Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Georgia is No. 1 in GA vs. AL

skee bo

August 30th, 2009
5:51 pm

Why did Sandy Creek drop out the top ten when you had Rome and SW Dekalb losing also.Sandy Creek lost 2 a team in class 5A as did SW.Look for Creek to run the table and RB Rajion Neal to have a huge year. GO CREEK!!!!!!

Drew Ragland

August 30th, 2009
6:02 pm

When the rankings for AAAA were determined, was B.E. Mays High considered? Mays was 8-2 last year, losing their QB and RB, but this year they have an Even better QB that’s a junior and even better RB’s that are sophomores and seniors. They defeated Therrell 70-3 in the preseason jamboree @ Lakewood Stadium and defeated New Schools of Carver last night (which was not covered in your Sunday paper – you actually ran another article on SWD) 42 – 21 and it should have been worse. Mays’ passing game is is much better and running game is even stronger.

Stu

August 30th, 2009
6:35 pm

If the AJC thinks that Jefferson County, Pepperell, Lovett, Brooks County, Callaway and Jefferson are better that Charlton County, please stop with the top 10 rankings.. Time will tell and at the end of the year, I bet Charlton will be in the think of things for the last time in AA, before moving back to A ball next year.

The Grove

August 30th, 2009
6:57 pm

JUST KEEP OVERLOOKING THE GROVE!!! WE ARE GOING TO SNEAK UP AND BITE THE AAAAA REGION RIGHT IN THE REAR! YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THE GROVE IN HENRY COUNTY REAL SOON!!!!!!!!

dan

August 30th, 2009
7:11 pm

SWD is very overrated. Not to take anything from MLK, but SWD hasn’t been a legitimate State Title Contender since the 1990’s.

I also think Tucker is a little down this year. They didn’t exactly blow Brunswick out of the water. They’ll still blow Lakeside out, but Tucker isn’t the team they were last year or in 2007. I thought that 2007 Tucker team was better than the State Title Team last year.

MHS

August 30th, 2009
7:16 pm

The lack of attention paid to Mays High School this offseason and now into the regular season has to be a joke. The team returns most of its starters from last years team that climbed to #2 in the polls late in the season. The senior class has been a part of wins against Tucker, Marist, and St.Pius while remainging undefeated in the city over the last 4 years. We hear so much about the so called premiere athletes in the city at Washington, Douglass, and Carver, how about recognizing the premiere TEAM in the city at Benjamin E. Mays High School where you will also truly find the premiere athletes as well.

NW GA Fan

August 30th, 2009
7:35 pm

Be aware that Chattooga County (NW Georgia) has the best team they’ve had in over 40 years. They could give Calhoun and Buford everything they can handle in AA. Ask Darlington (Rome).

dooley

August 30th, 2009
7:42 pm

Carver-Columbus, best in the state

bee shabazz

August 30th, 2009
7:57 pm

Drew Ragland I don’t care what that dumb sign in front of the school says but can we please refer to Carver High as just CARVER! The New Schools thing sounds dumber than the kids in the neighborhood of EAST ATLANTA telling people they go to SOUTHSIDE COMPREHENSIVE. Maynard Jackson good choice! New Schools at Carver, BADDDDDDDDD!

LSJU82

August 30th, 2009
8:06 pm

Todd, interesting that you think Griffin is so good. The Griffin starters lost 14-7 to the Marist starters, though the game ended 14-14 after the Griffin second team scored against the Marist second team in the teams’ pre-season scrimmage in Griffin. Griffin is physically big with fast ends on defense, but very undisciplined on offense. Southwest Dekalb has historically been out coached in big games and usually lacks discipline. I will take Tucker’ superior coaching and quality athletes over SWD’s undisciplined “studs.” Take a look at the past few years and good coaching and team discipline trump “athletes.” In Region 6-AAAA, for example, scholarships did not equate to team success last year.

MHS

August 30th, 2009
8:12 pm

Shabazz call it what you will. The end result is your panthers got spanked by a far superior team on Saturday night in a game where the score could have easily been worse.

Bears

August 30th, 2009
8:26 pm

LSJU82. Marist vs Griffin was a scrimmage game. Neither team played to their full potential. The games actually count now. Is Griffin the Number 2 team in 4A i’m not sure but Griffin seems to have great players on both sides of the ball. Hopefully they can cut down on the penalties and continue to play good defense

Trey

August 30th, 2009
8:31 pm

mays also has the best band in the state…anyone there last night saw that. Mays is defitnely top ten in the state

Trey

August 30th, 2009
8:32 pm

in football…that is

Old Towner

August 30th, 2009
8:33 pm

I wouldn’t be suprised if North Cobb gives MLK a great game next Friday night. They are young but very scrappy and extremely well coached! Couldn’t believe it when they beat them last year either.

Pridge senior

August 30th, 2009
8:39 pm

Nice job on putting N Gwinnett ahead of Camden.

joho

August 30th, 2009
8:56 pm

Do you honestly think there are 10 AA teams in Georgia better than Charlton County? One nine win season (after a record 13 years with 10+ wins) and you disregard Charlton as a second rate team. You will find out. We may not win a state championship this year but we will give it a run. Probably a better run than most of your top ten.

SouthGARules

August 30th, 2009
9:13 pm

Thomasville beating Thomas County Central, North Gwinnett winning over Prattville & South Gwinnett rolling over Norcross. South has a very good chance of being a playoff team in Region 8. Outside of Grayson, no one is really impressive. The real measuring stick for South will come Sept 18th when they travel to Grayson.

gbpier

August 30th, 2009
9:43 pm

Griffin is loaded this year with talent and experience….very gifted players on defense…very physical….im not even a griffin fan but they are loaded….

heeldawg

August 30th, 2009
9:50 pm

ECI is not even the best team in its own region (3A)–Savannah Christian and Johnson County, both of whom are also in the top 10, are better teams, and Savannah Country Day had ECI on the ropes this weekend before fumbling a punt return to allow the Bulldogs to escape 14-10 with a miracle TD with 50 seconds left in the game. SCPS and ECI meet this weekend. We’ll see where that leaves your rankings.

Ed

August 30th, 2009
9:51 pm

Marist will rise again. Same as last year — lost to St. Pius, which treats the Marist game like it is a state championship, while Marist treats it as a tune up to the AAAA season. Marist’s disciplined offense improves throughout the season every year.

turtsnap

August 30th, 2009
10:12 pm

UNION GROVE…… UNION GROVE…….. UNION GROVE!!!!!

Yo

August 30th, 2009
10:17 pm

Glad to see that at least 1 team from the feared Region 5AAAAA could manage to sneak in. Good thing they don’t do only a Top 9…huh!..fofl

Todd Holcomb

August 30th, 2009
10:19 pm

Ed: I’m not counting out Marist, but this year’s loss to SPX was much more decisive than in 2008. Of course, Tucker was beaten decisively at one point last year and did just fine in the end.

SouthGARules: I probably should’ve included the NG-Prattville game among the bigger surprises. Thomasville beating TCC didn’t surprise me, though I might’ve picked TCC. Can’t remember.

Joho: Are there 10 teams in AA better than Charlton? Probably not. But I don’t think any of the teams in the Top 10 deserved to be kicked out to make room. Remember that Charlton was not a Top 10 team last season and lost most of its starters, so that’s why Charlton didn’t start in the Top 10. Perhaps they should be there now after what we saw last week.

re: Marist-Griffin scrimmage: The Detroit Lions were 4-0 last season in scrimmages.

re SWD being overrated: Most teams that start No. 1 are overrated. It’s hard to live up to rankings that high. And it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since the team was a legit state contender. Tucker hadn’t reached a state title game in years until last season.

re Mays: I like Mays, but there are a lot of teams that were good last season that returned a lot of starters. Mays hasn’t finished in the Top 10 very much. Good team, though.

re: Sandy Creek: Good point that SC lost to a AAAAA school, just as Rome and SWD did, but Rome and SWD were ranked higher to begin with, and they teams that beat them — MLK and East Paulding — are significantly better than East Coweta, IMO. It’s a long season, though, and I still think SC can be very good.

