Stuck with the subregion setup, Region 7-AAA’s football coaches decided on a schedule for the 2008 season Monday and the plan is expected to be ratified by the region’s principals today.

The proposed schedule mandates a full subregion schedule with three cross-over games against teams from the opposite subregion. The remaining games are open to non-region or cross-over opponents.

The coaches had hoped to scrap the subregion system and place all 13 teams in a single pool, but the Georgia High School Association’s ruling Thursday, stating all regions with 12 or more teams must be subdivided, forced a revision of that plan. After failing to come to a conclusion at their meeting Friday, the coaches settled on a subregion schedule Monday.

Per GHSA mandates, subregion A will consist of Chestatee, Creekview, Gilmer, Lumpkin County, North Hall, Pickens and White County. East Hall, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Johnson, West Forsyth and West Hall will compete in subregion B.

Each team has already filled its schedule for the 2008 season. Two of the more intriguing non-region games include Flowery Branch’s season opener at Stephens County (11-1 in 2007), and North Hall’s trip to play Class AA state champ Buford on Sept. 5.

At Monday’s meeting the coaches also settled on a subregion tie-breaking and region playoff seeding procedures.

Subregion record will the be primary determinant of standings, followed by head-to-head competition. Any remaining ties will be settled by margin of victory in subregion games, with teams awarded a maximum of 13 points per victory.

The first-place teams from each subregion are guaranteed the region’s first and second playoff seeds in the proposed arrangement. The No. 1 seed will be decided based on head-to-head record, if applicable. If the subregion winners did not meet during the regular season, the team with the better winning percentage against Class AAA opposition will be named region champion.

The second-place teams from each subregion are guaranteed the third and fourth seeds from 7-AAA. Again, head-to-head and winning percentage against Class AAA teams will determine which team gets the No. 3 spot.