Class A: Regular season’s done, time to hurry up and wait on the Power Rankings
By S. Thomas Coleman
For the AJC
Well, the regular season is done.
But while the playoff field is set in nearly every other region in the state from Class AA to AAAAAA, Class A must wait until Wednesday, when all of the points have been counted, appeals have been exhausted and the Georgia High School Association officially “blesses” the public and private school playoff brackets based on the final Power Rankings. So here is a look at how many of the pivotal games went on Friday night.
Darlington 31, Mt. Pisgah 14. The Tigers (7-3, 4-1 in Region 6) rolled up more than 400 yards of offense in the romp over the Patriots (6-4, 3-2). Darlington already had a solid private school Power Ranking (No. 7) and hopes to move up, while Mt. Pisgah, which had a No. 15 Power Ranking, has to sit and wait to see if it can hang on to a playoff spot.
Trion 16, Whitefield Academy 7. The loss by the Wolfpack (6-4, 5-1 in Region 6) means they will have to wait and see if they can hang on to their No. 16 private school Power Ranking. The Bulldogs (8-2, 3-2) finished with their best regular season record since 2003, and hope to improve upon their No. 12 public school Power Ranking.
Our Lady of Mercy 48, Strong Rock 0. The Bobcats (6-4, 3-3 in Region 5) had a private school Power Ranking of No. 17 last week, but appear to have gotten what they needed to advance to the post season. Their dismantling of Strong Rock (4-6, 1-5), coupled with losses by the two teams ranked ahead of them – Mt. Pisgah and Whitefield Academy – should vault Mercy into the playoffs for just the second time in school history. Ironically, Mercy blasted Mt. Pisgah, 42-14, on Sept. 14 and dominated Whitefield in a pre-season scrimmage.
Mt. Paran Christian 35, Mt. Zion-Carroll 14. Kyle Trammell ran 24 times for 200 yards and a touchdown to help Mt. Paran (3-7, 2-3 in Region 6) end their season on a positive note. The dramatic comeback season for Mt. Zion (6-4, 4-1), which was winless last season and includes a sub-region title this year, will most likely come to an end. Mt. Zion held a public school Power Ranking of No. 15 last week.
Walker 21, Gordon Lee 0. The Wolverines (10-0, 7-0 in Region 6) finished undefeated for the first time in school history and earned their first region championship. Gordon Lee (5-5, 2-3), which had a public school Power Ranking of No. 17, must wait until the points have been tabulated to learn its post season fate.
Brookstone 30, Greenville 21. The Cougars (8-2, 6-1) won the Region 4 championship, as quarterback Duncan Fletcher accounted for four touchdowns, two throwing and two rushing, according to the Columbus Ledger. Brookstone was No. 11 in last week’s private school Power Rankings, but will now get one of the top eight seeds and host a first-round playoff game. Greenville (5-5, 3-4) was No. 16 on the public school side and will most likely slide out of post season contention.
Turner County 30, Clinch County 20. The Rebels (5-5, 3-3 in Region 2) had a public school Power Ranking of 18 while the Panthers (4-6, 2-4) were holding on at No. 14. Turner must now wait and see if the win will give it enough points to move into the top 16. Clinch will most likely miss the playoffs for the first time since 1994.
Wilcox County 21, Telfair County 0. Wilcox (8-2, 5-1 in Region 2) claimed its second consecutive region crown, its fourth in six years, and will host a first-round playoff game. Telfair (6-4, 3-3), which had a public school Power Ranking of No. 20, will miss the post season again. The Trojans last made the playoffs in 2004.
And a word about two teams that might be the best in Class A, but won’t get a chance to meet:
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (9-1, 6-0) dismantled Landmark Christian 43-0 to win its third consecutive region championship. ELCA’s defense held the War Eagles (7-3, 5-1) to 2 yards rushing, as standout junior running back Jeremiah Kirkland was limited to 18 yards on 18 carries. The Chargers rushed for more than 300 yards as Keyonte Green and Marquis Griffin each went north of 100 yards on the ground operating out of the wildcat.
Meanwhile, Emanuel County Institute (9-1, 4-0) thrashed defending Class A champion Savannah Christian 48-14 to win the Region 3 championship.
ELCA will roll into the private school playoffs with at least a No. 2 Power Ranking. Athens Academy (10-0, 7-0), capped an undefeated regular season by downing community rival Athens Christian 27-9, and will most likely hold on to its No. 1 spot. ECI held a No. 3 public school Power Ranking, behind Lincoln County and Wilcox County, and will probably stay in that spot.
But with the public-private split, any ELCA-ECI, ELCA-Lincoln or ELCA-Wilcox battles will take place between their parents and fans on social media sites, but not on the field.
