Can the Commerce Tigers get football dates with up-and-coming East Jackson and traditional rival Banks County for the next two seasons?
The realignment of Regions 8-A and 8-AA has local athletic directors and football coaches on edge and raises all kinds of possibilities.
CHS coach Steve Savage wasn't about to comment on whether he would like to play East Jackson or even Jackson County should the opportunity arise, but he did call re-engaging Banks County "a possibility."
There are compelling reasons to play nearby rivals in terms of public interest, convenience and — most importantly — ticket sales.
The Tigers' ability to schedule the Eagles and Leopards, however, is largely in the hands of the coaches and athletic directors of 8-AA.
The makeup of the two regions will be finalized Dec. 16, when appeals by schools to transfer laterally — Class AA to AA or Class A to A are heard, although any team appealing the association's decision on a lateral move could delay the process until January.
Right now, there are 13 schools in 8-A, seven, possibly eight of which will play region football schedules, according to Savage.
There are 13 schools in 8-AA, with the addition of two newcomers, Elbert and Hart counties.
This year and last, 8-AA played a region schedule amongst its 10 teams (Walnut Grove did not play a region schedule). That left each squad with nine region opponents and only one open date — the first of the season — on which to schedule another opponent.
Both Jefferson and Banks County wanted to play Commerce. The Tigers opted for Jefferson, their biggest rival.
Nothing is certain, but Jefferson athletic director Tim Corbett says he believes 8-AA is "leaning toward" playing a subregion schedule. If that happens, the possibility of other open dates - on which East Jackson and Banks County (maybe even Jackson County) could meet Commerce - comes up.
Those details will probably be resolved in mid-January, said Savage.
"Right now, we're waiting on 8-AA to see what they're going to do," he said. "Whether they play three crossover (games between teams in different subregions of 8-AA) or two. They've got to figure out how they're going to get their champion and pick the four teams that will represent their region (in the playoffs)."
What's at stake is more than rivalry games. Playing close-to-home opponents reduces travel expenses and produces better gates. Football is the greatest revenue producer among high school sports, and schools rely heavily on ticket sales to fund their entire athletic programs.
With 13 teams (assuming none petitions to transfer to another region), Corbett doesn't see 8-AA playing a region schedule the next two years.
"Right now I would say we're leaning toward a subregion schedule," he said. "I would be shocked if we were able to play a region schedule."
A look at the newly configured 8-AA shows a region tilted heavily to the south, powerwise, with Jefferson, East Jackson, Jackson County, North Oconee, Elbert, Hart and Oglethorpe, while the northern section contains Banks, Dawson, East Hall, Fannin, Rabun and Union - teams that seldom make the playoffs.
One playoff scenario for a subregion schedule, noted Corbett, would guarantee playoff berths to two teams from each side of the subregion of 8-AA.
"You could have the number five out of one side being stronger than the number two out of the other," he pointed out.
Class 8-A is also divided into two subregions, but with a maximum of eight teams playing region games, Commerce can play a full region schedule and have three open dates to play non-region rivals.
Region 8-A gained two region football opponents - Riverside Military Academy and Georgia Walton Academy. Riverside dropped down from 8-AA; GWA won the Georgia Independent Schools Association state football title this year.
However it works out, one thing is certain. Commerce and Jefferson will continue their rivalry.
"We got that locked down," Savage said.
Some things are not subject to change.
