AAAAAA blog: Can Parkview close the deal? … Druid Hills make history? … Valdosta, Coffee, Wheeler stay alive?
Five questions for Class AAAAAA this week:
Can Parkview close the deal? The Panthers’ return to prominence has been one of the best stories of the season in Georgia. Parkview can clinch Region 8 and win its first region title since 2004 with a victory over South Gwinnett. Both teams are 7-2, so it won’t be easy. The game is at South Gwinnett. The Comets can’t win the region unless Brookwood upsets Grayson but will finish no worse than second and host a state playoff game with a victory.
Will Druid Hills break a drought? The winner of the Druid Hills-Rockdale County game will make the playoffs out of Region 2. Granted, it’s a pretty weak league when teams that are 4-5 (Druid Hills) and 2-7 (Rockdale) are getting a chance to make the post-season, but that won’t stop the celebrating if Druid Hills makes it. The Red Devils have not had a winning season since 1993. (And that might not change since Druid Hills would be 5-6 if it won this game and lost in the first round to region champion Langston Hughes.) Druid Hills has not make the playoffs since 1985. And that was the region playoffs. Druid Hills hasn’t made the state playoffs since … 1956! Druid Hills lost to Valdosta in the Class AA championship that year. Fran Tarkenton was still in high school then at Athens High.
Will Valdosta or Coffee be left out? Or Colquitt? The Valdosta-Coffee game might also be viewed as a loser-leave-town match, as the loser is almost certainly going to miss out on the playoffs. But it’s possible that won’t be the case. If Valdosta wins, Valdosta is the No. 3 seed. If Valdosta loses and No. 1 Camden County beats Colquitt County, there will be a three-way tie for third place, with only two spaces available for the playoffs. The tiebreaker will be points allowed against the five playoff contenders. Colquitt has allowed 64 points, Valdosta 96 and Coffee 97. So Colquitt probably would need to give up 40 points or more to be eliminated. In any event, Coffee has the least to lose in the first season under a new coach, Robby Pruitt, who has made positive strides in that program. It would be a real step back for Valdosta or Colquitt to sit on the sidelines next week.
Will Wheeler stay alive? What do Eddie Printz, Tyren Jones and Shamire Devine have in common? First, they are Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 players. Second, they played in Wheeler’s middle school program before moving elsewhere. The uncertainty of Wheeler’s coaching staff at the time was a factor in the case of Jones and Printz, perhaps Devine as well. Wheeler was 0-10 when those players were in the eighth grade, then went 0-10 when they were freshmen in other programs. That’s when Michael Collins took the job. Wheeler has gone from 0-10 to 1-9 to 4-6 to 5-4 and now perhaps on the verge of the school’s first playoff berth since 2006. The Cinderella story must entail a Wheeler victory over Cherokee, a Lassiter victory over Etowah and a Milton victory over Woodstock. That would force a three-way tie for fourth place among Etowah, Woodstock and Wheeler. The three then would meet in mini-games on Monday to determine the final playoff qualifier.
Who else will make the playoffs? The 32 playoff teams are fairly well known entering the final week of the regular season. Aside from the dramas involving Druid Hills, Wheeler and Region 1, there are two other games that essentially winner-makes-the-playoffs, loser-is-out games. They are Douglas County vs. Tri-Cities in Region 3 and Chattahoochee-Centennial in Region 6.
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97 comments Add your comment
Best Of The Best
November 9th, 2012
9:25 am
What’ll be Propst’s excuse for losing tonight? You can be sure that it won’t be because he got his a__ beat by a better team!
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
9:49 am
Not sure how many teams Lovejoy played that ran the Wing T. Does it really matter ? I don’t think so. You can only control what you do. Our game plan will be rock solid and this you can bet. The 1st. round is next week so get all the excuses out of the way now.
Hereswhatittakes
November 9th, 2012
9:52 am
Camden fans…… Let’s be quite about predictions for tonight’s game. Let’s rememer what Roosevelt said, walk softly and carry a big stick. Let’s wait and see about tonight so just in case the world spins upside down we won’t have to eat crow. Now afer the game let’s all get on here and start crowing about how everybody said what they said. Also everybody take video cameras to the game tonight so when Propst gets in his antics we can post it so the blind followers will see it.