Todd Holcomb

August 30th, 2009
10:24 pm

re: Region 5-AAAAA. Too early to judge ‘em. I almost traded Woodstock for Etowah.

blu eagle

August 30th, 2009
10:31 pm

Hey Todd, I think you do a good job despite some posts. If Northside stays undefeated until Lowndes game do you think they have a chance of
beating at the Mac this year? I think homefield advantage is a big plus
for them as they seem to have 2 good QB’s and good running backs again.

JBO

August 30th, 2009
10:34 pm

Not from there but Griffin is loaded with more speed (which is scary) than they’ve EVER had. Their O-Line and D-Line will dominate. They are scary good.

Dawg Gone

August 30th, 2009
10:47 pm

Ed – if it’s no big deal to Marist who wins the game with St. Pius, then why did the Marist Booster Club pay for an airplane circle campus towing around a banner with last year’s score (21-10 in case you forgot) on it? Maybe they’re having a little Pius Envy?

T3

August 30th, 2009
11:09 pm

Shock of the year Dutchtown High School!!!!!!!!!

Jon Megrue

August 30th, 2009
11:41 pm

1. Union Grove

SecIsFootball

August 30th, 2009
11:57 pm

Ed…I have a friend who is a coach at Pius and they treat every game like it is a championship game. I am sure Marist will have a good year but maybe if they approached every game the same way Pius does, they might have a better start!

NCHS ALUMNI

August 31st, 2009
12:23 am

North clayton returned 5 starters on both sides of the ball and made it 2 the 2nd round lastyear…but dnt pay us any attention..we love making the unexpected the expected

TRUE BLUE

August 31st, 2009
1:10 am

PRATTVILLE, HOOVER, and VIGOR are overrated teams from the STATE of ALABAMA. Last year, CAMDEN COUNTY beat HOOVER 42-21. This year in a scrimmage UNION GROVE dominated VIGOR last year STATE CHAMPION in ALABAMA. Then NORTH GWINNETT beat PRATTVILLE , ALABAMA 6A state champion..These teams are coming to The State of GA. playing our average teams and losing. I would have loved to seen BUFORD play BYRNES of SOUTH CAROLINA last year or this year.. The best football is played in the PEACH STATE.

BD

August 31st, 2009
1:36 am

I agree with you true blue, I seen camden last yr run right thur hoover. Hopefully they can do the samething again this year. Camden secondary is not as good as it was last year so hopefully can put pressure on the QB with their front 7.Good win North Gwinnett the state of Alabama will stop sending their top schools to play Georgia top schools cause they cant win!!! Only if UGA could beat Bama everytime they play each other. I think thats why Nick saban stays recruiting in the state of georgia cause we have better talent hands down. Central Gwinnett had no business playing Brynes yea I would have love to have that seen them play one of our better schools like Grayson, Camden, Lowndes, even Buford anybody besides central gwinnett.

13jas

August 31st, 2009
1:42 am

I no Flower Branch is good, question is Stephens Co. that Bad? I went to the game & It was dominated by the Falcons. R the Indians N 4 along season?

PiusGrad

August 31st, 2009
2:08 am

Ed – This whole first game of the season garbage only started last year, because Marist decided to stay in AAAA. Otherwise, the game would be played when it was before and when it should be – the end of the year. Though we’ve had some good results playing it the first game of the year – maybe we should keep it that way.

BD

August 31st, 2009
2:12 am

Yea Todd Charlton Co should have crack your top 10 poll. Clinch Co was ranked #2 in class A in the coaches poll last week and charlton man handle them. I was surprise as you were with the way S. Gwinnett defeated norcross. Is S.Gwinnett just that good this year or Norcross just that bad this year??? I asked the same thing about Marist I know St.Pius usually have a pretty good team, but man did marist looked terrible in the highlights shown on the TV. Not the Marist I’m used to seeing. I wish some network will televise that Peachtree Lowndes game this friday I hate to have drive all the way down to Valdosta to see a good game this friday. We will really see if Lowndes is good as advertise without Greg Reid to bail them out when they get into trouble. Went to the MLK and S. Dekalb last friday the game went as I thought especially after S. Dekalb lost there QB on the 1st play of the game. Hopefully when they get there startin Qb back maybe they can get there offense going and be able to pass the ball If not they will not win state.

BD

August 31st, 2009
2:47 am

Hey Sports Fan 31313, I see Bradwell barely beat Glynn academy this past week!!!! How do your boys look this year I know its early in the season but what do you think about them???? And how do you think they will fare against Camden this yr??? 40-0 this yr maybe???? Or you think they will actually score a touchdown this yr against them??? Bradwell should blowout wayne co this friday so know worries there!!! Camden is very young this yr!!!! So this yr might be Bradwell yr

bee shabazz

August 31st, 2009
3:03 am

Miami Northwestern, Miami Central, and St. Thomas Aquinas would mop the floor with Lowndes, Camden County and any other garbage WING-T running’ team in the state of Georgia. Grayson and Buford are not even on the same level as these Miami-Dade and Broward powers. You can’t compete in S. Fla runnin that garbage! Teams are too fast and disciplined to fool with misdirection and no passing game. Oct. 8th on ESPN real football will be played Miami NW vs. Miami Central. For those that like Big Time high school football this will be one worth watching! And the halftime show will definitely be exciting!

BD

August 31st, 2009
3:05 am

Trying to find me a good game to watch this week, looking at this week schedule and the games that caught my eye besides the Lowndes vs peachtree. Highschool fans or Todd help me out with this Grayson vs warner robins or north cobb vs MLK. I know what grayson will bring to the table but I dont know about Warner Robins. Warner Robins blowout cream puff wheeler last week, Todd or highschool fans do you think this will be a completive game or will grayson blow them out?? North Cobb vs MLK was a great game last yr I guess it wouldnt hurt to see Mack Brown two weeks in a row??? What game will you attend this week Todd??

Joe Hale

August 31st, 2009
3:16 am

What happen to Jackson in the top 10 in AAA?

BD

August 31st, 2009
3:24 am

Bee Shabazz are you crazy???? St. Aquinas are good I respect them, but Miami Northwestern and Miami Central yea right. Miami North western was good two yrs ago when they had all that talent. Last yr Northside warner robins mopped the floor with Booker T Washington of Miami and there so call spread offense. The same team Miami Northwestern stuggle with last yr. I will put anyone of our top team against them. Yall havent seen a good defense team like Camden, Grayson, Peachtree, Lowndes, or Buford. They will run they ball down yall throats. I will admit St.Aqunias is very good team and I like the way they play ball. But Miami Northwestern QB didnt show me anything last yr when I seen him play. Pahokee a class AA school will beat Miami Northwestern and Miami Central!!! You will have to come with something better than that.

BD

August 31st, 2009
3:37 am

Bee Shabazz if you got any pull with Miami Northwestern or miami central coaches or AD. Tell them to sign up there team up for GA/ FL Border War games next yr that happens in Camden every year and we will see then. Camden is going to beat the brakes off First Coast this weekend!!!! Any Florida team is welcome to play no matter what class there in. Put up or shutup

BD

August 31st, 2009
3:46 am

Stay with your sorry AAA school New Schools of Carver!!!!

Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Georgia is No. 1 in GA vs. AL | Prep Zone … | Georgia realestate live today

August 31st, 2009
4:25 am

[...] observations: So how does Colony sport study to that in Alabama? Read the rest here: Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Colony is No. 1 in GA vs. AL | Prep Zone … Posted in Football, Uncategorized | Tags: air-force, areas-such, defence-forum, [...]

bee shabazz

August 31st, 2009
4:32 am

BD are you buying your medicine on BANKHEAD, Miami NW QB was in 10th grade last year and still lead them to there 3rd straight championship game. NW has just as much talent if not more than Aquinas and there QB is a lot better PLUS there not a private school like Aquinas. Face it dude the Wing-T is a garbage offense ran by coaches with atheletically challenged players or lazy coaches with no creativity. Wing-T teams don’t run it down your throat, they get you chasing people who don’t have the ball with misdirection and NW, STA, and Central are too good, too disciplined, and wayyyyyyy too fast to fall victim to that garbage. Nationally NW and STA are rated higher than every team in Ga. In Miami they have another name for the WING-T, S.W.B.O., BELIEVE DAT!

