Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Georgia is No. 1 in GA vs. AL
First full-week observations:
So how does Georgia football compare to that in Alabama? North Gwinnett was impressive in its victory over Prattville. Hold on just a minute … . Nevermind, that was just Sam Gibson being sacked again. Now if Camden County can just whoop Hoover again on Sept. 11, Georgia will turn westward and thump its chest for a good year.
North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire tells me that Peachtree Ridge is the best team in the state. (Of course, you don’t want to say Grayson or Lowndes is the best when P’Ridge is the one in your region, but I think the coach was sincere.). I’d love to see P’Ridge at Lowndes this week. It will be hard not to rank the winner No. 1 next week, especially if it’s decisive.
Southwest DeKalb’s Buck Godfrey says he still thinks SWD will win state. He told Chip Towers that after SWD’s loss to MLK. Remember that MLK is a Class AAAAA team, and SWD’s quarterback went down on the first play. If it were me, I’d still guess SWD or Griffin will win state.
Having said that, Tucker is the new No. 1 in AAAA. I agree with Franklin Stephens that Tucker right now is not the best team in AAAA. But with no obvious successor, let’s let the defending champions stay put. Tucker wasn’t the best AAAA team in the state this time last year, either.
What were the most surprising things you saw this weekend? Here are mine:
Roswell 42, Tift County 7
St. Pius 28, Marist 3
Charlton County 38, Clinch County 0
Worth County 39, Turner County 0
South Gwinnett 49, Norcross 28
And I probably should’ve ranked Charlton County.
Todd Holcomb publishes a free weekly email newsletter called Georgia High School Football Daily. To sign up, go here.
CLASS AAAAA
1. Lowndes (1-0)
2. Grayson (1-0)
3. Peachtree Ridge (1-0)
4. North Gwinnett (1-0)
5. Camden County (0-1)
6. Stephenson (1-0)
7. Northside, Warner Robins (1-0)
8. M.L. King (1-0)
9. Newnan (1-0)
10. Etowah (1-0)
CLASS AAAA
1. Tucker (1-0)
2. Griffin (1-0)
3. Southwest DeKalb (0-1)
4. Westside, Macon (1-0)
5. Statesboro (1-0)
6. Sequoyah (1-0)
7. Rome (0-1)
8. North Clayton (1-0)
9. Banneker (1-0)
10. Hillgrove (1-0)
CLASS AAA
1. Carver, Columbus (1-0)
2. Gainesville (1-0)
3. Flowery Branch (1-0)
4. Baldwin (1-0)
5. Peach County (1-0)
6. St. Pius (1-0)
7. Carrollton (1-0)
8. LaGrange (0-1)
9. Cairo (0-1)
10. Washington County (1-0)
CLASS AA
1. Buford (1-0)
2. Calhoun (1-0)
3. Thomasville (1-0)
4. Fitzgerald (1-0)
5. Jefferson County (1-0)
6. Pepperell (1-0)
7. Lovett (1-0)
8. Brooks County (0-0)
9. Callaway (0-1)
10. Jefferson (1-0)
CLASS A
1. Wesleyan (1-0)
2. Wilcox County (1-0)
3. Lincoln County (1-0)
4. Wilkinson County (1-0)
5. Emanuel County Institute (1-0)
6. Brookstone (1-0)
7. Savannah Christian (1-0)
8. Miller County (1-0)
9. Johnson County (1-0)
10. Bowdon (1-0)
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226 comments Add your comment
Docb
September 1st, 2009
9:55 am
What the AJC did not post is that SWD lost their starting QB for the game on the first play of the game. On most HS teams, there is a big drop off from the first and second string QB. SWD had no offense after their QB went down.
cabbala
September 1st, 2009
10:07 am
On your place I would try to solve this problem itself.
