REGION 6-AAAA AT A GLANCE
› Team to beat: With defending state champion Cartersville’s exit to Region 5, this race is truly wide open in a league where each team has serious question marks. Northwest Whitfield was an eight-win team a year ago and has explosive athletes returning, including eight starters back on offense. Pickens, Ridgeland and Heritage, though, could easily come out on top.› Watch out for: Ridgeland. The Panthers in coach Wesley Tankersley’s second season have the best collection of athletes in the region. If the defense improves, they could be dangerous.› Best game: It’s an early league game, but the Northwest-at-Ridgeland game Sept. 23 could go a long way in deciding the region championship.› Dream schedule: A quick start could be had for Southeast Whitfield. The Raiders face two one-win teams, Coahulla Creek and Gordon Central, to start the season before getting a shot at revenge at Murray County and hosting Class A Christian Heritage.› Nightmare schedule: Ridgeland will be battle-tested when region play begins after facing four consecutive 2015 playoff teams to start the season — Adairsville, Pepperell, Darlington and Chattooga.› Players to watch: Northwest Whitfield QB Luke Shiflett is dangerous with both his arm and legs, while receivers Will Blanchard and Jay Jones are elite playmakers. Ridgeland RB Jalyn Shelton is a hammer and Heritage QB Corbee Wilson a very accurate passer. Defensively, the region has fewer stars, though Heritage DL Tanner Nance is a returning all-star and Ridgeland DB Markeith Montgomery was all-state.› Predicted order of finish: Northwest Whitfield, Ridgeland, Heritage, Pickens, Southeast Whitfield, LaFayette, Gilmer.
Georgia High School Association reclassification couldn’t have been kinder to Region 6-AAAA.
Cartersville, which won a state title last season, was shipped out and not replaced (from last year’s 7-AAAA), leaving seven leftover teams to fight it out in what promises to be – coaches claim – a race down to the wire.
“I think it’s wide open, I really do,” said Wesley Tankersley, coach of a Ridgeland team loaded with skilled athletes. “Any of us could come up and win it.”
On paper, based on its eight wins and runner-up finish in 2015, Northwest Whitfield is the team to beat. The Bruins feature a potent offense led by quarterback Luke Shiflett, elite receivers in Jay Jones and Will Blanchard and a strong line anchored by guard Garrett Ford.