Football playoff picture still cloudy in northwest Georgia

Northwest Whitfield's Luke Shiflett (3) carries up the middle towards Ringgold's Cameron Hood (48) during their prep football game at Ringgold High School on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Ringgold, Ga.
Northwest Whitfield's Luke Shiflett (3) carries up the middle towards Ringgold's Cameron Hood (48) during their prep football game at Ringgold High School on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Ringgold, Ga.

With three weeks left in the Georgia high school football regular season, there are more unknowns than knowns regarding the upcoming postseason.

But while most of the state's teams will have to wait to learn their playoff fates, the scenario at Dalton is as simple as it gets. With a win tonight over 1-6 Woodland, the 6-2 Catamounts will host the Region 7-AAAAA championship game next week.

They even know whom they'll likely face. Such clarity this early is rare for a subdivided, region and it's cause for celebration in Dalton.

"We control our own destiny right now," said Dalton coach Matt Land, whose team will have a week off to prepare for the title game should they win tonight. "If Cambridge doesn't lose to River Ridge (0-7) by more than 11 points, they will be the No. 1 seed from the other side."

Of course, upsets by either top seed could cloud the scenario. On the subject of cloudy, here's a quick look at the rest of the regions in northwest Georgia:

Region 7-AAAA

Only one of the region's eight teams, LaFayette, is out of the postseason picture. At the top, Cartersville is the only undefeated team and could clinch the title tonight with a win over Southeast Whitfield and a loss for Pickens County (6-1, 3-1). Otherwise, the two teams will decide the championship in week 10 in Jasper.

Northwest Whitfield, Ridgeland and Heritage have two league losses each. Northwest and Ridgeland meet tonight, and a Ridgeland victory would give the Panthers wins over the other two and set them up well for a playoff berth. Northwest, however, controls its own destiny to finish as the league runner-up should Pickens drop one of its final two games, since the Bruins handed the Dragons their only loss.

Heritage, despite last week's loss to Ridgeland, also is alive for the No. 2 spot with games against Pickens and Northwest upcoming.

Even Southeast and Gilmer County, with three losses each, are very much alive.

"There are still so many questions," Northwest coach Josh Robinson said. "There's a lot of different scenarios that could play out. Four wins will get you in, that's for certain, and I said before the season that the No. 2 seed would have two losses. I still believe that."

Mini playoff games could again be in the offing on the Monday following week 10.

Region 6-AAA

Barring two losses in its final three games, top-ranked Calhoun (7-0, 5-0) is in line for yet another region title, but after that it gets interesting.

Adairsville (6-1, 4-1) can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over North Murray (3-4, 3-2) tonight and one victory in its final two games against Coahulla Creek and Gordon Central. Sonoraville, North Murray and Murray County each has two league losses, with Ringgold and Coahulla Creek also still controlling their own destiny with three losses.

Sonoraville, with games against winless Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Murray County, has the easiest path to a berth. Other major games looming are Ringgold against Murray in week nine and the Tigers' season finale at home against North Murray.

"Everybody still controls their own destiny except for a couple of teams," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "The rest of us that are left are in a dogfight. We've got our last two games at home, but we haven't won a home game yet, which is unusual for us."

Region 7-AA

Potential drama is all over the place in this region, where the top three teams have a combined two losses.

Darlington (7-0, 5-0) has games against bottom dwellers Coosa and Armuchee before a potential region title game at home against Chattooga (6-1, 3-0) in week 10. First, though, Chattooga needs to win at Model (7-1, 3-1) tonight, to make it happen, something coach Charlie Hammon can't help but think about.

"We are in a position where, with a win Friday against Model we will play for the region championship, no matter what happens against Dade County week nine," he said. "This school hasn't hosted a playoff game in quite a while, so to achieve that would be a great, and I can't tell you the last time there was a region championship here."

It was 1974.

Gordon Lee and Dade County, each with two league losses, likely will decide the final playoff spot in week 10, though the Trojans could still get as high as No. 3 by beating Model next week.

Region 6-A

In Class A the only teams guaranteed state playoff berths are region champions. In 6-A that is still very much up for grabs. The remaining teams will fill out the public and private school fields based on power ranking.

In the A subregion, defending state champion Mount Paran Christian (7-0, 2-0) still has to win its next two games, against Trion (5-2, 1-1) and Mount Zion-Carroll (6-2, 2-1), to earn the No. 1 spot and a chance to play the B subregion winner in the championship game in week 10.

A Trion win tonight would give the Bulldogs, coming off a loss to Mount Zion, the inside shot. Should Mount Paran lose to both Trion and Mount Zion, the latter would get the top seed.

"A win would keep us with a chance to win the region," said Trion coach Justin Brown, ranked 10th this week. "We feel six wins will get us in for sure and anything above that will help our seeding."

Christian Heritage (4-4, 1-2), ranked 10th on the private side, also has a strong shot to make the postseason.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.

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