It was bound to happen at some point, because these things are cyclical.
Region 7-AAA is nobody’s punchline anymore. Its population base boomed, new schools opened up and suddenly Northeast Georgia is littered with top-end talent.
As quickly as these things can happen, the region that had been an afterthought since Gainesville’s last trip to the semifinals in 2002 has transformed into the arguably the deepest and strongest in Class AAA. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the northern half of the state, 6-AAA is going through a down spell.
From 2001-2004, Northwest Georgia’s AAA region one was of the state’s most formidable, responsible for 22 playoff wins, seven quarterfinalists, three semifinalists, two finalists and one state champ.
In the four seasons since then: 11 wins, two quarterfinalists and zero appearances beyond the third round. Compare that with 7-AAA’s 17 wins, six quarterfinalists, two semifinalists and one finalist.
It was bound to happen, and the time is right. Just before the realignment spreads its members to parts unknown, 7-AAA is ready to make it official: there’s a new boss in North Georgia.
Realistically, a sweep probably won’t happen. If I were putting money on it, I’d bet on a 2-2 split, right before I checked myself into a home for degenerate gamblers.
But there are reasons to believe it could happen. Here’s four pretty good ones:
1. Connor Shaw. Flowery Branch has plenty of weapons. It leads in the area in total offense and is second only to Gainesville in scoring offense.
But it’s the senior quarterback that makes the Falcons the most dangerous No. 4 seed in the state. Gainesville defended the Falcons better than any team all year, and Shaw still managed more than 300 passing yards. And that was against one of the best defenses in the state.
Ridgeland, 6-AAA’s champs, will be expected to win and eager for revenge after being eliminated by the Falcons in the second round last season. But with Shaw taking the snaps, Flowery Branch is never out of a play or a game until the whistle sounds.
2. Big-play bears. The Creekview Grizzlies have been on a tear lately. They wrapped up 7-AAA’s No. 3 seed by winning their last six, scoring at least 42 points in each game. For the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 38 points per game.
Creekview operates out of a Wing-T offense typically associated with a ball-control, grinding-out-the-yardage philosophy. That’s not exactly how the Grizzlies do it.
Creekview has the proven ability to win in a shootout with a playoff caliber team (see the 38-35 win over Flowery Branch back in September). And since the return of leading rusher Hunter Livingston from injury, the Grizzlies’ offense has been more complete.
Carrollton got burned by long runs last week in a 27-25 loss to Ridgeland with the region championship on the line. If the Trojans don’t shakeoff the ill effects from that heartbreaker, they could find themselves in a hole early tonight.
3. Bob Christmas. That’s not to say North Hall doesn’t have quality athletes; that’d be flat wrong. But players come and go, and North Hall keeps winning — at least since Christmas showed up. Now in his ninth season at the school, the coach is the constant that spans the most successful era in the program’s history.
Before Christmas, North Hall had seven winning seasons. They’ve now had eight in a row, including three quarterfinalappearances and one trip to the semifinals.
4. Big Red is rolling. If you needed any further convincing that Gainesville is a legitimate state title contender, you should have been in Flowery Branch last week.
With no holes to speak of at any position, the Red Elephants are loaded for a run deep into the state playoff and they won’t be tripped up by a No. 4 seed.
Brent Holloway is the sports editor for The Times. Contact him at bholloway@gainesvilletimes.com.