REGION 7-AA OUTLOOK

Teams to beat: Rockmart and Pepperell. Or maybe Pepperell and Rockmart. It was the former last season, when the Yellow Jackets topped the Dragons 56-42 for Pepperell’s only region loss. It was the latter in 2016, when the Dragons defeated the Yellow Jackets 31-10 for Rockmart’s only region loss. These two might fight it out for the top spot a third straight time.

Watch out for: Chattooga has been, at worst, competitive in most region games since Charles Hammon took over as coach four years ago. That should be the case again, and the Indians could really shake up the league with an upset of Rockmart or Pepperell.

Best game: See “Teams to beat” — then circle Oct. 5, when Rockmart visits Pepperell, as the likely region championship game.

Dream schedule: Pepperell gets to host what are arguably its three toughest region games, and they’re spread out nicely, with the Dragons facing Coosa on Sept. 21, Rockmart on Oct. 5 and Chattooga on Nov. 2. Add in an open date the

week after what will surely be a physical battle with the Yellow Jackets, and things set up fairly well for Pepperell where the calendar is concerned.

Nightmare schedule: Coosa’s first five games are against teams that made the playoffs a year ago. Nonregion matchups against Trion (7-4 in 2017), Darlington (8-5) and at Mount Zion-Carroll (10-3), are followed by a 7-AA opener versus Chattooga and a trip to Pepperell.

Players to watch: Coosa senior Sean Brown, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end, announced his college commitment in the spring, choosing Tennessee over three other Southeastern Conference programs (Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss). He can be a target in the passing game but is known for his physical play — he made an all-area team last season as a defensive lineman. He is a member of Georgia High School Football Daily’s Class AA preseason all-state team this year, along with Rockmart running back Zabrion Whatley, who rushed for 1,530 yards last season.