Kadosh
September 1st, 2009
10:41 am
Man, that was good game on friday, between SWD and MLK and it wasn’t the D1 committments that stole the show it was the unknown Cameron (QB) for King, Wakeel (55) LB for SWD and that infamous (51) for SWD, who the announcer continued to call his name Isaiah Cook between him and that Wakeel that continued to make a tackles. I know the season just started but future teams need to watch these two defensive players for SWD cause they are creating havoc. I saw there body of work in the P Ridge scrimmage it was an awsome display of two players being around the ball and being physical. I couldn’t believe so I had to check out the next game with MLK which confirmed it those two kept SWD in the game with their tackles, the secondary is an area that needs to be tighten but I am sure Coach Godfrey will handle that. I also want to say that the two GA Commitments did show up but only one showed out and that is number (34). TJ Stripling took off some plays although he was chasing Cameron of MLK around the field. I counted 8 plays were TJ was on the sidelines when it appeared the defense needed him if you D1 you have to be in the fight all nite no matter what. For (1) of SWD great run we will see if you can bring it friday against Miller Grove which should be no contest but the only thing I can say is go hard or go home. Question SWD are you overrated, undisciplined, and outcoached, if so and you believe the bloggers just stay at home if not don’t talk about it be about it and I gone.
LifelongDawg
September 1st, 2009
12:01 pm
I’ve beeen living in central Florida since 1996, and I can tell you that their HS football is not superior to anything I saw when I lived in Georgia. And the comment about Griffin being scary good is spot-on. Those guys are big AND fast. Great thing about HS football is we get to find out who really is best at the end.
Kevin
September 1st, 2009
12:43 pm
YOU HAD BETTER WATCH OUT FOR UPSON-LEE THIS YEAR! THEY HAVE PROBABLY THE BEST OVERALL PLAYER IN THE STATE AT QUARTERBACK THIS YEAR! THE PEOPLE OF THOMASTON NEED TO BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR TEAM THIS YEAR! GO KNIGHTS!
SportsFan31313
September 1st, 2009
1:56 pm
Greetings BD,
In response to your comment, yes Bradwell Institute did beat Glynn Academy this year. Glynn Academy beat Bradwell Institute the past two years but Bradwell Institiute does hold the series against them. Bradwell Institute has a young team of players but I believe that they are better than they were last year. Bradwell Institute should go at the very least 9-1 or better in the regular season this year. You can NEVER under estimate those South Georgia Football Teams. On any given Friday or Saturday night, your team can be beaten. But I have the gut feeling that Bradwell Institute will have a successful season again this year. Last year, they made it to the 2nd round before losing to Lowndes County out of Region 1-AAAAA. Hopefully this year they will advance past the 2nd round.
Now as far as Camden County, they are a rebuilding team this year, but make no mistakes, that lost that occurred against Grayson was caused by a major mistake on Coach Jeff Herron. Coach Herron even admitted it. Camden County was winning in the 4th Quarter against Grayson might I add. but a loss is a loss. Even though Camden County lost their season opener against a good Grayson team, they are still a good team and is still a contender this year.
Camden County has dominated us for at least 10 years, but if you look at the years before that, Bradwell Institute use to beat them. Bradwell Institute holds the series between the two I think.
Right, Bradwell Institute should have no problem beating Wayne County this weekend but you never be too confident.
What team are you a fan of BD?
SportsFan31313
September 1st, 2009
1:58 pm
Greetings Todd Holcomb,
Out of the teams you have up there, who do you predict will win this weekend? Now that will be a good debate.
Dekalb football fan
September 1st, 2009
2:09 pm
To Kadosh… For (1) of SWD great run we will see if you can bring it friday against Miller Grove which should be no contest but the only thing I can say is go hard or go home…
Check your history… Have you seen the score’s lately between SWD and Miller Grove for the past two seasons.. Yes, Miller Grove has many inexperienced players, but games or let alone, championships are not won on paper. SWD is a good team, but, they better be humble playing in Region 6-AAAA.. Chamblee, Tucker, Marist, Stone Mt., Miller Grove… Pick your poison..
MLK, in my opinion, front seven out played SWD’s front.. However, 51 and 55 for the Panthers are undersized, beast. We shall see..
