The final piece of the high school football postseason puzzle in northwest Georgia was set in place Saturday afternoon when Model defeated Gordon Central 28-7 in Region 7-AA.
The Blue Devils secured the region's No. 3 seed for the GHSA Class AA playoffs with the win, and it also put Chattooga (3-7) in the field as the No. 4 seed. The Indians will travel to South Atlanta (7-3) for Friday's first round.
Eight area teams earned postseason bids, though only one, Christian Heritage (9-1), won a region championship - and it was that program's first since beginning GHSA competition in 2012. The Lions will open the Class A private postseason against King's Ridge, which played just six games, winning two.
In Class A public, Gordon Lee (9-1), the Region 6 runner-up, hosts Georgia Military College Prep (6-4) for the Trojans' first home playoff game in 13 years.
LaFayette (4-5) ended the state's longest playoff drought by earning the Region 6-AAA fourth seed when Ringgold lost at league champion Rockmart. The Ramblers, who last made the playoffs 27 years ago, will travel to Cherokee Bluff (9-1), the Region 7 champion. Also in AAA, North Murray (6-3), after winning a 49-42 shootout over LaFayette on Friday night to secure the No. 3 seed, will visit North Hall (6-4).
Maybe the biggest winner locally of the regular season's final week was Northwest Whitfield, which went from possibly missing the playoffs to earning the Region 7-AAAA No. 2 seed with a 28-23 win at Pickens. The Bruins (6-3) will host Stephenson (4-2).
Heritage (5-4), which was forced to forfeit Friday's game with league champion Cedartown for reasons related to COVID-19, is 7-AAAA's No. 3 seed and is scheduled to visit Hapeville Charter (5-3) in the first round. Heritage is attempting to negotiate a move of the game from Friday to Saturday to allow currently quarantined players to possibly be cleared to play.
That attempt, which includes a request to the GHSA, has yet to be accepted or denied. If turned down, the Generals could still play Friday but would be down several players. If they choose not to play, Pickens (3-6) would move to the fourth seed, with Central-Carroll (5-3) rising to the No. 3 seed.
In Class AAAAA, Calhoun (7-3) opens play at Lithia Springs (4-6), the first time since 2000 the Yellow Jackets will begin the postseason on the road.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Christian Heritage School quarterback Christian Thomas helped the Lions earn the first GHSA region title in program history, and now they get to host a first-round game in the Class A private school playoffs.BOYS' BASKETBALL
Red Bank 71, Ooltewah 65: The Lions held off the Owls in a 44-point fourth quarter Saturday for their first victory of the season. Red Bank was led by Taylor Swanson, who had 25 points and three 3-pointers, Kendrick Lloyd (17 points) and Ryan Barber (12). Ooltewah's DeLeon Petty scored 27 points and Tarel McClurkin added 15.
Coahulla Creek 45, Heritage 42: Jake Reed's 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted the Colts past the Generals in the season opener for both. Cade Padgett led Coahulla Creek with 15 points, including seven in the fourth period when the Colts outscored the Generals 17-9. Riley Mutter added 12 for the winners, while Cooper Terry led Heritage with 15.
East Hamilton 71, Morristown East 67 (OT); East Hamilton 61, Wilson Central 56: After topping Dalton 52-44 on Friday to begin the season, the Hurricanes won a pair of home games Saturday. Jordan Harris combined for 34 points and five 3-pointers in the two wins, while Marcus Long led an overtime victory with 25 points. Darwin Randolph also tied a team high with 13 points in the victory over Wilson Central. Against Dalton, the Hurricanes outscored the Catamounts 14-6 in the second quarter Friday. Harris scored 19 points and connected on three long-range shots, while Randolph had 14 points and Long scored 10.
McMinn County 85, Brainerd 58: The Cherokees opened the season playing strong defense in the first half before exploding for 50 points in the second to top the Panthers. McMinn County was led in scoring by Parker Bebb (22 points), Andrew Beavers (17) and Ty Runyan (15), and Davion Evans (11 points, eight assists) and Hayden Frank (15 rebounds) also contributed. Xiyeer Lattimore scored 19 points with four 3s for Brainerd.
Legacy Community Academy 68, Ooltewah 31: Steve Lyles scored 15 points and helped a defensive effort that limited the Owls to eight combined points in the first and fourth quarters.
Cannon County 44, Sequatchie County 36: Baron Cribbs was dominant defensively for the Indians with eight steals to go with 13 points in the loss, and Carter Bradford added 10 points.
Boyd Buchanan 67, Central 53: Strong starts in the first and third quarters helped the Buccaneers earn the nondistrict win Friday. Boyd Buchanan opened the game by outscoring the Purple Pounders 21-10 and followed with a 16-6 third-quarter run to take command. Ace Bailey had a game-high 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucs (2-0), while Caden Johnson added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists and John Craw 11 points. Donovan Taylor led Central with 14 points, Brian Allen Jr. added 13 and Jaylin Teague had 11.
Soddy-Daisy 51, Signal Mountain 38: Logan Ricketts scored a game-high 22 points Friday for the winners, while Benjamin Burns led Signal Mountain with 13.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
South Pittsburg 43, Covenant Academy 10: The Lady Pirates were dominant defensively, jumping out to a 21-1 lead at halftime while scoring 17 second-quarter points. Ashley Green hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 11 points to go with 10 from Cassidry Andry for South Pittsburg (2-0).
Sequatchie County 64, Gordonsville 41; Sequatchie County 55, Cannon County 42: Ella Edgmon scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in a 41-point first half against Gordonsville, and Dylan Belk filled the stat sheet with nine points, five blocks and five steals for Sequatchie. The Lady Indians sealed a win over Cannon County by hitting 11 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter as Edgmon (18 points), Belk (14 points) and Cali Green (10 points, five steals) led the way.
Boyd Buchanan 53, Central 11: The Lady Bucs jumped out to a 15-0 first-quarter lead and continued to pull away with a 28-6 run before halftime Friday. Riley Robertson led Boyd Buchanan (1-1) with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Whitwell 53, Silverdale Baptist Academy 50: Courtney Zensen's 20 points, including four 3-pointers, led the Lady Tigers on Friday, while Addie Colvard added 13, connecting on four 3s. Ryleigh Hoover finished with a game-high 24 points, including eight 3-pointers, for the Lady Seahawks.
Signal Mountain 57, Soddy-Daisy 23: Star post player and Tennessee Tech signee Olivia Koontz scored 18 of her game-high 25 points in the first half of the season opener for the Lady Eagles on Friday. Cassidy Pawson added 13 points and Jaylah Hardy 11.
Trion girls 54, Fellowship Christian 45: Chloe Murdock topped the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points in the season opener for both teams.
Compiled by Stephen Hargis, Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293 and follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis. Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.