By Becky Taylor

becky.taylor@gaflnews.com

VALDOSTA — One week ago, Region 1-6A looked pretty clear. Valdosta was 2-0 and projected to be 3-0 after playing Richmond Hill.

But over on the coast, the combination of Valdosta injuries and a upset-minded Richmond Hill crew has thrown the region into chaos. Now, four of the six teams sit at 2-1 with two weeks remaining.

Lowndes, Valdosta, Colquitt County and Richmond Hill are tied for first place. Camden is in the mix at 1-2 and Tift County may not be out state playoff contention at 0-2.

Valdosta can get momentum swinging back its way with Friday’s home game with Tift, though the Blue Devils have been making plenty of noise lately. Damieon Dixon had Tift’s first 300-yard passing game in seven years last Friday against Colquitt and Dai’jon Hayes now has the region lead in receiving yardage.

Lowndes hosts Richmond Hill. The Vikings have been 1-6A’s best defense — and kept Camden’s Elyiss Williams without a catch last Friday — but haven’t faced a rushing offense as solid as the Wildcats’. Not to mention that Richmond Hill is coming off the big upset of Lowndes.

Colquitt goes to Camden Friday. The Packers were without starting QB Cohen Lawson against Tift, but were not hindered in any way, thanks to the outstanding rushing of Jae Lamar and Day’Shawn Brown. Camden, which has been blown out by Valdosta and Lowndes, has one of the state’s best receivers in Williams and the region’s best passer currently in Parks Riendeau. Camden, previously a run-heavy team, can still do that if needed, too.

The final week of the regular season has Lowndes hosting Valdosta in the Winnersville Classic. Colquitt hosts Richmond Hill and Tift goes to Camden.

Besides having four teams at 2-1, the region has been a cycle. Lowndes’ loss is to Colquitt; Colquitt’s is to Valdosta; Valdosta’s is to Richmond Hill; and Richmond Hill’s is to Camden.

Winnersville Classic will be its usual huge game, but it may come down to tiebreakers to settle where everybody stands going into state. The good news is that all four qualifiers will have a week to rest. Hurricane Helene saw the Georgia High School Association extend the regular season by a week to accommodate schools needing extra time to make up hurricane-affected games. Playoffs begin Nov. 15.