Class AAAAA goes topsy turvy: It’s 2006 all over again
‘’You had a bad day, you’re taking one down.
You sing a sad song just to turn it around.’’
Remember that song? Bad Day? It was No. 1 in 2006. That’s the year Roswell and Peachtree Ridge reached the Class AAAAA final, and nobody won. Georgia’s craziest season ended in a tie.
It’s 2006 all over again.
Had a bad day: Camden County, North Gwinnett, Clarke Central, Charlton County …
Let’s talk about AAAAA first. This is 2006. There are probably a dozen teams that could’ve won Class AAAAA this season. There’s no great team, but a bunch of good ones.
I witnessed one of these surprising outcomes – Grayson 23, North Gwinnett 19.
Conclusion: Grayson converted some critical third-down passes in the first half and scored 10 points while North Gwinnett proceeded to turn the ball over in those same key spots.
It was 10-0 at halftime, and it was over. Grayson is too well-coached, too good on defense, to let a team off the hook for making those mistakes.
Tangent: That #90 at Grayson is the best sophomore DL I’ve ever seen. Might be the best defensive player I’ve seen in person this year.
Now, is Grayson better than North Gwinnett? Hillgrove better than Camden? Colquitt better than MLK? Valdosta better than McEachern?
It doesn’t matter. They’re all good. The team that plays the best wins.
As we move down in classification, that cliché doesn’t apply so much. Some teams are so good in the lower classifications that they don’t have to play well every round.
Other random thoughts …
Are things setting up for a Lowndes-Valdosta final? Wouldn’t that be something. Valdosta would be home the next two rounds. Lowndes is Lowndes. I suspect something will monkey with this scenario and it won’t happen, but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Re Camden: Somebody asked me if Hillgrove’s victory was the biggest upset in playoff history. Now If you spin the facts – No. 1- ranked team, two-time champion, virtually unknown Cobb County school – then it’s up there. But with Camden, you really don’t know whether this is a good or great team until the playoffs. I suspect Camden was just good this year. Camden gave up 42 points twice this season. Lots of turnover from the 2009 team. I think Northside losing to Whitewater was a bigger upset.
AAAA: Interesting to me that three of the final eight were middling AAAAA teams last season – Kell, Chattahoochee, East Paulding. This class is deeper than it has been with 18 schools dropping down from AAAAA.
AAA: Of the big four, Peach and Sandy Creek continues to look awesome. Carrollton and Cairo, not so much. Give SPX & Eastside credit, but I think it’s now Big Four A: Peach, Sandy Creek. Big Four B: Carrollton, Cairo. Great job Cedar Grove & Monroe Area, but I don’t it’s still a four-team race, with two out front.
AA: Except for the Lovett-Brooks quarter, this class has held no real surprises. Buford-Cook should be a classic this week.
A: The Clinch-ELCA, Wilcox-Wesleyan quarterfinals will be ‘’epic,’’ to borrow my 11-year-old daughter’s favorite word.
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445 comments Add your comment
Stephenson Football Alum
November 21st, 2010
9:21 am
Great Game MLK… You guys definitely got Heart!
Congrats to Hillgrove! You guys are a lot better team then anyone except those who have played you, will give credit you deserve!!! Keep doing what you do best and find ways to win!!! Awesome Coaching Staff!!!
Let’s Go Cedar Grove!!! You guys have one of the best Sophomore QB’s in the State!!! He has all the Mechanics to be a Top QB by his Senior Year, I like this kid and Let’s Go Grady!!! I’m rooting for you guys!!!
Stephenson Football Alum
November 21st, 2010
9:25 am
Oh Yeah Let’s Go Tucker Tigers!!! We See You!!!
ron
November 21st, 2010
10:08 am
Hey Pecker Camden does compete every year in the toughest region every yr,its called the playoffs look back the past few yrs and see where have you guys been??
