Crossover games set Georgia field

Year two of the region playoff round in Georgia is here, and though some confusion still exists with fans, the coaches involved believe it's the best way to settle a sub-divided region's playoff field.

"I do believe, considering our situation, that it's the best solution," Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said. "Getting the automatic bid (for winning the sub-region title) is the key. It makes every game of the season mean something."

The Panthers (8-1), who travel to Carrollton (9-0) tonight for the Region 6-AAA championship, are in the enviable position of having a guaranteed spot in next week's state playoffs. Whichever team loses tonight still will host a playoff game.

Teams such as Ringgold (7-2) and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (6-3) still have work to do. Before the region playoff round was implemented, Ringgold already would have clinched a state berth by finishing second in its sub-region. Tonight, the Tigers must defeat Central-Carroll (5-4) for the second time this season to get in.

LFO, on the other hand, is in the "second-chance" slot as it travels to sub-region B runner-up Cartersville (5-4). Since his team would have no state-playoff hope in the pre-region-playoff structure, LFO coach Todd Windham believes his team has a nothing-to-lose mentality.

"There is no pressure at all on us," he said. "The region playoff round is the fairest way to settle it on the field. Really, for us, this is the first round of the playoffs. We have a chance to play for one of our goals -- the state playoffs. It's all about the kids and giving them that chance."

Some of the leftover confusion lies in the fact that teams out of playoff contention, such as Southeast Whitfield and LaFayette in 6-AAA, still will play region crossover games tonight. Those games match fourth- and fifth-place teams against each other in games that are normal regular season-ending games.

There also is some confusion as to which teams travel. Regions flipped coins before the start of last season to determine which sub-region would host. In 6-AAA, for example, the A sub-region of Ridgeland, Ringgold and LFO hosted last year and thus have to travel this season.

"It's fair that each side gets to host," Mariakis said. "It's tough playing on the road, especially at a place like Carrollton, but they had to come to our place last year. Fortunately, we've played well on the road this year."

Region 7-AAAA teams, however, get to host this year, meaning the 7-2 Dalton Catamounts, despite having two more losses than opponent Hiram (9-0), will take on the Hornets tonight at Harmon Field for the region championship. Northwest Whitfield (6-3) welcomes surprising Paulding County (4-5) for one spot, and Sequoyah hosts Sprayberry for the other.

In 7-AA, top-ranked Calhoun (9-0) will host Armuchee (7-2) at Phil Reeve Stadium for the region title, while Chattooga, despite owning an 8-1 record, still has to defeat visiting Rockmart (5-4) to earn a state berth. Adairsville and Pepperell are playing for the final spot.