Poll Talk: Lowndes, SWD, Carver, Buford, Wesleyan are No. 1
Rankings don’t mean anything in high school football, but until toe meets leather for the first time this season Friday, it’s all we’ve got. So have at it with these.
Some think the defending champs should start No. 1, but I figure we’re ranking 2009, not 2008, so three state champs with heavy graduation losses — Camden County, Tucker and Cairo — won’t start in first place.
But I do think all three will be very good by the end of the season.
Lowndes (AAAAA) and Carver of Columbus (AAA) are safe choices, but I’m sure picking of Southwest DeKalb will cause some skepticism. But SWD was a Top 10 team last season that returns more marquee players than any other in AAAAA.
Todd Holcomb is co-publisher of Georgia High School Football Daily, a free email newsletter. To join the mailing list, go here.
Class AAAAA
Lowndes
Grayson
Peachtree Ridge
Camden County
Stephenson
North Gwinnett
Northside-Warner Robins
M.L. King
Etowah
Newnan
Class AAAA
Southwest DeKalb
Tucker
Rome
Marist
Sandy Creek
Griffin
Westside-Macon
Statesboro
Sequoyah
Loganville
Class AAA
Carver-Columbus
Gainesville
Flowery Branch
LaGrange
Cairo
Baldwin
Peach County
Carrollton
Washington County
Jackson
Class AA
Buford
Calhoun
Thomasville
Fitzgerald
Jefferson County
Pepperell
Lovett
Callaway
Brooks County
Jefferson
Class A
Wesleyan
Wilcox County
Clinch County
Lincoln County
Wilkinson County
Emanuel County Institute
Brookstone
Savannah Christian
Turner County
Bremen
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222 comments Add your comment
Ol' Raider Fan (Formerly EPSENIOR08)
August 17th, 2009
12:13 pm
where was woodstock in the playoffs?
canes26
August 17th, 2009
12:17 pm
I was just mapping out the road games for EAST and saw Etowah and Woodstock can’t be more than two miles apart. Who came up with that..just think of the teem you could have if it was just one school. Looks like the “Bone Yard” cannon will get lots of work this year with the home schedule.
wolverine fan
August 17th, 2009
12:18 pm
beat walton, beat Norcross, lost to camden Co.
undertheradar
August 17th, 2009
12:18 pm
Another Rebel lost his meds!!!! Macon line stuff. Dang thats funny
TrojanDude
August 17th, 2009
12:19 pm
–NORTHSIDE OBSERVER– Welcome to “What’s going on in 1AAAAA”. Although Coffee’s Coach Eldridge is famous for using preseason scrimmages to “evaluate”, (I believe his response to being criticized on a 28-7 loss to Fitzgerald last year was, “You should think about letting me go if we ever ‘win’ on of this pre-season things”.), I really don’t think The Trojans could have matched up against many class A schools in last week’s domination by the same Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes.
I really hope I’m either wrong or that Fitzgerald is really that good. The ‘Canes did look very, very quick and polished with very good, skilled players. Coffee too is very young. Not only did most starters graduate last year, but, most of the #2 players also. I sure hope Coach Ken is up to his old pre-season tricks. I just don’t know though. Gotta just wait and see and keep pulling for 1-AAAAA.
wolverine fan
August 17th, 2009
12:21 pm
There is going to be a new team in Cherokee. River Ridge High School is starting this year. It is approx. 4 miles from Woodstock High School
Todd Holcomb
August 17th, 2009
12:39 pm
Q&A time:
Where’s Washington-Wilkes in single A?
W-W was 6-5 and unranked last season and lost a ton of starters. I do like their new coach.
weres my walton raiders todd?
They didn’t look sharp vs. Brookwood. I don’t see Walton cracking the Top 10. Unless they win Saturday, of course.
Todd..will you ever learn and show some love?
I usually wait until the post-season rankings to show love to East Paulding. That way, East fans have more fun taunting me.
