History lesson: No. 3-4 seeds are 5-18 in football semifinals

This is the second time in history and the first since 1997 that at least two No. 4 seeds have made the semifinals. Lovett and Savannah Christian are trying to join Peachtree Ridge as the only No. 4 seeds to win a state title.

 

Also, there are two No. 3 seeds in the Class AAAAA semifinals for the first time since AAAAA was formed as the fifth classification in 2000.

 

Colquitt County and Grayson – which play each other Friday – are trying to join 1997 Parkview and 1999 Lowndes as the only No. 3 seeds to win (or reach the final) in the highest classification. Parkview and Lowndes won AAAA.

 

Here is a look at all 35 teams that have made the semifinals as No. 3 or No. 4 seeds since 1996, when the state playoffs were expanded to 32 teams in each class and gave third- and fourth-place teams a chance. The No. 3 seeds are 5-18 all-time in the semifinals. The No. 4 seeds are 2-6.

 

The seeds for each team are noted at the left, and the result of their semifinal game is on the right.

 

2010

3 – Colquitt County (AAAAA)

3 – Grayson (AAAAA)

4 – Lovett (AA)

4 – Savannah Christian (A)

 

2009

3 – Colquitt County (AAAAA) lost

3 – Rockdale County (AAAA) lost

4 – Flowery Branch (AAA) lost

 

2008

3 – Flowery Branch (AAA) won

3 – Fitzgerald (AA) lost

 

2007

3 – Chamblee (AAA) lost

4 – Cook (AA) lost

 

2006

4 – Peachtree Ridge (AAAAA) won

3 – St. Pius (AAAA) lost

3 – Shaw (AAA) won

3 – Lovett (AA) lost

 

2005

3 – LaGrange (AAA) lost

 

2004

3 – M.L. King (AAA) lost

3 – Dublin (AA) lost

 

2003

None

 

2002

4 – East Coweta (AAAAA) lost

 

2001

3 – Collins Hill (AAAAA) lost

3 – Metter (A) lost

 

2000

3 – Westside (AAAAA) lost

 

1999

3 – Lowndes (AAAA) won

3 – Miller County (A) lost

 

1998

3 – Colquitt County (AAAA) lost

4 – Cairo (AAA) lost

3 – Pepperell (AA) lost

3 – GAC (A) lost

 

1997

3 – Parkview (AAAA) won

4 – Colquitt County (AAAA) lost

3 – Tift County (AAAA) won

4 – Clarkston (AAA) lost

3 – Pepperell (AA) lost

4 – Irwin County (A) won

 

1996

3 – Westminster (AA) lost