AAAAA blog: Colquitt-Valdosta, MLK-Stephenson, P’Ridge-North Gwinnett to decide final region titles in showdowns
Four teams clinched region titles Friday, and three more will be decided next week in games between teams tied for first in what will be the most intriguing Friday of the season in Class AAAAA.
First, let’s look ahead -
-Colquitt County (8-1) will play Valdosta (7-2) for the Region 1 title on Friday in Valdosta. It would be Colquitt’s first region title since 1999, Valdosta’s first since 2003.
-No. 4 Stephenson and No. 5 M.L. King, both 9-0, will play Friday at Hallford Stadium for the Region 2 title. It will be the seventh straight year that one of these DeKalb County schools has won 2-AAAAA. MLK won in 2010 and 2007. Stephenson won in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. They’ve met when they were 5-0 and 6-0, but never 9-0.
-No. 8 North Gwinnett and No. 10 Peachtree Ridge, both 8-1, will play at North Gwinnett on Friday to decide Region 7. Both Gwinnett County schools are in Suwanee. North Gwinnett is the two-time defending champion. Peachtree Ridge won in 2008.
Clinching region titles Friday were Hillgrove Hillgrove (Region 4), Walton (Region 5), Alpharetta (Region 6) and Grayson (Region 8). For Hillgrove and Alpharetta, it was their first region titles ever.
Alpharetta trailed Centennial 20-0 but won 32-26 on a last-minute touchdown. Second-ranked Grayson had a close call, as well. Kasey Gaines intercepted a pass and returned it 15 yards for the winning touchdown with 27 seconds left.
No. 1-ranked Camden County (Region 3) clinched its region the week before.
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344 comments Add your comment
Spectator
October 31st, 2011
12:34 pm
Looks like I won’t need to go see the Stephenson-MLK game, I can just open my windows in west Cobb and hear it!
Valdosta-Lowndes Co. (28 State Titles)
October 31st, 2011
12:43 pm
Lol… This blog is too funny!!
@Packerboi… That was halarious!!
Colquitt Co. (8-1)
at
Valdosta (7-2)
(Game of the week, for the Region 1-AAAAA TITLE!!)
Valdosta-Lowndes Co. (28 State Titles)
October 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
Everybody knows MLK & Stephenson are not Title Contenders!!
Jaguars
October 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
@I AM KING : Ok MLK got Jamonde from stephenson, He really isn’t good enough to make a diffrence in the game but Stephenson has got many of key players, including Darreon Herring. And im sure many more MLK players wwill transfer to stephenson next year. The all wanna be apart of that Jaguar Nation.
gman57
October 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
If Region #1 3 and 4 seeds play Region #2 1 and 2 seeds, who decides who plays on Friday or Saturday? Both MLK and Stephenson play at the same stadium……..
AVikingFan
October 31st, 2011
2:03 pm
I’m just glad Lowndes is in the playoffs and are not playing this week. It’s fun to just sit back and read all these off the wall predictions and comments without having a dog in the hunt. Least wise not in this week’s hunt.
I would like to know one thing though, and this is addressed to the Brookwood fans. Why in the world was Brookwood passing with 15 seconds left in the game deep in their own territory? Why not just take a knee and go into overtime? I can’t help but say it, that was stupid! And I’m not talking about the young man who made a silly mistake and threw the ball. I’m talking about the coaching staff for not telling the QB to just take a knee and let the game go into OT!
JAB
October 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
Stephenson/MLK is the biggest talk in the AAAAA from outsiders; I have read blogs and I notice one thing, they called Stephenson non discipline, not classy and lack of coaching. I notice this one thing from Stephenson supporters, they including me are not bashing other schools bands, coaching staff & school and we are not trying to humiliate them. So sad! @ on the issue of bands Stephenson band has a different style than that of South Ga, the band directors usually change their half time program out of respect for those schools and another thing on discipline I have watched bands from south ga. after halftime, they usually allow their students to do what they want to do, and I have observed many of them getting really wild and out of order. When you see Stephenson band after half time the band stay seated and are ready to play the entire third Qtr. Band. And I don’t know where you guys get that Stephenson is ghetto, the school is located in an upscale community, no government housing in the area (not to say that that’s bad), Leave those kids alone and let’s talk football, The coaches at Stephenson didn’t call the media & AJC and petition them to have their players to get recruited on the D1 level nor can these students can’t help the fact the the entire D1 colleges are flooding their school with interest in their highly recruited football players, that they are getting media & state recognition for it! The only thing that Stephenson or MLK hasn’t achieved yet, in their young history is the state crown! That will probably happen this year!!!
grayram
October 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
JAB Where do you look to find out which schools or which counties have kids sign to play college ball. I know Gwinnett has quite a few and i’m sure Lowndes county does as well. I know you often say Stephenson has way more than any other i was just wandering what the actual numbers are.
