Late score updates eliminate Coosa and Chamblee from Georgia playoffs

High school football programs in the Georgia High School Association faced an abrupt end to their seasons on Saturday after a late correction to the postseason rankings. Officials determined that several scores were missing from the initial data set, which altered the final standings and removed two teams from the bracket.

The changes affected Coosa in Class 2A and Chamblee in Class 6A. Both schools had been notified via a teleconference in the morning that they had qualified. By noon, an email from the association informed the schools that the standings had shifted and their spots were gone.

Coosa head coach Jason Howard said the team was on a call with other schools when the initial bracket was released. "We were on a (GHSA) Zoom call (Saturday) morning with everybody else when they released the bracket," Howard said. "Then they sent an email out at (noon) stating because people had not put in their scores, things had changed and we were out."

The association stated that a small number of schools had not submitted their final scores. Once the data was updated, the mathematical rankings changed. Coosa dropped from seventh to eighth place in its region. Chamblee fell from fifth to sixth in its region. The teams now must play in the district decalper system, a format not used since 2021.

The district decalper system allows teams to compete for a playoff spot based on records within their specific district. Coosa coach Jason Howard noted that the team had a 16-4 record and a 13-7 district mark. "We never been at a year like this," Howard said. "We were going four straight, and then we had three hours, now known in the evening, to change the day."

Chamblee coach Chris Smith said the team was shocked by the news. "I saw that they had not released, and we thought we had a final decision," Smith said. "I did a dislocation. I have no explanation, official, or mistakes."

The correction highlights the reliance on timely data entry in the association's ranking system. Coosa and Chamblee will now play in the decalper system, a format that had not been used in four years. The teams must now win their decalper to secure a playoff bid.