How big is tonight's Starr's

Mill-McIntosh game?

Sure, it's a local rivalry, but there's far more to it this

time around. Simply put, there is one playoff spot on the line, and both

teams have a shot at it.

Newnan (5-0 in region play) and Lovejoy (4-0) sit atop Region 4-AAAAA.

They play each other tonight. East Coweta, 4-1 going into last night's

game at Carver-Columbus, is in third place. Barring upsets of mammoth

proportions, those three are headed for postseason play.

Gunning for the fourth spot are a bunch of teams - led by McIntosh

at 2-3. Riverdale is 1-3, followed by Carver, Starr's Mill and Fayette

County at 1-4. Should the Chiefs beat Starr's Mill tonight, the only

way they miss the playoffs is if they lose to Lovejoy and Riverdale wins

its final three games, including one against Lovejoy (ranked in the state's

top 5) Nov. 8.

Also, if the Chiefs win tonight and end up in a three-way tie with Riverdale

and Starr's Mill at 3-4, which is a possibility, McIntosh would likely

win the tiebreaker because they would have beaten both of those teams.

Coming off a 1-9 season in 2002 and opening this year at 1-5, that would

be quite a turnaround.

But because of the logjam of teams with similar records, virtually everyone

in the region still has a mathematical chance. Starr's Mill closes

out its regular season Nov. 7 at home against Fayette County, who hosts

Riverdale tonight. Riverdale also plays Carver Oct. 31, while East Coweta

and Newnan square off Nov. 7.

One more thing: Should McIntosh make the playoffs, they will have three

weeks to get ready. They have not had a bye week since the season started

in late August.