Wing_T_Fan
November 21st, 2010
10:14 am
sorry about the misunderstanding if i refered camden as part of region 1 class AAAAA. They are region 3 class AAAAA, But i was really refering to last year when they were the only team to put out the last three teams in region 1 class AAAAA.
chemflu2
November 21st, 2010
12:04 pm
I see Peach County lost the coin toss and will have to travel to Grady for their next game. One more stat for the Grady fans…Peach County is one of only two teams in the entire GHSA to have posted two shutouts in the playoffs. Lets go Peach County!
newnancougar
November 21st, 2010
12:17 pm
Congrats to Lowndes we in Newnan will be cheering from you the rest of the way! Yall were the better team and went away with the win but I just wish the score wasnt so bad because it didn’t reflect how evenly matched the teams were. Until Lowndes forced us out of our comfort zone that game was deadlocked and so even then it was just a snowball effect and our qb lost control. Lowndes deserved to win and they are a great team but Newnan didnt show up the last 26 minutees of the game and thats a shame. Still proud to be a Cougar and will cheer for those south Georgia vikings the rest of the way!
Mike
November 21st, 2010
1:23 pm
For all of you doubters who keep posing the question as to which is the best region in AAAAA, it’s got to be 1 AAAAA even though the AJC scribes really want it to be a metro region. Sorry. With three 1 AAAAA schools in the quarterfinals, enough said.
Lowndes 96
November 21st, 2010
1:32 pm
@newnancougar, I appreciate the kind words, and also you rooting for a south georgia team. I know that might not be the easiest thing to do or say on this blog. Although I do think your team was playing hard in the second half they did look to be getting frustrated. Playing at lowndes is a hard thing to do. Good luck to ya’ll next year.
Fred
November 21st, 2010
2:15 pm
With all due respect to the 1-AAAAA teams in the playoffs, several posters have commented on the fact that there are 3 1-5A teams in the playoffs and use that to claim superiority over the Atlanta/Gwinnett teams. Remember that Gwinnett is regions 7 & 8. Gwinnett currently has 4 teams in the quarter finals, 2 from region 7 and 2 from region 8. With the way the brackets are this year, it is mathematically impossible for us to have more than 4 in the quarter finals as 7 and 8 played each other in the second week if they all won week one which they did except for Parkview. That game does not matter in this case because Collins Hill won the second week where they would have been playing Parkview. Had it not been for the way the brackets worked out this year, there very well could have been eight Gwinnett teams playing in the quarter finals and possibly an all Gwinnett championship game.
Again, I know the south GA teams are good but don’t look past the Gwinnett teams. On second thought, forget us and prepare for the Dome game.
Fred
November 21st, 2010
2:18 pm
Just went back and checked and it STILL can be all Gwinnett in the Dome. In fact, it can be all region7 or all region 8 or region 7 vs region 8. Go Gwinnett!
Sowega Sam
November 21st, 2010
2:23 pm
You folks can forget what happened at the first, middle and end of the regular season.
The “who beat whom when” has gone with the wind.
It’s a new deal now and a lot of folks that were green at the first of the year and ripe and hungry now.
We must not forget that the game is played on the field and not in the paper, and the “fat lady” has not sung, yet, by far!!!!!!!!!!.
If we remember that, we might have all three 1-AAAAA’s still on the feet come next Saturday morning.
Cats, Vikes and Pack —– it’s rev it up another notch time.
squirrell
November 21st, 2010
4:47 pm
Colquitt vs Mill Creek…..it’ll be another shoot-out. The question is which defense stops the run. I believe both teams will be able to air-it-out, but the team that gets the most yards on the ground WILL WIN!
Looking forward to a great game!
dkcg
November 21st, 2010
4:49 pm
congrats to cedar grove on the win over gainseville. there record is deceiving to how really good they are. cedar grove had 3 turnovers and still won the game. when they have a perfect game there goin to be unstoppable, this team is one of the bet teams i have seen so far, they have some of the best athletes that havnt been discovered yet, theres not that many teams left in the playoffs that can match there speed or talent, there qb who is just a sophmore has the mechanics most seniors dont have, with the best WR trio in the state,a strong deffense with alot of speed. i can honestly see this team going to the dome and shocking the state of georgia by winning the 3a championship
BKSMITH14
November 21st, 2010
6:59 pm
newnancougar, nice post. game was close until late in 2nd qtr and then lowndes took over and dominated rest of game. your qb lost control bc he was playing against the est defemse he has seen all year. those picks (3) were a result of how good lowndes d was, not him losing control. Teams were not evenly matched. Newnan has a lot of talent yes and some big kids, but to get whupped 38-7 (varsity vs varsity in only 3 qtrs, bc jv played entire 4th) shows that teams were not evenly matched. This is my opinion. Not trtying to be rude but to ay teams were evenly matched just seems like you are trying to make urself feel better
Rufus S. DeMann
November 21st, 2010
7:22 pm
To squirrell: My poor, tiny, little, undersized Hawgs can’t run the ball. We can…on occasion…complete a pass. We been tryin all yesterday and today to figure out how to move the football against the Hawks. I’m not shore that….Oh Woe Is Us….accurately describes our conunndrum. Hopefully, we won’t embarrass ourselves in front of the good folks of Gwinnett County. You fellers please show kindness and compassion this comin Friday.