Not Disappointed

August 31st, 2009
4:45 am

No Washington-Wilkes in Single A? Oy! Come on Tigers!

bee shabazz

August 31st, 2009
5:04 am

BD i’m from Zone 3 Atlanta home of the Defending State Basketball Champs S. Atl. Hornets that’s my school, but we suck at football. The majority of my family lives in Fla. so I get to watch football in both states and what i’ve seen in Dade County is like nothing else. You mentioned First Coast which is in Duval Co, basically a suburb of Valdosta does not compare with Dade, Broward and those rabbitchasers in Muck City, Palm Beach County. North Fla. football is kinda like Ga. with Wing-t teams here and there but they don’t win State Championships like the multiple ones won by NW and STA.

HOWARD

August 31st, 2009
5:17 am

LSJU82,
IF YOU THINK GRIFFIN IS NOT DISIPLINED ON OFFENSE, YOU WERE NOT IN GRIFFIN FRIDAY NIGHT. 360+YARDS PASSING. GET YOU A LIFE BEFORE YOU SPEAK OUT. MAYBE WE CAN SEE YOUR WAR EAGLES IN PLAYOFFS. WE DESERVE #2 RIGHT NOW.

GO BEARS AND WIN THE STATE!

bee shabazz

August 31st, 2009
5:32 am

BD, be honest with me you say you repect St. Thomas but not NW? Why? St. Thomas is an ELITE CATHOLIC PRIVATE SCHOOL that recruits the best inner-city talent that money can buy to play football for them. The LEGENDARY MIAMI NORTHWESTERN BREEDS TALENT from ONE NEIGHBORHOOD and has been one of the top programs in Fla for over 30 years and a national powerhouse for probaly the last 20. People preach about doing stuff the RIGHT WAY, well that’s MIAMI NORTHWESTERN, you should at least respect that!

wolverine fan

August 31st, 2009
6:09 am

Todd……I think the defense of Woodstock will hold Etowah in check. The offense from Woodstock usually does not start clicking right away but against Kell they showed they can score.

ngdogdad

August 31st, 2009
7:00 am

North Gwinnett tried to get Buford to play in the National Event and Buford wanted no part of it! I suppose they were trying to preserve the winning streak and had some high doubts that they could compete at that high of level. Just one man’s opinion why they wouldnt come and play with the big boys!

drock09

August 31st, 2009
7:07 am

I want to congratulate east coweta and newnan on their victories. I was very impress because both was team efforts from the coaching staff on down. Tay willis and austin ingram was impressive on offense as well as the santiago kid on defense. Sandy creek is sandy creek a lot of hype but no coaching. Number 24 the mansour kid is the real deal from lagrange. The newnan defense reloaded they look bigger and faster. Lagrange had 81 yards and two first downs.

Pops(formerlybigpappi)

August 31st, 2009
7:43 am

Wolverine Fan, I would like to aknowlwegde the Woodstock defense, but as your post indicates the Woodstock offense is inept. The only way you are able to score is when your defense sets it up for you. See the Kell game. Keeping Etowah in check will be difficult for any team. I like Etowah at home in a tooth and nail battle. Todd don’t rank Woodstock just yet.

Pops(formerlybigpappi)

August 31st, 2009
7:50 am

Yo, to answer your post from last night. It is tradition for Todd to rank the best region 5AAAAA team (Etowah) this week, as either number 9 or 10. However, there is a region AAAAA line knocking at the door, which includes Woodstock, East P, and perhaps an upcoming McCeachern. Whoever the hot team is this weekend gets the nod. Perhaps that is why Etowah fell a spot whilst not palying?

Keith

August 31st, 2009
8:01 am

Hey PiusGrad – I like how you begrudgingly say “Marist decided to stay in AAAA”, as if that was some stupid decision. Every time that Alan Chadwick has lost to St. Pius, Marist has reached the state title game that season. And oh, by the way, Marist has been in AAAA for all of those years. I will gladly take a loss to Pius if it means a state championship or runner-up. We at Marist have bigger aspirations.

wolverine fan

August 31st, 2009
8:18 am

I remember last year when people were saying the same thing about Woodstock. By the way Pops the offense is not inept.

Pops(formerlybigpappi)

August 31st, 2009
8:31 am

Wolverine Fan, we shall see? Just saying that your success will be dependant on your defense setting up your offense. Not such a bad thing.

Ken

August 31st, 2009
8:32 am

No one cares about how we compare to Alabama. The real question is how we compare to Florida.

Hard But Fair

August 31st, 2009
8:39 am

@ Bee Shabazz – you may be correct in that South Atlanta has had some challenges, but there is new coach there & he is committed to turning South Atlanta’s program around just as several other City of Atlanta programs APS have done in recent years. These teams may not ever experience a consistent level of success that the S & Mid GA programs or even your teams is S. Fl, but you should be finding a way to support your very own alma mater & not touting the programs of other schools. South Atlanta does have some good athletes that simply need to be coached up and have that losing mentality adjusted. Go ahead and try supporting your team.

sportsfan

August 31st, 2009
8:40 am

Most AAAAA schools don’t want to lose to a AA school…that’s why they won’t schedule Buford. Some 4A’s and 5A’s have tried over the last several years with little success. As a Buford fan I don’t think we could beat Byrnes, as was stated earlier by one of you numb-brain idiots. I noticed one of you writers mentioned how powerful south Florida football is and to be sure watch one of their matches coming up soon on television….why didn’t you mention the Byrnes vs. St. Thomas Aquinas on ESPN Oct. 2nd. It’s obvious Georgia has great football as does Fla. Ala. and S.C., but let it get settled on the field whenever they have an opportunity to play each other. And by the way, Buford has played some of the better teams from Ohio and Tesax over the last couple years….from much larger divisions…..and they haven’t lost yet.

gary

August 31st, 2009
8:48 am

isn’t it amazingg, all this talk and not one word about the Valdosta Wildcats. Times are a changing!!

GatorMan

August 31st, 2009
8:59 am

Was at the Flowery Branch/Stephens County game and Coach Shaw showed no class or is just stupid; with less than 5 min left in the game and a 31-8 lead, he still had his son at QB with the rest of the 1st team offense. The boy already has a committment to SC so it won’t help his stats. High School rankings mean nothing when it comes to a state championship so that wasn’t the reason either. Sooner or later he could end up needing a back up and then he will deserve what he gets. I have to qualify by saying that I go to Flowery Branch games and live in a neighborhood where all of the kids go there so I am not biased for Stephens County or anyone else. Come on Coach, get you head out of your
$#* !!!

Crash001

August 31st, 2009
9:02 am

Enter your comments here

Big Blue – Vigor is a 5-A in the state of Alabama. Alabama football classification goes up to 6-A therefore, Union Grove should of have won the scrimage game. Let’s see how Union Gove compete’s against Stephenson & MLK. Speaking of a scrimage shocker – I was told that Southwest Dekalb defeated Peachtree Ridge two weeks ago in a scrimage.

TRUE BLUE

August 31st, 2009
9:09 am

BEE SHABAZZ did you see the GEORGIA TECH and MIAMI GAME last year at tech on NATIONAL TELEVISION. TECH had over 500yds. total offense running the ball. BUFORD would beat any team from the DADE COUNTY area. Last I heard B.T.W. is in MIAMI AND NORTHSIDE WARNER ROBBIN beat them last year 42-21.So don’t come talking trash about the wing t, because every team in GEORGIA don’t run it.

Yo

August 31st, 2009
9:18 am

bee shabazz …..seems you forget Miami Northwestern’s decision not to return to Georgia this year to take on that Wing T team called Camden.
The fact is I fail to see all of the fuss over Miami schools except maybe Aquinas. Miami N. got their butts shelacked by both Camden and Jenks of Okla. and they return the same players who apparently could only beat Florida schools last year. Couldn’t stay on the same field with Okla or Ga but then go to the title game in Fl. FOFL….yea right…fear Miami….FOFL

Yo

August 31st, 2009
9:23 am

Oops sorry got Miami Northwestern confused with Booker T…..all the same though. Actually I would love to see Lowndes/Aquinas hook up this year. As you say, since Lowndes does it the “right way” then I foresee next year to be a rebuilding year for Lowndes…at least a rebuilding year by Lowndes standards.

Suprised

August 31st, 2009
9:25 am

67 comments and nothing from the EP Fans. Did the coach finally get them under control?

