Playoff football leaves NO DOUBT!

 
ATLANTA, GA - During the regular season many say the rankings do not mean anything. In the long scheme of it that may be true, however when a high school football program is playing pretty good football they want to see it respected. That's what rankings do, show a form of respect for the program and "rank" it against the others.

When a playoff system is truly used you do as the word suggest, play-it-off so therefore rankings mean nothing...or do they. Justification for said ranking, proving/playing like a program should be ranked higher or over another program.

How deep you go into the playoffs is of course a "ranking" of some sorts. However going deep in the playoffs will mean more to an under-ranked or non-ranked program or any program for that matter.

Ok the point is this, were going to introduce "Playoff Rankings". 32 teams compete in the state playoffs in each classification. Were going to rank the Top 8 teams based off of regular season play and schedule, strength and weaknesses, and coaching.

The Top 8 does not mean that this will be the teams that make it to the "Elite Eight" but the Top 8 teams in the playoffs for that classification, so if two Top 8 teams met in say, round 2 then they'll be playing to advance and justify their ranking and what ever "non-concern" they have. Going deeper into the playoffs raises your ranking for the next week. Game performance, location (whether home or away) and perceived (perception is sometimes a reality) moxy will factor into the rankings throughout the playoffs. Yet a team can still be a Top 8 team if they are eliminated- their ranking may not move up however.

Playoff Rankings for Georgia Class 5A (AAAAA)
1.Camden County
2.Grayson
3.ML King
4.Colquitt
5.Stephenson
6.Hillgrove
7.McEachern
8.North Gwinnett

Playoff Rankings for Georgia Class 4A (AAAA)
1.Tucker
2.Northside-Warner Robins
3.East Paulding
4.Marist
5.Flowery Branch
6.Lovejoy
7.Clarke Central
8.Mays

Playoff Rankings for Georgia Class 3A (AAA)
1.Sandy Creek
2.St. Pius
3.Carrolton
4.Thomson
5.Burke County
6.Allatoona
7.Grady
8.Baldwin

Playoff Rankings for Georgia Class 2A (AA)
1.Buford
2.Fitzgerald
3.Calhoun
4.Carver-Columbus
5.Elbert County
6.North Oconee
7.Dublin
8.Lamar County


Playoff Rankings for Georgia Class 1A (A)
1.Wilcox
2.Savannah Christian
3.Lincoln County
4.Eagles Landing Christian Academy
5.Charlton County
6.Marion County
7.Seminole County
8.Prince Avenue Christian

Ok so there you have it, it's EIGHT NOT TEN and it "doesn't mean anything" so do get your jollies in a bunch!
You'll be treated to playoff football til December 10th in Georgia so just enjoy the ride, support your program than you pull for and support the high school game of football.

After Round 1 who knows who'll be ranked where but were gonna have fun with it.