What we learned in Week 10: Feelings familiar at House of Pain; big slate in Houston County; playoff scenarios still muddy
Region 1-6A clears up ... a hair
Valdosta and Northside are all but in the playoffs, thanks to Friday night wins over Lee County and Coffee, respectively. And Houston County is all but out. There are scores of scenarios that can play out, absurdly so, but odds are mighty good for the Wildcats and Eagles. Nevertheless, feeling remotely safe in this region is unwise, for nothing in this region is certain.
A little more room for two
Westside’s 35-26 victory over Pike County creates a slightly better possibility of two Bibb County teams making the playoffs from Region 4-3A. Westside and Pike County are tied for third at 2-2 in region play, with Central a half-game back at 2-3. Westside plays Central on Friday at Henderson Stadium, with the winner all but wrapping up a playoff spot. Westside has more room for error in that game, having a game at Kendrick remaining on its schedule. Central closes out the regular season against Westside, and a loss to the Seminoles would all but eliminate the Chargers. Interestingly, Rutland (1-4) still has a remote shot at the playoffs, but a lot would have to fall the Hurricanes’ way, starting with a Nov. 4 win over Pike County.
Let the 4-1A games begin
The crossover matchups have Macon County hosting, well, either Central-Talbotton, Greenville or Pacelli — region officials hadn’t figured out tiebreakers as of early Saturday evening — and Taylor County hosting Brookstone, while Dooly County visits Marion County and Crawford County is at Manchester in 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 pairings. Manchester’s side of the region hosts the championship game in two weeks.
Swagger returning to House of Pain
After losing a bunch of players off its 2014 Class 3A runner-up team, Washington County struggled last year, going 5-6. But, with the help of several sophomore stepping up their games, the Golden Hawks find themselves at 7-1 and knocking on the door of the Region 3-2A title. After blanking Southwest 21-0 on Friday, Washington County needs only to defeat Northeast or Dublin to win the region title.
You’d have lost
Anybody in August who would have predicted that Taylor County and Twiggs County would have only three losses between them heading into the final week of November would have been given a prescription. But here are the 6-2 Cobras and 7-1 Vikings rolling along, with all three losses coming to quality teams.
Region 7-A mystery
While the Macon-area teams in Region 7A-1A have a fairly clear playoff picture, with Tattnall Square winning the region should it beat Stratford on Friday, a couple of interesting results Friday muddied the other side of the region. Both Lincoln County and Aquinas, who entered the week 3-0 in sub-region play, lost by lopsided margins. Greene County topped Lincoln County 42-14, while Washington-Wilkes rolled past Aquinas 43-19. That has created a three-way tie for first between Lincoln County, Aquinas and Washington-Wilkes at 3-1. Aquinas hosts Lincoln County on Friday, while Washington-Wilkes hosts Warren County. The team that emerges from Region 7B-1A hosts the region championship game Nov. 4.
Huge week in Houston County
The new digs for Veterans and Houston County and the venerable digs for Warner Robins and Northside will be amped, Thursday at McConnell-Talbert for Warner Robins-Veterans and Friday at Freedom Field for Northside-Houston County. The Warhawks could end the night with first place in their grasp. Northside clinches at least second place in its region with a win, which would all but end Houston County’s playoff hopes.
This story was originally published October 22, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "What we learned in Week 10: Feelings familiar at House of Pain; big slate in Houston County; playoff scenarios still muddy."