Compared to most years, the final week of the GHSA football regular season has much less drama than usual concerning northwest Georgia teams.
Dalton is set as the No. 4 seed for the playoffs from Region 6-AAAAAA provided the Catamounts beat last-place and winless Osborne. It would take a Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe upset of Calhoun to alter the four teams that will qualify for the postseason from Region 6-AAA. The four playoff teams are set in Region 7-AA, with only major upsets possibly altering the order.
In Region 6-AAAA, however, a champion will be decided Friday night. Northwest Whitfield would clinch its first region championship since 2000 with a home win over Heritage, making Tunnel Hill a marquee destination.
"I'm counting on a lot of people showing up," Northwest coach Josh Robinson said with a smile. "First time to get to game 10 with a chance to win a region championship in 19 years. We're remotely healthy for the first time in three years, so it's nice to be at the end of the schedule with players."
Northwest defeated Ridgeland earlier this season and Ridgeland owns a win over Heritage. Because of that, a Heritage win coupled with a Ridgeland win over last-place Southeast Whitfield would give Ridgeland the title, with Heritage second and Northwest third. Heritage would need to win and have Southeast upset Ridgeland to get the championship. Pickens is locked in as the No. 4 seed.
In 6-AAA, North Murray has clinched its first region title, and Calhoun is the No. 2 seed with Haralson County third. Barring LFO upsetting Calhoun, Sonoraville will be the No. 4 seed - and even if LFO wins to get the fourth spot, Sonoraville would make the playoffs as the Class AAA at-large qualifier.
In 7-AA, unbeaten Rockmart is first in the standings, followed by Pepperell, Model and Chattooga. Model could create a three-way tie at the top with an upset of Rockmart and even could win the title with a win and a Chattooga upset of Pepperell. A Chattooga win and a Model loss would create a three-way tie for second.
Region 6-A is having its crossover games, with Darlington facing Fellowship Christian for the region championship. Christian Heritage, currently sixth in the Class A private school power ratings, would likely earn a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win at Whitefield Academy.
Class A has a 24-team playoff field for both public and private schools. Trion is No. 21 in the Class A public power ratings and so has likely secured a playoff berth, but a win at Mount Paran Christian would improve the Bulldogs' position. Gordon Lee, 27th in the power ratings, could be in position to earn a Class A public playoff berth with a win at Mount Pisgah Christian.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 8, 2019All kickoffs 7:30 p.m.Calhoun at Lakeview-Fort OglethorpePepperell at ChattoogaRinggold at Coahulla CreekDade County at ArmucheeDalton at OsborneGordon Central at CoosaHeritage at Northwest WhitfieldGilmer at LaFayetteMurray County at Haralson CountySonoraville at North MurraySoutheast Whitfield at RidgelandChristian Heritage at Whitefield AcademyGordon Lee at Mount Pisgah ChristianTrion at Mount Paran Christian
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.