As we get closer to the playoffs, a number of teams will be trying to knock off the elite squads in their regions and improve their playoff chances. You can always expect some major upsets in the last few weeks of the regular season, so which highly ranked teams should be on the lookout?
Southwest DeKalb at Marist: The Panthers are finding their stride, and Marist will have to work hard to keep its top spot in Region 6-AAAA this evening. Alan Chadwick’s team is always tough to play at Hughes Spalding Stadium, but the War Eagles did drop a home game last year to Mays, so it’s certainly possible to win there. Marist is ranked No. 2 in our GPB/Score Prep poll, while SWD has risen to No. 7.
Walton at Lassiter: The Trojans will be the best team that Walton has faced on the road all year, and this Lassiter team is certainly capable of putting up points. Walton’s biggest scare to date has been at home against Milton, where the Eagles’ running game gashed the Walton defense for an entire half before the Raiders got back on track. Walton, at No. 8, is certainly capable of winning out, but will have to clear this hurdle as well as tough games against Roswell and Pope.
Blessed Trinity at Buford: I’m not sure you can say that the 7-0 Buford Wolves have looked vulnerable at any point this season, but if you have to nitpick, you would point to a 3-0 halftime lead over Decatur and a mere 29-0 victory (as opposed to the usual five or six TD margin) over Thomson last week. Doesn’t seem as significant, however, when you consider that Buford has shut out its last five opponents. If Blessed Trinity wants to prove that there’s another Region 6-AA (and Class 2A team, for that matter) that can hang with Buford this season, a rainy Tom Riden Stadium is as good a proving ground as any.
Stephenson at Union Grove: So neither team is ranked, and I’m not sure either outcome could really be considered a major upset, but Union Grove, for now at least, controls its own destiny in Region 2-AAAAA and is a surprising 7-0 on the year. Stephenson comes into the matchup with one loss in the region, a 21-14 letdown to second-place Luella. The Jaguars can once again put themselves in position to win the league with a victory over Union Grove, but they will have to get it done in Henry County, outside the friendly confines of one of the DeKalb municipal stadiums. Union Grove is just out of our Class 5A top 10, but will certainly merit a place in that group with a win over Stephenson.
Ewalt can be reached at aewalt@scoreatl.com.
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