Allatoona and Kell will try to remain atop Region 6AAAAAA in 2021 and play playoff games at home.
92 KICKOFF 2021
REGION 6AAAAAA
Special - Chrystal Moore
Allatoona, Kell look to lead loaded all-Cobb region
By Adam Carrington
MDJ Sports Correspondent
Should Region 6AAAAAA be in a logjam late
in the regular season, tiebreakers are expected
to be sorted out the traditional way instead of
the COVID-19 way.
Pope was tied with Kell for second in the
region behind Allatoona going into the regular
season finale with one region loss apiece.
But Kell automatically secured that tiebreaker
after the Longhorns beat the Greyhounds
in the region opener.
Traditionally Pope may have been the region’s
No. 3 and No. 4 seed, even after losing
to Allatoona in the regular season finale.
Then the pandemic interfered.
There was a positive test in the Pope’s camp
with games against Sprayberry and Kennesaw
Mountain on the horizon. The Greyhounds
were forced to cancel both and were unable
to reschedule.
Without those games, Sprayberry and Kennesaw
Mountain leapfrogged Pope for the final
two spots.
“Should have been in the playoffs,” Pope coach
Tab Griffin said. “But now we have to make sure
we prove it (this season) and get in there.”
Going into the 2021 season, Allatoona remains
the team to beat. The Buccaneers played
for a state championship in 2019 and advanced
to the state quarterfinals with a stingy
senior-led defense.
The Buccaneers, which had four shutouts
last year, are having to replace all those playmakers
on a defense that gave up an average
of 8.7 points. Teams will know soon enough if
Allatoona is rebuilding or reloading.
“They lost a bit on defense but they should
be better on offense,” Kell coach Brett Sloan
said. “They are bringing back good numbers,
and until someone knocks them off, they are
the favorite.”
Kell and Pope are bringing back the majority
of their defensive starters. While both teams
are having to replace a lot on offense, both are
expected to be experienced on the offensive
line. The Longhorns also have a healthy running
back in David Mbadinga after he suffered
through a season of injuries last year.
Sprayberry graduated running back
Damarion Owens but is replacing him with
Isaiah Abbey who is getting plenty of Division
I attention, including an offer from
Kennesaw State.
Kennesaw Mountain, which has been improving
the past three seasons under coach
and alumnus Caleb Carmean, achieved
success last year and is expecting to be
stronger in 2021.
“You can’t sleep on anyone,” Sloan said.
Wheeler and Lassiter expect to be improved
after fielding young teams last season.
South Cobb is looking to turn things
around under first-year coach Thomas
Hanson, who was Harrison’s defensive
line coach in 2020.
Hillgrove defensive coordinator Luqman
Salam was hired to turn around Osborne’s
program, which has not had a winning season
since 1994.
Prediction
1. Allatoona
2. Kell
3. Sprayberry
4. Kennesaw Mountain
5. Pope
6. Wheeler
7. Lassiter
8. South Cobb
9. Osborne