Region changes, but Calhoun still favorite
The subregion nightmare is over for Georgia’s Region 6-AAA football teams.
When Bremen’s appeal to move down to Class AA was granted by the Georgia High School Association during this year’s reclassification mid-cycle adjustment, 6-AAA’s remaining nine teams rejoiced. Now, instead of having subregions, they will compete in a traditional, everyone-plays-everyone region.
“We’re excited about the full region schedule,” said Calhoun coach Hal Lamb, who has led the Yellow Jackets to 18 straight region titles. “It’s the best way to get the top four teams, obviously.”
The biggest complaint about the previous format was that a team could have gone undefeated through its first nine games but miss the state playoffs if it lost its region crossover game to finish the regular season. Now eight region games per school will decide 6-AAA’s top four.
“The good thing is,” Sonoraville coach Denver Pate said, “it’s not leaving that 10th game up for chance.”
Said North Murray coach Preston Poag: “I like it much better, because you could lose that last game and not make the playoffs, even if, like we did the past two years, you win your subregion.
“Of course, everybody’s eyes will be on Calhoun again, but we can’t worry about them until we play.”
Yes, the Jackets are heavily favored for an 18-peat, which would set a state record. Lamb has 14 starters returning from last year’s team that surprised by winning a state championship, and there area a slew of young players ready to make their marks.
North Murray returns a great deal of its offense, led by quarterback Preston Poag Jr., and nine starters on defense, several of them sophomores a year ago. Ringgold has quarterback Cole Kibler, who passed for 2,000 yards last season, and the best pair of receivers in the region in Pete Brower and Andre Tarver. Adairsville returns playmaker Mason Boswell, and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe has Nathan Williams, who rushed for 1,200 yards in 2017 while helping the Warriors to five wins, their most since a seven-win 2012 season.
“Going back to a full region is good, but you now have North Murray, which is now a very good team, and Lakeview is coming on, not to mention the beast, Calhoun,” Ringgold coach Robert Akins said. “That doesn’t even count Sonoraville and Adairsville, two good teams that will be tough again.”
Murray County also has playoff hopes, while Coahulla Creek and Haralson County are programs seeking to head in the right direction.
As of now, though, it’s still the Jackets and everybody else.
“Calhoun sets the standard,” LFO coach Bo Campbell said. “I enjoy playing Calhoun because it shows our players where they need to be. Our region is very tough, but that’s the way it should be.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.