Prelims Results:
(view full recap here)
Class A
1. Saint James School, AL
2. Oak Grove H.S., AL
3. Purvis H.S., MS
Music: Saint James School, AL
Visual: Saint James School, AL
GE: Saint James School, AL
Class AA
1. River Ridge H.S., GA
2. Powdersville H.S., SC
3. Kell H.S., GA
Music: River Ridge H.S., GA
Visual: River Ridge H.S., GA
& Kell H.S., GA
GE: River Ridge H.S., GA
Class AAA
1. Nation Ford H.S., SC
2. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. Brentwood H.S., TN
Music: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Visual: Nation Ford H.S., SC
GE: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
Class AAAA
1. East Coweta H.S., GA
2. Hoover H.S., AL
Music: East Coweta H.S., GA
Visual: East Coweta H.S., GA
GE: Hoover H.S., AL
Finals Results:
(view full recap here)
1. (73.30) Nation Ford H.S., SC
2. (70.20) Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. (70.00) East Coweta H.S., GA
4. (69.30) River Ridge H.S., GA
5. (67.65) Powdersville H.S., SC
6. (67.00) Kell H.S., GA
7. (65.30) Cleveland H.S., TN
8. (63.75) Brentwood H.S., TN
9. (63.25) Saint James School, AL
10. (63.00) Hoover H.S., AL
Music: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Visual: Nation Ford H.S., SC
GE: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Participating Bands (15):
Brentwood H.S., TN
Cleveland H.S., TN
East Coweta H.S., GA
Farragut H.S., TN
Hoover H.S., AL
Kell H.S., GA
Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
Nation Ford H.S., SC
Oak Grove H.S, AL
Parkway H.S., LA
Pelham H.S., AL
Powdersville H.S., SC
Purvis H.S., MS
River Ridge H.S., GA
Saint James School, AL
Returning 2015 Finalists (7):
1. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
2. East Coweta H.S., GA
4. Kell H.S., GA
5. River Ridge H.S., GA
8. Hoover H.S., AL
10. Cleveland H.S., TN
Previous Champions:
2015: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
2014: Harrison H.S., GA
2013: Franklin H.S., TN
2012: Franklin H.S., TN
2011: Father Ryan H.S., TN
States Represented (6):
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
About(view full recap here)
Class A
1. Saint James School, AL
2. Oak Grove H.S., AL
3. Purvis H.S., MS
Music: Saint James School, AL
Visual: Saint James School, AL
GE: Saint James School, AL
Class AA
1. River Ridge H.S., GA
2. Powdersville H.S., SC
3. Kell H.S., GA
Music: River Ridge H.S., GA
Visual: River Ridge H.S., GA
& Kell H.S., GA
GE: River Ridge H.S., GA
Class AAA
1. Nation Ford H.S., SC
2. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. Brentwood H.S., TN
Music: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Visual: Nation Ford H.S., SC
GE: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
Class AAAA
1. East Coweta H.S., GA
2. Hoover H.S., AL
Music: East Coweta H.S., GA
Visual: East Coweta H.S., GA
GE: Hoover H.S., AL
Finals Results:
(view full recap here)
1. (73.30) Nation Ford H.S., SC
2. (70.20) Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. (70.00) East Coweta H.S., GA
4. (69.30) River Ridge H.S., GA
5. (67.65) Powdersville H.S., SC
6. (67.00) Kell H.S., GA
7. (65.30) Cleveland H.S., TN
8. (63.75) Brentwood H.S., TN
9. (63.25) Saint James School, AL
10. (63.00) Hoover H.S., AL
Music: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Visual: Nation Ford H.S., SC
GE: Nation Ford H.S., SC
Participating Bands (15):
Brentwood H.S., TN
Cleveland H.S., TN
East Coweta H.S., GA
Farragut H.S., TN
Hoover H.S., AL
Kell H.S., GA
Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
Nation Ford H.S., SC
Oak Grove H.S, AL
Parkway H.S., LA
Pelham H.S., AL
Powdersville H.S., SC
Purvis H.S., MS
River Ridge H.S., GA
Saint James School, AL
Returning 2015 Finalists (7):
1. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
2. East Coweta H.S., GA
4. Kell H.S., GA
5. River Ridge H.S., GA
8. Hoover H.S., AL
10. Cleveland H.S., TN
Previous Champions:
2015: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
2014: Harrison H.S., GA
2013: Franklin H.S., TN
2012: Franklin H.S., TN
2011: Father Ryan H.S., TN
States Represented (6):
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The 2016 Jacksonville Regional was held Oct. 1 at Jacksonville State University. Nation Ford was named regional champion, defeating former national finalist Kennesaw Mountain.
Nation Ford's score seems low for a regional champion in October, but as we're constantly reminding people, scores are relative, and not necessarily indicative of a certain performance level. Winston-Salem will be a good indicator of how Nation Ford stacks up against Dobyns-Bennett and other top Carolina groups.
It has been a rough season for Kennesaw, but after placing in the bottom half at Powder Springs, second place at Jacksonville is rather impressive. If the group continues to move in this direction, making finals at Atlanta Super is not impossible.
Analysis
The Jacksonville Regional will have a new champion this year. Nation Ford and East Coweta are both in good positions to make a run for the title and Kennesaw Mountain has been less than impressive in its performances at Powder Springs.
After a strong second place finish at the 2015 edition of this event, East Coweta is set to take the final step up to regional champion, but it certainly won’t be easy. Nation Ford is making the trip from South Carolina and has previously placed in the top half of several regional finals.
Other challengers include Kell and Kennesaw Mountain who both had good showings last year, but aren't guaranteed a top half spot this year. Kennesaw Mountain, a former national finalist, had a surprising finish in Powder Springs as they finished in ninth place, much lower than anyone expected. This may be the lowest the band has placed in a regional in a while, but don’t count them out yet.
Between these two and East Coweta, Georgia bands are looking to dominate the top half.
Hoover is the one Alabama band we think could be able to grab spot in the top half, but it won't be an easy task.
In the 6-8 range, we expect to see Brentwood, Cleveland, and and Saint James School. Cleveland is the only one of these three that is a returning finalist, placing 10th last year. Brentwood, a solid program from middle Tennessee, has a good chance at making finals this year as well. Saint James School is one of the best class A groups in the nation, placing third in class at last year's Grand National Championships.
The last two spots in finals are up for grabs. We think they will come down to Oak Grove, Powdersville, Pelham, and River Ridge. Powdersville is another South Carolina band that has performed well in their class among South Carolina competitions. Pelham and Oak Grove also look to fight for a finals performance. River Ridge did really well at this regional in 2015, placing fifth overall, but a few weeks ago at Powder Springs, they missed finals, not a good sign for how they will fare at this regional.
We are excited to see all these groups live on Saturday. There are sure to be surprises across the board. Make sure to follow us on Twitter to get live updates and photos throughout the event.
Predictions
Predictions represent the majority opinion of the HornRank staff.
1. Nation Ford H.S., SC
2. East Coweta H.S., GA
3. Kell H.S., GA
4. Hoover H.S., AL
5. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
6. Cleveland H.S., TN
7. Brentwood H.S., TN
8. Saint James School, AL
9. River Ridge H.S., GA
10. Pelham H.S., AL
Adjudication Panel
Music: John Bell, David Carbone, Clifton Smith, Mark Waymire
Visual: Frank Morris, Robert Solomon, Bob Thomas
Chief: Dale Warren