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61 comments Add your comment
Amabo
November 13th, 2012
12:12 am
Living in the past is something i don’t do. 5 or more rings is something you need to accomplish before you try to criticize Lincoln County, they have way more than 5. Beat down from ECLA is something you took from them if you don’t remember. As far as wearing anything from UGA you got to be sick, IM A DEMOCRAT I LOVE THE GREAT STATE OF FLORIDA.JUST LIKE OBAMA LINCOLN COUNTY WILL DO IT AGAIN. IF THEY ARE BRED TO PLAY FOOTBALL JUST RESPECT THAT, AND I WAS SAYING I NEVER HEARD OF ECLA UNTIL WHEN, YEAH STILL HAVENT HEARD OF YA. WIN MORE THEN TALK BECAUSE IF LINCOLN COUNTY COULD GET PLAYERS FROM A COUNTY OR TWO OVER YOU WOULD BE STILL FOCUSING ON PING-PONG. SO THEY WILL JUST AND ABOUT 10 MORE WHILE LEGENDARY LARRY IS STILL COACHING.(HE’S ONLY THE WINNIEST COACH IN GEORGIA. UGA DON’T FORGET THE LY THATS WHERE YOU STAY AND PLAY, NOT ME.JUST LIKE A PARENT TELLING I CHILD BEEN THERE AND DONE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AND WILL DO IT PLENTY OF MORE TIMES. SEE YA LATER REPUBLICAN. WE HAVE CONTROL FOUR THE NEXT 4 YRS AND SO DOES LINCOLN COUNTY. HOLLA HATER
Maurice
November 13th, 2012
12:56 am
oh yeah boy i like that. if it is private then don’t bring it to the public. I agree with Amabo
Amabo
November 13th, 2012
1:13 am
LoveFridayFootball you need to check back to nov.10th what Innosent bystander said. I wasnt talking about the bulljunk about crying just that ECLA will do this to Lincoln County and have never has. So I say again GET IN A BETTER POSITION BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT TRADITION. UNTIL YOU WIN MORE TITLES KEEP SOMETHINGS TO YOURSELF. GOODNIGHT KIDS
observer
November 13th, 2012
8:48 am
gh2o and sl – thank you. When Strong Rock left AA – GISA after only two years to move up to A GHSA I knew what we were in for and my son and I talked about it. Finish what we started he said, knowing what the future held. He survived, his faith is even stronger and his qualities as a young man are greater than I could ever have imagined. THE FCA moments you mention (he is very involved with this in college) and the true sportsmanship is what he will carry into his adult life. One thing we should all keep in mind is that we don’t want our sons to have “peaked” in high school for their life journey, whether on the field or in the classroom. He hasn’t and I am sure yours have not as well!
Sam Roney
November 13th, 2012
1:27 pm
Your poster(s) are totally wrong as to ELCA being so easily able to beat Lincoln County. Aquinas will likely prove that stuff wrong when they talke care of ELCA in
the private school finals, or before that, depending in the brackets. This stuff as to
separating the private & puiblic schools in Class A is absurd and stupid. Aquinas does
NOT recruit any players, and gave Lincoln County all they could handle in a 20-13
loss in the last 57 seconds. ELCA hasn’t played against a player like John Douglas yet(he
was injured in the Wilkinson Cty. loss early in the game. Gained 300 yards & scored
5 touchdowns in beating First Presbyterian on the road, with his hand in a cast (broken). Lincoln did NOT want public & private separated, nor did Aquinas, so who
did? Is Tom Murphy still around?
Amabo
November 13th, 2012
4:01 pm
Thanks Sam people should talk what they know. Lincoln County is rooting for Aquinas just as Aquinas is rooting for Lincoln County.They are both from the same region,GO IRISH & RED DEVILS!!!!
Swamp Lizard
November 13th, 2012
4:19 pm
@ Sam Roney … there’s a lot a agree with you on …. I don’t like the Public / Private split, I don’t like these GHSA Power Rankings, I do think Aquinas is a very good football team and I know your RB ( Douglas ) is a STUD! …… BUT ….
I think you might be wrong about ELCA being able to beat Lincoln Co or Aquinas …. I think this ELCA team is one of the best Class A schools I’ve ever seen. I grew up in North Florida and seen & played against University Christian & Bolles ( in the 80’s ) …. seen Charlton Co & Clinch Co ( the last 20 + years ) …. state championship teams many times. This ELCA team is “special” …. better than last years team, better than Sav Christian last year. I’m not saying your wrong or bashing your opinions, I’m just saying, let’s see what ELCA does in the playoffs this year …. if they are good as I think ….. or if your right.
Aquinas better come to play a very good Landmark team ( a team ELCA beat 43-0 ) …. “if” that’s the matchup.
South ga
November 13th, 2012
8:48 pm
Survival of the fittest?
sb
November 13th, 2012
8:58 pm
You can thank the split playoffs to the worn out, old man at Lincoln County. He lost 3 years in a row to Savannah Christian and whined long and hard enough to get what he wanted. He wanted no part of Savannah Christian or any other private school going forward. He EXPECTS them to simply hand him a state title every year..he doesn’t want to win it on the field. He is a loser and sets a horrible example for his kids. He is showing his kids not to work harder or do more…just whine and cry more and you will get your way. He wants to create his own rules…which he did. Also the Wilcox County coach is just as bad. Whine and cried right along with the old man from Lincoln. These 2 coaches are a disgrace and a sham. They know it inside. They know they are a fraud. Good luck to those two losers.
sb
November 13th, 2012
9:07 pm
One more thing…if Lincoln wins a state title again….they will not have beaten the best schools in the state..they beat SOME of the best schools in the state. Every championship they win going forward is completely tainted. The fans can say this or that all they want but they will not have played all the schools in the state. Had SCPS won last year without playing the public schools everybody would have said it was tainted..they didn;t play the public schools. So it works both ways old grizzly worn out loser man from Lincoln. You got what you wanted but what you got is a sham and a disgrace of a playoff system. Nice job and nice job to the people who continue to support this loser.
Walker Fan
November 13th, 2012
10:33 pm
Wow…read this…interesting NY Times piece that includes a significant specific indictment of ELCA along with others regarding scholarships for athletes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/education/scholarship-funds-meant-for-needy-benefit-private-schools.html?pagewanted=all