If only it were this simple, not to mention dramatic, all the time.

Two intense rivals meet on the football field to decide a championship. A state playoff berth -- in addition to a year's worth of bragging rights -- goes to the winner. Not that any Dalton-Northwest Whitfield game ever needs any more hype, but tonight's game in Tunnel Hill is one of the most anticipated matchups in series history.

"It's always a big game for both schools," Dalton coach Adam Winegarden said. "But with all that's on the line, it really makes it a special night."

Northwest coach Mike Falleur, whose program last beat Dalton in 2004, knows there is no escaping the build-up. Though his surprising Bruins (6-2, 5-0 in Sub-Region 7-AAAA A) are alone atop the standings with one week to go before the region playoff round, Falleur knows a loss means they will have to win in week 10 to make the playoffs.

"We've had some big games between us." Falleur said. "But I guess this is the biggest because it's the last game of the regular season and the winner is the sub-region champ. Everybody knows what's at stake."

A Dalton win, coupled with a Sequoyah win over Murray County, would create a three-way tie atop the sub-region standings. In that scenario, Dalton would prevail via the region's tiebreaker, which is based on point differential in all sub-region games.

A team is awarded a maxium of 14 points for a win if the margin of victory is 14 or more. Otherwise, a team gets the margin of victory. Dalton (6-2, 4-1) has accumulated 56 points, Northwest 51 and Sequoyah 37.

* Region 6-AAA: Things are even simpler here, where Ridgeland and Carrollton have clinched sub-region titles and will meet in a rematch of last year's championship game next week in Carrollton. Ringgold, the No. 2 seed in the A sub-region, will travel to Central, Carroll, while Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, by virtue of its win over Southeast Whitfield Thursday, will travel to Cartersville.

* Region 7-AA: There are several scenarios here. Calhoun (8-0, 4-0) is the B sub-region champion with a win tonight over visiting Adarisville (5-3, 3-1). However, if Adairsville wins and Dade County (5-3, 2-2) defeats Chattooga (7-1, 3-1), Adairsville is the sub-region champ, with Calhoun No. 2 and Dade No. 3.

Wins by Chattooga and Adairsville would leave a three-way tie, with Calhoun prevailing on the fourth tiebreaker, which is the combined total of defeated opponents' victories. Chattooga would be second, Adairsville third. If Calhoun and Dade win, the Jackets would be No. 1, with a three-way tie developing for second. In that case, Adairsville would be second and Dade third.

Armuchee, Pepperell and Rockmart are the three top seeds from the A sub-region.

* Region 6-A: With two regular season games left, Darlington, Bowdon, Bremen and Trion have already clinched playoff berths. Final seeding, however, will not be decided until week 10 games are completed.