Region outlooks: Here's where Augusta-area high school football teams stand before Week 9
We've reached the point in the high school football season in Augusta where region races begin to take shape.
Which teams have set themselves up for success down the stretch? Which teams still have some work to do? How did our preseason expectations match with the reality of the current standings?
The state playoff picture will become clearer between now and the end of the regular season across all classifications in our four leagues. Until then, here's a look at where teams stand heading into action this Friday and what they need to do in order to secure one of those coveted state playoff berths.
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Augusta-area high school football region outlooks for Week 9
GHSA Region 2-AAAAAA
Current standings:
Effingham County (4-3, 3-0)
Evans (3-3, 2-0)
Glynn Academy (5-2, 2-1)
Brunswick (4-2, 2-1)
Lakeside (2-4, 0-2)
South Effingham (4-2, 0-2)
Grovetown (2-5, 0-3)
With wins over Grovetown and Lakeside, Evans has done exactly what it needed to do through the first two weeks of its region schedule. That’s huge with 3-0 Effingham County traveling to Blanchard Stadium Friday. The Rebels blasted South Effingham and Glynn Academy before narrowly squeaking past Grovetown in a 35-32 thriller. If the Knights get out to a 3-0 start in region play, a favorable final three games makes it all but certain Evans will return to the postseason. They’ll have a tough Brunswick team sandwiched between Glynn Academy and South Effingham, both winnable games.
At 0-2, Lakeside has a tougher road ahead. The good news is the Panthers’ next two opponents are South Effingham and Grovetown, the other winless teams in the region. Getting to 2-2 ahead of meetings with Effingham County and Glynn Academy could put Lakeside in a position to finish with three region wins and a shot at the No. 4 seed.
For Grovetown, the Warriors would need to win out (with a lot of teams to jump) to have a shot at a state playoff berth.
Region 1-AAAAA
Current standings:
Ware County (4-2, 1-0)
Statesboro (2-4, 1-0)
Coffee (6-0, 1-0)
Greenbrier (0-6, 0-1)
Jenkins (1-5, 0-1)
Bradwell Institute (2-4, 0-1)
Despite suffering its 18th-consecutive loss (and fourth-straight by one score) last week, Greenbrier is still in the state playoff hunt. The Wolfpack currently sits fourth in the region standings with winnable games on the schedule. If Greenbrier can get by Jenkins (Friday) and Bradwell institute (Nov. 3), a playoff berth could be in the cards. The one thing standing in its way would be if tiebreakers come into play. That means keeping games against Ware County (Oct. 20) and Coffee (Oct. 27) from getting out of hand.
“I believe in our kids. I told them when they’re in the huddle, I make the decisions because I believe in them. We had to make some tough decisions in that game and I don’t put any blame on them. They played their butts off," Greenbrier coach Tony Kramer said following the Aquinas game. "They did everything they could and it’s the same message as always: they’ve got to continue to work and it’s going to come. I’ve said it a million times and I know it sounds like a broken record, but we’re so close. I know it’s frustrating and it’s hard for a young kid to understand, heck it’s hard for an adult. We’re all in this together and we’re going to continue to get better every week.”
Region 3-AAAA
Current standings:
Benedictine (7-0, 2-0)
Burke County (6-1, 1-1)
New Hampstead (3-3, 1-1)
Wayne County (5-2, 1-1)
Southeast Bulloch (4-3, 1-1)
Islands (0-7, 0-2)
Burke County showed that it has what it takes to hang with the class of the region, coming back to within one score of two-time defending region and state champion Benedictine.
The Bears travel to Islands Friday and barring any disasters, should handle the Sharks. The biggest game remaining for Frankin Stephens’ quad is likely the Oct. 26 trip to New Hampstead. Phoenix quarterback Rashawn Truell torched Benedictine’s secondary for more than 500 yards two weeks ago and then hung 50 on Southeast Bulloch last Friday. If Burke County can make it through New Hampstead and Southeast Bulloch, the Bears will be one of the toughest No. 2 seeds in the state and will host a first-round matchup at the Bear Den.
“You have to give Coach (Danny) Britt and his group credit. Right now they’re the measuring stick in 4A football,” Stephens said. “The key is, somebody is going to have to play lights out for four quarters to beat them. It’s good for our guys to get a taste and see what it’s about. The key is where do we go from here? Are we willing to continue to work and climb that ladder and make ourselves better so that we can get in the mix?”
Region 4-AAA
Current standings:
Morgan County (6-1, 2-0)
Harlem (5-2, 2-0)
Hephzibah (5-2, 1-1)
Richmond Academy (3-4, 1-1)
Cross Creek (3-3, 0-2)
Salem (1-6, 0-2)
Harlem’s 41-20 win over Hephzibah put the Bulldogs in great position to challenge Morgan County for the Region 4-AAA title. The defending region champs have essentially picked up where they left off a year ago, despite graduating more than 20 seniors. While looking a bit different on offense, Harlem has remained one of the most explosive teams in the area and that big-play ability talks in this region.
Hephzibah had high expectations coming into this season, but the Rebels are still in great shape with three games remaining. A chance at an upset of Morgan County Friday is always a possibility, but if they can take care of business against Richmond Academy and Cross Creek over the final two weeks, Hephzibah will once again find itself in the state playoffs.