HillgroveDad
November 21st, 2010
7:29 pm
@BKSMITH14. You mentioned something in one of your post about South Cobb beating Hillgrove. One thing you should know about that game is the fact that Hillgrove played that game without their starting QB or running back, both were out due to injuries. Even then they only lost the game by a single point. I’m just saying I wouldn’t under estimate Hillgrove.
hillgrovefan
November 21st, 2010
7:58 pm
hilfroveDad,,,please let it go,,,Wildcats were very, very good……brookwood will be even better….
goober
November 21st, 2010
8:16 pm
Grayson fans … best to get off at I-75 Exit 18, left on St. Augustine (Hwy 133), left on Gornto Rd in front of Valdosta Mall, right on Baytree Rd, go two miles until it runs into Valdosta State University, then right on Oak St (VSU parking lot will be on your right after the turn), then left on Brookwood Dr, go to next traffic light which is Patterson St. Cleveland Field / Bazemore-Hyder Stadium is one more block on Brookwood on the right, and Drexel Park is on the left, north of the stadium. But you will have to park before you get to this point. So if you are there early enough, turn right on Patterson and then the parking lot is on your left in front of the VSU buildings (at SE corner Brookwood & Patterson). Or if you arrive after 7:00 best bet is to just park in the main VSU parking lot which again will be on your right after you turn onto Oak St from Baytree Rd. Then you will walk two blocks down Brookwood Dr, across Patterson St, go one more block, and the stadium is on your right. You’ll see the stadium lights from the VSU parking lot.
Early weather reports say good chance of rain Friday but too early to be sure yet.
Seating capacity for visitors side at Cleveland Field is no more than 4,000. Total capacity about 11,000.
For Collins Hill, Martin Stadium has about 5,000 seats on its visitors side, with about 12,000 total capacity. After you get off I-75 Exit 18, take left on St. Augustine (Hwy. 133) go 7/10 mile, take right on Norman Dr (@ Chick Fil-A), and the Lowndes High school and stadium entrance is just down on your right.
Traffic will be backed up tightly from I-75 Exit 18 down St. Augustine Rd and Norman Dr all the way into the school campus. Suggest you get there early.
In addition to the several hotels at Exit 18, there are also several at Exit 16, and a couple on Norman Dr south of Lowndes next to Wal-Mart.
Remember too that it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, and although we are not Atlanta with its massive traffic problems, we have thousands of local and regional shoppers who will be in this area not attending the game. It will be a very busy place around Exit 18 and the Mall area this Friday afternoon and night for our area.
For all fans of these two games (Grayson-Valdosta and Lowndes-Collins Hill), believe it or not this is the first time ever that both Lowndes and Valdosta have hosted a quarterfinal playoff game on the same night in our little city (125,000 metro population). I hope somebody with more authority and clout than me is preparing a game plan to accomodate our visitors from Gwinnett County — like our city and county and VSU officials, governments, and law enforcement.
Again, welcome Grayson and Collins Hill to Valdosta-Lowndes County!
BKSMITH14
November 21st, 2010
8:53 pm
hillgrovedad, i dont believe your starting qb and starting running back gave up 20 points in that loss. newna held south cobb to 7. lowndes varsity put up 38 on newnan in 3 qtrs. that doesnt bode to well for hillgrove if they run into lowndes. just my opinion. beating camden was impressive but camden has played absolutely nobody all year except 1 good team. they got spanked. you never know how good they are until the playoffs and it showed . time will tell but i see a vhs and lhs rematch
Lowndes 96
November 21st, 2010
9:02 pm
Fred: There will be no doubt come Friday. These games have everything. It is North vs South..Gwinnett vs Region 1..I mean it couldn’t have been written any better. This is very exciting and scary at the same time. Basically who ever wins these games will have region supremacy. So if you look at it like that the debate will soon be over. The fans will look ahead to the future maybe on both sides but there is little doubt that the coaches and kids are only focused on this week. There are no gimmies in the third round of the playoffs. It is put up or shut up time for Region 1 and Gwinnett. I for one cannot wait to see what will happens.