Yo

August 31st, 2009
9:35 am

True Blue to help clarify your well put post “for” bee shabazz, that would be the same Miami Hurricane team that recruits so heavily from Miami Northwestern and all of the Miami power houses every one is supposed to fear.

Decatur 4 Life

August 31st, 2009
9:42 am

bee shabazz, i don’t know about that. Yes, they have gifted athletes in south Florida but those teams wouldn’t run through anybody. We have gifted teams here as well that are just as talented. You talk about weak teams in N. Florida well there’s some in S. Florida too. Why hasn’t NW or Central played any other nationally ranked school recently? Could it be that they don’t want to lose during a national televised game? STA played someone from OH., the team wasn’t good but at least they took the challenge. They also are scheduled to play Byrnes from SC in a matchup of the top teams in the nation. And before I forget, S. Atlanta man please. You guys are not a basketball powerhouse, you can’t go to two state title games in school history and be considered a powerhouse. Try Again

Sting 'em Buzz

August 31st, 2009
9:46 am

13jas

August 31st, 2009
1:42 am
I no Flower Branch is good, question is Stephens Co. that Bad? I went to the game & It was dominated by the Falcons. R the Indians N 4 along season?

13jas,
If Stephens County doesn’t develop a better punter than I saw on Friday, it very well could be a long season. I have never seen so many poor punts in one game.

Sting 'em Buzz

August 31st, 2009
9:48 am

GatorMan, The subs did come in at 38-8. It was a high profile game with it being the first game at the new Branch. Jaybo was there watching his little brother. It could have been a message being sent to Gainesville that Flowery Branch is here to play.

Decatur 4 Life

August 31st, 2009
9:50 am

Keith what are you talking about, Marist hasn’t been in 4A too long. They were in 3A when we didn’t go higher that 4A. They moved to 4A when GHSA created 5A. Besides, Marist should be Braves fans. They are the Braves of high school football. The few titles you’ve won don’t compare to how many times you’ve been there. Let Pius have their bragging rights, they deserve it now.

theman

August 31st, 2009
9:55 am

Why did Jackson drop out of the AAA ranking after a 37-7 win over Therrell??????

T

August 31st, 2009
10:02 am

I loved seeing the Marist boys get their tales whipped by ST. PIUS!! Best game of the weekend!!!

DeKalb

August 31st, 2009
10:12 am

How could ML King defeat the Top Team in class AAAA and only be ranked at No. 8 in AAAAA? They should at least be rewarded a top five billing.

Raider09

August 31st, 2009
10:21 am

Went to see the Shaw Raiders v/s 6A Central of Phenix City friday night. The Shaw Raiders are clearly rebuilding.Lots of young, small, inexperienced guys. It may take a while for the raiders if they ever become a powerhouse again.It may be a long year..especially with the schedule they have.

RAIDER FAN

August 31st, 2009
10:29 am

Go E.P. Raiders! There you go Suprised, a Raider fan post . Although I am not one of the many who get carried away with the rankings and such, just a fan. Good luck to all the teams whatever your division or ranking.

PMC

August 31st, 2009
10:31 am

How long will Maloof waste talent at Norcross?

Kay

August 31st, 2009
10:39 am

South GA teams look good this year. Hopefully, Lowndes is the “real thing”. In answer to the BEST band in the state, that would be the GA Bridgemen from Lowndes. They are awesome. They are 357+ strong and have always represented the state well. They have been in the Macy’s parade, marched in the Inaugural parade,the Rose Parade in Pasadena and many more. GO BRIDGEMEN!!!!!!! I believe region 1AAAAA remains the toughest region in the state for AAAAA. Camden has a good team, but they are in a very weak region. There is no competition for them in that region. They need to be moved to 1AAAAA and see how they compete.

lucky

August 31st, 2009
10:52 am

Todd –

For SWD, it seems like the big variable is the recovery of its QB, who went down for the game after running for a first down on first play of the game. What’s the prognosis?

Black Panther

August 31st, 2009
11:01 am

All you haters on here talking about SWD probably didn’t even attend the MLK game on Friday. Whenever any team loses it’s first string QB on the first play of the game, it is bound to suffer a letdown. Give credit to Coach Godfrey for getting his troops to regroup and still make this a close game. We will see what happens when the QB comes back. They still have the best defense in the state. As far as being outcoached in big games, that is the biggest lie I’ve ever heard. You don’t win 80 percent of your games by being outcoached. SWD is a dynasty that always makes the playoffs no matter what happens. I guess since Parkview has been horrible the last two yrs that coach Flowe is overrated too, huh? No one will say that though because he is a white man and Coach Godfrey is black. You GA necks are too funny!! When the state championship rolls around, we will see who is talking then. Then when signing day comes, and SWD has the most D1 and D2 signees to go on to college, the AJC needs to have a blog about that!!

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
11:02 am

Tough schedule this year at McEachern, at Etowah, and at Woodstock, especially after graduating a lot of talent. I’m interested in seeing how N Cobb does against the overrated MLK. Harrison looked bad Friday but Pridge can make a team look bad.

Observer

August 31st, 2009
11:03 am

Marist wasn’t beaten by St. Pius, they were manhandled. The more physical team won and for the first time in MANY years, that was St. Pius. Last year, Pius won but was not the better team and certainly not the most physically gifted. This year, I don’t think Marist was prepared to be dominated at the line of scrimmage. With the exception of Cole Moon, St. Pius may be down at the skill positions but this may be the most physically dominant team they’ve ever had.

MHS2010

August 31st, 2009
11:08 am

um pius was the one who flew the plane not marist

Ta'quan

August 31st, 2009
11:10 am

Man, wuzup wit dem campbeel spartains not bein rancked. Yawl aint ready for us.

Jim

August 31st, 2009
11:10 am

Watch out for Chapel Hill, they just might be sleepers in the AAAAA. They just beat Lithia Springs 46-0.

1-AA

August 31st, 2009
11:18 am

HELLO FANS OF THE BAND. THE YEAR IS AMONG US. HERE IS THE THE BAND THAT IS NO.1 IN THE STATE(FOOTBALL TEAM TOO)GA Bridgemen from Lowndes.

WITH THE SEASON ON THE WAY REGION 1-AA IS THE SUPER REGION AGAIN. GOOD-GOOD LUCK FOR THE SEASON. HAVE FUN.

THEY SCORE 48 IN A GAME FOR THE WIN(HAVE SOME MORE WINS).

Reeze

August 31st, 2009
11:21 am

c

Trey

August 31st, 2009
11:22 am

Theman: because mays beat them 70 to 3……with 9th graders coming in in the 3rd quarter………

In The Trenches

August 31st, 2009
11:24 am

Head East- That’s brutal! Real curious to see what McCeachern has this weekend against Etowah. Although early, the outcome may begin to shape the regions landscape.

CarrolltonTrojanFan

August 31st, 2009
11:37 am

#7 statewide in AAA!

GO TROJANS!

AVikingFan

August 31st, 2009
11:37 am

Todd, you wanta come to S. GA this Friday and watch lil ole undersized Lowndes try to find a way to stay on the field with Pea Ridge? I’ll steam some oysters for ya and give you all the boiled peanuts you can eat. On paper I can’t see a way for Lowndes to win, but with our kicker placing each kickoff to a spot between the one and five yardline, near the sidelines, and Pea Ridge having to go 85 or more yards on each possession, has to be an advantage for Lowndes. Now if we can only score and be able to kickoff! From what I’ve read and seen, it doesn’t look to good for Lowndes. PeaRidge, Grayson and North Gwinnett are probably the best in AAAAA this year.

To take a line from an old coach and friend of mine, we are small this year, but we are slow. Hopefully our small slow kids can somehow find a way to at least stay on the field with a very good PeaRidge team.

Etowah Fan

August 31st, 2009
11:39 am

For Todd, why exactly did Etowah drop? Then again, based on your earlier post, you will probably tell me I should be glad you didn’t switch out Etowah with Woodstock.

For Pops, Wolverine Fan, and In The Trenches: I definitely think the Etowah/McEachern game this Friday will do a lot to shape the Region 5-AAAAA landscape (sure wish Etowah was at home). Woodstock appeared to pick-up right where they left off last year… tough on D. McEachern appears to be much improved this season. My current Region 5-AAAAA ranking: Etowah, Woodstock, McEachern, EP which is based on nothing more than the preview, bias, and last year’s finish. Lots of football to play!