AVikingFan
October 31st, 2011
2:10 pm
GHSF Daily (Todd or Chip) — Someone has already asked it, but I was wondering if you could check into it for us and let us all know. How is it decided which 2-AAAAA team plays on Friday night and which plays on Saturday night in the playoffs? It stands to reason that the 1st place team should be able to choose, but often the people who make those kinds of decisions do not appear to use common sense as a factor in making the decision!
JAB
October 31st, 2011
2:15 pm
@ NGHS 09 one of the biggest critics about Stephenson, but Stephenson beat them twice back to back in the playoff, his excuse was back then their program wasn’t that good. Stephenson has been winning their region or coming in 2nd place their entire existence and how can you say that they have bad coaching with a 98% winning percentage.. Chill guys on Stephenson! I have a good idea without seeing you type of person you are and why you are saying that. And yes, Stephenson/ MLK is 99.9% African American to althose small minded folks.
…
JAB
October 31st, 2011
2:19 pm
@ grayram it is usually posted at the beginning of the year in AJC, USA today and the media..
JAB
October 31st, 2011
2:21 pm
@ grayram , every year there are always D1 players from many schools in the state of Ga. But they singled out Stephenson because they have been producing the most from one particular school…
GA Fan
October 31st, 2011
2:28 pm
I know of a few Cobb county schools that would love to have either bands. Lol!
Back to football………
Things are starting to shape up for region 4 5A. The last two spots will be determined Friday and Saturday with a possibility of a three way tie. Pebblebrook better play it’s butt off because the 4seed will play Camden county in the first round. South Cobb will be the better match up because they run the spread and from what I’ve read Camden has a hard time defending the spread or pass.
GwinnettDad
October 31st, 2011
2:32 pm
@AVikingfan – very good point and you agree with what I said to my friend while at the game. As soon as we got the holding penalty and it was 1st and 20 on our own 14, I said to run out the clock, if Grayson would let us (they did have two time outs left). Almost no sooner were those words out of my mouth, and the intercepted shuttle pass ended the game. As the QB doesn’t call the plays, it was a bonehead coaching decision, period, and I hope Mark Crews owns it.
GwinnettDad
October 31st, 2011
2:34 pm
@GA Fan – good, let us stick to football. I like high school marching bands. But all this talk about bands sort of reminds me of silly talk that my big brother could beat up your big brother etc., or my mom is prettier than yours. Duh! Has very little to do with the game on the field.
Colquitt County Underdog
October 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
@ JAB. Gartrell’s record in the playoffs is horrible and that’s the only thing that matters. I guess metro ATL programs do not take their football seriously or else Gartrell would have been fired. I could probably find other coaches willing to make phone calls and hire a recruiting coordinator to send out video to college coaches but if that coach consistently squanders the most talent in the state every year in November, then how valuable is he? Packers have beaten Stephenson in Dekalb in the first round and there were more Colquitt people than Stephenson fans at the game. That’s just pathetic and you can not spin your way around it. So if bands and making sure kids get to college are the only thing your fans care about it then you can keep that. We will gladly compete for some hardware year in and year out in November and send many players to college as long as Propst is here
JAB
October 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
@ Colquitt County Underdog , your name really fits you, (Underdog), High School is only a passer though for all kids. Winning at State Championship is great but getting most of your kids in college after HS, and getting kids to play on the next level especially D1 is even greater! because after the glory of winning the state championship, these kids have to get back to school as usual. Cam Newton (QB for the Panther’s) played at Westlake, one of the teams in Stephenson’s division, Westlake didn’t win state championship but Cam has a national championship and Heisman trophy, which is greater, also: stephenson has 2 players who played on a National Championship team. CASE CLOSED!!!!
grayram
October 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
Jab
Stephenson is 135-48 thats a 0.738 winning percentage a little less than 98%
They have won 7 region titles
Their home record is 44-19 0.698 percent
longest winning streak was 12
longest losing streak was 9
Stephenson has had 65 all state players and of those 37 were 1st team.
GA Fan
October 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
@GwinnettDad
The videos were classy and entertaining. They probably drove the coaches crazy but kids being kids but it was funny. I could not believe the last play of the B’Wood /Grayson game. That’s one of those plays you scratch your head and butt and say “what the heck.” Just like the football teams, the bands should settle their disputes on the field or in the stands. If the better band /team wins congratulate them and move on. Believe me………….I got to listen to the Mc lost to HG for a Whole year!!!! Lol!
grayram
October 31st, 2011
2:56 pm
Gwinnettdad.