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
10:01 am
@ Your Highness74 == You can’t accuse anyone of talking about the past. That is where you live. I was responding to a post. It was not my intention to say anything other than what I said. I did not mention score, place time or any other relevant info. Just a statement. @ Bk == You must be worried about Lovejoy. Take care of your first round game. The time will come for us to talk Lovejoy vs. Lowndes, maybe.
Camden74
November 9th, 2012
10:25 am
sportsnut……I’m going to let that pass, we’ll see what excuses you come up with later on. Anywho, looking forward to tonight’s game. Tonight we’ll see how well Camden’s pass defense holds up. Propst is very good in designing plays to attack the 3-3-5. But it shouldn’t be a problem if Camden players stay at home/in position on defense. My biggest concern is the officiating, hopefully it’s a non factor! Go Camden County Wildcats!
Reeze
November 9th, 2012
10:59 am
Does Anyone know if the Colquitt/Camden game is online tonight anywhwere , I know audio , video I mean . I still think this one may be worth watching
camdenfan2013
November 9th, 2012
11:16 am
Camden wins big tonight in the Hogpen. I can’t wait.
Fred
November 9th, 2012
11:36 am
@GwinnettDad – I was on the visitor side. I happened to have on a burgundy work shirt and got some funny looks until they realized it was a work shirt and not a Broncos shirt!
Brookwood has some explosive play makers. I think if we contain Priester(?) and Moon we should have a good evening.
stooge
November 9th, 2012
11:38 am
The Packers will be ready to play their asses off tonight. Happy hunting for both teams. The Propst comment is irrelevant to the subject at hand.
AVikingFan
November 9th, 2012
11:42 am
A few observations and opinions. Lowndes has played two current top ten AAAAAA teams, plus Valdosta. How many can say that besides 1-AAAAAA teams? @Camden74 – When Lowndes played Camden, a little overlooked fact is, we had FIVE players, not two, who did not play. Three were wearing their jersies and stood on the sidelines and the two players previously mentioned by bk who were in plain clothes. Admittedly, none of the players who are injured would have had an impact like the loss of Lang and Burgman was.
I see the final eight teams being Lowndes vs either Parview or NGHS, Valdosta vs Lassiter, Camden vs Grayson, and Colquitt vs S. Gwinnett. I do not believe Lowndes is a final two team (THIS YEAR).
@Fred and Grayram – I think Kemdickey de-committing now will cause a recruiting pirannah attack at all Grayson playoff games, and cause all the Grayson players to play harder in front of all those scouts and recruiters. It just might be the final straw to caused Grayson to REPEAT! It takes a lot of pressure off Robert and win result in firing “UP” the Grayson team.
stooge
November 9th, 2012
12:02 pm
@ Reeze-www.ghsa.tv.
Heisenberg
November 9th, 2012
12:32 pm
@ Fred, thanks for the info on SG, Sounds like they are 1 dimensional on offense with the passing game. I suspect with Kamura (sp?), Norcross would be 1 dimensional on offense with the running game. So we probably would not get a chance to see if the Grayson defense can shut down a truly balanced offense until (or if) they get to the dome and have to play either Camden or Lassiter. Although there will be some good teams in their bracket, Lassiter does not have to run the gauntlet that looks like a couple other brackets have, so I like their chances of getting back to final 4. I know there are some Brookwood fans on this blog and I mean no disrespect, but if the Brookwood defense is as it has been described here, they are in for a long night in round 1. So far the only thing I have seen slow down the Lassiter offense is the Lassiter offense.
Flyer
November 9th, 2012
12:48 pm
@AVikingFan– You asked the question how many teams have played 2 current top ten AAAAAA teams plus Valdosta. Well North Gwinnett has played 2 AAAAAA top ten teams (Norcross, Colquitt) and although NG didn’t play Valdosta, Valdosta did play at NG against North Augusta. NG played AC Flora (10-1)out of SC and won 38-0. Colquitt has also played against 2 AAAAAA top ten teams and will play a third tonight.
The Cross
November 9th, 2012
12:50 pm
AVikingFan-Do you or any of your other South Georgia posters think before you type. There are a few more teams that played 2 top ten teams this season. Namely all of region 7 teams and all of region 8 teams. As a matter of fact if you look at the Maxwell ratings, Norcross has 5 wins against the top twenty and 2 wins vs. the top ten..