Big Man

August 31st, 2009
12:00 pm

LSUJ82….I was there when undisciplined 7-3 SWD beat 10-0 Tucker at “their” field in like 04. I know the coach of Tucker has changed, but Ballard does have the number 3 team in 5A tight now.

In The Trenches

August 31st, 2009
12:04 pm

Etowah Fan – It will sure be interesting to see how it all plays out. As a follower of Etowah and this region, I agree with your top four, but not sure in what order. North Cobb may have something to say, but Harrison looks down, at least for now. The other teams should mostly be afterthoughts. I feel I can safely say whoever finishes fouth will have their hands full with Grayson in the playoffs. Wow!!! That’s looking ahead, and it’s just week one?

sixpacker

August 31st, 2009
12:12 pm

Why in the the world is washington county ranked #10 behind two teams that lost their first game and we won our game?Plus the fact the fact that we played a 4A team and we are 3A.

Norton

August 31st, 2009
12:15 pm

Keith, your delusional. Not only did Marist not perform well, they were also CLEARLY the lesser talented team and they’re effort was awful. I’ve never seen a Marist team perform like that and your aspirations this year to try and get some effort out of your team because Friday was terrible.

And Observer, I actually believe the opposite of you. Our skill position guys are very young but very, very talented and probably one of the more athletic teams in Pius history.

Hoya Chuck

August 31st, 2009
12:15 pm

To AVikingFan: You are absolutely correct! After witnessing P-Ridge in action against my Harrison Hoyas, I have some advise to give; Lowndes better bring thier A-game! P-Ridge is loaded on both sides of the ball.
For Etowah Fan: I think it would be a mistake to leave Harrison out of the mix! They lost to an awesome team. However, the Hoyas looked tough on both sides of the ball, and if they can minimize the penalties and turn-overs, I feel they will have a very good shot at the region title. I respect your rankings, but I just don’t see Harrison being left out of the play-offs. Good luck to all 5AAAAA teams. It is arguably, the toughest region in the state.

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
12:26 pm

Hoya Chuck – That P’Ridge O line was very impressive and their D looked good too. You guys are just down, no one close to replacing Robbie G and your QB was shaky, three picks if I remember right and a couple others that the defenders dropped! May I suggest a new cheer for the Hoya faithful? Wait till last year!

In The Trenches

August 31st, 2009
12:32 pm

Hoya Chuck – I see Harrison more in the role of spoiler this year. Much like Kennesaw Mtn has been the last few years. Should play everyone tough, and will have homefield revenge(Etowah blew them out last year), in mind when they play Etowah last game of the year. That game should mean a lot for both teams, wether it be seeding or just plain making the playoffs.

In The Trenches

August 31st, 2009
12:36 pm

Head East – Did your pal Homet graduate or drop out? We have not heard a single countdown, tick, tick, tick… this year. I kind of miss that?

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
12:40 pm

Viking Fans – Please show some class for your classless team and cowardly coach and try to avoid the bragging until you actually beat someone. Last two performances were that disgrace at Grayson and now running up the score on a hapless opponent. BTW, P’Ridge took a knee at Harrison instead of running it up.

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
12:44 pm

Trenches – I think he flunked out! After putting up 54 he should be ticking like crazy. I’m afraid Etowah is the beast this year until proven otherwise, but they’re a pretty good bunch. McEachern looked very fast so it might be a good power vs speed matchup.

RockSolid

August 31st, 2009
12:50 pm

Watched the Harrison-P’Tree Ridge game in person very objectively. Harrison didn’t necessarily play bad (hurt by a couple of key penalties), but they were totally out-manned. Just don’t see PR losing unless they turn the ball over excessively. Defense good (not dominating), but offense will just wear folks out over 4 qtrs. Huge OL, speed to burn at skill positions, experienced QB who makes good reads/decisions. Can’t coach size & speed. But if you can combine speed & size with discipline & technique (and it looks like PR coaches have), you’ve got a lethal combination.

Fred Flinstone

August 31st, 2009
1:13 pm

How about a little love for Pike Co.? They went 9-2 last year, barely lost out on a region title. They’re returning virtually all of their top talent. Plus they have a kicker with a monster leg who is gonna make a huge difference this year.

Also can’t leave out Charlton, they’re just too consistent to leave out of the top 10.

bee shabazz

August 31st, 2009
1:21 pm

I love South Atlanta but it’s hard to build a good football team when your best players go to Doug(James Davis) and Washington(Nick Turner). There was a kid at Crawford Long Middle last Year that was really good probaly the best player on that team but he’s at Washington not S.ATL. This has been going on since we changed the name to South Atl. My potna’ Reese coached at Therrell and he said Ben Hill Rec. and Bunche middle would be loaded with players up and down Campbellton Rd. that would end up at Mays an never step foot inside of Therrell. I ain’t mad at them Doug, Wash., and Mays have better programs, get more support and the kids wanna rep Atl. but they wanna win. Oyeah Decatur 4 life if you were from the CITY OF ATLANTA and not THE SUBURBS you would know about SOUTH ATLANTA BASKETBALL!

AVikingFan

August 31st, 2009
1:23 pm

Hoya Chuck, PeaRidge was one of the best teams we played all last season. I’m sure they are even better this year. It should be a good game. Last year they were good running AND throwing. Is that true this year? Is their line as HUGE as it was last year?

sonjrobe

August 31st, 2009
1:39 pm

MLK has always been underrated. People have to know that this school has only been in existence for about give or take ten years. The football team has one of the best records for a school just starting. All this talk about swd! We won baby! Please recognize MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR HIGH SCHOOL! IT’S ABOUT TIME!

John

August 31st, 2009
1:40 pm

A couple of comments about posts I have seen:

1. Will people forget about those pre-season scrimmages when comparing teams? They are meaningless. Teams show little or nothing of their offense, there is no real special team play allowed, everybody on the team plas, and I could go on. They are no indication of how a team will do once the real games start.

2. The Chattooga fan saying his team could stay with Buford and Calhoun based on the win over Darlington is absurd. This is probably the worst team Darlington has fielded in 25 or 30 years and is a team that probably wins no more than three games. Chattooga beat a far better Darlington team by almost the same margin a year ago and still went on to win only six games. Come back on here afteryou have played Armuchee, Gordon Central, and Calhoun.

3. Mays is an unproven quantity. They’ve got top beat somebody of substance first to earn any respect.

MLK Band Mom

August 31st, 2009
1:45 pm

Sonjrobe don’t let a little non recognition worry you; it very satisfying to watch people back peddle while eating their words…great game lions. Anticipating more exciting wins this season; Go MLK LIONS!

Jim

August 31st, 2009
2:09 pm

The University of Buford marches on without peer. Why are they still in AA? Buford is the only school in Gwinnett County that is not AAAAA. Good players drive to go there with over 500,000 people within 10 miles of Buford High School when most other AA schools in Georgia may not have 500,000 within 100 miles. That ain’t right folks!!! Unfair advantage!!!

AVikingFan

August 31st, 2009
2:18 pm

Head East Lowndes also “took a knee” when it could have scored before half time last Friday. The starters and backups played one series of the second half, then turned it over to the B team and the Freshman team. And I haven’t read where any of us – except band supporters -were bragging in this colume. We know all too well what we have in store for us this week. PeaRidge is really good.

Big Man From SWD

August 31st, 2009
2:38 pm

First lets congratulate the lions on winning a game which was hard fought between both teams. It was not a blowout and me being a player on SWD I know personally that losing our QB took away a lot of our gameplan but I will let you speculators speulate thats all you all are good for as for SWD we putting our hats and shoulder pads back on and playing some football because its more football left to play. The AJC can flip on us every week for all we care but we gon be alright.

