Playoffs begin a week early for some teams

TIFTON — While the schedule may say the state football playoffs for public and private schools begin Nov. 16, it does not mention that Nov. 9 will also offer a lot of playoff action as teams will need wins to seal their spots in their respective state tournaments.

If the Tift County Blue Devils can defeat the Colquitt County Packers Friday, they are in the state playoffs as the No. 4 seed out of Region 1-AAAAA.

Tift can still get in, even with a loss, if Warner Robins falls to Lowndes. But coach Jay Walls’ squad would like to earn their way into the state tournament after making it to the state Final Four last season.

The Tiftarea Academy Panthers can also guarantee themselves more football with a win Friday against Valwood. A Panther victory, along with a Brookwood win over Southwest Georgia Academy, would give coach Marvin Barton’s team the second seed out of Region 3-AA.

Tiftarea could also have to play in mini-region playoffs, considering how Friday’s games turn out.

While the Devils and Panthers are playing unofficial playoff games, the Irwin County Indians will be playing a legitimate playoff encounter.

Coach John Gamble’s team will be in McRae to face the Telfair County Trojans in a Region 2-A playoff contest. Irwin finished as the No. 3 seed from Region 2-A:A, while Telfair was the second seed out of 2-A:B. Telfair’s higher seeding gives the Trojans the home game even though Irwin defeated Telfair 23-14 earlier this season in a region crossover game.

A win Friday over the Brooks County Trojans could give the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes the Region 1-AA football championship.

If coach Robby Pruitt’s Hurricanes beat Brooks and the Early County Bobcats defeat the Thomasville Bulldogs, there would be a three-way tie at the top of Region 1-AA. Fitzgerald would get the region title due to the Hurricanes’ 13-6 victory earlier this season over Class AA Dodge County.

Neither Early or Thomasville have wins over Class AA competition outside of the region, so Fitzgerald would have the tie-breaker advantage.

The Worth County Rams also control their own destiny. A win over Westover in Albany Friday could possibly give the Rams the No. 2 seed out of Region 1-AAA, if Dougherty were to defeat Monroe.

A Monroe win over Dougherty and a Worth win would give coach Harris Rainbow’s team the fourth seed out of the region.

One Tiftarea team is set in the state playoffs.

No matter what happens Friday night against the Mitchell County Eagles, the Cook High Hornets are set as the fourth seed out of Region 1-AA. Barring an upset that should put the Hornets against the Swainsboro Tigers in the first round of the state playoffs. Swainsboro only needs a victory Friday over winless Metter to earn the 3-AA championship.

The Turner County Rebels will close out their regular season Friday at home against the Montgomery County Eagles.

Turner and Montgomery each finished as the fifth place teams in their respective subregions out of Region 2-A. The Rebels own a 35-14 win earlier this year over Montgomery in a region crossover game.

The Berrien High Rebels closed out their regular season this past Friday with a 35-14 loss against Mitchell County.

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