squirrell
November 21st, 2010
9:45 pm
If Colquitt is not able to stop the big fullback from Mill Creek we are in for a “close one”. They could keep our offense off the field by riding their big horse all night. Our D-line and linebackers are going to have to play the game of their life. Slow down their run and put pressure on the QB, otherwise we’re finished.
anijahsdad
November 21st, 2010
9:50 pm
BKSMITH14 You shouldn’t compare scores from games to justify your predictions. Match ups are what determine the outcome of games. You have brought up the Hillgrove loss to S Cobb multiple times. That game was 2 months ago. If you know anything about football you know teams should get better as the year goes. Yeah, the injured players didn’t give up 20 points, but the 14 year old freshman QB isn’t your 18 year old senior QB. Lets see Lowndes or Valdosta or any team play with their 14 year old freshman QB and see what the outcome is.
HUTCHINSON
November 21st, 2010
10:09 pm
Camden County Gave em a good run this year..we’ll be back next year to take it back…
SouthGARules
November 21st, 2010
11:57 pm
maddball: Region 1-AA has 4 teams still in the title hunt. Cook, Fitzgerald, Thomasville & Brooks County.
The Lowndes-South Gwinnett game was not as close as the final score indicated.
1) South scored on the final play of the game to draw within 34-26.
2) South scored 2 TD’s off of special teams-fake punt for a TD & a blocked punt recovered @ Lowndes 5 yd line.
South’s weakness was & is their defense. Mill Creek’s defense is no great shakes either.
Viking Ale
November 22nd, 2010
12:20 am
I hope i am not counting my chickins before they hatch.But does anybody else thinks it is silly to go to Atlanta if both Valdosta and Lowndes play each other again.It takes money away from our town.I always said anyways about Georgia is you cant go througth hell without going througth Atlanta.Probably the same thing here.
sportsman
November 22nd, 2010
2:38 am
hillgrove did great after playing stephenson.That game will make you win the the championship.I would like to see a schedule game between camden county and stephenson high school stone mtn,GA.
squirrell
November 22nd, 2010
8:30 am
Yeah, it wouldn’t make any sense for the Packers to have to drive all-the-way-to-Atlanta when they can drive 40min to the Conrete Palace and win “the title” in “TitleTown”.
Touchdown T
November 22nd, 2010
8:48 am
Get past Mill Creek then come to Death Valley before talking about the Concrete Palace!
ID
November 22nd, 2010
9:01 am
Can Hillgrove get some love….please?! That win over Camden was HUGE.
matthew filla
November 22nd, 2010
9:35 am
man colquitt after seeing the defense of the packers in the south panola game i thought yall would have a hard time winning games but game by game you got better,if yall had a grayson like defense you would win state for sure not taking away from this years d
matthew filla
November 22nd, 2010
9:39 am
ya i talked sht about hillgrove,they proved me wrong. i never seen them play until i watched some the game the game,they looked great on film,like some broken in bearings. well rounded on offense,defense,and sptms
B-TownWolves4Peat
November 22nd, 2010
9:44 am
Viking DAD I’m so sorry to tell you but Buford don’t lose at home or the Dome! Check our track record
Columbia Blue
November 22nd, 2010
10:29 am
The Hillgrove game was not a upset. They are a very good team. Camden has no excuses. Congratulations to Hillgrove. It is time to start getting ready for next season. I am sure we will work hard in the weight room.
joeroc95
November 22nd, 2010
12:50 pm
we dont need no nothing on peach co. i think they put they pants on the same way unless they lay down an put they pants on. ha! cedar grove & grady meets in the dome lehx go GRADY! & WE WITCHA CEDAR GROVE. 5AAA STONGEST REGION
GwinnettGuy
November 22nd, 2010
12:52 pm
Dont tell me you guys are still forgetting about the brookwood broncos over here in gwinnett they have fought all season to get where they are #1 beating alot of these teams you are talking about like the grayson rams and collins hill yet they still get no love on here whats up with that but see you this week hillgrove hawks better bring yo A++++++ game because we will!!!!!!!!!!!!