Ed

August 31st, 2009
2:51 pm

No question Pius played better than Marist, and the better team (right now) won. Win the game for 25 years straight and Pius will even up the series.

rwdekalbfan

August 31st, 2009
3:05 pm

OK. MLK fans lets calm down and put things in perspective. You beat a team who lost their starting quarterback on the first play after he picked up a first down. Most high school teams are not that deep where they can bring in the a second string quarterback and still not miss a beat with their offensive scheme, not against a good team like MLK. With your whole team in tact, Mack Brown, the best back in the state was basically shut down even with your starting quarterback in there doing a great job passing, supposedly keeping SWD defense off balance. Not a good sign. The game counted only for neighborhood bragging rights. Wont help your playoff hopes one bit, yet coaches were celebrating victory more enthusiastically than the players. It was a good win for MLK, but SWD will get their quarterback back and be prepared to do what they need to to make a state title run. Can MLK honestly say they think from their performanc on Friday they are ready to do battle with Grayson, Pridge, Lowndes, or Stephensen or Camden County. I dont think so but if the coaches dont bring some focus to MLK, this could be one of the worst seasons ever for MLK.

Hoya Chuck

August 31st, 2009
3:38 pm

AVikingFan, Rock Solid has it right. P-Ridge OL is huge, and it wore Harrison out toward the end. However, Harrison’s defense was on the field for most of three quarters due to turnovers and several 3-and-outs. I feel that Harrison will win it’s next three games and build confidence in doing so. The Harrison/Woodstock game should be outstanding! I’m glad it’s at Harrison this year!

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
3:40 pm

I was at the Harrison game and the P’Ridge O line was huge, they just wore Harrison down after a couple of series and started running right through them. Their QB ran very well and threw pretty well too. On D they were more athletic than gigantic, closed very well, got a lot of pressure on Harrison’s QB and stepped in front of receivers for a couple of nice picks. Harrison did bust one big run, unfortunately it was called back by a holding penalty. Pretty sure the Pea will make teams look bad this year, but my guess is Harrison is down and will go 5-5. It doesn’t look like they have much after Turnipseed.

HeadEast

August 31st, 2009
3:49 pm

We heard this MLK stuff last year until they were humbled by a team that couldn’t make the playoffs in out region! You beat a AAAA team whose QB went out early, that’s all. Reminds me of the trash talk we heard from Mays the year before until they went to the Boneyard and got whipped bad in the playoffs. As pointed out above, they get a lot of the good players leaving most of their competition pretty poor. I doubt they’d beat any of the better teams from 1-AAAAA, 5-AAAAA, or Gwinnett.

AVikingFan

August 31st, 2009
4:06 pm

Sounds like Lowndes really has its work cut out for us this week. Our O-line only averages about 240, and we only have 8 players on the entire roster over 250. Against most teams we have to rely on our quickness, but last year PeaRidge was just as quick.

Observer

August 31st, 2009
4:39 pm

Ed – They can’t win 25 games at once. They can only win them one at a time – a task they have done quite well each of the past two years. When I was in school back in the early 70’s, we said the same thing about Marist – win 15 in a row… – since we dominated the series. Well, Marist did just that, and more, by winning one game at a time. Hopefully, Pius has returned the rivalry into a truly competitive situation once again. Time will tell.

6AAAA FAN

August 31st, 2009
4:42 pm

To All Bloggers, SWD could still be one of the Best Teams in the State regardless of classification. Just ask Peachtree Ridge.

Valdosta Dawg

August 31st, 2009
4:49 pm

I have a feeling Pea Ridge will have a long bus ride home Friday night! I would like to tell ya Todd do not let our Valdosta Wildcats slip up on ya, I think Coach Tomberlin has turned the corner. We will be in the playoffs, GO WILDCATS!
On a side note what does Bainbridge have to do to get a little love, beat ranked Cairo to open up the year and beat Early county to go 2-0. Todd you show South Georgia very little love. Of course you do write for the Atlanta Journal Constipation!

Lioness 30097

August 31st, 2009
4:51 pm

The 5-A would GLADLY welcome Buford HS to play a REAL team.

Rooting for the Peachtree Ridge Lions to go all the way again this year. Gwinnett is PROUD, even though you don’t often get the due you deserve. GWINNETT LOVES PEACHTREE RIDGE!

Lioness 30097

August 31st, 2009
5:00 pm

Peachtree Ridge hasn’t beat Lowndes in three years and still managed to fight their way back to the dome last year. Win or lose it will be of no consequence, and will be a looooong ride for all of us either way.

Ed

August 31st, 2009
5:08 pm

Ed your a troll who has nothing better to do than post. Two years in a row is a start.

28-3, BUTT WHOOPING AND IT WOULD HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER! COME DOWN TO AAA AND PLAY SOME REAL FOOTBALL

Ed

August 31st, 2009
5:14 pm

Observer — You are absolutely right. I think the series may be more competitive for the next several years, which ultimately is a good thing.

Ed No. 2 — get a life!

SuperCat Fan

August 31st, 2009
5:18 pm

Go Wildcats!! Time to turn things around. Go Cats Go!!

GO DEMONS!!!!!!!!!

August 31st, 2009
5:44 pm

Warner robins smoked wheeler last week 44-6 and we scored those points only in the 1,2,and a few minutes into the 3.We would have hung 70 on if we didnt put our 2,3,and 4 string in. Northside has a young and inexperenced QB. Warner robins QB is fast and he has a cannon. Don`t be suprised if you see Warner Robins in the dome this year having beat Northside and Grason etc.thy are they suprise team in AAAAA in 2009

SERIOUS GRAYSON HATER

August 31st, 2009
5:51 pm

Maybe Warner Robins can get the job done this week and bring the overrated hillbillies down a notch or two!

PeachtreeRidge

August 31st, 2009
6:05 pm

thanks for everyones support! hopefully we can beat lowndes if we dont we will probably still make it to State again!

gaboy

August 31st, 2009
6:08 pm

@ Pius Grad. i too am a Pius Grad..but the game wasnt always played at the end of the season.. when I was there (and played QB) it was either the 2nd or 3rd game of the season…

Yo

August 31st, 2009
7:20 pm

The truth comes out Friday night at Martin Stadium, otherwise known as the Concrete Palace.

newbie

August 31st, 2009
7:20 pm

MHS2010… Sorry about your loss kid, but you need to stop drinking the Marist kool-aid. That fly-over was a Marist parent’s idea. Pius parents wouldn’t have wasted the gas going over your field. We would have flown that 21-10 sign over our own players. I’m sure a 28-3 loss is hard for the Marist-faithful to handle, especially coming from an unranked Pius team. We wish you the best of luck next year, but the trophy belongs at Pius in 2009!

fdbfb

August 31st, 2009
7:27 pm

Enter your comments here

SouthGARules

August 31st, 2009
7:32 pm

Go Demons: Yes, I know WR smoked Wheeler last week, but really, Wheeler was 0-10 last year. Last year when they played WR won 28-0 & did not look impressive. They scored 21 points in the 4th Qtr off of Wheeler turnovers. I know it’s nice to be optimistic, but let’s see what they do against Grayson. If the new QB has a cannon for an arm, that would be highly unusual for the Demons. The last time they had a prolific passer was Bob Davis 30 years ago. I take it you will be in Grayson Friday night?

drock09

August 31st, 2009
8:30 pm

I want to welcome chapel hill faithfuls to drake stadium on Friday. I’m a big fan of The panthers well coached football team. It should be a real battle between chapel offense and Newnan defense

SouthGARules

August 31st, 2009
8:33 pm

Black Panther: Comparing Cecil Flowe to Buck Godfrey is absurd. Cecil Flowe has won 4 state titles. Buck Godfrey has won 1. The only person who has done less with more is Ron Gartrell at Stephenson.
Tons of talent & flame out in the playoffs every year. Don’t bring race into it. Facts are facts.

Yo

August 31st, 2009
8:37 pm

Slalom….I thought you would appreciate this quote from the coach of Peachtree Ridge. If you don’t like it, argue with him, not me.
Of course he is just a coach of a state champ caliber team so he probably doesn’t have a clue as to what he is talking about.

“The goal here is to be competitive every year and play for a state championship,” Ballard said. “We have a lot of students to choose from – there are 3,000 – so the numbers help us get a lot of players on the team.”

Buddy El

August 31st, 2009
8:46 pm

Why do you show Lincoln County being 1-0? The AJC reported the score as Lincoln County losing.

Trey

August 31st, 2009
8:59 pm

This is the best team mays has had in a long time……Much better than last years 9-2 team.

