Region 6-AAAA has its top four teams for the upcoming GHSA football playoffs decided, but until Wednesday evening it didn’t have a clue in what order they are likely to fall.
Barring an upset tonight, Ridgeland will earn the region’s No. 1 seed, Northwest Whitfield will be second, Pickens third and Heritage fourth. With a three-way tie at the top among Ridgeland, Northwest and Pickens likely – unless Southeast Whitfield defeats Ridgeland or Heritage downs Pickens – the region will be forced to use tiebreakers to determine seeding.
There was, however, a catch. Since each of the tied teams went 1-1 against the other two, a tiebreaker that used “margin of victory among tied teams” was put into place. A problem arose because one school’s definition of the tiebreaker was different from another’s.
Northwest believed the tiebreaker meant the team with the greatest margin of victory in games involving the three teams should be No. 1. The Bruins defeated Pickens by nine, Pickens defeated Ridgeland by one and Ridgeland defeated Northwest by six.
However, Ridgeland administration disagreed, believing the tiebreaker was meant to use point differential in the tied teams’ games. In that case, the Panthers had a margin of plus-8, with Northwest at plus-3 and Pickens at minus-8.
In the end, after discussion within the region failed to determine a definition, an appeals committee consisting of Heritage principal Ronnie Bradford, Southeast principal Denise Pendley and LaFayette principal Mike Culberson met to make a final decision. After citing the use of similar tiebreakers in other regions that used the point differential method, the committee clarified that Ridgeland would be the No. 1 seed should a tie remain after tonight’s games.
Region 6 will match up with Region 8 in the opening round of the state playoffs next week, with the top two seeds from each region hosting and the bottom two seeds traveling.
“Well, we’re obviously not happy with it, but at least it’s over,” said Northwest head coach Josh Robinson, whose team is off tonight. “We can now focus on our next opponent, which we believe will be Oconee County.”
Of course, if Southeast were to defeat Ridgeland, the Bruins would ascend to the top spot. A Heritage win over Pickens would put the Generals third and Dragons fourth.
Region 6-AAAAAA
Dalton (9-0, 6-0) can earn the title outright with a win at Allatoona (5-4, 5-1) tonight, though a loss would likely create a three-way tie that includes Harrison. Dalton handed Harrison its lone defeat this season two weeks ago.
Dalton athletic director Jeff McKinney said a three-way tie would favor the Catamounts unless they lose by 17 or more tonight. In that case, the next tiebreaker is points allowed in games involving the three teams, which would still favor Dalton unless it gives up 36 or more points tonight.
Region 6-AAA
The winners of the four subregion crossover games earn the region’s playoff berths. Calhoun hosts Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sonoraville hosts Ringgold, Adairsville hosts North Murray and Bremen hosts Murray County.
Region 7-AA
A three-way tie would happen if Chattooga (6-3, 5-1) wins at Pepperell (7-1, 6-0) and Rockmart (7-2, 5-1) defeats Model (7-2, 4-2). Chattooga would fall to third with a loss.
Region 6-A
Winning crossover games in this region doesn’t guarantee anything.
However, Trion is 25th in the Class A public power ratings, and 24 teams will advance to the playoffs that begin next week. Ranking inside the top 24 doesn’t necessarily mean the Bulldogs would be in, but a win tonight against Mount Pisgah Christian (18th in the Class private power ratings) would help.
“It literally is the difference between us making the playoffs or our season ending tonight,” Trion coach Justin Brown said. “There is no way I see us getting in if we lose. There are actually a cluster of teams just ahead of us and some of them are playing each other, so it’s possible we could move up as high as 19th.”
Gordon Lee, 26th on the public side, could help its cause with a win against Walker, though the Trojans would need some help. Only region champions are guaranteed a playoff spot, with the remainder of the teams determined by power ratings.