Well, Todd I guess this proves you are not a Brookwood homer after all.
I did think about ranking Brookwood and Norcross but resisted.
Where was Charlton co. in 2A?
Unranked last year. Heavy graduation losses. I think they can be a Top 10 team, though. Will be interesting to see how they bounce back.
Why isn’t Burke County ranked in AAA?
They were on the short list. I like Burke and wouldn’t quibble with anybody that put them in the Top 10. But Burke returns only 8 of 22 starters.
PMC
August 17th, 2009
12:45 pm
Dekalb County is going to have a fantastic season this year.
I feel like SWD is going to play like Tucker did last season and Mack Brown should make ML King more formidable I just wonder about ML King’s defense. I think Tucker while losing some players to graduation still will have a very formidable team.
SWD is not overrated in the least.
Grayson Student
August 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
ol raider fan… does your comment about grayson getting lucky have anything to do with the fact that you had to drive through atlanta to see your raiders get beat? Or do you honestly see shutting down greg reid for the most part and shoving the ball down there throat as getting lucky?
keith
August 17th, 2009
1:07 pm
Todd Charlton Co did not graduate many players from the 2008 team. I have a program from their game when they played in the double header last year at camden against First Coast of Fla.and Camden played Columbia of Fl. I am a wildcat fan and was at the scrimmage against Charlton Friday. They look to have top ten team in 2a.
GABred
August 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
Congrats to the programs representing Dekalb Co., your hardwork has not gone unnoticed. Should be another great highschool season. A lot of teams avoid power schedules, but there is something learned from the Tucker, Marist, and SWD playing each other every year, and SWD adding periodically, ML King and Stephenson gives the kids competition that betters them all. I like what I see in this year’s team, 15-0 very real possibility, SWD Panther alumni obviously, but on the field is where it’ll all have to be proven, one game at a time. GO PANTHERS !!!!
MikeMike
August 17th, 2009
1:58 pm
Cairo going to be young but they got speed and they got heart so Bainbridge Bear Cat Get ready to go war with them Makers Aug 22
Todd Holcomb
August 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
Keith:
Coach McWhorter tells us that he has 3 starters back on defense, 5 on offense. No Division I-A recruits for maybe the first time ever. And he’s coming off a first-round loss in the playoffs (and no final ranking) for the first time in many, many years. I’m not saying that Charlton can’t be a Top 10 team. We all know what that program has accomplished. And we also know that McWhorter ranks No. 2 to Larry Campbell in preseason pour-mouthing. But my understanding is that this year’s lineup will look quite a bit different.
Dekalb fan
August 17th, 2009
2:10 pm
The only hold back for SWD is if they can win in spite of Buck Godfrey…It’s happened to many times in the past loads of talent but terrible coaching…..it’s that way with most of the Dekalb county schools.
Yo
August 17th, 2009
2:24 pm
Well if Lowndes can keep every body healthy maybe we can win more than we lose this year. I don’t know though, we lost Greg Reid and that could make for a very long year down here. Tough 1AAAAA and lost Greg Reid and Demps. Gonna be tough. Ya’ll take it easy on us and give us a lot of love….we may need it.
Mike
August 17th, 2009
2:39 pm
SWD is No Way overrated,the only worry is game against marist,marist always seem to slip by us every year,but dis yr i think we go beat em at halford.swd cn go 2 state if the coach dnt make bad coaching decisions,n if the offense cn put up enough pts against good defenses.,cuz da defense is goin 2 bring it every friday nite.SWD Alumni till i die.Go Panthers!!! Blue n Gold
Reeze
August 17th, 2009
2:52 pm
Nor
Reeze
August 17th, 2009
3:04 pm
Northside Observer and Trojandude I really wasn’t surprised by the Eagles play against Peach.The Eagles are a very young squad still trying to figure out who’ll step up this season ,kinda wondering if anyone will. Peach is a solid contender.Don’t judge our little hatchling based on their performance against Peach .1-AAAAA won;t be very strong this season Northside and a few other teams lost a lot to graduation.Lowndes will run the table in the region.And seriously the Packers will take the second. spot………Holcolm’s AAAAA preseason poll is way off .I see five teams that will drop out by week 4….AAAA anything can and most likely will happen………AAA is on the money and is the strongest class this year.Anyone team in Holcolm’s AAA poll is capable of winning it all………..Reeze is back
maker47
August 17th, 2009
3:08 pm
Cairo will suprise a lot of teams this year with 19 new starters.