Reeze
September 1st, 2009
2:43 pm
Kevin………Are you saying that you have another Laquentin Lamar (The Northside Eagle killer) suited up at Upson-Lee ?If this is true ,AAAA Region -1 better take note
Kevin
September 1st, 2009
4:00 pm
Hey Reeze! This is true Tay Matthews is another Laquentin Lamar except he is a little better. I am very excited!
Brookwood Mom
September 1st, 2009
4:20 pm
I am looking forward to my BRONCOS playing North Gwinnett on Friday. Good luck BRONCOS!!
MLK Band Mom
September 1st, 2009
5:33 pm
To “rwdekalbfan” and the other ‘MLK Haters’…quiet down! The SWD game is in the past…history…in the books; looking forward to Thursday’s game against North Cobb! Go LIONS!
slalom1
September 1st, 2009
5:53 pm
Alright YO. So, we are gonna do this again? Ali vs. Frazier IV? The P’Ridge coach may have let the cat out of the kitty litter if he said that. Once again Coach, “Coaches DO NOT choose their players.” (Unless some bully coach confronts a 6′5 290 lb lineman and tells him that if he goes out for football he will guarantee him a “c” in math). It is the other way. The PLAYERS choose to play or not to play. Granted there is an advantage to enrollment but only if the kids wish to play football. Take Mill Creek. Enrollment around 4,000 last time I checked. Point is that most of the time good programs win because they have good programs. Simple. If P’Tree wins in 2009, it will not be due entirely to their enrollment. That is simply?<$%.
Same is true for Lowndes. Sure, they have an enrollment advantage over the rest of 1AAAAA, but that is not where their success comes from. Their success comes from community support, great facilities and the desire to play football for the Vikings.In an adverse way, Same is true for Tift. Their slide in GHS football has nothing to do with enrollment. Along with NSWR their enrollment is the least in 1AAAAA. But NSWR has done quite well with a minimal enrollment in AAAAA.
Here is the way I see it: Take Randy McPherson, Jeff Herron, Larry Campbell along with a handful of other successful GHS head coaches. Place them in any school and in any classification. Add in strong community support, and in relatively no time their new school would become champions.
That is the way I see it. Ready for round 15 in the final “thrilla” with the dude who is usually on the “pillow” having nightmares over “Grayzilla”.
THEHILLISREAL
September 1st, 2009
6:25 pm
Trey: The best team of Mays never made the playoff 2001 8-2 and 2004 5-5,’01 best skill players in state and owners of two state track championships. ‘04 class most formidable O/D line in the state with skill players. The twelve sign Scholarship that year @Douglass, 9 were zone for Mays.If and were pots pans, Mays more likely would’ve won state that year.that defense held James Davis 12yds and he got 2300 that year.Almost forgot back to back state champions in basketball.
Bee Shabazz: Why is Therrell complaining, about kids wanting the best public education they are allowed.Why? would you go to Therrell when you can go to one of the TOP high school U.S.A. Mays never complain about all the talent that leave and go to Doug or Roswell any of the North fulton county school or Buford.
The NuttJob/Wacko-Racist: Who scoff at the idea of Mays being one of top school in U.S.A, List your Rhode Scholar/Full Bright Scholar
and I will list ours.
MAYS HIGH TIL I DIE
Vote Ceasar Mitchell City Council President
THEHILLISREAL
September 1st, 2009
6:32 pm
I forgot Todd, the Mays v/s Douglass game will not be a good game. Mays will put their foot on the Astros throat. Mays by 35
MAYS HIGH TIL I DIE
Vote! Ceasar Mitchell Atlanta City Council President
Yo
September 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
Like I said, argue with the guy who was playing for the state championship last year…..not me!
SouthGARules
September 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
Slalom1: Due to a new HS opening in Gwinnett (Mountain View), Mill Creek enrollment has dipped to 3500. I can’t believe Todd didn’t mention THE game in Gwinnett on Friday night. Duluth & Meadowcreek.
