Outside GHSA, Athens Christian Charts Its Playoff Path

Many Northeast Georgia high schools are adjusting to new postseason qualifying standards, but Athens Christian School is playing by a different set of rules. 

ACS joined the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) in 2024 after many seasons in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). In the GIAA, teams are seeded based on their weekly updated MaxPreps rankings within their specific classification. Early said the school is competing in the 3A classification this season. 

Within each classification, MaxPreps uses a proprietary formula to weigh factors such as game results, strength of schedule and winning streaks. The formula determines power rankings for each team in a classification. 

Early said he believes the MaxPreps rankings are close to “the best thing out there.” However, school officials don’t think anyone truly understands the formula because it is difficult to know how certain factors are weighed. Even so, they say they’ve had a good experience in the GIAA. 

“The competition is good,” longtime ACS coach Tim Cummings said. “Just not as many really good teams as there are in the GHSA because they got so many more schools.” 

Athens Christian’s fall season is well under way. The football team finished 11th in GIAA Class 4A last season and did not qualify for the playoffs. The team is 5-3 overall and second in its region. With new head coach Terance Mathis taking charge, Early said the team could be great in the next couple of years.  

The softball team is 6-14 overall this year and fourth in its region. The volleyball team is 5-17 overall and sixth in its region.  

The transition to the GIAA and MaxPreps rankings has brought a different postseason experience for ACS than the school previously had in the GHSA. As teams continue in their third season in the association, they will look to build on last season’s results and earn a spot in the playoffs. 

Emma Greene is a student in the undergraduate certificate program at the Carmical Sports Media Institute at UGA.