So, you’re wondering about Central Georgia’s GHSA standings and playoff picture?
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Clarity?
If you want some regarding Central Georgia’s GHSA football regions, forget it.
There’s very little.
The only region that lacks a certain amount of suspense is Region 5/Division I, with Jasper County. And that’s because it’s a four-team region, so all four make the playoffs. Seeding is fairly easyto guess, with No. 1 and undefeated Prince Avenue Christian, Social Circle, Oglethorpe County, and Jasper County.
After that, it’s time to consult assorted regions’ tiebreaker scenarios, which vary by region. The top four teams advance. Attempts to get official tiebreaker scenarios from several regions were unsuccessful, and hopefully that will soon be rectified (so come on back).
So here’s a look at GHSA region standings and an analysis of the playoff picture with two games left, along with this week’s projected seeds. Another batch will come next week.
Region 1-6A
Thomas Co. Central 7-0 2-0
Northside 5-3 2-1
Lee County 6-2 2-1
Houston County 6-1 1-1
Veterans 5-3 1-2
Tift County 1-7 0-3
Lee County and Thomas County Central play this week. The scenario is fairly simple for any one of the top three to be the top seed, and odds are the seedings won’t be set until after the final game. The Eagles are pulling for Lee County to beat TCC, which then unofficially would put Northside – barring an upset by Veterans – in at least second. But all three of the top teams are capable of having two losses, and there’s a possibility of a four-way tie for first. Odds are very, very strong against a five-way tie, since Veterans has Northside and Houston County left.
The guess: Thomas County Central, Northside, Lee County, Houston County
Region 2-5A
Jones County 5-3 3-1
Ola 5-3 3-1
Warner Robins 4-4 3-1
Dutchtown 7-1 3-1
Union Grove 4-5 2-3
Eagle's Landing 2-7 1-4
Locust Grove 0-8 0-4
We won’t know this region’s seedings – the top four are pretty set overall - until it’s over. No, this week’s Warner Robins-Jones County game won’t clarify much except to add juice to next week’s Jones County-Union Grove game. Next week’s Ola-Dutchtown game is huge, if Ola handles Locust Grove and Dutchtown handles Eagle’s Landing this week.
The guess: Dutchtown, Warner Robins, Jones County, Ola
Region 2-4A
Perry 7-1 4-0
Spalding 6-3 4-1
Griffin 3-6 3-2
Baldwin 3-5 2-2
Howard 6-3 2-3
Westside 5-3 1-3
West Laurens 1-7 0-4
This region has among the most inconsistent teams in Central Georgia, so even though Spalding is fairly clearly the second-best team, Howard’s win over the Jaguars leaves open all doors. The only very, very safe bet is Perry as the outright region champ, unless there’s a stunning collapse (with Spalding and improving West Laurens left). Deciphering the possibilities with Griffin, Baldwin, Westside and Howard is pretty futile, and won’t get much clearer after this Friday.
The guess: Perry, Spalding, Griffin, Baldwin
Region 2-AAA
Peach County 5-3 2-0
Upson-Lee 4-5 2-1
Jackson 5-4 2-1
Mary Persons 4-4 0-2
Pike County 2-6 0-2
Clarity, shmarity. Peach County has clearly established itself as the best team in a mediocre region. And that’s the only thing that’s established. Upson-Lee clinches a spot with a win over Mary Persons, which concludes any clarity. Pike County is fairly clearly the fifth-place team, but if U-L beats Mary Persons, then – after Peach County beats Pike County Friday – the fourth-place bowl game is next week with Pike County and Mary Persons. There’s not much consistency, after Peach County.
The guess: Peach County, Upson-Lee, Jackson, Mary Persons
Region 1-AA
Fitzgerald 8-0 4-0
Cook 6-2 3-1
Worth County 3-5 2-2
Dodge County 4-5 3-2
Berrien 6-2 2-2
Sumter County 1-7 0-4
Jeff Davis 0-9 0-5
For Dodge County, it’s simple, math-wise: Beat Berrien, and plan for an 11th game as third or fourth, although second place is still an outside possibility. For Dodge County not to make it, they have to lose, and have Berrien also knock off Fitzgerald.
