As the leaves begin to change color, playoff talk begins to build up in the metro area. Region 6-AAAAA is no exception, with the playoff contenders separating themselves from the rest of the region. Unfortunately this tough region has only four open spots and five teams to fill them, leaving at least one qualified team out in the cold.
Two years ago, the region produced one of the two state co-champions (Roswell) and this year the talent is such that several teams could make postseason runs. Roswell, Milton, Walton, Lassiter and Kell sit at the top of the standings, and are all strong contenders for the playoffs.
Roswell started the season with questions about the team’s future success after longtime head coach Tim McFarlin retired. New head coach Leo Barker has changed a lot about the team – except the winning. After losing his first game to Tift County, Barker and the Hornets have won four of their last five, with the only loss coming to Kell. Defensively, the team has excelled, allowing 21 or less points in four of their six games, even against the high-powered Kell offense. In that game against the Longhorns, the Hornets were on their way to victory before the Longhorns found their offensive stride. Depending on how it is viewed, however, the schedule could be the deciding factor in whether the Hornets make the state playoffs. Three of Roswell’s final four games are at home, but in consecutive weeks the team must face Milton and Walton, two of the top teams in the region. Thankfully, the Hornets have defensive talent to match any offense in the state. Track the performances of Rashaad Hoyle and Thomas Sexton to determine just how high the Hornets fly.
Behind Roswell in the region standings is Milton. Though they have two losses to Walton and Campbell, the Eagles still boast the best individual talent in the metro area. Running back Toney Williams has helped the Eagles get off to a surprising start. The offense scored over 40 points in each of its four victories, while only managing an average of 21.5 in the two losses. Williams makes Milton dangerous because, on any given night, he can run wild.
OVER IN COBB
Kell might be the quietest of the five teams due to its lack of convincing victories. Wins by small margins of three and four points have kept most experts off the Longhorn bandwagon. That, however, might change after a dominating 37-17 performance over Centennial last Friday. Kell has lost to Walton but has beaten Roswell and Lassiter, leaving a matchup against Milton to close out the season. The Longhorns have been assisted by the steady play of quarterback Austin Petrik, a consistent and composed leader. While their victories haven’t earned style points, their battle-tested mentality could be useful in the playoffs.
Offensively, most teams will have trouble keeping up with surprising Lassiter, as the team has piled up huge passing numbers on its way to a 5-1 record. Quarterback Hutson Mason is protected by a stout offensive line that includes Stanford-bound Camden Wentz. Their three remaining matchups against Roswell, Walton, and this week’s game against Milton will determine if the Trojans taste the playoffs or not.
But the cream of the Region 6 crop has been Walton. The Raiders are undefeated on the season and have already defeated Kell and Milton. Their defense has been suffocating, especially against the run. Defensive end David Paulsen has solidified the defensive line, making big plays throughout the year. Offensively, the Raiders are led by running back Michael Boydston, who has rushed for over 1,100 yards and has kept his defense fresh by controlling the clock with a steady ground attack. Most importantly for the Raiders, in close games they have the upper hand after winning several nail-biters through six games (three victories have been decided by a touchdown or less).
REGION CHAMP DECIDED?
Last Friday, two of the region’s top teams clashed in a game that went a long way in deciding the eventual champion. Two 1,000-yard rushers squared off, as Milton’s Williams and Walton’s Boydston lived up to the hype, each running for over 100 yards on the night. Walton fell behind early and trailed 13-0 going into halftime. The previously stout defense fell apart, allowing Williams to gobble up 93 yards in the first half alone.
Milton looked well on its way to riding away with a comfortable and important victory, but Walton’s coaching staff changed things up in the locker room and the Raiders showed the grit that could propel them to a long playoff run. Boydston scored twice in the second half from inside the 10-yard line, and Price Garrett caught a touchdown pass to give Walton its third second-half touchdown. On the other side, Williams only managed 50 more yards on the ground, giving the Eagles only seven second-half points and leaving the final score 24-20 in favor of Walton. If the rest of the Region 6 schedule is as entertaining as last Friday’s tilt, fans in Fulton and Cobb are in for an exciting race to the finish.
Boral can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
