North Gwinnett is No. 3 in its region, but No. 1 in Class AAAAAA entering the state playoffs this week.
The logic to that paradox lies in the unusual events of Friday, starting with No. 1 Colquitt County’s loss to Camden County in a Region 1 championship game.
North Gwinnett, previously ranked No. 3, won its game and with it a share of the Region 7 championship, only to lose a three-way coin toss an hour later that seeded fifth-ranked Norcross at No. 1 and seventh-ranked Collins Hill at No. 2.
The three Gwinnett County rivals each finished 7-1 in 7-AAAAAA, but the No. 3 seed was the big loser in the coin flip. North Gwinnett, the only team with victories over two top-five opponents, is unlikely to get a home game in the playoffs.
Camden County, whose only loss is to North Gwinnett, jumped to No. 2 with the victory over Colquitt.
The previous No. 2, Lovejoy, fell to No. 6. The Wildcats have played a weaker schedule, and their high ranking last week hinged largely on a close loss to Colquitt on Sept. 6. The 2012 state runner-up, Lovejoy has not played another ranked team this season.
The state playoffs begin this week in the highest five classifications. Class A’s playoffs, which entail only four rounds, begin next week.
The state championship games will be in the Georgia Dome on Dec. 13-14.
Class AAAAAA
1. (3) North Gwinnett (9-1)
2. (7) Camden County (9-1)
3. (1) Colquitt County (8-2)
4. (4) Archer (10-0)
5. (5) Norcross (8-2)
6. (2) Lovejoy (9-1)
7. (6) Collins Hill (9-1)
8. (NR) Hillgrove (9-1)
9. (9) Hughes (9-1)
10. (NR) North Cobb (8-2)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Tucker (10-0)
2. (2) Kell (10-0)
3. (3) Gainesville (9-1)
4. (5) Creekside (10-0)
5. (6) Ware County (9-1)
6. (7) Warner Robins (9-1)
7. (8) Northside-Warner Robins (9-1)
8. (9) North Paulding (9-1)
9. (10) South Paulding (9-1)
10. (NR) Lee County (9-1)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Sandy Creek (9-0-1)
2. (2) Griffin (10-0)
3. (3) Monroe Area (10-0)
4. (4) Carrollton (9-1)
5. (5) Marist (8-2)
6. (6) Burke County (7-2)
7. (7) Wayne County (8-2)
8. (8) Statesboro (9-1)
9. (9) Stockbridge (9-1)
10. (10) Westover (8-2)
Class AAA
1. (1) Buford (10-0)
2. (2) Cartersville (10-0)
3. (3) Washington County (9-0)
4. (4) Carver-Columbus (9-1)
5. (5) Callaway (9-1)
6. (6) Elbert County (8-2)
7. (7) Hart County (9-1)
8. (8) Woodward Academy (8-2)
9. (9) Appling County (8-2)
10. (10) Blessed Trinity (7-3)
Class AA
1. (1) Lamar County (10-0)
2. (2) Lovett (9-1)
3. (3) Greater Atlanta Christian (9-1)
4. (4) Washington-Wilkes (10-0)
5. (5) Calhoun (9-1)
6. (6) Benedictine (10-0)
7. (7) Brooks County (9-1)
8. (9) Jefferson (8-2)
9. (10) Vidalia (9-1)
10. (NR) Heard County (9-1)
Class A
1. (1) Eagle’s Landing Christian (9-0)
2. (3) Seminole County (10-0)
3. (2) Aquinas (10-0)
4. (5) Clinch County (7-3)
5. (6) Mount Pisgah Christian (10-0)
6. (7) Irwin County (8-1-1)
7. (8) Landmark Christian (8-2)
8. (10) Calvary Day (8-2)
9. (9) Prince Avenue Christian (9-1)
10. (4) Johnson County (9-1)
