The GHSA playoff pairings - well, some - are out, and there are surprises, perhaps more to come later
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Maybe the playoffs actually started a day ago, and not this coming Friday.
Playoff spots and seedings and home games were on the line throughout Central Georgia and the state on Friday, with the GHSAâs release of the postseason rankings and the playoff brackets to come Saturday morning and afternoon.
That plan didnât work out so well. The first official pairings started trickling out more than three hours after scheduled.
Three classes are scheduled to be released after 3 p.m., because of the impact from a noon Saturday kickoff for Columbus and Spencer in Class 4A. Come back after dinnertime for the update.
It was worth the wait for Northside and Veterans, who made the Class 6A field as the final two teams. Then again, they get region rivals No. 1 Thomas County Central and No. 2 Lee County.
The first batch of pairings were posted by the GHSA around 12:45 p.m., three-plus hours after scheduled.
There were no other area notables in 5A and AA in that first collection.
One Central Georgia matchup pits No. 22 ACE Charter at No. 11 Jasper County.
During the day, before that game was done, several Central Georgia teamsâ power rating changed,as did a few places on the lists.
The latest change by the GHSA started this year, basically dumping the importance of region placement for power ratings for all playoff spots.
The calculations include record, opponentsâ record, and the record of opponentsâ opponents.
The inability of all athletics directors in the state to properly post scores with the GHSA has been an issue all season. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that more than 80 teams had incorrect records as of Nov. 3, thus adversely affect PSR rankings for most of the state.
The top 32 teams in each class make the playoffs. Region champions are guaranteed a first-round home game and top 16 seed regardless of their ranking. So, some region champs will be ranked lower than non-champions.
The GHSA posted a âhypeâ video regarding the bracket releases on Zoom. Because a Saturday makeup game affects rankings in Class A, 3A, and 4A, those three classes are scheduled to be posted after 3 p.m., with the other classes supposed to come out in 15-minute increments starting Saturday at 9 a.m.
Central Georgia had teams right on the bubble, and they fell off, and out of the postseason. Three were in Houston County: Northside and Veterans in 6A, and Warner Robins in 5A.
Northside and Veterans had mammoth tasks to pull off phenomenal upsets. Northside lost 52-7 on Thursday to No. 1 Thomas County Central, and Veterans fell 42-8 to No. 8 Coffee.
Yet both still eked in.
Warner Robinsâ battle with consistency ended with a rousing 34-33 win over Perry to jump the Panthers, who are the next-to-lowest seed.
Wilkinson County was No. 33 in Class A when Friday began and dropped to 35, having had Friday off.
A surprise that doesnât change much in the big picture is Bleckley County and Dublin swapping spots in AA, the Royals now one spot ahead of the region champion Irish at 3-4.
Dublin opens with region foe Vidalia, which has lost six straight, including 48-6 to the Irish a few weeks ago.
If that swap is notable, itâll show most likely in the quarterfinal with any matchup the stands out.
Jones County is one of those teams that has a region title but ranks below several teams. The Greyhounds are No. 22, but 16th in the seeding because of that title.
and theyâll host No. 16 Lithonia.
West Laurens took 3-AAAA and is No. 20, giving the Raiders a home game and top-16 seed.
Hereâs a look at the before and after rankings, as of what the GHSA had posted at 2 p.m. Friday and what the rankings were Saturday. The first numbers are the before and after ranking.
This list only includes teams that were in the top 40 entering Fridayâs action and doesnât include adjustments for region titles.
Schedule
(Links are to brackets)
Class 6A
No. 18 Houston County, 5-5, at No. 15 Kell, 8-2
No. 31 Northside, 3-7, at No. 2 Lee County, 9-1
No. 32 Veterans, 4-6, at No. 1 Thomas County Central, 10-0
Class 5A
No. 17 Lithonia, 6-4, at No. 22/16 Jones County, 6-4, at
No. 27 Warner Robins, 6-4, at No. 8 Jefferson, 8-2
No. 31 Perry, 5-5, at No. 2 Cartersville, 10-0
Class 4A
TBA at No. 1 Peach County, 10-0
TBA at No. 8 Baldwin, 7-3
TBA at No. 11 Mary Persons, 6-4
TBA at No. 20 West Laurens, 6-4
No. 24 Howard, 5-5, at TBA
Class AAA
TBA At No. 10 Northeast, 9-1
No. 19 Lamar County, 7-3, at TBA
No. 28 Washington County, 4-6, at TBA
Class AA
No. 30 Jefferson County, 3-7, at No. 3 Bleckley County, 8-2
No. 29 Vidalia, 2-8, at No. 4 Dublin, 9-1
No. 22 ACE Charter, 5-5 at No. 11 Jasper County, 6-4
No. 18 Dodge County, 5-5, at No. 15 Berrien, 6-4
No. 19 Pepperell, 5-5, at No. 14 Putnam County, 7-3
No. 28 East Laurens, 3-7, at No. 5 Jeff Davis, 9-1
Class A
TBA at No. 3 Taylor County, 9-1
TBA at No. 7 Macon County, 9-1
No. 20 Hawkinsville, 5-5, at TBA
Post Season Rankings
As of 1 p.m.
On Friday On Saturday
Class 6A
16/18. Houston County .58619 .57727
31. Northside 49323 .48979
32. Veterans 49010 .48929
Class 5A
22. Jones County .56815 .56761
25/31. Perry .54925 .52839
31/27. Warner Robins .52201 .53860
Class 4A
2/1. Peach County .72139 .73192
8. Baldwin .62700 .62761
11/14. Mary Persons .59487 .58658
22/20. West Laurens .54368 .55825
24. Howard .54066 .53963
40/42. Westside .43172 .41531
Class AAA
9/10. Northeast .61510 .58952
15. Lamar County .54852 .56018
28. Washington County .46433 .46586
38/39. Rutland .42778 .42694
Class AA
3/4. Dublin .68600 .67802
4/3. Bleckley County .68066 .68055
11. Jasper County .58014 .58142
12/14. Putnam County .57308 .55312
19/22. ACE Charter .51551 .49563
20/17. Dodge County .51521 .53347
27/28. East Laurens .44058 .44631
Class A
1/3. Taylor County .64734 .64088
7. Macon County .60493 .60979
24/20. Hawkinsville .48051 .50081
33/35.Wilkinson County .42535 .42207
36/38. GMC Prep .42122 .40786
40/39. Hancock Central .38517 .39789