Wayne Grandy
MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County football team will be in the unusual position of rooting for Warner Robins tonight as the final weekend of regular season football gets under way.
If the Packers (5-1) can defeat Northside (5-1) tonight and Warner Robins (4-2) can pull off a win over Lowndes (5-1) at Martin Stadium, the Packers will claim the Region 1-AAAAA championship and be assured of the first two playoff games at home.
Lowndes, of course, has other ideas.
The Vikings have won the last two region championships and can claim a third tonight, but will need help.
Because of their 10-7 loss to Northside earlier this season, the Vikings need a win over the Demons and a Colquitt County win to claim the championship.
If Lowndes and Northside both win tonight, they will finish with 6-1 records and the Eagles will go to the playoffs as the top seed by virtue of their victory over the Vikings.
But Viking also could fall all the way to No. 4 and have to travel to face a formidable Newnan team in the first round if they lose to Warner Robins and Colquitt County beats Northside.
And the Demons should be highly motivated as well.
The Demons can finish as high as second with a win and a Colquitt County win, but they also will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss.
The Demons kept their playoff hopes alive with a 21-point fourth quarter that beat Northside 21-20 last week, but must find some way to defeat a Lowndes team that many believe might be the best Class AAAAA team in the state.
Valdosta (3-3) will watch the Friday night proceedings closely.
A Warner Robins loss will put Valdosta in the playoffs if the Wildcats can beat Houston County (0-6) on the road Saturday night.
The Region 1-AAAAA playoff teams will meet Region 4 teams in the first round.
Newnan, 9-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAA, has already clinched the Region 4 title and will play host to Region 1’s No. 4 team.
Westlake of Atlanta is No. 2 and will play host to Region 1’s No. 3.
East Coweta is No. 3 and will travel to play the Region 1 runner-up.
Three teams — Chapel Hill, Pebblebrook and Creekside — are still in the running for the fourth playoff berth.
A Monday mini-game could be necessary to determine the No. 4 seed.
The other Region 1-AAAAA game tonight will feature a pair of 1-5 teams with Coffee traveling to Brodie Field to meet Tift County.
The Trojans are 3-6 overall; the Blue Devils 2-7.