In last years classic, Meadowcreek snapped a 43 game losing streak. They are on a 9 game losing streak, but Duluth comes in on an 19 game losing streak, with their last win against Meadowcreek. I’m sure all the TV crews will be in Duluth for this one.
bee shabazz
September 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
The HILLISREAL I ain’t mad at cha shawty. I’m APS all day an day. I would love to see Mays, Washington, Doug, SOUTH ATLANTA, and the rest of the ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS dominate Ga. football the way the MIAMI schools dominate FLORIDA. I hope Mays is as good as you say they are i’ll probably check’em out……BUT PLEASE, PLEASE TELL ME THEY DON’T RUN THAT GODAWFUL WING-T!!!!
slalom1
September 1st, 2009
9:57 pm
South Ga Rules, You are one funny hombre.Still LOL! Yes, I suppose I did miss the dip in enrollment at Mill Creek down to 3,500. My bad. Bless their hearts. But a good example of bigger not necessarily being better when it comes to GHS football. The kids in that part of Gwinnett County absolutely love soccer. Furthermore, they are very good at it.
YO, On a serious note, I like Lowndes over P’Ridge. Score: Something like Lowndes 31 P’Ridge 7. Now that I have spoken, maybe you can FINALLY get a good night’s sleep. But, don’t forget about those Grayson nightmares.lol.
Yo
September 1st, 2009
10:12 pm
I wake up in the middle of the night every night counting these greenish colored Rams and they keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Except for one little speedy one that keeps zipping back and forth in my nightmares.
Yo
September 1st, 2009
10:26 pm
I love the foolish of mind comments on here about the Wing T offense. I used to hate it too, until Lowndes went to it and kept winning championships with it. The majority of the state of Ga. uses the “johnny come lately, I guess every body else is doing it so I should too” spread offense and what offenses have won almost all AAAAA state champs this decade? Wing T. You can hate it, but you can’t beat it. 3 of the 4 powerhouses (Lowndes, Camden, and Grayson) in AAAAA in the state of Ga. run the Wing T.
Tucker, AAAA’s new powerhouse and last years AAAA state champ runs the Wing T. I didn’t see Cairo play (last years AAA state champ), but if they don’t run the Wing T it is definitely a run oriented offense. PeTree doesn’t run the Wing T but they are a heavy run oriented offense. Championship caliber teams win with defense first.
Ignorant fans of non championship teams, focus on the type of offense a team runs.
Todd Holcomb
September 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
SportsFan31313: You’ll have to get my newsletter to see my predictions. That comes Friday. Or check out Chip Saye’s predictions Friday at ajc.com.
I think Lowndes-Peachtree Ridge could be one of the best regular-season matchups in a long time. The Northside-Lowndes game was similar last year, but that game had more to do w/ the recent success of those programs. Northside was good in 2008, but not great. I think Lowndes or Peachtree Ridge could be great.
bee shabazz
September 2nd, 2009
3:19 am
Ya-O, I mean “Yo” the powerhouse teams in FLORIDA don’t run that GARBAGE and that’s why NATIONALLY there STATE CHAMPS are more RESPECTED than ours! Just about every major poll, USAToday, ESPN, you name it has ST. Thomas and Miami NW RATED HIGHER than any team in the STATE OF GEORGIA because the powerhouse teams in FLA. effectively run BIG BOY GET YOU PREPARED FOR COLLEGE OFFENSE’S that use the RUN as well as the PASS TO MOVE THE BALL. The Wing-T is a CON, FOOLS GOLD, it basically play’s on “YO” IGNORANCE and KNOWLEDGE OF BIG BOY FOOTBALL. The last 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, 2007 MIAMI NW and 2008 St.Thomas Aquinas. The only WINGS these NATIONAL POWERHOUSE TEAMS know about come in a RED AND WHITE STRIPED BUCKET WITH 2 SIDES A BOWL OF GRAVY AND SOME BISCUITS. “YO’ enjoy your CHICKEN WINGS and i’ll keep watching the BIG BOY’S GET PREPARED FOR SATURDAYS!
