Adam Krohn: NW to remain in Class 4A

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November 15, 2009

Anonymous The Dalton Daily Citizen Sun Nov 15, 2009, 08:40 PM EST

It turns out Northwest Whitfield won’t be moving to Class 3A next season after all.

Last Thursday, the Georgia High School Association released its classification allignments for the 2010-14 school years. Initially, the Bruins were slated to move to 3A — along with local rivals Dalton and Murray County — based on enrollment numbers submitted by Northwest. However, those numbers were based on the idea of the new school, Coahulla Creek — slated to open for the 2011-12 school year — would reduce Northwest’s enrollment numbers to 3A size.

But because it has not been decided whether Coahulla will open with grades 9-12, or start with just freshman and sophomores, the GHSA couldn’t accept Northwest’s projected enrollment numbers, which reflected Coahulla opening with four grades.

The GHSA would only accept Northwest’s Full Time Equivalent (FTE) numbers, which are high enough to keep the Bruins in 4A for at least the next two years.

The year after Coahulla opens, Northwest will again be evaluated and likely move to 3A, but will have to compete in 4A in 2011-12 with 3A enrollment numbers.

Remaining in 4A for the 2011-12 school year is a tough break for Northwest, but Bruins athletic director Mike Falleur knew last Friday that it was unlikely the Bruins would be able to move to 3A next season.

“I was pretty sure (the Bruins weren’t going to drop down a classification) when I first saw the numbers,” he said. “We called the GHSA and told them the (projected enrollment numbers) weren’t right and they told us we needed to go with the FTE, not the projection.”

• It’s not the season ending the Christian Heritage Lions were hoping for — walking off the field on the losing end of a state championship game while the opposition celebrated — but it’s worth noting the fight they put up in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Glory For Christ Football League final against the North Georgia Falcons.

The Lions lost, 16-14, but rallied after trailing, 16-7, with 5:48 remaining. They scored a touchdown, forced a three-and-out, and executed another drive that took them all the way to the Falcons’ 2 before a bad snap on fourth down prevented the Lions from kicking the go-ahead field goal with 35 seconds left.

The Lions could have easily been discouraged and given a lackluster effort in the fourth quarter, given their previous seven possessions ended in either punts, turnovers or turnover-on-downs. But instead of folding, the Lions fought back and nearly accomplished their season mission of defending their state title.

They don’t have the hardware to show for it, but the Lions played like champions.

Daniel Pierce, Christian Heritage’s quarterback/place kicker/punter/defensive back/bus driver — kidding about the last one — said that although the team came up short, their efforts didn’t go to waste.

“It was definitely exciting,” the senior said. “We had some tough games that we pulled through and some games we didn’t. Hopefully we’ll be able to come back and pull it off next year.”

Adam Krohn is a sports writer fo The Daily Citizen. You can write him at adamkrohn@daltoncitizen.com or follow him on Twitter @adamkrohn.

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Adam Krohn: NW to remain in Class 4A

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