed out on the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, but has gotten off to a promising 3-1 start and has exciting players contributing as multi-year starters and newcomers to the spotlight.
“It’s grown to be an expectation for us, which is a good thing,” head coach Josh Robinson told the Daily Citizen before the season. “When you don’t make it, you can feel sorry for yourself and make excuses and blame somebody, or you can figure out how to get the job done the next season. Cedartown’s got to be considered the favorite, but, beyond that, you need to probably win three region games to get to the playoffs. When you play in these big playoff games, you have to play well, and all that starts with non-region games getting you ready.”
Friday’s matchup with Darlington will be a major game to watch. Last year, Northwest Whitfield came into the game 4-0 and suffered a loss that sparked a tough 1-5 stretch to close out the season. Expect the Bruins to finish out non-region looking for a strong showing to prepare them for the battle sure to be ahead with the Region 7 competition.
Northwest Whitfield’s coach Robinson will be featured Friday at noon for the 273rd episode of the Alfa Insurance Drive for the GHSA State Title. The episode can be viewed live HERE
This week in Region 1, Bainbridge will be on its bye week after topping Thomasville 46-28 and Cairo, Hardaway, Shaw and Columbus will be wrapping up their non-region slates. In Region 2, Perry will take on Class 3A Peach County after scoring a 49-41 win over Veterans last week to improve to 2-1, Howard will visit Pike County and West Laurens is set to host No. 4 ranked Bleckley County in cross-classification action. Undefeated Spalding and Westside-Macon are off on byes with Griffin.
Region 3 has a full slate of non-region games and is joins Region 2′s trio with Perry, Spalding and Baldwin as Class 4A’s pair of regions with three ranked teams represented. No. 1 Benedictine will host Class 3A Hebron Christian, No. 7 Burke County will visit Oconee County and No. 9 Wayne County will take on Class 5A Statesboro.
North Clayton previously defeated Riverdale to open Region 4 action and this week there will be four region games to watch. North Clayton will have an opportunity to improve to 2-0 in the region against Fayette County. Additionally, No. 3 Troup takes on Whitewater, Starr’s Mill hosts LaGrange and Riverdale visits Trinity Christian.
Class 4A Week 5 Standings and Schedule
Region 1
Cairo 0-0, 3-1
Westover 0-0, 2-2
Bainbridge 0-0, 2-2
Shaw 0-0, 1-3
Hardaway 0-0, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
Cairo vs. Pelham
Hardaway vs. Harris County
Shaw vs. Columbus
Westover vs. Turner County
Region 2
Spalding 0-0, 4-0
Westside-Macon 0-0, 4-0
Baldwin 0-0, 3-1
Howard 0-0, 2-1
Perry 0-0, 2-1
West Laurens 0-0, 1-2
Griffin 0-0, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
Howard at Pike County
Perry at Peach County
West Laurens vs. Bleckley County
Region 3
Benedictine 0-0, 4-0
Burke County 0-0, 3-0
New Hampstead 0-0, 2-1
Southeast Bulloch 0-0, 2-1
Wayne County 0-0, 2-1
Islands 0-0, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
Benedictine vs. Hebron Christian
Burke County at Oconee County Islands at Brunswick
New Hampstead at Richmond Hill
Southeast Bulloch at Tattnall County
Wayne County at Statesboro
Region 4
North Clayton 1-0, 3-1
Troup 0-0, 3-0
LaGrange 0-0, 2-1
Whitewater 0-0, 2-1
Trinity Christian 0-0, 1-2
Starr’s Mill 0-0, 1-2
Fayette County 0-0, 0-3
Riverdale 0-1, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
*Fayette County vs. North Clayton
*Starr’s Mill vs. LaGrange
*Trinity Christian vs. Riverdale
*Whitewater vs. Troup
Region 5
McDonough 1-0, 3-0
Hampton 1-0, 2-2
Stockbridge 1-0, 2-2
Lovett 1-0, 1-2
Pace Academy 0-1, 1-3
Luella 0-1, 0-4
Mt. Zion-Jonesboro 0-1, 0-3
Woodland-Stockbridge 0-1, 0-4
Thursday, Sept. 14
*Pace Academy vs. Woodland-Stockbridge
Friday, Sept. 15
* Hampton vs. Stockbridge
*Luella vs. Mt. Zion-Jonesboro
*McDonough vs. Lovett
Region 6
Holy Innocents’ 0-0, 4-0
Miller Grove 0-0, 3-1
Stephenson 0-0, 3-1 Westminster 0-0, 1-2
Southwest DeKalb 0-0, 1-3
Hapeville Charter 0-0, 1-3
+Druid Hills 0-0, 2-1-1
+Clarkston 0-0, 1-2
+Stone Mountain 0-0, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
Clarkston at Osborne
Holy Innocents’ vs. Douglass
Miller Grove at Central Gwinnett
Southwest DeKalb vs. Redan
Westminster at Centennial
Region 7
Central-Carroll 0-0, 3-0 Heritage-Catoosa 0-0, 3-1
Northwest Whitfield 0-0, 3-1
Sonoraville 0-0, 2-2
Southeast Whitfield 0-0, 1-2
Cedartown 0-0, 1-3
Friday, Sept. 15
Central-Carroll at Northgate
Northwest Whitfield vs. Darlington
Sonoraville at Calhoun
Southeast Whitfield at Armuchee
Region 8
Madison County 1-0, 3-0
North Hall 1-0, 3-0
East Forsyth 1-0, 2-0
East Hall 1-0, 2-1
North Oconee 0-0, 2-0
Walnut Grove 0-1, 1-2
Cherokee Bluff 0-1, 0-3
Chestatee 0-1, 0-3
Cedar Shoals 0-1, 0-3
+Johnson-Gainesville 0-0, 1-2
+Seckinger 0-0, 0-4
Friday, Sept. 15
*Cedar Shoals vs. Walnut Grove
*Chestatee vs. Cherokee Bluff
*East Forsyth vs. Johnson-Gainesville
*Madison County vs. North Oconee
*North Hall vs. East Hall
About the Author