You would think that after almost an entire season of play, standings would be pretty clear cut as far as the playoff picture is concerned. That's what you get for thinking.

Not so in the very competitive Region 6 of Class 4A football. The only given right now is that undefeated Cherokee County is going to win the region and go on into the playoffs at the No. 1 spot.

Cherokee County with Coty Blanchard at the controls as quarterback has pretty much dominated in all the games they have played this year. Ranked No. 2 in Class 4A polls, they have proven time and again just how strong they are.

After that, the region is a toss-up. Oneonta, ranked No. 9 in the polls until Alexandria handed them a shocking defeat last week, has been firmly in second place in the region until its loss to the Cubs.

Right now the Cubs have the same record as Oneonta (4-2) and both should win out. Alexandria will be in second due to head-to-head competition.

St. Clair County really threw a cog into the works with its win over Jacksonville's Golden Eagles last Friday night. The win placed St. Clair County and Jacksonville in a tie (3-3) with Hokes Bluff, which also has the same record.

That means everything rests on what happens this weekend and there are so many scenarios out there that it would be hard to deal with them all; a lot of tie-breakers might come into play.

Jacksonville will be facing Locust Fork, which at 2-4 won't make the playoffs but certainly could be a spoiler for the Golden Eagles.

Alexandria and Hokes Bluff will be a major contest. Hokes Bluff has lost to the Golden Eagles but beat St. Clair County.

Oneonta and St. Clair County will be playing in a must-win for the Saints. However, should St. Clair County win and the Eagles win, then things will really be in a quandary based on the other games.

There are so many "what ifs" that it is so confusing. Suffice it to say that the region has lived up to its billing as being one of the toughest in the state.

Area volleyball teams are also coming down to the wire. Those which have made it to sub-state play are now at the "win and go on, lose and go home" stage.

Jacksonville, ranked second in the state, won its regional tournament and will be hosting Fairview at JHS at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The Lady Eagles are back-to-back state champions and are hoping they are on the road to bring home a coveted and rarely done "three-peat."

Pleasant Valley, having finished second in their regional tournament, will also be at home for sub-state play, meeting Holly Pond.

As the No. 4 team out of their region, Piedmont will travel to Catholic of Huntsville.

Jacksonville's Janice Slay, head coach of Donoho, will be on the road for sub-state action as her team finished third at Regionals. The Lady Falcons will travel to play Sweet Water.

Each volleyball team will be hoping to move on to the coveted Elite Eight state volleyball tournament to be held October 28-29 in Pelham.