#3

August 31st, 2009
9:17 pm

SWD will win state… Give credit where credit is due.. MLK won..We lost.. My injury is not to blame.. But we still got 14 games ahead of us

Reeze

August 31st, 2009
9:18 pm

T

Golden Lion

August 31st, 2009
9:23 pm

There is no doubt, Marist has had an impressive run in this series under the leadership of Coach Chadwick. And one I thing I definitely noticed over the years prior to becoming a Golden Lion (a recent event) was that Marist always improved as a team over the course of a season. That is the sign of a well coached football team/program.

But I do think it’s interesting how many of the Marist posters imply that Pius values the game more than Marist, or that Pius flew the plane/sign over Marist (give me a break, that’s classic reverse psychology to fire up a team at it’s best), or fall back on the old “win 25″ before you speak hyperbole. In truth, the silence in the home stands, and the fans going home early while your team was still on the field spoke volumes.

Football is a simple game. Play with determination, block and tackle, execute your game plan and more often that not, you go home a winner. Last year, I saw a determined Pius squad surprise Marist, get the early lead and execute a good game plan for the victory. This year was a different story. Marist was soundly beaten on both lines of scrimmage, outplayed at the QB position, outrun on the flanks at the skill positions, and really had no answers for Pius – all night.

Sometimes a turn of the tide is a slow thing. It creeps up on you. Over time, Coach Standard and his staff have turned this game back into a rivalry. I have no doubt Marist will come back stronger next week, and that both teams will play good football this season.

But one things for sure – this game is a rivalry again.

rwdekalbfan

August 31st, 2009
9:28 pm

Dont we hear this talk about Mays every year. Mays usually has a good team but always seems to be lacking what it takes to get to the next level.

rwdekalbfan

August 31st, 2009
9:32 pm

Hey #3, you gonna play this week?

?

August 31st, 2009
9:58 pm

Yo- what are you trying to get at?

Todd Holcomb

September 1st, 2009
12:17 am

Re: Jackson: St. Pius moved into the Top 10 for its domination of Marist, so somebody that didn’t lose had to fall out, which was Jackson.

Re: Washington-Wilkes: Didn’t have a good season in ’08. They’ve got to earn their way back into the Top 10.

Re: SWD quarterback. All I know is that he will not start next week, or at least that’s what the coaches were saying after the game.

Re: Etowah: Etowah dropped because I now think Newnan is better than Etowah. Don’t take it as an insult. Those Top 10 spots are hard to come by in AAAAA. No. 10 is a compliment to most anybody, IMO.

Re: Fried Oysters. There is no place I’d rather be, but I’ve got an assignment that will keep me in metro Atlanta this week.

Re: WaCo: “Why in the the world is washington county ranked #10 behind two teams that lost their first game and we won our game?Plus the fact the fact that we played a 4A team and we are 3A.”

The reason WaCo is behind two 0-1 teams because I think WaCo would be 0-1 had it played against Newnan or Bainbridge instead of Cross Creek. Remember that WaCo beat Cross Creek last year even worse and didn’t finish in the Top 10. Faith puts WaCo at No. 10, not anything they’ve done lately.

Re: ‘’How about a little love for Pike Co.? They went 9-2 last year, barely lost out on a region title.’’ … Pike County probably would need to go 10-0 to be ranked. Just being honest.

Re: Good games this week. In metro Atlanta, I’d go see North Gwinnett and Brookwood.

Re: ‘’MLK has always been underrated.’’ I don’t know about that. Seems MLK was ranked No. 1 a couple of years ago and didn’t finish in the Top 10. They’ve been underrated at times, but overrated, too.

Re: “what does Bainbridge have to do to get a little love, beat ranked Cairo to open up the year and beat Early county to go 2-0. Todd you show South Georgia very little love. Of course you do write for the Atlanta Journal Constipation!”

South Georgia did get the slight in AAAA this week. I really expected to hear more from Ware County fans than Brunswick. Ware probably would be my No. 11 team this week, especially since they plucked a coach out of North Georgia. : )

Good games this week –

Banneker at North Clayton

Brooks County at Tift County

Brookwood at North Gwinnett

Buford at North Hall

Calhoun at Ridgeland

Callaway at Lovett

Cedartown at Pepperell

Chapel Hill at Newnan

Colquitt County at Thomasville

Dacula at Collins Hill

Douglass at Mays

ECI at Savannah Christian

Etowah at McEachern

Hillgrove at Rome

Parkview at Chattahoochee

Peachtree Ridge at Lowndes

Thomas Co. Central at Cairo

Walton at Kell

Warner Robins at Grayson

Westminster at Woodward Academy

Krazywheel

September 1st, 2009
12:35 am

It seems to me we had are 3rd string in at lowndes,when we ran up the score.

Yo

September 1st, 2009
4:05 am

?….an old debate…Slalom will understand.

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.

olesarge

September 2nd, 2009
4:47 pm

Wolverine Fan, let it go about Camden. Your team came down here and played a good first half, but it’s not how you start the game it’s how you finish. Unfortunately your team couldn’t keep it up for four quarters and lost. To keep dwelling on how your team played one half of a game want change the fact that your team lost in the end. The elite teams Grayson, Peachtree Rd, Lowndes, NS WR, Camden etc. know how to make ajustments at halftime and that’s what happen in the Woodstock game. If you’ve noticed, there hasn’t been many Wildcat fans on here talking about they should have won the game against Grayson or complaining about what should have happen. The fact is they lost and hopefully will learn from that and play better this weekend. My point is, the 15-0 State Championship Team was last year, so let’s look forward to a wonderful season of GA high school football THIS YEAR. Good luck with your team.

rwdekalbfan

September 2nd, 2009
5:56 pm

To “EagleNationRising” I guess its gonna take another butt whipping to shut your ramblings up. Great run by Northside but the party is over, instead of worrying about who can’t win championships why dont you think about who you would like to see playing for the title because it surely wont be your team. Go ahead whose bandwagon you gonna jump on.

Marvis

September 2nd, 2009
7:45 pm

If Peachtree Ridge is the best team in the state and SWD tied with them in the Preseason. People can’t complain about SWD still being ranked

Pridge senior

September 2nd, 2009
8:07 pm

It seems to me that some people forget what happened before Lowndes.
Here are the facts:
Entire history of AAAAA Championships:
2000: Parkview beat Harrison
2001: Parkview beat NSWR
2002: Parkview beat Brookwood
2003: Camden beat Valdosta
2004: Lowndes beat Parkview
2005: Lowndes beat Brookwood
2006: P. Ridge/Roswell tie
2007: Lowndes beat N Gwinnett
2008: Camden beat P Ridge
11 state champions or runners-up were metro atlanta, and 9.5 of those were from gwinnett.
7 were from South GA.
Checkmate, Gin and Yatzee.

SportsFan31313

September 2nd, 2009
8:23 pm

Well everybody, at the comments written by Pridge Senior, from 2000 through 2008 we have four North Georgia Teams that won the State Title and Four South Georgia teams that won the State Title. Runner-ups does not count. 2nd Place or almost doesn’tcount. Only the winner of the State Title does.

Remember , “ALMOST KILLED BIRD DOESN’T MAKE GOOD SOUP”!!!!!!!

bee shabazz

September 2nd, 2009
8:35 pm

EagleNationRising, don’t you have some COTTON TO PICK or some PEACHTREE’S TO PLANT. Don’t be a COWARD SAY WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL! Dancing BANDS AND 25 D-1 PLAYERS! The BEST PLAYERS on your current and former teams,(PLEASE NOTICE I SAID THE BEST PLAYERS) WISH NORTHSIDE WARNER ROBINS HAD A DANCING BAND AND 5 BIG HAT WEARING, HIGH STEPPING DRUM MAJORS!!! The only problem is the people who could change things are too afraid to say anything To POWERS THAT BE out of FEAR of LOSING THERE JOB AT THE MILL, FACTORY, PIGGLY WIGGLY, SHARECROPPING or whatever it is yall do down there to keep the PICK-UP TRUCK RUNNIN’ AND SOME SWINE ON THE TABLE. Dudes like you are the REASON I LOVE SEEING MIAMI NORTHWESTERN, CAROL CITY,MIAMI CENTRAL, BOOKER T. AND SWD have success. Keep it REAL SHAWTY, SAY WHAT YOU MEAN!