Yes i agree. Its not like either offense was cruising up and down the field so there was a very small chance they were gonna get close enough to try a kick in that little time. I am glad Grayson won and not trying to take anything away from them but it would have been fun to see it play out, see who could earn it i guess. I hope Brookwoods qb doesn’t let it affect him in the playoffs.
JAB
October 31st, 2011
3:17 pm
@ grayram, I wasn’t including playoff and their first 2 years because they were playing a non region schedule…
JIMB
October 31st, 2011
3:22 pm
North Gwinnett is clearly the best of the two. Peachtree was less than impressive over Millcreek and Collins Hill, how they beat Norcross is a mystery. North should win by 20 points. When the smoke clears you will see North, Grayson, Peachtree Ridge, Norcross standing going into the second week of the playoffs.
Fred
October 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
@AVikingFan – No joke! I had already said we were going to overtime and was shocked when Brookwood didn’t take a knee. I know Robert was in hot pursuit and no one really wants to get talcked by hime when he is at full speed
but really! Take the knee so you have an equal shot at winning. I think Crews made a BAD call.
JIMB
October 31st, 2011
3:28 pm
stephenson can’t get out of week two, and not because of talent, they just don’t play as a team.
Dekalb County
October 31st, 2011
3:31 pm
@Colquitt County Undergog/others who spew negative remarks for no reason.
Stephenson’s playoff record is not horrible, horrible would be never winning a game! The only thing they haven’t done yet is make it to the championship game, this could be the year they make it, just like Colquitt could make it again this year. You could NOT find a lot of coaches who have a recruiting coordinator, they would already be doing it! Colquitt and Dekalb Counties are very different, Colquitt having all the support, Stephenson being apart of a System that is run by the School System. That very fact is why coaches like Propst, Crews,Herron,etc wouldn’t DARE come to coach in Dekalb County. Yes the talent is here, but NO way they come close to making what they do now! They have much bigger coaching staffs, knowing the difficulty the Stephenson coaches have been dealing with, you can’t criticize them and say they have done a bad job. You think Propst would have done a better job at Stephenson with the exact same resources Gartell has had, compared to what he has in Colquitt County???
Dekalb County
October 31st, 2011
3:32 pm
Let me answer that for you, HELL NO!!! The job would be too hard, that’s why they DONT go to places where they would get a little pay check, small coaching staffs, forget about having the state of the art Facilities, even better luck raising the money to put Turf on your practice field(go ask Corey Jarvis now at Duluth how that went when he was at MLK), you get on blabbing your mouth when you don’t have ALL the Facts! You can’t blame these coaches here in Dekalb, who have it MUCH MUCH harder than coach Propst,Herron,Crews,etc… They would have NIGHTMARES if they had to coach with this level of support year in and year out, think they would still be in Dekalb??? The ONLY reason coach Stephens from Tucker is still there is because Valdosta, Ware, etc didn’t hire him… My point is you are NOT respecting these coaches, you make it seem like they just show up and watch the players run wild! I respect those other coaches like Crews,Herron,Propst,etc do with them getting ALL the support they need, Facilities they desire, huge boneses from boosters,etc. I don’t talk bad about them when they don’t win state, which only ONE team can win anyway!
Dekalb County
October 31st, 2011
3:32 pm
Why knock the coaches for getting as MANY kids scholorships as they can? They get them athletic as well as non athletic scholarships by making sure they have the grades needed to do so. Those Band members also get MILLIONS of Dollars in Scholarships in Dekalb every year, how can you hate that? Well I gave my 2 cents, I just don’t see ANY reason to be negative toward another school PERIOD! Everyone can be proud of who they support without bringing down another school to do so…
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
3:41 pm
Ok.. Here it is for all of you that what to know why Stephenson & MLK Game is Huge and it’s like no other. You can agree or disagree if you like but facts are facts.
1. These two programs are not only 9-0, but also is a predominately black school, black coaching staff, black team.
2. These are the only two teams in Dekalb County that represent Dekalb in 5-A
3. I cannot recall in the history of Georgia where two faced each other with a region championship on the line both teams are undefeated and both schools & there teams are BLACK!
4. Regardless of what anyone think it is a very positive outlook for both programs and coaches to showcase their abilities to coach & get the respect for both programs playing for another region championship.
I am not using any race card in this scenerio, but these are facts you can look up yourself. So for those who keep bashing the hype about this game you can’t. It’s bigger than a game. This maybe the last time in history you will see these two Black programs undefeated & coaching staff on the field playing for something special. PEOPLE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE!!!!!
