With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, it’s time to take a look at the playoffs. Most regions have one dominant team, meaning the real battle is for the second spot, which also guarantees a home game in the first round of the state playoffs.
Here is a region-by-region look, with some of the leagues in more flux than the others.
Region 1, Div. A: Cook and Dodge County, both unbeaten in the region, play Friday in Eastman. Cook will finish first with a victory. Dodge still has to play Pierce County, which has only one region loss, in the regular-season finale. Pierce plays at Appling this week and could clinch a playoff spot with a win.
Region 1, Div. B: Jenkins hosts Southeast Bulloch on Saturday for the subregion championship. Jenkins (5-2) has beaten Appling and lost by three to Pierce in crossover games. Southeast Bulloch has won its last three. Beach and Johnson Savannah play on Friday to likely determine the No. 3 spot.
In Region 1, the top three teams in each region will meet on Nov. 7 to determine the four playoff representatives. Each subregion champion is guaranteed a spot and a first-round game at home. The No. 2 team from each subregion will host the No. 3 team from the opposite subregion, with the winners advancing to the state playoffs.
Region 2: Westside Macon plays at Peach County on Oct. 31 to determine the region championship. The other spots are a jumbled mess between Jackson, Rutland, Central Macon and Southwest Macon.
Region 3: No. 1-ranked Washington County has essentially wrapped up this division. The second spot could down to the Nov. 1 game between Westside-Augusta and Laney, if Laney can take care of business this week against Hephzibah.
Region 4, Div. A: Cedar Grove is the class of the subregion, while Jackson seems to be in line to be the No. 2 team. Cedar Grove beat Jackson 46-20 on Sept. 26 and has won five straight. Jackson beat North Clayton, its closest competitor last week, and finishes against two opponents with three combined wins.
Region 4, Div. B: Blessed Trinity can wrap up the division with a win on Thursday night against Washington, winner of four straight. But Washington still has a game to play against Westminster.
In Region 4, the top three teams in each region will meet on Nov. 7 to determine the four playoff representatives. Each subregion champion is guaranteed a spot and a first-round game at home. The No. 2 team from each subregion will play the No. 3 team from the opposite subregion, with the winners advancing to the state playoffs. Division B teams are hosting the play-in games.
Region 5: The title should come down to the season-final between Central Carroll and Callaway. Third place may be decided the same night when Cedartown plays Rockmart.
Region 6: Calhoun will be the No. 1 team, with Adairsville No. 2. The No. 3 spot may be determined by the outcome of the Ringgold-North Murray game on the final weekend.
Region 7: West Hall holds down first place with a perfect region record, but must still play Fannin County, Banks County and Lumpkin County. Those four should shake out as the state playoff representatives.
Region 8: Some outstanding games are on the docket for the final three weeks. Jefferson, Hart County and Oconee County are all unbeaten in the region and tied for first. They play each other over the finishing stretch. Fourth place could be at stake on Friday when Elbert County is at Morgan County.
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