If the previous two years of playing a subregion schedule taught Region 7-AAA coaches anything it was that just making the playoffs is not enough.
The reality in the 12-team region is that, if you don't win the regular season sub-region title on your half, the playoffs will be a long, hard road. Literally. As a third or fourth seed, only a major upset or two will find you hosting at any point in the postseason.
"You really need to win the subregion," said Ringgold coach Robert Akins, whose team was the third seed a year ago but lost at state-ranked North Hall in the first round. "You don't want to finish second or third, as we saw last year. The key is what we do against the good people in our region. There's five teams up here you have to play well against to beat."
The north half of the region (which was 6-AAA the past two years) lost Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, which moved down to Class AA, but it added perennial state power and longtime region kinpgin Dalton back into the fold. A survey of subregion coaches reveals the Catamounts, now under the leadership of former player and assistant Matt Land, are co-favorites with two-time defending region champ Ridgeland.
"Dalton is Dalton," Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said, "and we still haven't beaten them in school history. This year's game (at Ridgeland on Oct. 1) will no doubt be a big one and there will be a lot of folks interested in it, but there are plenty of tough games in this region this year."
The Panthers, who upset Carrollton in the past two region-title games, have the best collection of skill players in the region, beginning with backs Devin Bowman, a University of Georgia recruit, Paul Walton and Deonte Marsh. Though young along the offensive line, Ridgeland also boasts a stout
SUBREGION 7-AAA NORTH AT A GLANCE* Team on the rise: Ringgold has two things the rest of the sub-region lacks, a returning starting quarterback in Josh Moore and a veteran offensive line with all five starters returning.* Nightmare schedule: Four of LaFayette's first five games are on the road, including an opener at Class AA playoff team Chattooga and 7-AAA South favorite Cartersville.* Dream schedule: Southeast Whitfield's first four opponents won a combined nine games last year, though the Raiders will have to travel to play sub-region favorites Ridgeland and Dalton.* Best game: Dalton at Ridgeland on Oct. 1 is the sub-region opener for both teams and could well decide that side's top seed. The Panthers, coming off two consecutive region titles, have never beaten the Catamounts.* Biggest shoes to fill: Martez Eastland gained over 75 percent of Ringgold's yards the past two years. Now that he's at Ole Miss, the Tigers will rely on more of a passing game with Josh Moore.* Playoff bound: Ridgeland, Dalton and Ringgold from the north, Cartersville from the south.
defensive front led by University of South Carolina commitment Mason Harris and tackle Aaron Ragsdale.
"I have a great amount of respect for what Coach Mariakis and his staff have done at Ridgeland," Land said. "They have a great group of offensive players and will be tough to handle. But, Ringgold is much improved over when we last played them. We saw LaFayette this summer and they have some scary athletes. Southeast Whitfield is up and coming, and Heritage is young. We're dropping down, but it's not any easier."
Dalton was also in a divided region in recent years, so Land agrees with Akins on the importance of winning the sub-region title.
"We've got to win the subregion, no question, so you can get a home playoff game," he said. "High school football is all about when you're playing a team and where. That's paramount to getting to that 15th game."
The Catamounts have the most dangerous runner in the region in junior Tre Beck, who totalled 1,300 yards last year sharing carries with the graduated Shaquon Moore. He'll run behind massive (6-foot-8, 315-pound) Watts Dantzler, who's headed to Georgia. Dalton, like Ridgeland, must replace productive quarterbacks.
That won't be the case at Ringgold, which is the only team among last year's playoff teams with a returning signal caller. Junior Josh Moore will lead a new offense geared more to the pass.
"We have the athletes, including Josh, to make the offense work," Akins said. "And we feel in this region it will give us the best chance to succeed."
Southeast (5-5) had its most successful season in more than a decade last year, LaFayette will ride the talents of senior quarterback Josh Morgan under new coach Tab Gable, and Heritage, with its first sizeable junior class, figures to improve on a one-win 2009 campaign.