Playoff time is here, and you can feel the excitement growing in every corner of the state on this first-round Friday. Here’s a few things to watch for tonight.
FIRST-ROUNDERS THAT SHOULDN’T BE FIRST-ROUNDERS
These are first-round games that feature two teems that seemingly shouldn’t meet this early, teams that have proven they are firmly in the top half of all the playoff teams in their classes.
No. 2 Charlton County vs. No. 3 Fitzgerald – This Class 2A matchup features two squads that spent just about the whole year in the top 10 (except for the last week, when Fitzgerald suffered its second loss
No. 2 Stephens County vs. No. 3 Flowery Branch – Again, another first-round game between two teams that spent a good chunk of the year ranked, in Class 3A in this case. This is also a rematch – Stephens County nipped Flowery Branch 28-25 in the season opener for both teams.
No. 2 Pike County vs. No. 3 Westminster – These are, no doubt, two top-15 squads. Westminster came through a tough schedule with just two losses, but gets rewarded with a trip to 9-1 Pike.
Check back next week for the (very probable) ultimate second-round matchup that shouldn’t be a second-round matchup: Camden County vs. Northside-Warner Robins
NEW FORMAT
Instead of having the odd regions play the odd regions and the evens play the evens, this year we have a different setup. Region 1 plays 2, 3 plays 4, and so on. So in Class 5A, Region 2 and Region 1 will rumble this weekend, meaning we get to see such matchups as Coffee at Stephenson and Tift County at M.L. King. Overall, this system should match up teams from the same general regions of the state, reducing travel time and gas costs.
MISLEADING SEEDING
They may be seeded lower, but these teams will expect to win in the first round on the road.
Class 5A – No. 3 East Coweta at Bradwell Institute; No. 3 East Paulding at Milton; No. 3 Norcross at Parkview
Class 4A – No. 3 Sequoyah at Clarke Central
Class 3A – No. 3 Washington County at Woodward Academy
Class 2A – No. 3 McIntosh County at Thomasville
Class A – No. 3 Johnson County at Schley County
Ewalt can be reached at aewalt@scoreatl.com.
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