Ol' Raider Fan
August 17th, 2009
3:45 pm
my personal opinion on the Grayson/Lowndes game is that Grayson was lucky in that one game on that one night. If Grayson was the big powerhouse they tried be, they would have taken home the State Championship no questions asked. i wasn’t at the Grayson game but i saw the highlights. 17-7 is not a routing and Grayson held the ball for what seemed like 3 of the 4 quarters. when EP got the ball, they did something with it. Grayson did control it the entire night though. again, as i said, if Grayson had been the huge powerhouse they claimed to be, they would have taken state without any question.
leechampion
August 17th, 2009
3:57 pm
welcome back my friends!let the banter continue til December. AAA is gonna be a blast to watch every week and Columbus is right in the middle with Carver, Shaw, Lagrange and Troup. 28th right around the corner!
Ed
August 17th, 2009
3:58 pm
Tucker is way overrated at No. 2 in AAAA. Lost many seniors and starters,including top three offensive threats and star defensive players.
Marist vs. SWD will be a great game, and the winner will be favorite to win State. Rome is going to be very tough this year too.
Bernard
August 17th, 2009
4:14 pm
To Hillisreal, The QB for SWD is 6-2, 190 has a good speed and throws the ball with accuracy. SWD should be one of the best teams in the state regardless of classification. Oh yeah, unlike past years coaching won’t be a problem this year.
George
August 17th, 2009
4:15 pm
I was unfortunate enough to witness Friday’s debacle with Northside and Peach. I won’t say I’m the Eagles number one fan, but I never miss a game, home or away. Based on what I saw Friday night, there is absolutely no way Northside in the number 7 team in AAAAA. As someone stated earlier, the center was terrible (about got our placekicker killed on one play), the pass defense was horrible (defenders never look for the ball…which seems to be a Northside tradition), the quarterbacks couldn’t pass (never once “looked off of a receiver” before throwing the ball), the running game was pretty much non-existent for most of the night. Other than that, it was a great looking team. I think we will be lucky to finish 5-5 UNLESS drastic changes are made quickly.
Ed
August 17th, 2009
4:20 pm
What impact will Marist’s new turf stadium have on its season?
grayson student #2
August 17th, 2009
4:25 pm
ol raider fan is just upset his team lost to grayson
dont think ole east paulding couldve taken down lowndes….
beating lowndes had nothing to do with luck, they came up from valdosta with big heads expecting another ring and didnt expect a loss. ball control made the difference in that game, maybe lowndes shouldve had other plays besides giving it to greg reid.
grayson should be #1 in AAAAA, if we beat camden in the dome saturday.
if so we will cruise through the season and hopefully have a rematch with the vikes in the state championship.
grayson student #2
August 17th, 2009
4:26 pm
and by the way raider fan, we ARE the powerhouse you wish to be
slalom1
August 17th, 2009
4:53 pm
Had almost finished my first post of the year when my “connection” was lost. Hate it when that happens. Great to hear from YO, Reeze, leechampion, Drock09 and others. The polls look pretty agreeable to me, but I believe that each classification has a potential breakthrough that may be underrated or not ranked at all. They Are: AAAAA-Colquitt County. Coach Propst has the most believable poker face in GHS sports.
