Chris Mooneyham

The newest GHSA football rankings via 680 The Fan’s FNF crew. October 2nd…

Coming up this week on Life University’s 680 The Fan Friday Night Football…

The Chattahoochee Cougars (4-2 overall/ 3-1 in Region 7-6A classification) visit the John’s Creek Gladiators (2-4 overall/ 2-2 in Region 7-6A classification).

While many teams across the state are just beginning or are close to diving into region play, most of the clubs of Region 7, in the AAAAAA classification, are at the midway point of region play.

Remember, region play, and your record therein, determines if you make the state playoffs and what exactly your seeding will be. Finishing in the top four spots of your respective region qualifies a team for the postseason.

Currently, Chattahoochee is in a good spot. The Cougars lone region loss was last week to Centennial, so entering this week they sit in third place. Plus, they have already defeated North Atlanta, Cambridge and Dunwoody. So, effectively those teams are in dire straits as far as catching Chattahoochee. A win this week would put them on the verge of the postseason.

For many, the performance of head coach Vince Strine’s (13-23 in four seasons) bunch has been surprising. Not since 2012 has this program reached the postseason and many have whispered of the talent well drying up. On the other hand, some will point to last season as an indicator of things to come. At 3-4, the Cougars were on the verge of being run out of their season, but the kids rallied around each other and won two of the last three on the schedule to finish at .500. In the finale, they gave playoff bound Alpharetta everything they could handle in a one-possession loss.

Team Region Record  
W L T W L T
Alpharetta 3 0 0 4 1 0
Centennial 3 1 0 3 3 0
Chattahoochee 3 1 0 4 2 0
Pope 2 1 0 2 3 0
Johns Creek 2 2 0 2 4 0
Northview 1 2 0 1 4 0
North Atlanta 1 3 0 3 3 0
Cambridge 1 3 0 1 5 0
Dunwoody 0 3 0 2 3 0

 

On the other side, John’s Creek has worked through a short history that has been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. After a combined 17-5 record in 2011-12, the next three years saw the team post a 5-25 mark. Then, last season the Gladiators broke out and became one of the top stories of 2016 with an 8-3 slate and a region championship. Now, first year head coach Matt Helmerich has been brought in to steady the ship. Helmerich was the defensive coordinator at Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas from 2010 to 2016, during which Aquinas won four state titles and one mythical national championship.

As far as the standings go, they are in fine shape. The team’s two wins have come versus Pope and Northview; so, it owns the tiebreaker with the two teams immediately around. The two losses were applied by Centennial and Cambridge. The loss to Centennial is a bad one as far as catching them and passing, but with Cambridge now near the bottom of the standings, worrying about a tiebreaker with them may be a moot point.

Take a moment and insert a win and loss for each team and where that would place them in the standings; given previous ballgames. That is a good exercise to show the importance of this contest. JC needs it more than The Hooch, but not by much. This region still has a long way to go and it will surely come down to the last whistle of the last ballgame.

Make sure to join us live beginning at 7pm on THE FAN 2, 1230 AND 106-3 FM AND THE FAN 3, 1340 AND 103-7 FM.  

AAAAAAA

  1. Grayson (5-0)
  2. Lowndes (6-0)
  3. Colquitt County (6-1)
  4. Archer (5-0)
  5. Walton (5-0)
  6. North Gwinnett (5-1)
  7. Tift County (7-0)
  8. South Forsyth (5-0)
  9. Newton (5-1)
  10. Mill Creek (4-2)

Honorable Mention: Brookwood (3-2), Parkview (3-2), North Paulding (5-0), McEachern (3-2), Lassiter (4-1)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside Region 3. McEachern is at North Cobb: some believe this will end up producing the region champion. North Paulding is at Hillgrove: have the Hawks figured it out and is the Pack for real? Marietta is at Kennesaw Mountain: speaking of being for real (looking at you KM); and how healthy are the Blue Devils?

AAAAAA

  1. Lee County (7-0)
  2. Tucker (5-1)
  3. Mays (4-1)
  4. Northside-Warner Robins (5-1)
  5. Harrison (3-2)
  6. Douglas County (6-0)
  7. Winder Barrow (6-0)
  8. Alexander (4-1)
  9. Dalton (4-1)
  10. Alpharetta (4-1)

Honorable Mention: Coffee (3-2), Hughes (4-2), Stephenson (4-2), Richmond Hill (5-0), Bradwell Institute (6-0)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside of Region 5. In fact, the biggest game in this class across the state will most likely be Douglas County at Mays, a contest that will surely determine the region champion and a top five ranking come end of season. After losing to each of those teams, Hughes looks to get healthy with South Paulding. And if Northgate wants to nab that fourth-place finish, they must win at New Manchester

AAAAA

  1. Rome (5-0)
  2. Buford (3-1)
  3. Stockbridge (5-0)
  4. Jones County (6-0)
  5. Warner Robins (6-0)
  6. Carrollton (4-1)
  7. Kell (3-3)
  8. Carver-Atlanta (5-1)
  9. Whitewater (4-2)
  10. Griffin (5-1)

Honorable Mention: Starr’s Mill (5-1), Bainbridge (4-2), Clarke Central (4-2), Villa Rica (4-2), Flowery Branch (5-1)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside of Region 3. This region features six playoff caliber teams and has the potential to be quite chaotic. Whitewater, Griffin and Starr’s Mill are all grouped together. The Wildcats defeated the Bears September 22 and the Panthers lost to Griffin last Friday. Whitewater visits Starr’s Mill this week. So, we are a Whitewater win from a region title virtually being clinched. Or a Wildcat loss away from a three-way tie. Meanwhile, don’t sleep on McIntosh, who is 5-0 and facing Fayette County this week. Plus, Morrow has a good little club and hosts Griffin.

