The smallest region in southwest Georgia did not lack competitiveness in 2014 and that will continue in 2015 with most of the teams in Region 1-A return a lot of the players that contributed to their teams’ strengths. Region champ Mitchell County is looking to win back-to-back region titles for the first time since their Mitchell-Baker days. It wasn’t all roses for the Eagles after losing to region foe Calhoun County in the first round of the state playoffs after beating the Cougars only two weeks earlier.
2014 Region 1-A Standings
Mitchell County Eagles 6-5 (5-0)
Calhoun County Cougars 8-4 (4-1)
Terrell County Greenwaves 3-6 (3-2)
Miller County Pirates 2-8 (2-3)
Randolph-Clay Red Devils 3-7 (1-4)
Baconton Charter Blazers 1-9 (0-5)
The Eagles are the odd-on favorites to win the region once again after rolling through the region in 2014 and they have the players to do it, especially along the offensive and defensive lines. Mitchell County will have one of the larger and better offensive lines in all of the single A classification and if they play well, watch out because the Eagles will be tough to beat.
If there is one team that will challenge Mitchell County for the region title, it will be the team that eliminated them from the state playoffs last November. The Cougars enjoyed only their third winning season in the last two decades and return the bulk of the starters from last year’s squad but just like 2014, it will all come down to their Halloween weekend date with Mitchell County.
After Mitchell County and Calhoun County, the Terrell County Greenwave, in my mind, is the next best team with junior quarterback Detravion Bishop at the helm. Terrell County were on the wrong end of some lopsided losses to the top dogs in the region but finished the season 3-1 and could be a dark horse to make the playoffs in 2015.
There’s a new captain in Colquitt and the Miller County faithful are hoping that veteran Head Coach Brent Miller can right the ship after a very uncharacteristic losing season in 2014. The Pirates were held scoreless or to single digits in five games last season including two shutout losses to Calhoun County & Mitchell County. Coach Miller has had success everywhere he’s ever been & I doubt that trend will end anytime soon.
The Randolph-Clay Red Devils started the season 2-0 but finished the rest of the season 1-7 which is rare for Randolph-Clay. Typically the Red Devils can steal a game or two throughout the season in region play but just fell short after losing four region games by an average of only 9 points. Coach McFather & Randolph-Clay are looking to rebound and get one, two or all of those games in 2015.
2014 was the first season playing a region schedule for the Baconton Charter Blazers and they were a lot more competitive than most people thought. The Blazers only got one win in region play and that was against winless Stewart County but this is still a new program with a long way to go. With that being said, Baconton Charter does have some players that could possibly push the Blazers over the thresh hold and into contention for the playoffs in 2015.
Region 1-A will be a fun region in 2015 again with the two top teams on a collision course for another epic Halloween show down but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the other teams in the region pops up and makes it a three horse race. At this point it’s hard to tell who but Miller County has never stayed down long (if they’ve been down at all) and good quarterback play is always a plus which is exactly what Randolph-Clay and Terrell County have. Fasten your seat belts because Region 1-A is gonna be a wild ride.
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