While South Georgia high school football didn’t produce a national juggernaut like we have seen from Colquitt County over the last two years, the 2016 regular season was one of the most enjoyable campaigns in recent memory because of the competitiveness and balance many teams have shown. There are still some familiar names atop the region standings as the regular season draws to a close, but South Georgia football has truly proven that, from AA all the way up to AAAAAAA, on any given Friday, any team can earn a victory.
Arguably the biggest surprise of the 2016 regular season was the turnaround that the Thomasville Bulldogs experienced. Not that coach Zach Grage wasn’t completely set on “restoring pride in the Diamond T” as he mentioned many times over the course of the season, but the speed at which the ‘Dogs righted the ship was incredible. After winning just one game a season ago and seemingly hitting rock bottom as a program in 2015, Thomasville knocked off AA power Brooks County in blowout fashion to set up a region championship on the road versus Fitzgerald. Not only will the ‘Dogs make the playoffs, but they will host a home playoff game. Region 1-AA is one of the best examples of this aforementioned balance, as three area teams finished first through third in the region and first place was decided by just a single game.
One of the area’s lone AAAA representatives, the Cairo Syrupmakers, also experienced a resurgence during this year’s regular season. After dropping a thriller at home to rival Thomas County Central, the ‘Makers went on a two-month-long winning streak to capture the region 1-AAAA crown on the strength of a defense that allowed the fewest points of any region team. Cairo defeated Thomasville by 11, lost to TCC by six, and beat Bainbridge by three.
While region 1-AAAAA, which features area teams TCC and Bainbridge, wasn’t as strong as some predicted it might be at the beginning of the season, the race for the top seed and home field advantage in the state playoffs was still exciting. Three teams entered the final week of the regular season at 2-1, and Thomas County Central, on the strength of beating Bainbridge 17-6 and Warner Robins 33-22, earned a potential region-championship-clinching game at home versus Harris County. South Georgia teams will likely have the top two seeds from region 1-AAAAA come state playoff time.
Region 1-AAAAAA was arguably the most competitive region in the state, regardless of classification, as five quality teams battled for four playoff spots throughout the regular season. This region epitomized “any given Friday,” as it seemed that any team was capable of seizing control of the standings at any given time. The Valdosta Wildcats won the region title for the first time since 2011, but Northside, Coffee, Lee County, and Houston County all entered the regular season’s final week within 0.5 games of each other in the standings. No matter what happens, a quality football team is going to be left at home when the playoffs roll around.
Colquitt County was up to its usual tricks in region 1-AAAAAAA, but not without a fight from Lowndes. The Packers closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak after starting 0-4 but were forced to score a late touchdown to break a 35-35 tie with the Vikings to win the region. While Camden and Tift fell off the pace in terms of chances to advance deep in the state playoffs, the gap at the top between Propst’s Packers and McPherson’s Vikings closed considerably, at least for one season. Both Colquitt and Lowndes are capable of making deep runs in the 7A state playoffs.
While the balance shown by several South Georgia football teams has been nothing short of enjoyable to watch, the most talented and experienced squads will ultimately rise to the top as December nears. Expect a few South Georgia teams to bring home some hardware at the conclusion of what has been one of the most competitive and balanced seasons in recent memory.
Area Teams Exhibit Remarkable Balance In Regular Season Action
ITG Web Feature
Written by: Jacob Dennis