It is posts like yours that makes it difficult for anyone in Atlanta to take you South Georgia boys seriously. You guys are blowhards first, fans second and blind leading the blind third.
The Cross
yo
November 9th, 2012
12:54 pm
sportsnut well lets see. Does it matter?
Seems it was important to you thinking that Lowndes had not played passing teams this year and that we would be overwhelmed by Lovejoy’s ability to pass……which was incorrect thinking…..because we have faced plenty of passing teams.
Yet on the other hand it isn’t important in your mind that Lovejoy has seen a Wing T team prior to Lowndes. Not only have they likely not seen a Wing T team prior to Lowndes but if they had you can be sure it isn’t a team that runs it as efficiently as Lowndes.
I think your mind is in Lovejoy la la land.
Why don’t you ask some one on here who knows. What is it like to face the Wing T when you have never done so before. Go ahead and ask if you dare.
The Cross
November 9th, 2012
12:58 pm
Heisenberg-You are incorrect about the Norcross offense, in fact our play calling is almost exactly 50/50. If we were one dimensional, Kamara would probably have 2500 yards, but he has 1300+ in 9 games. We have a solid QB in Wilbur (avg. just under 200yds per game)only sacked once all year (Very good O-line) and 4 tremendous wide receivers. We are the definition of balanced.
The Cross
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
1:09 pm
The wing T is old hat to our coach’s. That was done years ago. Bk, AvikingFan or someone mentioned that Lovejoy would be lucky to get 50-75 yards on Lowndes D. They neglected the passing game. This is what all seem to forget. Lovejoy is a complete, efficient, productive team. They do all things well. So much judgement has been attached from the Colquit game, which was months ago. How many teams got better as the season went along. We did.
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
1:12 pm
It has been a long time and this is just for those who care but the last time Lowndes came to Lovejoy, they ran the wing T and the result was not pretty. 43-3. We apoligize.
yo
November 9th, 2012
1:15 pm
Looks like it took them a whole half to put the old hat on against Tucker last year. They better get that thing on sooner. Course by then Tucker already had their new hat on.
Heisenberg
November 9th, 2012
1:18 pm
The Cross, thanks for the info. A lot of people including myself are overlooking Norcross as a final 4 team. Probably because they are in same bracket as Camden. That would be a fun game to watch. But now looking at the way that bracket is shaping up, Grayson could also wind up there as the 8-2 seed. Talk about brutal.
The Cross
November 9th, 2012
1:22 pm
If South Gwinnett loses tonight, our side of the bracket will be a meat grinder.
But like they say, “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best”.
yo
November 9th, 2012
1:23 pm
No apologies necessary sportsnut. We remember and well know that was Lowndes first year in running the Wing T under McPherson as head coach. Since then we have rode that Wing T to 3 state championships in the largest classification. Tell me how has your non wing T team been doing during those years and some of those years spent down below?
Are you sure Lovejoy has gotten better or maybe the teams you have played since Colquit (the 9 patsies) have made you look like you are playing better?
Let’s face it, Lowndes put up some pretty big scores against a few of those patsies in the beginning of the year and we definitely were not a good team at the beginning of the year.
To Tell the Truth
November 9th, 2012
1:28 pm
The Wing T and failure to make adjustments on both sides of the ball is the reason that Lambert has had a terrible season, along with DUMB coaching and nepotism. The defensive backfield will play 10 yards off of a receiver which allows for underneath dump and screen passes to the flats all night long. Failure to allow a better player play the position of QB is also a reason that the Longhorns have struggled this year. All I can say is West will roll with ease tonight since our coaches are too DUMB to prepare to be a spoiler in this game!
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
1:53 pm
We have held our own. Not what we wanted but acceptability is a part of life and we accept that we fell short. You go again. Then you fall and get up and go again. There is no need for me to tell anyone how good they are, they will see. Those same schools you say they put up big numbers on, we did it to a larger degree than Lowndes did. You beat Newton 31-0, we beat them 51-6. You beat Luella 48-23, we beat them 60-0. Colquit was the other common opponent. We lost 14-7 and you won 17-14. We are better than the Colquit game. that was the 2nd. week of the season.