The young Richmond Academy squad has a chance to clinch the No. 4 seed. While wins over Harlem and Hephzibah might be a tall ask, if the Musketeers can get past Salem in the regular-season finale, they’ll keep playing into November.
Region 4-AA
Current standings:
Thomson (6-1, 4-0)
Putnam County (5-2, 4-0)
Laney (4-2-1, 3-1)
Washington County (3-4, 2-2)
Westside (3-4, 2-2)
Butler (2-5, 1-3)
Glenn Hills (1-7, 1-4)
Josey (1-6, 0-5)
Thomson and Putnam County sit at 4-0 and are once again the favorites for the top two seeds, meaning they’ll likely host first-round state playoff matchups. The defending state champion Bulldogs look poised to repeat as Region 4-AA champions, but regardless the top two spots will be settled after their Oct. 20 meeting at Putnam.
At 3-1, Laney looks like all but a lock to clinch the No. 3 seed at this point. That said, they can sneak into one of the top two spots with an upset over Putnam on Oct. 27. The big game for the Wildcats is Saturday, Oct. 21 against Westside. The Patriots have shown flashes of what it takes to upset one of these top three teams and that can be a trap game for Laney if it isn’t careful.
Lee Hutto’s Westside squad has an outside chance to clinch a postseason berth, but they would need some help Josey and Butler against Washington County down the stretch.
Region 8-A D2
Current standings:
Aquinas (6-1, 2-0)
Greene County (7-0, 2-0)
Lincoln County (4-3, 1-1)
Washington-Wilkes (4-3, 1-1)
Warren County (2-5, 0-2)
Towns County (0-6, 0-2)
Getting past Lincoln County was huge for Aquinas, who now controls its own destiny in the region. If the Fightin’ Irish win out, they’re outright region champions. The big hurdle remaining on the schedule is the Oct. 27 matchup against Greene County. Assuming the Tigers get past Lincoln County next week (admittedly, that’s a pretty big assumption), the winner of that contest will go on to take the region crown. For Aquinas, the most important thing is to take care of business against beatable opponents in Washington-Wilkes (Oct. 20) and Warren County (Nov. 3).
SCHSL Region 4-AAAA
Current standings:
North Augusta (6-2, 2-0)
Midland Valley (7-0, 1-0)
Airport (5-3, 1-1)
South Aiken (1-6, 0-1)
Aiken (0-7, 0-2)
Not many things change in just a year, especially in South Carolina High School League Region 4-AAAA. Defending region champion North Augusta looks poised to repeat, but it’ll likely come down to the regular-season finale against Midland Valley again. Anybody who was around for last year’s thriller at The Jacket’s Nest knows the kind of energy that game has in store. If the Mustangs can get by Aiken (Friday) and South Aiken (Oct. 20) and North Augusta handles Airport (Oct. 20), then the top spot will be up for grabs at Midland Valley come Friday, Oct. 27.
SCISA AAAA
Current standings:
Hammond (6-2, 4-0)
Porter-Gaud (6-2, 4-1)
Cardinal Newman (6-1, 3-1)
Laurence Manning Academy (5-2, 3-1)
Augusta Christian (3-4, 2-1)
Ben Lippen (4-4, 2-2)
Heathwood Hall Episcopal (2-6, 1-5)
Camden Military (1-4, 0-4)
Trinity Collegiate (3-5, 0-4)
Augusta Christian seems has found its stride, winning two-straight before falling to powerhouse Hammond before the bye week. The Lions will be further tested over its final games, hosting Laurence Manning Academy (Friday) and Ben Lippen (Oct. 20) and traveling to Cardinal Newman for the regular-season finale Oct. 27. The Lions will likely see one of those three teams in the first round of the SCISA 4A state playoffs.
GIAA Region 4-AA
Current standings:
Edmund Burke Academy (6-0)
Briarwood Academy (4-3)
Augusta Prep (1-6)
It’s been a season of growing pains for the young Cavaliers. After a road trip to Southwest Georgia Academy Friday, two of their final three regular-season games are region contests. They’ll face Briarwood Academy (Oct. 20), Edmund Burke Academy (Oct. 27) and finish things up with a non-region opponent in Fullington Academy. Edmund Burke has been dominant all season as the Spartans cruised to a 6-0 record and playing on the road doesn’t help. If the Cavaliers are going to pull out a region win, it will likely come against Briarwood.
GIAA 8-Man Region 1
Current standings:
Holy Spirit Prep (5-1, 2-0)
Westminster Schools of Augusta (6-1, 1-1)
Westminster Christian Academy (2-5, 0-2)
Dominion Christian (1-5, 0-0)
The 34-31 loss to Holy Spirit Prep in September means unless the Cougars fumble down the stretch, Westminster will likely be playing as the No. 2 seed in the state playoffs. With winnable games against Dominion Christian (Friday) and Crisp Academy (Oct. 27), the Wildcats should take care of business. The top four seeds host first-round matchups and higher seeds host until the state championship game at Strong Rock Christian on Saturday, Nov. 18.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Region scenarios for Augusta high school football teams for Week 9