The guess: Fitzgerald, Cook, Worth County, Dodge County
Region 2-AA
Spencer 6-2 5-0
Northeast 5-3 4-1
ACE 7-1 4-1
Southwest 3-5 3-2
Central 2-6 2-3
Rutland 4-4 2-3
Jordan 0-8 0-5
Kendrick 0-8 0-5
Don’t even start trying. In reality, everybody is still – nope, not even bringing Jordan or Kendrick into the conversation. Realistically, the battle is for fourth, with Southwest (at ACE, vs. Central), Central (vs. Spencer, at Southwest) and Rutland (at Kendrick, vs. Northeast). Odds are a three-way tie for fourth, and don’t be surprised with a three-way tie for first.
The guess: Spencer, Northeast, ACE (not in an order yet, lacking tiebreaker clarification), Southwest
Region 4-AA
Thomson 7-1 5-0
Putnam County 6-2 4-1
Laney 7-1 4-1
Washington County 3-5 3-2
Glenn Hills 3-5 2-3
Westside-August 1-7 1-4
Josey 2-6 1-4
Butler 2-6 0-5
Despite the wretched start, Washington County is the favorite for the fourth seed, having already beaten Glenn Hills. The Golden Hawks can get third if they beat Josey and Putnam County loses to Laney this week, and then they beat Putnam County next week, but they appear set for fourth.
The guess: Thomson, Putnam County, Laney, Washington County
Region 2-A/Division I
Dublin 5-2 2-0
Swainsboro 7-0 2-0
Bleckley County 8-1 2-1
East Laurens 1-7 0-2
Jefferson County 1-8 0-3
The region goes through Swainsboro, which hosts Bleckley County this week and visits Dublin next week. Period. East Laurens visits Jefferson County next week for fourth.
The guess: Swainsboro, Dublin, Bleckley County, East Laurens
Region 4-A/Division I
Heard County 4-4 1-0
Lamar County 7-1 1-0
Temple 4-4 0-1
Crawford County 2-5 0-1
It’s a round robin. Temple hosts Heard County this week, and that will clear up a little behind clear favorite Lamar County as far as seeding, with the Trojans extremely likely to get first and Crawford County fourth.
The guess: Lamar County, Heard County, Temple, Crawford County
Region 5-A/Division I
Social Circle 6-2 1-0
Prince Avenue 7-0 1-0
Oglethorpe County 5-3 0-1
Jasper County 3-5 0-1
On paper, it’ll be Prince Avenue, Social Circle, Oglethorpe County, and Jasper County for seedings.
Region 4-A/Division II
Wilcox County 5-3 3-0
Telfair County 6-2 2-1
Dooly County 4-4 2-1
Wheeler County 4-4 1-2
Hawkinsville 3-5 1-2
Treutlen 0-8 0-3
Another traffic jam, with all of the top five teams pretty much playing each other, Whjeeler County and Telfair County ending with winless Treutlen. And it’s highly doubtful much will be cleared up this week. Hawkinsville needs to get at least one upset and some help, both of which are very possible.
The guess: Wilcox County, Telfair County, Dooly County, Wheeler County
Region 5A/Division II
Hancock Central 4-4 3-0
Johnson County 8-0 3-0
GMC 3-6 2-2
Wilkinson County 4-4 1-2
Glascock County 2-7 1-3
Twiggs County 2-6 0-3
No. 4 Johnson County is at Hancock Central next week to determine first and second, and GMC (at Twiggs County next week) is pretty much locked into third. Wilkinson County is the favorite for fourth.
The guess: Johnson County, Hancock Central, GMC, Wilkinson County
Region 6-A/Division II
Schley County 6-2 5-0
Manchester 5-3 4-1
Macon County 4-4 3-2
Greenville 2-5 2-2
Marion County 2-6 2-3
Chattahoochee Co. 3-5 2-3
Taylor County 2-6 1-4
Central-Talbotton 0-7 0-4
Two ranked teams, and everybody else is under .500 with bad losses on their resumes. The race is for the final two spots, between Macon County, Greenville, Marion County, and Chattahoochee County. Macon County has beaten Chattahoochee County, and finishes with Marion County, Taylor County in between. There’s no clear path for anybody, with Schley County facing Marion County and Greenville.
The guess: Schley County, Manchester, Macon County