AAAA-Harris County. Loaded with talent and coming off a successful first year in AAAA. AAA-Troup. Already 3 D-1 committs to LSU, TENN and Clemson. Probably at least 2 more on the squad. They WILL be the surprise team in AAA. AA-Callaway. Ranked, yes but could be the most talented team in their classification. Led by junior phenom Quan Bray, Callaway is loaded with lots of experienced talent from its 10-2 2008 team. Class A-This could be Brookstone’s year. TE Brian Vogler is the most recruited GHS TE since Adam Meadows in 1991. Plus he is surrounded by experienced talented players as well as an energetic talented coaching staff.
The time is here, FINALLY. Looking forward to the ride.
Ol' Raider Fan
August 17th, 2009
5:02 pm
where was Grayson’s State Championship last year? anyone can win a few playoff games and call themselves amazing. we did it a few years ago, but, since then we have still been here every year in contention. i have not heard of Grayson ’till last season. for right now, i maintain Grayson was on the one night one game deal. i will not believe otherwise until i see them in contention for the next few years.
Realistic_EP/NP_Fan
August 17th, 2009
5:22 pm
Wow, one day in and everyone is hard at it. Im an EP fan and I for one will give Grayson plenty of credit going into this season. Grayson’s game is hardnoseed football with an emphasis on ball control. Great strategy and that is a good recipe. It worked against EP and Lowndes. Not exactly sure why Lowndes is renked #1 but that isn’t really of concern now. It’s the last rankings that make a difference. Personally, call it a power house or whatever you want,, Grayson has definitley put themselves in the lime light, and personally as a fan of EP who lost by the same 17-7 score as Lowndes (And the EP game was actually a more hotly contested game then what Lowndes showed) I’m happy that Grayson is getting all the press. Let them read the clippings and rest on what was done last year. For EP die hards,,,this year may in fact be the last hurrah for the Raiders due to new school opennings and declining enrollment, but this year has the makings of a fine team. Note: to the blogger that said EP is ‘big’ on both sides of the ball,,,,,,,we’ll I saw the scrimmage in Friday against Douglass…..and quite frankly I think EP looks even smaller than the past couple of years, (well conditioned yes, and quick yes). EP’s sucess is going to depend alot on their on again, off again, in the dog house, out of the dog house QB,,,,,,,great talent and if he can stay out of trouble and healthy there could indeed be something special happen in Paulding county once again………….
Personally,,,,,,,,,I’m gonna split time this year and start following the North Paulding Wolfpack….they my friends will be something to behold in a few short years. They along with the new Allatoona HS will soon become the talk and standard of NW Georgia, and the Harrison’s, Cobb’s, Etowah’s and yes EP’s will all be looking up to them. Mark my words.
Raider From the Start
August 17th, 2009
5:38 pm
I’m not sure where East stands this year. Douglas seemed a little disorganized. They hurt themselves multiple times with penalties, delay of the game, offsides. East is very well coached and they do have some size on the line, however, there was a lot of “both ways” line play. The passing game was inconsistant but the running game was almost in mid season form. The D1 prospect did not make himself known. Did he play or did East handle him? I suspect he was the lineman who jumped offsides so often, He may have been a little frustrated. Rome will be a test. We will know after that game.
Kuddos to the Douglas band and dance team. They were in mid season form, they entertained us all night.
Soccer Mom
August 17th, 2009
5:40 pm
Whats Parkview looking like this year?
Grayson Student
August 17th, 2009
5:54 pm
Ol raider fan… your assesment as a “lucky night” is hysterical. Please go back and look at the stats from the lowndes game. As a matter of fact your raiders were the first team that we trailed ALL YEAR take a second to think about that……….. 11 games without trailing a single second. Maybe that whole year was lucky, hell maybe the whole program over here in grayson is lucky. Now as far as the game between us and the raiders which part is lucky? Is it the 20 play 10 plus minute scoring drive? Maybe the 5 foot 4 ean pembertons 29 carries for 162 yards was a joke as well. If your assesment holds true so is rivals.com, so is the espn poll, so is the ajc poll. all of whom recognize grayson as a great team. Just checked and didnt see ep on any of those lists. Your contradicting yourself when you say we should of won state because we beat lowndes. Any team could win on any night right? If you knew anything about that game you would know that it came down to the snapper in double overtime.