Wolverine Fan
September 2nd, 2009
6:23 am
Woodstock although they lost to Camden County by 1 point handled their Wing T. If Camden County played up here they would at best be 6-4, EP, Etowah, Woodstock would give them nightmares.
rwdekalbfan
September 2nd, 2009
7:14 am
To “MLK Band Mom” I have great love for MLK and dekalb county football. But you have to admit a lot of dekalbs teams have not had that something extra to get over the hump and win it all. “Thanks Tucker”. Our teams need to be more focused and disciplined. Several penalties on MLK, several plays SWD did not have but 10 players on field. I will be at the MLK game Thursday. This game will count, lets start seperating the contenders from the pretenders.
steve
September 2nd, 2009
9:30 am
all yall r forgeting that tucker is da defending state champs and r ranked numba 1 in AAAA rite now now everybody no that teams have been hating on tucker for ever. TUCKER WILL WIN STATE YET AGAIN
Reeze
September 2nd, 2009
9:32 am
Wolverine fan………So Camden would have been 6-4 at best if they were part of region 5.?..The same region who’s # 1 losses in the first round to lassiter and a week Later Lassiter gets hammered by N Gwinnette……..It’s good for Etowah that they had no parts of N Gwinette then……I think that you region 5 guys are getting parity in a region confused with a strong region……Region 5 has parity not overwhelming strength ,4 or 5 GOOD teams that is……..Your Wolverines played camden very well in the 3rd round ,but the rest of the region 5 teams didn’t show us anything at all……..It’s comical when Etowah,E.P,Woodstock are mentioned in the same with the likes of Camden ,Lowndes ,Northside………..Where’s the State Championships , or 20 30 plus winning streaks , Solid wins against good or ranked teams in the playoffs……Let me lower the bar, Can any region 5 team go undefeated within the region?…….The fact is that many of your teams have been wallowing in mediocrity for so long, Even with the slightest solid region win,the next Monday “Holcolm ,why is my team not ranked?”…….This isn’t at all a North Georgia South Georgia battle,because the Ridge and Grayson Have more than proven themselves,matter of fact Grayson in the next couple seasons will have a Parkview like dynasty i think….Wolverrine fan , a lot of us have been following this football game for many years, for some …..You gotta show us the money.
Marv
September 2nd, 2009
9:45 am
Keep an eye out for Union Grove
Decatur 4 Life
September 2nd, 2009
10:20 am
bee shabazz- get real, how do you know where I’m from just because of where i stay? Yeah i stay in Decatur but moved out here because the property taxes are cheaper. I’m from the SWATS too, the rest of my folks still live off Campbelton and went to Therrell High and Bunche Middle. We all played at Adams Park growing up before I moved, that’s how I know you’re too young to understand anything about tradition. S. Atlanta has never had anything worth talking about since Vincent Banks(a great player)left and they didn’t even win the championship then. If you were a good football player, you wouldn’t go to Therrell or S. Atlanta either if you had choice. The fact is, traditionally you don’t have anything never have, even before they combine the old George High with whatever school was out there to make S. Atlanta. Your basketball coach does more recruiting than Paul Hewitt and it hasn’t got you but one title. By the way I represent Columbia, the team yall beat in the Final 4. Yall can have that we were only going for our 3rd title in 4 years. That’s a dynasty. So not only are the taxes cheaper in Decatur but we win too.
Yo
September 2nd, 2009
10:37 am
bee shabazz….Lowndes would have been National Champs in 2005 running the delicious chicken Wing T had they not allowed themselves to be upset by Ware Co. early in the season. Of course playing in Georgia
(especially S.Ga.)it can be hard to go undefeated unlike in Miami where 1 or 2 teams dominate the rest. If the chicken wings are good, you eat em dudley. Northside showed one of your showboat Miami teams how to win a football game last year. Lets see….Northside 31 (didn’t make state championship in Ga.) and Booker T. Washington Miami 7. On the other hand….Booker T. Washington 29 and Miami Northwestern (the show boat team who made Florida’s highest classification state championship game barely losing) 31. Seems Northwesterns “get em ready for the next level” spread was no better than Northsides run oriented offense. On the other hand maybe Miami schools need to learn to play a little defense, do a little less show boating, quit trying to impress people for the next level if they want to come to Georgia and taste of the chicken wings. Otherwise they will find the wings a little too hot to heat. Defense wins football games, spread offenses are for the ignorant ranters who don’t know any better. Booker T’s spread offense was real flashy while Northside was busy spanking them. Good thing Northwestern didn’t bring there flashy selves up here last year to learn how to play defense or they might not be ranked this year either.
