AAAAAA blog: South Cobb emerges as Region 4 favorite with upset of No. 6 North Cobb

South Cobb is AAAAAA’s newest Cinderella.

The Eagles (5-0, 3-0) defeated sixth-ranked North Cobb 27-26 in overtime Friday and moved into a tie for first place in Region 4 with McEachern (3-2, 3-0).

Why call the Eagles a Cinderalla? South Cobb is 5-0 for the first time since 1999. South Cobb has won three region titles dating to the 1950s, the last one in 2005.

As far as the region goes, it’s far from over. McEachern plays at South Cobb on Friday, in fact.

But follow this trail of scores:

Walton 37, McEachern 35
North Cobb 49, Walton 17
South Cobb 27, North Cobb 26

Also note that South Cobb unofficially outgained North Cobb in total yards 431-189. This was no fluke of a missed extra point, which ultimately cost North Cobb the game in overtime. It was South Cobb that committed four turnovers and had to come back from a 14-0 deficit. Carlos Saldana made a 39-yard field goal to send it to the extra period, when South Cobb made its extra point, and North Cobb didn’t.

Congrats to coach Ed Koester, who struggled with a pair of 2-8 finishes before getting South Cobb on the road to contending. The Eagles have progressed to 7-4 to 8-4 to 5-0.

Other things we learned in AAAAAA in a week that wasn’t that educational, to be honest –

- Walton is not going to repeat as a region champion. The Raiders fell to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in Region 5, with a 21-9 loss to second-ranked Lassiter (6-0, 3-0). It was no surprise. Tyren Jones rushed for 189 yards on 32 carries, but the Alabama-committed running back needs more help for Walton to get back to the semifinals this year. The Lassiter-Milton game on Oct. 19 should decide Region 6.

- Peachtree Ridge is in trouble. The Lions haven’t had a losing season since 2004, but it seems inevitable now after a 41-10 loss to Collins Hill. That drops them to 2-4, and they have games with ranked opponents Norcross and North Gwinnett up coming. Collins Hill, meanwhile, is 4-1 and likely to make the playoffs out of Region 7.

- It’s a three-team race in Region 1. Or maybe one if Camden County continues to roll. The No. 1-ranked Wildcats beat Coffee 39-12 on Friday. Camden scorched Valdosta 43-6 the previous week. Only Lowndes and Colquitt County realistically stand in the way of Camden winning the region in its first season in it.