I'mjustsayingwhatI'msaying
October 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
Did I Say That?,
To address this issue, which has nothing to do with football. First of all Stephenson/MLK have not been the only 9-0 schools to face one another. Bottom-line is both teams have to lace up and play like everyone else. To bring the fact that these two schools are predominantly black and in the same breathe say I am not using any race card is absurd.
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
3:51 pm
WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING BANDS? ISN’T THIS A FOOTBALL BLOG? GO TELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. LET’S TALK FOOTBALL. IF YOU ARE COMPARING BAND PLAY, THEN YOUR ON THE WRONG BLOG.
Flyer
October 31st, 2011
3:57 pm
@JAB Stephenson has Never played North Gwinnett in the playoffs. Stephenson beat NG in the regular season in 2002 & 2003.
AVikingFan
October 31st, 2011
3:57 pm
grayram — Your question about the number of scholarships and individual schools seems like a good project for Todd in the off-season!
He’s good at stuff like that. It would make an interesting read.
As far as my school is concerned – Lowndes – we have had quite a few to sign scholarships the last dozen years or so, but a lot quit after a year or two. (I’m sure that happens to all schools.) I think we’ve had 5 or 6 alumni to make it to the Pros in football, and currently 21 are playing on college teams and one in the NFL (Jay Ratliff, Dallas)
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
3:59 pm
how ’bout… Yes I said it. STEPHENSON WILL WIN IT ALL! Then the hits will keep on coming!! Stay tuned boys & girls
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
I’mjustsayingwhatI’msaying… As I stated before find me another Afro-american School in 5-A history, with a Afro-American Team, Afro-American Staff and I will shut my mouth. But if you can’t, then as I stated before LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. CASE CLOSED
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:10 pm
I’mjustsayingwhatI’msaying… You are looking at this in micro (small) perseprctive… My comment was mentioned because I say what people think but don’t want to say it. Regardless of the fact, I know other teams have gone 9-0 before, but have they gone 9-0 in region 2? See you look at like this my friend, sure so what its only MLK/ Stephenson no big deal…. Lets say both teams where prodinately white? How big would it be? This game is for the region championship & nymber 1 seed. How big was Grayson & Brookwood? Grayson undeafeated Brookwood lost 2 games, but the hype, the involvement of media made that game. Now this is where my question opposed to all those nay sayers about Stephenson/MLK. what if this where a white school since you wanna go their? Tell me somebody please name the last Afro-American Head Coach in 5-A who won the State Championship. I know Tucker won in 2008 but thats 4-A. Once again in 5-A? I rest my case.
NGHS 09
October 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
I think it’s safe to say Bksmith14 stepped down from his soap box and passed the torch to JAB.
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:18 pm
I’mjustsayingwhatI’msaying.. To address this issue, which has nothing to do with football…… Are you serious? You have got to be kidding me? If you can answer my last question in my last blog @ 4:10pm I will shut up. Until then, I am bringing you facts, not opinions, but FACTS! Every time they lace up both teams are still looking down double barrells..You have made it personal
NGHS 09
October 31st, 2011
4:21 pm
@ Did I say that?….
“1. These two programs are not only 9-0, but also is a predominately black school, black coaching staff, black team.”
“3. I cannot recall in the history of Georgia where two faced each other with a region championship on the line both teams are undefeated and both schools & there teams are BLACK!”
“This maybe the last time in history you will see these two Black programs undefeated & coaching staff on the field playing for something special.”
What in the hell does being black or white or asian or red, green or blue or yellow have to do with a rivalry game being considered “HUGE”???? Do they teach people to be this openly ignorant in Dekalb? Sounds like you have a world against black people perception going on. RACE has nothing to do with football.
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:21 pm
NGHS 09…. I think it’s safe to say Bksmith14 stepped down from his soap box and passed the torch to JAB
JAB has a lot of passion for Stephenson. Nothing is wrong with that.
Colquitt County Underdog
October 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
@JAB- the only reason I am pointing out all the negatives about Stephenson is because this clown has managed to take up the most space with his comments regarding how great Stephenson is when everyone outside of metro ATL and college recruiters think otherwise. Once again Stephenson will make their annual first or second round exit after winning 9 or 10 games. Same story, different year. The only reason you have that many D1 prospects is because of the huge population that the school is pulling from.
