Ringgold's Cole Shley throws a pass during the Tigers' game at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe on Sept. 29. The Catoosa County rivals will play Region 6-AAA crossover games tonight in which the winning teams move on to the state playoffs but the losing teams are done for the year.There weren't many coaches pleased with the way it worked out, but the unusual format for determining which teams make the GHSA football playoffs from Region 6-AAA has built-in intrigue.
It also gives teams that have underperformed a shot at redemption. Regarding the postseason, nothing is guaranteed for 6-AAA's eight teams involved in tonight's four play-in games in which teams from one subregion play teams from the other subregion. That includes the two programs that went undefeated in subregion play this season - Calhoun in the south and North Murray in the north.
With a loss tonight, those promising seasons are over in the winner-take-all format. On the other hand, in one night, teams like Ringgold (5-4, 2-2 in the north) and Sonoraville (4-5, 1-3 in the south) can turn around disappointing regular seasons with upsets.
Ringgold, in fact, could go from the No. 3 seed in its subregion to the region's No. 2 seed for the Class AAA state playoffs - which would mean hosting in next week's first round - if things fall correctly in its favor. The Tigers first have to get past Bremen (8-1, 3-1), the south No. 2 seed, and then get some help.
"Yes, Adairsville and Sonoraville would have to win and we would have to win," Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. "I could see all those scenarios working out, but we have our work cut out because Bremen is good."
Helping matters for the Tigers is that the north subregion teams host tonight. That means Calhoun (8-1, 4-0), the south's top seed, has to win at north No. 4 seed Murray County (3-6, 1-3). Surprising Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (5-4, 3-1), the north No. 2 seed, hosts south No. 3 seed Adairsville (5-4, 2-2), while North Murray (6-3, 4-0), the north's top seed, welcomes south No. 4 seed Sonoraville.
Other GHSA regions that include area teams also have plenty to settle tonight. Here's a closer look:
» 6-AAAAAA: Dalton (7-2, 5-1) hosts Allatoona (6-3, 5-1) with the No. 2 seed for state on the line. Harrison (7-2, 6-0) has clinched the top spot.
» 6-AAAA: The region that made Monday night prep football popular is at it again. Barring an upset tonight, three teams - Southeast Whitfield (7-2, 3-2), Northwest Whitfield (6-4, 3-3) and Pickens (5-4, 3-2) - will face off in a tiebreaker mini game Monday at a site to be determined to decide the third and fourth playoff teams.
Ridgeland (9-0, 5-0) has locked up the championship and top seed and ends the regular season hosting Southeast tonight, while Heritage (8-1, 4-1) can lock up the No. 2 seed with a win against Pickens. A win by either Southeast or Pickens would eliminate Northwest, which wrapped up its regular season with a 21-13 loss to Southeast last Friday.
However, because Northwest defeated Pickens, Southeast topped Northwest and each would have lost to the top two teams in the region if Pickens loses tonight, having a mini game for the third time in four seasons is a strong possibility.
» 7-AA: The four playoff teams are set - Rockmart (7-2, 6-0), Pepperell (6-3, 5-1), Coosa (6-3, 4-2) and Chattooga (4-5, 4-2) - but a pair of games tonight could shuffle the order.
Rockmart has clinched the top seed, but Chattooga can tie Pepperell for second place in the region with a win against visiting Pepperell. However, Chattooga coach Charles Hammon said for his Indians to break the tie and get the No. 2 seed, they would need Gordon Central (2-7, 2-4) to defeat Coosa (6-3, 4-2). Coosa beat Chattooga 38-37 on Sept. 15, and Pepperell beat Coosa 24-20 on Sept. 22.
No matter what happens tonight, Chattooga will be in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year and has turned around a season that started with much inexperience on the roster by winning four of its past five games.
"The last four years, we got where we played better toward the end of the year," Hammon said. "Rockmart ran us off the field (in a 48-0 result Sept. 29), and we didn't play well that night or too hard, but the teams we can play with we have played well.
"I'm proud of our guys. That first night we had one offensive guy starting where he did last year, so we've come a long way."
» 6-A: Trion (7-2, 5-1) appears to be the only area team that will make the postseason. The Bulldogs play at Mount Pisgah Christian (7-2, 6-1) in a crossover game tonight, and if they win, they'll secure a first-round bye in the Class A public bracket. Either way, the Bulldogs, who sit eighth in the GHSA's power ratings, will host their state playoff opener this year.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.