It’s the most wonderful time of the year…it is playoff time. The arduous task of qualifying as one of the top 32 football teams in each classification, class A through class AAAAAA is behind all of the remaining teams and now it’s on to the second season. The Class A power rankings are now complete and those teams have been separated into private and public divisions and will begin play on November 21. For all of the other classifications, Class AA through Class AAAAAA, it is crunch time; win or go home and wait until next year!

The five-week sprint to the Georgia Dome for a shot at a GHSA football championship on December 12th and 13th, begins this weekend.

The most interesting fact about these football playoffs is that a team with a perfect regular season record may not be around for round two of playoff games. Being unbeaten during the regular season does give teams the top seed in their particular bracket, but when games begin this weekend, all teams are starting on equal ground, (or turf).

I’m not sure how I feel about computer projections when it comes to a certain team claiming a football championship, but I read earlier this week that computers are now being fed historical, season and playoff performance data and presto, the 2014 title winners have already been crowned.

I’m old school without a doubt, and I believe that when a team reaches the playoffs, anything can happen. Factors to consider in the upcoming games outside of data and performance to date are as follows: weather, emotion, player injuries and an oblong-shaped football which will bounce in a peculiar manner on occasion. There will be upsets in this weekend’s games – count on it.

Top games this weekend include top-ranked Colquitt County hosting Rockdale County in Class AAAAAA. Grayson is at Mill Creek in the GPB game of the week and other top AAAAAA games find Newton at Valdosta and Tift County at Tucker. In Class AAAAA, top-ranked Ware County plays Starr’s Mill at Memorial Stadium in Waycross. Mundy’s Mill travels to Douglas to meet Coffee at Jardine Stadium. Another top AAAAA matchup finds Alexander at Stephenson.

Class AAAA’s top team, the Buford Wolves; begin pursuit of yet another GHSA football title after winning the class AAA trophy a year ago. Southeast Whitfield is their opening matchup this week. Defending AAAA champion Griffin hosts Liberty County and last year’s semi-finalist, Wayne County, hosts Eagles Landing.

In Class AAA, top-ranked Washington County is at home to play Jackson of Atlanta, Rockmart is at Calhoun and East Hall travels to Hartwell to meet Hart County. Westminster travels to Augusta to meet Laney, in another key first round game in class AAA.

Class AA has some outstanding games slated to open the playoffs as well. Thomasville is at Benedictine Military in Savannah, Berrien is on the road to play at second-ranked Vidalia, Washington-Wilkes plays at Darlington and Chattahoochee County is at number-one ranked Greater Atlanta Christian.
Let the games begin…