Most GHSA football teams have two games remaining in the regular season, and in most regions involving northwest Georgia programs, there is still much to be decided.
There is plenty of drama in Region 6-A, where the "A" subregion has three top-10 state-ranked teams with one loss apiece in league competition: Darlington (5-1), Mount Zion-Carroll (4-1) and Trion (4-1). Each has a win and a loss against the others, setting up several scenarios ahead of next week's region crossover games.
If Trion defeats rival Gordon Lee and Mount Zion gets past Christian Heritage tonight - Darlington is off - there will be a three-way tie for first place in the subregion. Such a tie would be broken via the GHSA's power ratings, and Darlington would be third in that case.
The other two? Well, that's not so clear.
The power ratings - which are released each Tuesday during the season - factor in a team's wins and strength of schedule, with wins against successful teams from higher classifications particularly desirable. Mount Zion was fourth with a power ranking of 13.40 this week, when Trion was sixth at 13.02.
"I've played out a couple of scenarios, and the power ranking would be probably within a tenth of a point either way," Trion coach Justin Brown said. "It will really come down to our nonregion opponents and how well they do tonight."
The best case for Trion would be for Bremen to win its Region 6-AAA showdown with Calhoun and Dade County to top Chattooga in 7-AA, thereby earning bonus points for Trion. Whoever comes out as the top seed will have to play either Mount Paran or Mount Pisgah Christian, the "B" subregion's top teams, next week.
Only the region champion is guaranteed a home game in the state playoffs - which are subdivided among private and public schools in Class A, with 24 making each bracket and the top nine receiving byes in the first round - but Trion likely will qualify for one based on its power ranking even if it doesn't win the title.
"For us to be able to have those conversations this year after not doing that in the past is nice," Brown said. "We are close to getting a home playoff game, which would be huge, or maybe even a (first-round) bye and then home game. We've not hosted a playoff game since 2003, so that would be a nice accomplishment.
The most clarity among area regions, at least at the top, is in 6-AAAA, where unbeaten Ridgeland owns wins over contenders Heritage, Northwest Whitfield and Pickens. A win tonight against winless Gilmer would wrap up the region title for the Panthers.
The intrigue lies in the next three playoff spots. Heritage has the upper hand with one loss and owns wins over Northwest and Southeast Whitfield, each of which has two losses in the region. The Generals, off tonight, likely will need to defeat Pickens - which also has two losses - next week to avoid a three-way tie for third. Northwest and Southeast play tonight, and the Bruins can lock up a playoff spot by winning.
The schedule makers did well in 6-AAA, where each subregion championship will be decided tonight. Calhoun and Bremen, each 3-0 in the subregion, will settle the south title in Bremen, while upstart Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe will travel to North Murray to decide the north champ with both of those teams 3-0 in the subregion.
Of course, those "championships" mean little as far as the state playoffs go. The region will hold its play-in round next week, where the Nos. 1 and 4 seeds and the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds play one another. Winners advance to the postseason, while losers end their seasons. As far as seeding among other teams, Ringgold can earn the No. 3 north seed with a win over Coahulla Creek tonight and Adairsville will be the third south seed if it defeats Haralson County.
Dalton is still very much in the Region 6-AAAAAA title running with a 4-1 record in league play. Harrison is at the top at 5-0, but the Hoyas are missing elite quarterback Justin Fields. They'll face talented Sequoyah tonight, and a Harrison loss could create a three-way tie at the top with Dalton and Allatoona, which is 4-1 in the league. Those two meet next week with at least second place on the line.
In 7-AA, it's Rockmart's title to lose. A win at either Gordon Central tonight or against Model next week would clinch the championship, while Pepperell is a solid second with Coosa and a surging Chattooga tied for third with 3-2 league marks. The Indians play Dade County tonight, offering a chance for the Wolverines, who are 2-3 in the region, to get in the hunt.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.