Coach Shane Davis told the Barrow County News before the playoffs began that he was hoping the semifinals would include all four of the Region 8 AAAA playoff teams.

No. 4-seeded Loganville dropped the ball, losing in the first round to top-seeded Sandy Creek.

But No. 3-seed Rockdale County and No. 2-seeded Clarke Central have both made it to the quarterfinals along with No. 1-seed Apalachee. That gives Region 8 three of the final eight teams left in the state playoffs, more than any other region.

It is even more impressive considering Region 8 was not considered one of the strongest regions this year, evidenced by undefeated Apalachee being ranked sixth after the end of the regular season, behind four teams in from other regions who finished the season with a loss.

Not to mention that last season Cedar Shoals was the only one of the four Region 8 teams to win in the first round, and they fell 13-0 against Southwest Dekalb in the second round.

This postseason the Region 8 teams haven’t taken easy roads, either.

Apalachee took down 6th-ranked Marist and Clarke Central upset 2nd-ranked Southwest DeKalb, two traditional powerhouses and the top-two teams from Region 6.

Also in the second round, Rockdale County upset 12-0 Hiram 21-7 to become the third Region 8 team to make the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they will have to travel to Regon 1 No. 2-seed Westside this Friday. Clarke Central will host Region 4 No. 2-seed North Clayton, and Apalachee will host Region 4 No. 1-seed, and the top-ranked overall team in AAAA, Griffin.

If all three Region 8 teams win, Davis will get to see nearly the picture he had hoped for. Of course there could be a point where the Apalachee coach may not be rooting for the other Region 8 teams, if they happen to meet at the Georgia Dome in the State Championship game.