First-round playoff match-ups not affected by re-draw

While some potential late-round playoff match-ups have changed due to initial errors by the Georgia High School Association, first-round match-ups have not changed this Friday for area football programs.

The GHSA re-drew the football playoff brackets Monday morning after discovering mistakes in the original line-up. The changes affect potential battles for area programs in the quarterfinal round and beyond.

Of the number of area teams that qualified for state, three first-round games will be contested live on local radio.

No. 1-ranked Gainesville (10-0) will play host to fourth-seeded Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (7-3) on 1240-AM ESPN Radio. The Red Elephants will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at City Park. Gainesville saw No. 2 Peach County (10-0) move out of its quarter of the bracket on Monday, as No. 5 Baldwin (8-2) moved in. The Braves are Region 3-AAA champs and have losses to Peach and Carver, Columbus this season. Carver knocked the Red Elephants out in the quarterfinal stage last season (28-14), and the two could meet up again this season in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Majic 102.9 FM will head to The Brickyard on Friday to cover eight-ranked North Hall in its game against Ringgold live. The Trojans (8-2) finished out the regular season on a seven-game win streak and took the No. 2 seed from Region 7-AAA. Meanwhile, Ringgold (8-2) defeated Central, Carroll in a play-in game last week to finish third in Region 6-AAA. Peach County was moved into North Hall's quarter of the bracket.

And, WDUN AM-550 will take to the road with Flowery Branch (7-3) as the Falcons look to replicate the magic of last year's playoff run when they travel to Ridgeland (9-1). Flowery Branch knocked off the Panthers 21-14 in the second round of the state playoffs last season en route to a Class AAA championship game appearance. Ridgeland grabbed the Region 6-AAA title with a 27-25 upset over fifth-ranked Carrollton last week.

Region 7-AAA's third seed, Creekview (9-1) will travel to face Carrollton (9-1)

Meanwhile, other area programs saw changes in their brackets, including Buford and Jefferson. The third-ranked Wolves (9-1) and fourth-ranked Dragons (10-0), who could play each other in the second round, are now on the same side of the draw as No. 2 Fitzgerald (10-0). Buford plays host to Pepperell (9-1) in the first round, while Heard County (6-4) travels to Jefferson. Also in Class AA, fourth-seeded Riverside Military (5-5) travels to Region 5-AA champs Callaway (8-2), and second-seeded East Jackson (9-1) plays host to third-seeded Manchester (7-3).

In Class AAAAA, No. 2 North Gwinnett's potential quarterfinal match-up with No. 7 Northside, Warner Robins has been erased. Now, the Bulldogs (10-0) could face No. 4 Lowndes (9-1) in the same round. Lowndes could also take on No. 8 Camden County (8-2) in the second round. North Gwinnett faces Centennial (5-5) in the first round in Suwanee. Also in Class AAAAA, North Forsyth (7-3) faces ninth-ranked Lassiter (10-0) in the first round.

In Class AAAA, No. 7 Thomas County Central (9-1) was moved on to the same side of the bracket as No. 4 Apalachee (10-0). The Wildcats will battle Starr's Mill (6-4) in the first round.

And, in Class A, No. 2 Savannah Christian has been moved into the same side of the bracket with Commerce (6-4). The Tigers finished second in Region 8-A and will take on Landmark Christian (6-4) in the first round at home.


-- HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF GAMES:

(Schools are listed by region seed. The top two teams from each region play host to first round games.)

-- Region 7-AAA vs. Region 6-AAA
1. Gainesville vs. 4. Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe, Radio: 1240-AM ESPN
2. North Hall vs. 3. Ringgold, Radio: Majic 102.9 FM
3. Creekview at 2. Carrollton
4. Flowery Branch at 1. Ridgeland, Radio: WDUN AM-550

-- Region 8-AA vs. Region 5-AA
1. Jefferson vs. 4. Heard County
2. East Jackson vs. 3. Manchester
3. North Oconee at 2. Lamar County
4. Riverside Military at 1. Callaway

-- Region 8-AAAA vs. Region 5-AAAA
1. Apalachee vs. 4. Starr's Mill

-- Region 8-A vs. Region 5-A
2. Commerce vs. 3. Landmark Christian

-- Region 7-AAAAA vs. Region 6-AAAAA
1. North Gwinnett vs. 4. Centennial
4. North Forsyth at 1. Lassiter

-- Region 6-AA vs. 7-AA
2. Buford vs. 3. Pepperell


-- FINAL AREA STANDINGS:

Region 7A-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
North Hall.................6-0.........................8-2
Creekview................5-1.........................9-1
White County...........4-2.........................7-3
Chestatee................3-3.........................4-6
Gilmer.......................2-4.........................4-6
Lumpkin County.....1-5.........................4-6
Pickens....................0-6.........................2-8

Region 7B-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
Gainesville..............5-0.........................10-0
Flowery Branch......4-1.........................7-3
West Forsyth..........3-2.........................6-4
Johnson..................2-3.........................3-7
East Hall.................1-4.........................1-9
West Hall................0-5.........................0-10


Region 8-AA Standings
TEAM..................Region...................Overall
Jefferson.................9-0.........................10-0
East Jackson.........8-1.........................9-1
North Oconee.........6-3.........................7-3
Riverside.................5-4.........................5-5
Union Co.................5-4.........................6-4
Fannin Co...............5-4.........................6-4
Oglethorpe Co.......4-5.........................5-5
Banks Co................2-7.........................2-8
Dawson Co............1-8.........................1-9
Rabun Co...............0-9.........................1-9


Region 6-AA standings
TEAM...................Region.................Overall
Lovett.....................6-1......................9-1
Buford...................6-1......................9-1
Westminster........6-1......................7-3
Avondale...............4-3......................6-4
Decatur.................3-4......................5-5
Blessed Trinity....2-5......................5-5
GACS....................1-6......................1-9
Cross Keys..........0-7......................1-9


Region 8-AAAA standings
TEAM..........................Region..............Overall
Apalachee...................10-0.....................10-0
Clarke Central............8-2.....................8-2
Rockdale County.......7-3......................7-3
Loganville....................6-4.....................6-4
Salem..........................6-4......................6-4
Madison County........5-5.......................5-5
Habersham Central..4-6......................4-6
Heritage, Conyers.....4-6......................4-6
Cedar Shoals.............3-7.....................3-7
Winder-Barrow..........2-8.......................2-8
Monroe Area...............0-10......................0-10


Region 8-A standings
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Wesleyan...................6-0.........................10-0
Commerce................5-1..........................6-4
Athens Academy.......4-2.........................7-3
Social Circle..............3-3.........................4-6
Athens Christian......2-4..........................5-5
Prince Avenue...........1-5..........................3-7
Lakeview....................0-6.........................1-8
*Hebron Christian....................................5-3
*Towns County.........................................2-8
(*-playing a non-region schedule)


Region 7-AAAAA standings
TEAM................Region...................Overall
North Gwinnett....8-0.........................10-0
P'tree Ridge.........7-1.........................8-2
Collins Hill...........6-2.........................8-2
North Forsyth......5-3..........................7-3
Norcross .............5-3.........................5-5
Mill Creek............4-4..........................6-5
Chattahoochee...3-5.........................4-6
Northview.............1-7.........................2-8
South Forsyth.....1-7..........................1-9
Duluth...................0-8.........................1-9