7AA Region Playoffs Begin
The first round of the playoffs this weekend are shaping up to be a slugfest as the four top teams from Region 7AA—Greene Co., Morgan Co., Laney, and West-side-Augusta get ready to take on the top four teams from Region 8AA.
The Greene Co. Tigers, with a perfect record and ranked no. 4 in the state, will play the Wesleyan Wolves at home this Friday night. The Wolves, with an overall record of 5-4-1, and a regional record of 5-3, may have a long ride back home.
The Laney Wildcats, ranked no. 9 in the state with an overall record of 8-2 and a regional record of 5-1, will play at home vs. the East Hall Vikings whose record is 6-4 and 5-3 in the region. It may be worth the trip to Augusta for the Vikings whose quarterback, Lee Coleman, with Michael Vick-like moves rushed for 176 yards and passed for another 172 in the last regular season game.
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The Morgan Co. Bulldogs, 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the region, with their only two losses at the hands of Greene and a close one against Laney, will have to travel to Norcross and play the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans. The Spartans finished 9-1, with their only loss to no. 2 ranked Buford, and finished second in Region 8AA at 7-1. They aren’t ranked by the AJC or the Coach’s Poll, however the AP has them ranked at no. 9. Spartan quarterback Lee Chapple led Gwinett Co. last week in passing going 16-28 for 254 yards. The home field advantage may prove to be the element the Spartans need to advance in the playoffs.
The Westside-Augusta Patriots, 6-4 and 3-3 in region will make the long trip to Buford to play the unbeaten and no. 2 ranked Wolves, who have scored 386 points and only given up 99. The Patriots will probably experience a long trip home also.
Region 8AA ended regular season play in somewhat of a quandary with a three-way tie for the no. 3 and 4 playoff spots. While Buford claimed the no. 1 spot and GAC no. 2, Wesleyan, East Hall and Dawson had to play unprecedented mini-games to determine which two teams would advance.
The competition took place at a neutral field this past Monday night. Dawson was eliminated after losing to both Wesleyan and East Hall. East Hall then won the head-to-head tiebreaker, which game them the no. 3 spot and Wesleyan the no. 4 spot.