By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          The suspense will only pick up for a bunch of teams in a new playoff system in the GHSA.

          Sure, there’s the regular region standings for Classes 6A, 5A, 4A, and A/Division II, but the others are dealing with computers.

          The GHSA has power rating system for Classes AAA, AA, and A/Division I, and it has been posting updated standings all season.

          The Georgia High School Football Daily and Maxwell Ratings computer system have again broken down what the playoff picture looks like at this point.

          It hasn’t change a whole lot in the few weeks since the last one, but the schedule disruptions from Hurricanes Helene and Milton may lead to some notable updates. That’s especially true in Class AAA and the region with Howard, Baldwin, and West Laurens along with several Augusta-area schools still recovering.

          Howard ranks in the middle 20s in AAA, but isn’t projected to make the playoffs. The Huskies still have to play three teams higher than them in the standings, including first-place Westside-Augusta (6-0) and two teams tied for third, Aquinas (3-2) and Harlem (4-1).

          As it is, the projection is for six teams to have first-round playoff games. Seeds 1 through 16 are at home in th first round, and then it’s the highest seed. Upson-Lee, Jasper County, and ACE Charter are currently near the split, and have a shot at a home game by winning out and getting some help.

          The projection has a Central Georgia battle in Class AAA with Baldwin at Peach County.

          The jammed Region 2-A/Division I looks to get a whopping seven teams in: Dublin, Dodge County, Northeast, ACE, Washington County, Southwest, and Bleckley County.

          Underneath are the general playoff projections, by The Sports Report, for the other classes with Central Georgia teams.

Class 3A
No. 24 West Laurens, third, at No. 9 Jenkins, second
No. 29 Baldwin, fourth, at No. 4 Peach County, first
No. 18 Upson-Lee, third, at No. 15 Long County, third

Class AA
No. 18 North Murray, third, at No 15 Westside, third

Class A/Division I
No. 17 Rabun County, fourth, at No. 16 Jasper County, third
No. 18 ACE Charter, fourth, at No. 15 Chattooga, third
No. 21 Vidalia, fifth, at No. 12 Dodge County, third
No. 22 Washington County, fifth, at No. 11 Commerce, second
No. 24 Bleckley County, seventh, at No. 9 Worth County, second
No. 26 Bacon County, fourth, at No. 7 Northeast, second
No. 27 Southwest, sixth, at No. 6 Toombs County, second
No. 28 Putnam County, fourth, at No. 5 Heard County, first
No. 29 Towers, seventh, at No. 4 Lamar County, first
No. 31 McNair, sixth, at No. 2 Dublin, first

Analysis
Class 5A
          Houston County is in, likely at fourth place with a shot at third
Class 4A
          Warner Robins and Perry are in, anywhere from first to fourth. Perry hosts Ware County this week in a huge game
          Jones County is in, likely in third, outside shot at second
Class A/Division II
          Hawkinsville is in fifth in Region 4, but is the favorite in its final three games - Montgomery County (2-5), Treutlen (2-4), and Dooly County (0-6) – giving it a good shot at fourth, maybe third with some help
          Hancock Central, Wilkinson County, and Twiggs County are tied at 1-1 in a pretty mediocre region with five teams in an even battle for four spots.
Macon County
          Macon County is in, with one winning-record team left, Taylor County, which is all but in at second, third, or fourth