Why would any coach want to go coach at a place that has sorry fans that don’t even show up for home playoff games? The Touchdown Club here raises approximately $300,000 a year for our athletes.That’s why we are able to afford putting our players in hotels the night before we come to metro ATL to beat Stephenson or MLK (like we have done the last TWO years). I bet the Stephenson staff is a joke amongst coaching circles. Get outplayed and out-schemed every year in November
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:29 pm
NGHS 09 It’s obvious because we look at this on different views and two different levels. As I opposed my question to i’mjustsayin I oppose my question to you sir? Can you give me that answer? No I’m not racist. I LOVE MY BLACK BOTHERS & SISTERS, I LOVE MY WHITE, ASIAN, HISPANICS, LATINOS, INDIANS, AND ALL RACES!. I believe the majority of you never walked in a Black coaches shoes so you have no idea what i’m talking about so the first think you holla is racist. If what i am saying has nothing to do with football, then please answer my question in which this great state of georgia has had high school football since the early 40’s? All I am saying sir is (once again) these are two PRODOMINATELY BLACK SCHOOLS & TEAMS WE AGREE ON THAT RIGHT? BOTH TEAMS ARE UNDEFEATED WE AGREE ON THAT? RIGHT? BOTH COACHING STAFFS ARE PRODOMINATELY BLACK?WE AGREE RIGHT? SO WHY ISN’T THIS GAME NOT IMPORTANT AGAIN FOR BOTH SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES?
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
LET ME BE CLEAR ON MY STATEMENTS… YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME THAT’S WHY I SAID WHAT I SAID, BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE WHAT I AM SAYING ARE FACTS! BOTTOM LINE. NOW SOME OF YOU ALL HAVE SAID THIS AND THAT, BUT YOU CANNOT GIVE ME MY ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE ASKED? I AM AWAITING FOR THE ANSWER.
JAB
October 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
@ Did I Say That? & Dekalb County VRY WELL SAID!!!! @ NGHS 09 there is no torch to pass, please forgive me that was the regular season that Stephenson beat you. It was South Gwinnett that Stephenson beat in the playoffback to back… Again you need to go sit down because North Gwinnett has not won a state title either….
;0
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
I WILL CHECK ON HERE LATER ON AGAIN FOR MY ANSWER
NGHS 09
October 31st, 2011
4:38 pm
@NHS4Life…Yeah NG did lose to Grayson, but honestly never showed up until the 4 QRT….Grayson is a different animal this year however. Stronger, bigger, faster etc…EXPERIENCED. I’m sorry to hear about the WR they lost, but they have so many play makers the offense won’t miss a beat in the playoffs. I think Grayson vs NG in the Semi’s would be almost exactly like last week’s game between Grayson and Brookwood. Two oustanding defenses controlling the game, but whoever makes the most mistakes will lose. NG is a different animal all together this year as well so it will be fun to watch. Now, that’s to say NG beats Camden (given the chance). That’s the tallest order anyone in the state will have in the QRT finals. Who knows…it could happen…but realistically if NG won the state championship (which the odds are definately not in our favor) this year it would be the greatest accomplishment for any high school football team in GA in a lonnnnnngggg time. First round R8 (really tough 1st opponent), second round R2 or R1 (even better opponent, third round Camden (maybe the best in GA), semi’s Grayson (my favorite to win it all), and then NG faces whoever survived the other side of the bracket. That’s gotta be the worst luck and hardest draw I’ve ever seen lol.
let the young men play
October 31st, 2011
4:44 pm
@ Colquitt County Underdog
“The Touchdown Club here raises approximately $300,000 a year for our athletes.”
No wonder you guys can recruit and bring players in from out of state.
Did I Say That?
October 31st, 2011
4:44 pm
JAB… ANYTIME MY FRIEND
NGHS 09
October 31st, 2011
4:50 pm
@ Did I Just Say That?…Never said or implied that you are racist, I’m just confused why you say that MLK and Stephenson being all black schools makes this the best game in the state..I see what you are saying about this game being a big opportunity for black coaches, and I think it’s a shame there are not more, but that doesn’t mean there is a malicious reason or a specific intention for why there is not an even balance. I apologize if I offended, I just wanted some clarification. I applaud your passion for the topic and you know i’ll be watching lol
@ JAB…Am I standing? I had not idea…I’m not the one littering this blog with pointless hot air about my program, but I guess opinions vary…Best of luck Friday and hopefully what you preach comes to fruition in Dec.
NGHS 09
October 31st, 2011
4:52 pm
Anyone know if Propst is the mayor and sheriff in Moultrie as well?
nukieie
October 31st, 2011
4:53 pm
ONCE AGAIN SOMEONE IS PLAYING THE RACE CARD PLEASE STOP. IT IS INAPROIATE.