The TSSAA announced this week there will be a change in the number of categories for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards this year.
With the recent addition of another classification bringing the number of football classes to nine, the TSSAA has eliminated the back and lineman categories and will now have just one Mr. Football per class.
There will be five semifinalists announced for each class and the kicker of the year award. Three finalists in each class, for a total of 30, will be honored at the awards luncheon, where 10 winners will be named.
The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards will be presented at Nissan Stadium, home of the Titans, on Monday, Nov. 27.
"The changes to the format make being named a winner, finalist, or semifinalist truly special," TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said.
Marion honorees
Marion County High School has announced this year's Hall of Fame class, which will be recognized at the football team's home game against Rhea County on Oct. 6.
The class includes former all-state quarterback Shane Thomasson, a three-sport athlete who led the Warriors to the school's first football state championship in 1990, as well as classmate Rodney Rankin, an all-state fullback/linebacker on that title team.
Other honorees: Eric Westmoreland, who was named Mr. Football and helped the Warriors compile a 56-1 record and three state titles during his four-year career; Keta Robinette, the career scoring leader for the school's girls' basketball program; and Angie Blevins, a three-sport standout in the early 1990s.
No respect?
A year after a record number of northwest Georgia teams won playoff games, it seems prognosticators still aren't sold on the area's overall power.
This year's Maxwell ratings, which are compiled by Georgia High School Football Historians Association founder Loren Maxwell, have been revealed during the week by Georgia High School Football Daily. Two northwest Georgia-based regions in particular were frowned upon despite winning a combined eight postseason games in 2016. The ratings are based on "historical information" and use the past season as their most important factor.
Region 6-AAAA has one team ranked in the top 20, Northwest Whitfield at No. 20, followed by No. 21 Ridgeland, No. 27 Pickens and No. 31 Heritage. Each of the other seven regions in Class AAAA has at least two teams rated inside the top 20, including four teams each in regions 2 and 8. Six teams in Region 5, led by 2016 state champion and top-ranked Cartersville, are ranked inside the top 25.
In AAA, Region 6 does have No. 3 Calhoun, but the region's next teams on the list are No. 19 Sonoraville and No. 20 Adairsville. Region 5 has four teams in the top seven, with Region 1 having four of its five teams ranked 17th or better. Greater Atlanta Christian is ranked No. 1.
Getting more love is Region 6-AAAAAA, where 2016 region champion Dalton is No. 8, followed by Allatoona at No. 9 and No. 11 Harrison, the popular preseason pick to win the region.
Region 7-AA has three teams inside the top 18, led by No. 6 Pepperell, with Chattooga at No. 18. Class AA in general is considered the most balanced, with only one league, Region 3, having no teams in the top 10 (Dodge County and Washington County are Nos. 11 and 12, though).
The Class A ratings come out today.