David
September 2nd, 2009
10:51 am
Luella should be AAAAA top 10
wolverine fan
September 2nd, 2009
10:57 am
What type competition does Camdon County have? Has anybody in their region ever beat them? Yes they are a great team and have a wonderful dynasty. If they had to play teams every Friday with the same caliber of players that they have I think things would be a little different.
SportsFan31313
September 2nd, 2009
11:23 am
Thanks Tood Holcomb,
I will keep that in mind and will look for your news letter this Friday.
Decatur 4 Life
September 2nd, 2009
11:24 am
Yo bee shabazz isn’t St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft.Lauderdale, last I checked that’s not Miami. Regardless of how close it is. Northwestern shouldn’t be considerd as anything in the nation if they’re not playing the nation’s best. That’s the only reason I’m giving St. Thomas Aquinas any credit because they have a good team and they’re playing one of the nation’s best in Brynes this year. The rest of those schools beat up on other cupcakes in S. Florida and that doesn’t make them a national powerhouse. Who cares what kind of offense they run, the name of game is winning
Yo
September 2nd, 2009
11:30 am
correct Decatur 4 Life
Decatur 4 Life
September 2nd, 2009
11:34 am
Reeze, “Grayson in the next couple seasons will have a Parkview like dynasty i think…..”, I can help you out with that they won’t, not in a couple of years. They actually have to win the state though. I’m a fan of what they’re doing at Grayson but stop with the comparisons until they at least win one. I could’ve sworn its about titles and not about winning a game nobody thought you would last year.
EagleNationRising
September 2nd, 2009
12:14 pm
Southwest DeKalb winning a state championship. Is this an AJC blog or comedy hour? That had to come from an Atlanta homer, like Todd Holcomb or a delusional SWD loyalist like Buck Godfrey. Godfrey, who as the head coach at SWD regularly choked away many state championships with the best talent in the state but such poor execution, his teams could not succeed. The bottom line is the coaching staffs at program like SWD rarely get it done. They are classic choke artists and Godfrey is the Michaelangelo of Coaches Falling in the Big One. Everyone in this state knows it. Godfrey is the poster child for coaches with dancing bands and 25 D1 players but no chance at winning state. Here is a rule of thumb in the later rounds of the state playoff. If a team has a band that is dancing in the stands, that team will lose unless they are playing, a. an intimidated team from metro/suburban Atlanta, or b. playing a team with another dancing band.
As for the head coach at North Gwinnett saying who the best team in the state is, I am a little confused. You beat a program from Alabama and now you feel bold enough to go on record about the state of Georgia. Seriously? The most successful coach in recent Alabama history coached at Hoover HS in Alabama and is now the head coach at Colquitt County. Colquitt County has won state championships before and the guy can’t even make it out of the region into the state playoffs competition while competing against the best (Georgia’s Region 1-AAAAA). Unless a coach from Region 1-AAAAA says that Peachtree Ridge is the best program in Georgia, let’s not print it AJC…let’s not print it Todd. Let’s use credible sources. How is the coach at North Gwinnett credible on the issue of the best team in Georgia? I am baffled.
A football coach from North Gwinnett HS is not a credible source since North Gwinnett has NEVER won a state championship. Therefore, the coach from North Gwinnett does not know what the best looks like. He has NEVER coached the best. He has never seen the best against equal competition. The best play in front of 15,000+ on Friday nights in Georgia towns like Valdosta, Warner Robins, St. Mary’s, and LaGrange. 3 Gwinnett County schools have won State Championships in 62 years of football in the GHSA. 3 Region 1-AAAAA teams have won GHSA state championships in the past 5 years. 6 have won in the past 25 years. Let’s speak to come credible sources about who the best in Georgia is Todd.
FYI: Yet another South Georgia team won the GHSA state championship last season (Camden County). When are you going to learn, Todd? Do these metro Atlanta guys pay you for quotes. North Gwinnett coach says… Are you serious or doing stand up comedy?
