Region 6-AA enjoying a rejuvenation

Reclassification has brought rejuvenation to Region 6-AA.

With longtime region force Hanahan in Region 7-AA for now, the race for the championship is wide open, especially since Burke stunned preseason favorite Woodland, 50-46, last week. The Hawks won 10 straight region titles before moving into a new region.

Burke can take a big step toward the conference championship today with a win at Bishop England. The Region 6-AA showdown is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jack Cantey Stadium.

The Bulldogs are 3-3 overall but are 1-0 in the conference. Bishop England is 5-1, including 1-0 in league play.

Surprising newcomer Ashley Ridge has won two straight games and can go 2-0 in region play with a win over Cane Bay tonight. Woodland is 0-1, but can get back in the hunt with a win tonight over Garrett Tech and next week against Bishop England.

Ashley Ridge is a new school, while Burke and Bishop England have been around a long time. It seems like even longer since the two schools won a region title.

"It's been a while," Burke coach Jon Rose said. "It's something like 25 to 30 years since Burke won a region championship in football, I believe. It would be nice to win it this year."

Bishop England hasn't claimed a region championship since 1988, when the Battling Bishops posted a 9-3 record, including 5-0 in Region 5-AA. That was Bishop England's first season in Class AA after dropping down from Class AAA.

The Bulldogs have battled low roster numbers over the years and have struggled. But athletic director Earl Brown brought in Rose, who learned his football from Ray Stackley at Stratford and went on to play for The Citadel Bulldogs. He's got his squad on the right track.

Burke was able to match Woodland point-for-point last week thanks to the play of quarterback Del'Javon Simmons, who totaled 381 yards in offense, including 283 in the air. He now has 807 yards passing and 12 touchdowns. His favorite target is Sidney Sanders, who has 41 receptions for 579 yards and nine touchdowns.

Bishop England will counter with Mikell Fosberry, a sophomore who has passed for 1,040 yards and nine scores. His favorite target is Thomas King, who has 28 catches for 385 yards and two scores.