57Cat
November 9th, 2012
2:32 pm
The Cross – It’s a good thing we don’t judge all of the North Georgia bloggers by the attitude and personality that you exhibit in your posts. We think the guys up there, excluding you, are mature and intelligent, and are able to banter back and forth in good taste and with a modicum of respect. You might study their posts and learn something.
Heisenberg
November 9th, 2012
2:33 pm
Parkview at South Gwinnett is on GPB at 7:30 tonight and Alpharetta at Johns Creek is on CSS at same time. I have 3 TVs in my man cave. Think these will be on 2 of them since I do not plan to travel to Etowah to see Lassiter wrap up an undefeated regular season and Region 5 title.
bksmith14
November 9th, 2012
2:58 pm
sportnut….you fail to mention that i said yall woul dbe luck to have 50-75 yds RUSHING on lowndes……i didnt say total yardage. to be honest if lowndes plays the run like they did against camden ……yall may have less that 50 yds rushing. You will have to go to the air to beat lowndes and our defense will know that and so will our d coordinator…….and when lowndes defense knows the other teams is about to throw……..the qb will be in for a long night of sacks……..ask colquitt county……..we sacked em 7 or 8 times
Coffee Trojan#44
November 9th, 2012
3:00 pm
Go Trojans!
Titletown USA
November 9th, 2012
3:20 pm
The Cross…pull your panties up, your subconcious fear/jealousy of South GA football is showing…and it smells bad!
A Viking Fan…that is an interesting perspective you shared on how the Nkemdiche recruiting saga could positively impact the team…I think it could go the other way as well and bring too much hype and have players playing out of assignments.
sportsnut
November 9th, 2012
3:23 pm
Question == Does south georgia have the market cornered on talent.? Some people act as though that is the only place it is grown. I might as well start talking trash. You bring your two (2) stars to Lovejoy and we will counter with our 12. You have to rely on them too much. We have a team. Burgman and Lang will not win this for you. I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it. Seeing is Believing.
Heisenberg
November 9th, 2012
3:35 pm
Seems to me the Nkemdiche recruiting saga has hovered around Grayson all season long. Is was no secret that was a soft commit. I would expect those guys are used to it and the impact on the overall performance will be negligible. By now recruiters have seen enough of Grayson, they know who everybody else is on the roster. It will be up to the coaches to keep them focused which I expect they are doing. But I suppose it gives folks something to talk about other than where will Dwight Howard play next year. We will know the answer on Nkemdiche before we know the answer on Howard.
ole dawg
November 9th, 2012
3:51 pm
sooo tooo much distraction with Robert and his supersized ego on and off the field effects his performance and the team will have a lack luster game tonight believe–i have seen this week–Grayson is ripe for the picking–Brookwood upsets Grayson by 10 points–and CC says oh my gosh what happened—supersized egos—let mamas boy go to Oregon!!!
Camden74
November 9th, 2012
4:07 pm
AVikingFan…..I can’t believe you’re channeling bk! All I can say is I hope Camden and Lowndes are fortunate enough to end up in the Dome, with both teams healthy. It would be a nice way to remove any doubt……
The Cross
November 9th, 2012
4:11 pm
57Cat-I apologize, you are right and I am in the wrong.
The Cross
57Cat
November 9th, 2012
4:20 pm
The Cross – Apology accepted, my friend. Rock on, brother, and all the best to Norcross in the playoffs, unless and until we meet.
Fred
November 9th, 2012
4:26 pm
@57Cat – The Cross is just messing with you. He said on another post he was channeling some of the more energetic posters he has parried with. Every now and then he slips up and reverts to his normal self and is quite reasonable but you have to be quick to catch it!
Camden74
November 9th, 2012
4:27 pm
The Cross……I see you haven’t taken your meds today! Better get it done before you say more stupid stuff…… Do you really believe Norcross is that much better than they were in past years, if so, why? There’s another thing you might want to consider, coaching! IMO, that’s one advantage that goes to R1.
sportsnut…….Really? You’re all over the place. Back in July/August, you all but guaranteed Lovejoy would be in the 6A Final. But I’ve noticed the past 3-4 weeks, you’ve done considerable back peddling, why is that, getting nervous?
Fred
November 9th, 2012
4:29 pm
@ole dawg – Curious as to what you have seen outside of Robert that would lead you to believe the team will be flat. We have the utmost respect for Brookwood and know they can blow things open. While the “Brookwood where you at?” hype has not happened this year, at least I don’t think it has, don’t think we are doubting them in the least.