BrookFan
September 2nd, 2009
12:28 pm
Valdosta Dawg,
It’s good to see that the Valdosta Mildcats have finally turned the corner…ONLY TO FIND that on-coming bus called reality.
Coach Tomberlin’s just trying to beef up his resume before he gets the ol’ heave-ho at the end of another disappointing season. Keep trying though ’cause after all you’re Valdosta, Whinersville, USA.
bwahahahahahaha…[sarc off]
EagleNationRising
September 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
SportsFan31313, Todd Holcomb continues to show his Atlanta bias. To compare the Lowndes/Peachtree Ridge game to the Northside/Lowndes game of 2008, which he and his staff rated as one of the five biggest games in great history of high school football in Georgia (#2, I believe) is insane. Todd likes hype. He does it for a living.
Lowndes brings a 1 game win streak into this game. PRidge is not rated nationally…not widely viewed as the second best team in GA (Grayson is) and not even rated in the USAToday national poll. The best games in this great state pair the top two teams and those two teams are usually ranked nationally (always ranked nationally), i.e. Northside/Lowndes (2008), Northside-Warner Robins/Warner Robins, etc.
Just 12 days ago, Grayson was the flavor of the week among these Atlanta football people. After one game with Camden County, a program reloading for a run later this year but young and down (by their high standards), the Atlanta people have jumped upon the PRidge bandwagon. SportsFan31313, keep an eye on a down Warner Robins program (new QB, new RB, etc.) at Grayson.
Todd, you are shameless in your hype of metro Atlanta programs. Lowndes/PRidge (2009) bigger than Northside/Lowndes (2008)??? Lowndes and PRidge have a 1 game winning streak going into this one. Who are you bouncing ideas off of? Northside brought 2 straight GHSA State Championships, 3 straight GHSA State Championship appearances, one of the top LB in the nation, arguably the top DT in the nation, and a USAToday national ranking into that game in Valdosta. Lowndes were defending GHSA AAAAA state champions, ranked in the top 10 nationally, had won 2 of the past 3 GHSA AAAAA State Championships, and fielded 3 of the top players in the nation including the top DB. Now you compare a game with the third rated team in this state, who is unranked nationally to the game you called one of the five best in Georgia’s rich football history. That is hype. You, sir, are the king of it. Your majesty, we have to call you out on that. It is absurd!
SportsFan31313
September 2nd, 2009
1:10 pm
Greetings Eagle Nations Rising,
What do you think about this comment?
Todd Holcomb
September 1st, 2009
11:30 pm
SportsFan31313: You’ll have to get my newsletter to see my predictions. That comes Friday. Or check out Chip Saye’s predictions Friday at ajc.com.
I think Lowndes-Peachtree Ridge could be one of the best regular-season matchups in a long time. The Northside-Lowndes game was similar last year, but that game had more to do w/ the recent success of those programs. Northside was good in 2008, but not great. I think Lowndes or Peachtree Ridge could be great.
SportsFan31313
September 2nd, 2009
1:13 pm
Eagle Nation Rising,
Things that makes you say HMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!
In The Trenches
September 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Wolverine Fan – I am an Etowah and region 5 fan, but I have to agree with Reeze on this one. Although we are extremely competitive amongst ourselves, as a region we must do better in the palyoffs. Your team surprised and did well, but Etowah’s loss to Harrison was totaly unexpected, and honestly should not have happened, but that is a story for another day. Hopefully the region will rise up and win at least two or three first round games this year, and make some noise deeper into the playoffs. But, until region 5 wins a state championship, it is very hard for any of us to have a legimate argument with the likes of Reeze.
Reeze
September 2nd, 2009
1:31 pm
Kevin……..If this kid is better than Laquentin Lamar then he is worth watching this year…..I find it hard to believe though.I found a little clip of Lamar on Utube to refresh your memory. I hope I did this right……………………………….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXf3jVVcjm4
wolverine fan
September 2nd, 2009
1:31 pm
Wonder Why Todd shows Atlanta Bias……..Do ya think it might be because this is the ATLANTA Journal………Come on eaglenation
In The Trenches
September 2nd, 2009
1:31 pm
All that said – ……..It’s comical when Etowah,E.P,Woodstock are mentioned in the same with the likes of Camden ,Lowndes ,Northside………..Where’s the State Championships.