Pops(formerlybigpappi)
August 17th, 2009
5:55 pm
Happy to see all the EP fans and region 5AAAAA posts on here today. Good insight from Realistic EP and Raider from the start. Just wondering though if we will be hearing from Homet this season. That guy and his cannon were hilarious last year. We need a countdown, and Etowah needs revenge!
Realistic_EP/NP_Fan
August 17th, 2009
6:10 pm
Like raider from the start .. I have got to give it up to the Douglas band and dance team. WOW!!! Great show…… Where was the Raider Brigade ? …. Again la noshow. Ever since the new band director arrived I guess the Jamboree game just isn’t worth the effort. Thumbs down also to not having the flag raised or even displayed during the national anthem ….That is poor pkanning or just plain lazy. Thumbs up to the volunteer field crew… It looks awesome.
Oddly they charged to get in and the band was making money from concessions …. Just seems the band director needs to get with the program a little bit… Even if it were to just send out the drum line. Note to principal: if you collect a gate get the band out there too. It’s embarassing fir the visitors to do so and the home team elects to not show. And yes I realize school wasn’t even in session yet …. So what.
Last note : booster club …. Stop kicking people out of the reserved seats for the jamboree game …. There was only 25 pct of those seats filled. Use it as a opportunity to sell those seats and invite people to sit in them starting in the 2nd qtr.
Northside Observer
August 17th, 2009
6:22 pm
Yo! don’t start that not sure about Lowndes. Lowndes might as well be given the 1AAAAA trophy NOW. Simple–no one is close to challenging them. Hey, I wish I could say that about my beloved Northside-WR. I am just glad we play you in WR this year. You have Christain, everyone’s All American, one or two All State Line Backers (especially the one that made three straight hits in our back field), plus three or four other DI players. Look at this senario: You moved your grease lightning starting QB to wing back for a more talented Tyler Hunter to take over (Brice Hunter’s son). Then Lowndes coach found a freshman/Soph with a rocket arm, so he decided to allow Hunter to be the new Greg Reid. Man, you are blessed! Look out everyone in all other regions—–Lowndes is coming!
TrojanDude
August 17th, 2009
6:44 pm
–REEZE–NORTHSIDE OBSERVER– Glad to see you back Reeze. NO, (Northside Observer from now on), Good going on Yo. Can you even believe that shamlessness of any Lowndes fan whining and asking for leinency? Yo,,, you’re bordering on patronizing your own 1AAAAA blood brothers. It is sort of refreshing to hear you being a little humble though. You know you know better though man. Lowndes is going to be all over AAAAA. Statewide. Whomever the other three teams are that make it to the playoffs with Lowndes will still make it through a couple of rounds with you. Gotta have the pleasure of the 3rd and 4th seeds from 1AAAAA beating up on a couple of 1 and 2’s from up north.
slalom1
August 17th, 2009
6:52 pm
DROCK09…This 2009 Newnan defense is bound to be mighty tough. But, what about the offense? (Hold off on the voodoo until post season.LOL!!!)
wildcat fan
August 17th, 2009
6:52 pm
Yes, our defense did look suspect friday against Charlton Co. But please remeber that was Charlton Co, who could compete with a lot other teams in AAAAA and win. Coach did not play all of starters both ways like he intends to do Saturday. We looked the same way last year, and see the results. No one is giving camden a chance Saturday. Hopefully we can survive, the way everyone is talking about Grayson, We have no chance. The game is played on the field not on paper.
wildcat fan
August 17th, 2009
6:54 pm
Oh by the way the score was 33 to 12 and it could have been worse.
