Pope opens Region 6-AAAAAA play at Woodstock on Sept. 12 after closing non-region play 1-2, capped by a 43-7 loss at East Forsyth.

The Greyhounds' Sept. 4 road defeat was lopsided, but coach Sean O'Sullivan told the Marietta Daily Journal the focus has already shifted. He told his players to clean up third-down defense and take advantage of offensive opportunities when they come.

"We've got to clean ourselves up… getting off the field on third downs defensively," O'Sullivan said.

The non-region results were uneven. Pope lost its opener 28-10 to Woodland at Matt Hobby Field on Aug. 21, then rallied in Week 2 when kicker Brayden Slorahn drilled a 31-yard field goal as time expired to beat Forsyth Central 24-21 on Aug. 28.

Now the games count toward playoff positioning.

Region 6-AAAAAA includes Creekview, Kell, Lassiter, River Ridge, Rome, Sequoyah and Woodstock alongside Pope, according to the GHSA's 2026-27 alignment. The GHSA introduced a new points-based playoff format called PSR (Playoff Selection Rankings) for 2026-27, meaning every result carries weight toward postseason seeding. O'Sullivan called every region game essentially a playoff game given the talent level in the league.

Senior quarterback Hudson Marinko, listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds on the MaxPreps roster, leads the Pope offense. Woodstock coach Justin Pearce told the MDJ that Pope's offense starts with Marinko, calling him "a really good player."

O'Sullivan said the focus is on cleaning up Pope's own play, not game-planning for a specific opponent.

Woodstock also enters at 1-2. The Wolverines lost 54-0 at home to Cartersville on Sept. 4. Senior quarterback Graham Burmeister has been Woodstock's most dangerous weapon, rushing for 411 yards and scoring eight touchdowns through three games, per MaxPreps statistical leaders. The Wolverines start four sophomores on the offensive line, according to Pearce.

Pearce said the depth of Region 6-AAAAAA could send five or six teams to the playoffs under the new PSR format. He noted River Ridge went 7-3 last season and still missed the postseason.

Kickoff time for the Sept. 12 game at Woodstock has not been confirmed.