AAAA

  1. Cartersville (6-0)
  2. Thomson (4-0)
  3. Blessed Trinity (5-1)
  4. Marist (6-0)
  5. Jefferson (5-1)
  6. Ridgeland (5-0)
  7. Burke County (5-0)
  8. Troup (6-0)
  9. Mary Persons (4-2)
  10. Woodward Academy (5-1)

Honorable Mention: Eastside (5-1), Heritage-Ringgold (6-0), Cedartown (5-1), Baldwin (4-2), Northwest Whitfield (4-2)

Time, once again, for your “Cartersville win streak update”…after dispatching of Central-Carrollton 55-6, the Purple Hurricanes are up to 36-consecutive victories. They have now matched Thomson High School’s streak from 1966-69. This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside Region 5. Cedartown faces Central of Carrollton and the loser might be out of the playoffs. Sandy Creek should bounce back from their crushing defeat last week, but face a tough little Chapel Hill squad.

AAA

  1. Cedar Grove (5-0)
  2. Peach County (4-1)
  3. Greater Atlanta Christian (5-1)
  4. Calhoun (5-1)
  5. Monroe Area (6-0)
  6. Bremen (6-0)
  7. Morgan County (5-1)
  8. Jenkins (5-0)
  9. Pace Academy (2-2)
  10. Crisp County (4-1)

Honorable Mention: Union County (4-2), Westside-Macon (3-3), Lovett (2-3), Dawson County (3-2), East Hall (5-1)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside Region 7. East Hall is the team you have heard of that is “scoring all of those points.” Yes, they have eclipsed 42-points in each of their six games and scored more than 55 four times. This week, the Vikings get a shot at GAC. It was believed Dawson County would be the second place team in preseason, they will have a shot but face a tough Union County team on the road.   

AA

  1. Benedictine (6-0)
  2. Callaway (5-0)
  3. Hapeville Charter (4-1)
  4. Screven County (5-0)
  5. Rabun County (5-0)
  6. Jefferson County (6-0)
  7. Thomasville (5-0)
  8. Brooks County (5-0)
  9. Elbert County (5-1)
  10. Dodge County (5-0)

Honorable Mention: Heard County (5-1), Toombs County (5-0), Swainsboro (5-1), Pepperell (4-2), Bleckley County (4-2)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside of Region 3. Dodge County will host Dublin in a ballgame that could determine the region champion. Meanwhile, a resurgent Bleckley County team will host the legends from Washington County. Finally, Southwest and Northeast, off to surprisingly good starts, will most likely eliminate the other from playoff contention.

A Private

  1. Eagles Landing Christian Academy (6-0)
  2. Prince Avenue Christian (6-0)
  3. Stratford Academy (4-0)
  4. Athens Academy (5-0)
  5. Mount Paran Christian (4-1)
  6. Wesleyan (5-2)
  7. Mount Pisgah Christian (5-1)
  8. Mount Vernon Presbyterian (6-0)
  9. Tattnall Square (4-0)
  10. Aquinas (3-2)

Honorable Mention: Calvary Day (4-1), Darlington (3-3), First Presbyterian (4-1), George Walton Academy (4-1), Hebron Christian (4-1)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside of Region 6, Division B. Mount Pisgah will try to eliminate Saint Francis from playoff contention. The Walker School has been a surprise and served notice last week by beating Fellowship Christian. Next for the Wolverines: Mount Paran. Fellowship will try to bounce back versus a better Whitefield Academy team than the previous five iterations.

 A Public

  1. Manchester (6-0)
  2. Irwin County (5-1)
  3. Emanuel County Institute (5-1)
  4. Charlton County (4-1)
  5. Commerce (4-1)
  6. Macon County (3-2)
  7. Taylor County (4-1)
  8. Clinch County (4-2)
  9. Mt Zion-Carroll (5-0)
  10. Marion County (5-1)

Honorable Mention: Turner County (4-2), Pelham (5-1), Trion (5-1), Mitchell County (5-1), Johnson County (4-1)

This week we will focus on the big games to be played inside of Region 4, Division B. Schley County, atop the division, will get a chance to prove themselves when they host Taylor County. At the bottom, Dooly County looks for their first win versus Hawkinsville. The loser is virtually eliminated from the playof

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Published by Chris Mooneyham

Chris Mooneyham is a twenty-year broadcast veteran employed or freelancing for multiple companies across America. Currently he is a co-host, play-by-play person and guest anchor for Atlanta’s sports leader, The Fan 680AM/ 93.7FM; and its sister stations on The Sports X. In the Fall, Chris serves as the Sideline Reporter for Kennesaw State University football. He also works as studio host, play-by-play announcer and content producer for The Fan’s coverage of Georgia High School football. Come the Wintertime, the focus shifts to the National Lacrosse League 2017 World Champions, the Georgia Swarm (play-by-play). When Spring rolls around, the Atlanta native delivers the play-by-play for the Emory University baseball team, a two-time national finalist. All throughout the year, Mooneyham is a lead play-by-play person for the NFHS Network’s high school sports coverage and over the last decade was honored to call state championships in nearly every sport. A Kennesaw State graduate, Chris holds a Communication degree in Media Studies and a Minor degree in Film Studies. He is also a two-time graduate of broadcasting school (Connecticut School of Broadcasting-1998/ Atlanta Broadcast Institute-2008).

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