Valdosta Cat
November 22nd, 2010
1:01 pm
From what I’ve found after doing a little homework, Grayson has a defense to be reckoned with. Here’s hoping that our Cats can put together a sound game come Frida night. Go CATS!!!!!!!
valleyboy32
November 22nd, 2010
1:13 pm
hey trojan94 great win eventhough i dont like st.pius they’re great team as for as technigue wise but hope yall win friday to grady and cedargrove we’ll see what yall got friday and when we get done the last thing you’ll be worried about is pants!!!
matthew filla
November 22nd, 2010
1:21 pm
man i thought carrolton was going to win that game buy at least 20 points
theoriginalbluesbrother
November 22nd, 2010
1:33 pm
AA Quarters should be loads of fun. Region 1 has bragging rights for now but could conceivably go 0-4 this week… or 4-0. Fitz should give Calhoun fits. Lovett just missed out against T-ville back in August and should be ready for Brooks. T-ville should be the best challenge for Carver since Buford came to town back on Labor Day weekend. And Buford hasn’t lost at home in the last 10 years unless your name has been Charlton County. That said, this looks to be the best Cook County team in recent memory. Wolves have looked strong as of late. Man, this should be loads of fun to watch!
Trojan94
November 22nd, 2010
1:34 pm
whats up valleyboy32 carrollton didn’t play bad last friday, st. pius just played that good. Both defenses played lights out football, the way the playoffs should be. Outside the turnovers by both teams, this was a great game….. Hey dont let grady fool yall that team is big snd fast and play very hard. Good luck to yall friday.
blu eagle
November 22nd, 2010
1:51 pm
Where did Camden go ,where did N.gwin go, where did Clark C. go, where did NSWR go? Are we in the twilight zone, No we are in playoff football where everything happens!
Sportsmommy74
November 22nd, 2010
2:11 pm
@Joeroc95 The Saints are taking it one game at a time, but I’d love to see the Grady Grey Knights and the CGHS Saints in the dome… Good luck this weekend against Peach County….
rancher
November 22nd, 2010
2:31 pm
Does anyone know how the revenue is shared in the playoffs? I know the the GHSA sets the ticket prices but do they control the revenue and its allocation ? Just curious..
JIMB
November 22nd, 2010
2:44 pm
Millcreek is just happy to be playing, they could be a very tough go for Colquitt but don’t tell them they want to talk about Valdosta and Lownes. I want them to get their heads all into that game( don’t forget Collins Hill and Grayson). Maybe and all Gwinnett final 4.
K-From Da Wood
November 22nd, 2010
2:47 pm
I not quite sure who Colquitt plays, but I can say without a doubt that the most important thing is defense. I believe it is Mill Creek. Colquitt is going to score, but if Mill Creek has any kind of defense that can get stops and cause punts, they can beat them. Good Luck to both teams!
Camden74
November 22nd, 2010
3:01 pm
GEAUX REGION 1 5A………!!!!
cane fan
November 22nd, 2010
3:37 pm
Fitzgerald’s starters on D have only given up 10 pts. in the playoffs …..The D is peaking at the right time and should give calhoun all they can handle….The O is clicking on all cylinders …..btw our starting tb did not play tweeked and ankle but will be ready this friday…I have a feeling special teams will play the biggest factor this game. I hope both teams play 100% and may the best team win. good luck jefferson.
PackerAlumni66
November 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
The Pack will be ready for whatever Mill Creek and their behemeis drones have to throw at them. They practiced Sunday from 2pm til 6pm then mon thru wed they are practicing from 10 am til 8 pm. Thanksgiving day from 2 til 7 then on to the hotel away from distractions. I dont know if it is overkill but I call it as yes BEING ON A MISSION!!!!
b
November 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
sportsmommy, gainesville wasn’t overrated at fifth or sixth.
You just saw them play their worse game of the year with horrible play calling. They’ll be back with their Frosh QB who already is better than your qb.
Good luck against Burke, but I’m afraid you’ll lose by at least for TD’s.
cane fan
November 22nd, 2010
3:44 pm
BLACK FRIDAY WITH A SWIRL OF PURPLE HURRICANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!