In a relative high school football oddity, the entirety of Georgia Region 5-3A, which includes Cedar Grove, Sandy Creek, Carver-Atlanta, and Douglass, enjoyed a bye this past weekend. That quirk likely couldn’t have come at a better time, as 3A’s most competitive region soon will begin competition in a rugged playoff bracket.
Expectations are highest for the probable top seed in Georgia Region 5-3A, Cedar Grove. The Saints are coming off a state championship win last season over region foe Carver-Atlanta. With a win over the Panthers in a rematch of that title game, the Saints can lock up their sixth region championship since 2015. However, their sights are set on yet another state championship run, and the road won’t be easy. Facing some of the better teams in more competitive regions through the early rounds, the Saints could actually have their easiest playoff matchup (excepting the first round) in the state title game. The bye week was extremely important, as it gave players a chance to rest and recuperate after a rigorous regular-season schedule.
Barring something spectacular, Sandy Creek appears to be the No. 2 seed in the region after defeating Carver-Atlanta by 10. The Patriots certainly don’t want a repeat of last season’s shocking first-round playoff loss, so thE bye week serves as an opportunity to improve mentally. A more favorable path to the title game in the playoffs may result in a deep playoff run, one that could even result in a rematch with top-ranked Cedar Grove at Center Parc Stadium. The Patriots gave the Saints all they could handle early on, and a second chance might be the fuel they need to pull off the upset of the year. Before that, though, they must take care of business in the early rounds, something they failed to do last season.
Carver-Atlanta currently sits third in region, and the bye week gave the Panthers a chance to improve the rushing game that was so dynamic last season. Carver failed to reach 50 yards on the ground in their loss against Sandy Creek, and a rematch with Cedar Grove’s daunting front seven doesn’t bode well for the Panthers’ offense. The offensive line will need to sustain blocks over the next several weeks in order to avoid an upset in the first few rounds of the playoffs. The defense is a bright spot, with Aquantis Clemmons wreaking havoc up front. Practicing late game situations may be the deciding factor between a deep playoff run and a first-round loss.
Douglass, the last seed in Georgia Region 5-3A, has much work to do in order to even escape the first round. They’ll likely draw the high-flying offense of Adairsville, a mismatch considering the Astros have allowed 80 points in their last two games. If they manage to pull off that upset, there’s a good chance they run into the third seed from a loaded Region 8 that features Monroe Area, Stephens County, and Oconee County. Building momentum with a respectable performance in the last week of the regular season would be a positive for the Astros.