This is our year baby! Go Etowah!
wolverine fan
September 2nd, 2009
1:37 pm
In The Trenches. What do you think would happen if we combined Woodstock, Etowah, Seqoyah, Cherokee and Creekview all in one school? I bet Cherokee county would win some championships. Camden County is a great team…..But my question still is how many region games have they lost in the last 5 years?
In The Trenches
September 2nd, 2009
3:04 pm
Wolverine Fan – Just Etowah and Woodstock would be all you need. It should almost be one school anyway. Hey, but it is what it is. We have to beat them in the playoffs first, then we can talk!
EagleNationRising
September 2nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Actually Wolverine Fan, when you follow some other big football states (Texas, Florida, Ohio, or Michigan) the journalist usually follow the trends of the best teams. They don’t create false hype about their local team.
The problem that I have with the AJC and particularly someone like Todd Holcomb, who I believe knows better, is the metro Atlanta teams have performed so poorly as a group. To pretend that metro Atlanta teams have performed at a level close to the rest of other part of the state is, in one word, dishonest.
Peachtree Ridge may indeed be the best team in the state. If so, they will show it throughout this season. On the other hand, creating this hype and calling a game between the #1 and #3 teams in the state, both carrying a 1 game winning streak, and one not even listed in the USAToday regional rankings is just flat out disingenuous.
This state has had some big time programs face off in the regular season and more in the future. The Lowndes/Peachtree Ridge game may be a classic. It may prove to be the top two teams. My guess is it is far too early to tell. I just don’t enjoy the fantasy world that these guys create. These programs are good. They just do not deserve the “false” ink that the AJC, the largest paper in the state gives them. These guys actually printed a story about Southwest DeKalb winning a state championship. That is dishonest reporting and borderline comical. It is another example of metro Atlanta hype coming from the AJC.
EagleNationRising
September 2nd, 2009
3:20 pm
Wolverine Fan, if you combined all of those Cobb County schools, you might win a playoff game or two. Nonetheless, your 10,000 student super school would still become the nail to programs that are the hammer in this state like Northside-Warner Robins, Lowndes County, Camden County, Valdosta, Warner Robins, etc. Etowah is already larger than schools like Northside and other Middle & South GA schools. You have more students to pull from in your school. The difference is people do not buy into excuses in the powerful programs in South Georgia and Middle Georgia. The fan base is much, much, much more passionate. The kids simply go to work and play hard together.
It carries over in other things past football too Wolverine Fan. If you go to the GHSA site, you will see the school like Northside-Warner Robins have an honorable track record on the football field. In GHSA activities like One Act (drama), State Literary, and Forensics (debate), schools like Northside-Warner Robins have more than a combined 50 State Championships. That is not a misprint and you can look it up for yourself.
Metro Atlanta schools do basically compete against themselves. Why combine the schools? You have Region 1-AAAAA and Camden County. The rest of Camden County’s region has AAA or at best AAAA enrollment. The Savannah area schools do not mind competing up because they are so good in basketball. AAAAA is metro Atlanta schools competing against themselves with one region (Region 1-AAAAA) plus one school (Camden County). Still, metro Atlanta schools fail to dominate. That shows you just how mediocre the football is up here. The Atlanta schools have all of the money and the facilities, yet they rarely hoist the championship trophy.
AVikingFan
September 2nd, 2009
4:37 pm
Todd, ENR is already at midseason form and it’s only week two. Man, he likes to write.
How many state championships does NSWR have in the state’s highest classification? Who is known as the choker of all time in GA High School semi final Dome games?
NSWR may not be the best team in Houston County this year.
I think Todd Holcumb very accurately writes about high school football.
he backs up his stats with facts. He doesn’t use two dollar words, he’s precise, to the point, and doesn’t ramble on and on and on and on.