GwinnettDad
November 9th, 2012
4:30 pm
@Heisenberg – thanks for the heads up about the Parkview/South Gwinnett game. I think that’s where I’ll be. I just don’t have the stomach to watch a Mark Crews team get spanked.
On other matters . . .
Interesting how Sportsnut will brag about the 43-3 victory in 2002 over Lowndes in the first round, and not mention that Lovejoy lost the previous two 35-21 the previous year and 24-0 in 1999. But then, those with swelled heads, false pride, and big mouths in this forum aren’t here to share and be pleasant. Instead, they more resemble little boys that had to play with dolls back in high school, but now have to pretend they ARE somebody. I pity poor Lovejoy that is represented in that way here.
Coach Hall
November 9th, 2012
4:36 pm
Todd,granted it is not the top tier, but give my players their due. We jumped three classifications (only school to do that)and our enrollment has gone back under 1400 not even a year after reclassification. We are going against schools twice plus the size we are at Druid Hills
. Thanks for the comment
GwinnettDad
November 9th, 2012
4:46 pm
@yo – You’re right on regardling Lowndes and the 3 State Championships since they lost in the first round to Lovejoy 43-3. You made me curious about the Lovejoy team and why I had never heard of them until they played Tucker last year in the AAAA finals.
The reason? In 2002, they lost in the second round and went 9-3. Since then, their record has been 11-1, 8-4, 3-7, 4-6, 5-6, 3-7, 4-7, 10-1, 14-1 and this year’s 8-1. Five years of losing seasons in a row, but a lot of recent success. Doesn’t compete very well with Lowndes, does it? And actually, doesn’t compare very well with ANY good program over that time period, except 2011 and 2012. Until 2011, the never made it to the quarters. Now that’s the truth. Sportsnut can brag all he wants. Little people can’t help themselves.
WILDHAWG2012
November 9th, 2012
5:07 pm
To all the Camden fans plse be careful on your trip to the hawg pen.We are in for a fight tonight and i really wish i could be at the hawg pen tonight it’s going to be electric!!! Good luck to Camden and my Packers and even tho it will be a good game i still think my packers are going to surprise. Go Pack!!
Heisenberg
November 9th, 2012
5:15 pm
GwinnettDad, your Lovejoy research sounds like the typical case of having an excellent group of athletes roughly the same age all live in your district at the same time. Then when they all graduate, lean times follow. Parkview is an example. Look how dominate they were for several years then mediocre and now resurgent this year. Coaching is only part of it. You gotta have some luck in getting the athletes ’cause recruiting is not allowed (wink wink).
Having said that, Lassiter has some good receivers coming back next year and an opening at QB. Gotta go now.
williambrado1
November 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
colquit wins 13 to 12
Stooge
November 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
Go Packers! Both teams fought like hell, great game
RobFromNorcross
November 9th, 2012
11:22 pm
@LOVEJOY(1) / TRI-CITIES(4)
@LOWNDES(2) / MARIETTA(3)
@GRAYSON(1) / Etowah/Woodstock/Wheeler(4) winner (mini-games Mon)
@NORTH GWINNETT(2) / JOHNS CREEK(3)
~~~~~
@LANGSTON HUGHES(1) / ROCKDALE COUNTY(4)
@NORTH COBB(2) / VALDOSTA(3)
@LASSITER(1) / BROOKWOOD(4)
@ALPHARETTA(2) / MILL CREEK(3)
~~~~~
~~~~~
@CAMDEN(1) / HILLGROVE(4)
@NEWTON(2) / E. COWETA(3)
@NORCROSS(1) / CHATTAHOOCHEE(4)
@SOUTH GWINNETT(2) / MILTON(3)
~~~~~
@MCEACHERN(1) / COLQUITT COUNTY(4)
@NEWNAN(2) / ALCOVY(3)
@WEST FORSYTH(1) / COLLINS HILL(4)
@WALTON(2) (w/o Tyren Jones) / PARKVIEW(3) (w/o Chris Carson)
sportsnut
November 11th, 2012
5:17 pm
Don’t lie on me ! I have never said Lovejoy was going to the final. You have said it so much you have convinced yourself that I did. Anyone here will tell you I have never said such a thing. Boy, lose one and get your nerves all rattled.