slalom1
August 17th, 2009
7:04 pm
YO, You have certainly started out the 2009 season with a “kinder gentler” manner. You and I both know that Lowndes is loaded on both sides of the ball. But, here goes: NO team in any classification will win state with a traditional “Wing-T” offense,(with the possible exception being Class “A”) Look at the major losses suffered by Lowndes since 2005, (not counting 2006 which was a rebuilding year). The offense failed in 2005:28-7 Ware,2007:9-0 Harrison and 2008: 17-7 Grayson. Granted Lowndes went on to win state in 2005 and 2007, but when the machine broke down the offense averaged 4.66 ppg. Also, better look out for Valdosta in 2009. The Lowndes offense was not exactly impressive against Valdosta in 2007 nor in 2008 (2007:8-0, 2008:14-7). Just fodder for thought. Good luck in 2009.
Grayson Student
August 17th, 2009
7:58 pm
lowndes lost to a wing t team in grayson?
fan
August 17th, 2009
8:14 pm
i know dis doesnt have nun 2 do wit dis but i think da new skool arabia mountain will have a great year dis year cus wen dey played duluth dey lost 21-7 but 4 a new skool dats gud cus dese r younger players den dem and dey shut duluth down in da 2nd half dat #42 dustin ingram dat kid is a beast and he is only in da 10th grade
slalom1
August 17th, 2009
9:00 pm
Grayson Student, Did not say that Grayson ran a Wing T. Point was that the Lowndes “Wing T” was beaten by Grayson.
slalom1
August 17th, 2009
9:07 pm
“Fan”, Well spoken.
Grayson Student
August 17th, 2009
9:42 pm
I no what your point was. Grayson runs a wing T… now i dont no if i would consider it traditional however
undertheradar
August 17th, 2009
9:54 pm
Realistic_ep/np_fan
You make some interesting points. Not sure why band director and booster club needs 2 be mentioned here thoough??? Kinda weird IMHO. But I’m sure you volunteer and r a nice person and help out with the band and especially the booster club. Right?
I for one would never bet against any Team coached by Reid…. Thats a suckers bet to do so. You might win here or there, but heads up over the long hall, UMMMM No It aint happening. Anyways, GRAYSON deserves some pre-season love. We don’t want it and don’t need it. NP or ANY new team in Paulding county will be face 1st in the mud looking up at EAST as long as Reid and Company R there. Period.
Be a man and root for NP or who ever in that county. Just pick a team! stop worrying about band members over cooking the gosh darn popcorn and this or that GOOD GRIEF
Load the DARN CANNON I can’t stand WEAKNESS
LEEK
August 17th, 2009
9:59 pm
SWD will when state best defense in the state go on rivals we already have 4 SEC commitments. Ken Malcome(UGA), T.J. Stripling(UGA), Jonathon Mincy (Aurburn), Sharod Golightly (Vandy). If you guys think thats overatted u will see we will rule 4A 15-0.
rwdekalbfan
August 17th, 2009
10:06 pm
Did anybody see the MLK-Cedar Grove game. The quarterback for Cedar Grove is the real deal. Extremely accurate passer, buys time for receivers moving smartly in pocket. MLK like most high school teams very vulnerable to team with good passing game. The game ended in overtime tie. Cedar Grove defense looked solid they could be cinderella team this year. MLK offensive line looks suspect, could make Mack try to over do it to get his yards which could set him up for injury. If MLK offensive line gels they can be a dangerous team.
Raider From the Start
August 17th, 2009
10:18 pm
I’m with you Pops! Homet, HoyaDawg, you and some others had me checking this post daily. I’m missing them. I know there is some new talent moving up, can’t wait to see who it is but I’ll be glad to see those old birds posting again. Meanwhile, LET’S HEAR THAT CANNON ROAR! IT’S NEW AND LOUDER THAN EVER! HOMET, HOW ABOUT A COUNTDOWN?