SouthGARules

September 2nd, 2009
10:12 pm

Slalom1: Glad you enjoyed the “game of the week”. I figured you would get a kick of 2 of your “top ten” teams squaring off Friday night.
Remember, 2nd place or runner up is the first loser.

?

September 2nd, 2009
10:38 pm

p ridge is ranked nationally. they are 7th in the nation

Decatur 4 Life

September 3rd, 2009
9:42 am

EagleNationRising

What do bands have to do with it? That’s a borderline racist comment, and where I can almost agree that Coach Godfrey has squandered talent at least he has a title. A title that came with victories against the likes of Warner Robins and Parkview to name a few. The fact is he really hasn’t had the talent of those days recently. So it’s not about bands or anything else you can think of, after coaching it’s about personnel. There are a lot of coaches that could be the “Michaelangelo of Coaches Falling in the Big One”. I’m not even a SWD fan, they actually were our rivals in high school but I still respect the job Godfrey does over there. If anything he’s getting a little old and senile, regardless he’s still a good coach.

AVikingFan

September 3rd, 2009
9:45 am

Sportsfan31313, apologizing up front about correcting your math but it looks like So. Ga teams won Five of those nine Championships, to Four that No. Ga teams won. If they went back one more year, Lowndes won again (1999) against another So Ga team.

SportsFan31313

September 3rd, 2009
11:05 am

AVikingFan,

Yes I agree with you, and knew that. I was just speaking on the comment that PridgeSenior wrote… I know and you also know that South Georgia Football dominates for championship football. Not taking anything away from some of those North Georgia Teams because some of them are good. But South Georgia Football does control the wins in Championship Football Games.

Kadosh

September 3rd, 2009
1:13 pm

TO Eagle Nation and to dekalb fan or whateva your name is when the dust settle we will see who is hoisting up the trophy and i guarantee its the team that is on the country’s southern border, reared against the sky, proudly stands our alma mater, as the years go by. Forward ever be our motto, conquer and prevail, hail to thee, our alma mater the Southwest Dekalb-All Hail.

Reeze

September 3rd, 2009
1:24 pm

Check out Former Northside Eagle QB Marques Ivory this Saturday at 1 P.M……….He gets the start against Georgia Tech . I know all you Dekalb and Clayton county folks remember Ivory

AVikingFan

September 3rd, 2009
2:52 pm

10/4 sportsfan31313 about So Ga dominance. But Parkview had a few good years! And this Peachtree Ridge team is really good, as is Greyson, NG, and a few others, including Newnan. I’m just excited it’s ball time again. You know, any sport played with a round ball ain’t the same as FOOTBALL! I can even put up with ENR for a while (ha ha).

Anybody wanting to listen to the Lowndes/PeaRidge game Friday and can’t be there in person, log on to http://www.thevikingvoice.com and listen to it live. (all Viking games are broadcast live and anyone in the world with a computer can listen) PeaRidge I’ve been told is not bringing a radio crew for a live broadcast.

To the PeaRidge fans, there are still lots of seats available on your side of the field. Our side pretty much sells out with season ticket holders. Lowndes did send PeaRidge all the tickets they thought they can sell. Check with the school. If you come early, walk around to the home side of the field and our fans will gladly give you a plate of barbeque or a hamburger before the game. Drive safely.

Decatur 4 Life

September 3rd, 2009
2:58 pm

Of course we remember Ivory, the fat kid that missed all of his senior year before coming back in the dome game. I’m glad you cleared that up for me, I was wondering where Thicky Ricardo ended up playing.

slalom1

September 3rd, 2009
4:09 pm

SouthGaRules, Great to hear from you. Wish I could be there to see the blood bath between Lowndes and P’Ridge. Just too long a drive, plus I must remain faithful to the Grangers. My prediction: Lowndes 31 P’Ridge 7.

slalom1

September 3rd, 2009
4:18 pm

Decatur 4 Life, Regarding Marquis Ivory, you need to brush up on the facts. The kid was a warrior. Still is. Played in the state title game coming off of a fracture. Ga. Tech may very well realize what a great player they missed out on.
Hope Ivory puts the hurt on the “Yellowjackets”. In the mean time until you have something to brag about coming from Decatur, Ga. maybe you would be well advised to just sit back and listen.

SouthGARules

September 3rd, 2009
4:32 pm

Slalom1: I wish I could be at the Concrete Palace as well, but with Warner Robins playing at Grayson, I’ll be there. My wife graduated from WRHS in their glory days, so to keep peace, I take her to Demon games in the metro ATL. 31 sounds a bit rich against the Ridge defense, but I still take Lowndes.

rwdekalbfan

September 3rd, 2009
5:16 pm

I am a dekalb football fan but I have to give props where they are due and Marquis Ivory is a warrior, and what he did in the dome was spectacular to say the least. I wish him the best against Ga Tech.

BD

September 3rd, 2009
11:40 pm

Hey SportFan31313, Glad to hear from you finally, I played ball at Camden went to UGA now I work and live in Atlanta. I know all about Bradwell they actually beat us my senior yr 20-14 back in 1998. I was just messing with cause you because you love some Bradwell football and I like guys stands by their team unlike a bunch of bandwagon jumpers on here. Im glad to ENR back and in full effect. Man do enjoy reading your post, must say you call it how you see it and that’s how I like it. Give credit when credit is due let traditions and trophies talk for themselves.

SportsFan31313

September 4th, 2009
5:11 pm

Greetings BD,

I went to Bradwell Institute in the late 70’s and boy does that South Georgia prevail doesn’t it. I didn’t go to UGA, I weet to an HBCU in Atlanta, and on to Graduate in Pa. I was commissioned into the Military. (Retired now) and now work for the Government (Federal) Georgia High School Football is not only the topic at work, but also at the ESPN ZONE, the local pubs, etc. When some of my colleagues get started, I shut them down. LOL… Matter of fact, run some of them out of the building….

BD, Camden County has always had a good football program as far as I can remember. It was just that when we played Camden County, during my days, we use to beat you Camden County. In addition, back then (70’s) those tough teams we also use to play was those Waycross Bulldogs was a power house, Statesboro Blue Devils, Swainsboro Tigers, and Thompson Bulldogs. Yes the Region was very tough, and very competetive.

In the early eighties, Bradwell Institute dominated the Region 3-AAAA and we didn’t play Camden County. It wasn’t until later that we began to start you all again, and Man did you guys have a very tough team. Especially when Jeff Herron came along. Bradwell just can’ seem to compete against such a great team as Camden County. One of the reason is that Bradwell lost a lot of players due to the new high school in the county. They talented players were split and Camden County has only one High School. Lots of talented players, and a great feeder system that Coach Herron has in place there. The School Board will not allow Bradwell to put into place a feeder system, and a lot of players that come out, had never snapped a ball before or ever played football. They are taught in the 9th grade how to play fundamentally. But what Bradwell Institute does have some raw talent that has to be groomed.

Yes win lose or draw, I am a fan of Bradwell Institute. And yes, a lot of teams in Region 1-AAAAA now have been beaten by Bradwell Institute including the Valdosta Wildcats, Warner Robbins Deamons etc. And those who don’t believe me, they can go to the GHSFA and look it up. They can see for themselves how many Schools Bradwell Institute have beaten in that Region.

Well BD, lets buckle up and hold on tight for this season. My prediction is that Bradwell Institute will give Camden County a better game this year than they did last year. Bradwell Institute shocked a lot of bloggers last year as I was telling them that Bradwell was a pretty good team, and you know what? They were. They made to the 2nd round losing only to Lowndes County….

I get the feeling that Bradwell Institute is even better than last year even with a rebuilding team. I predict them to go at least 9-1 or better in the regular season. The Region will come down to Camden County and Bradwell Institute. Bradwell Institute need to break the cycle that Camden County has dominating the Region….

SportsFan31313

September 4th, 2009
5:17 pm

Greetings AVIKING FAN,

I agree with you… Peachtree Ridge, Grayson, East Paulding, Etowah, Newnan, and etc. They are very good North Georgia teams. Althought I have Lowndes County Beating a good North Georgia Peachtree Ridge Team convincingly. This is a weekend for South Georgia Football dominance….This will be an exciting weekend of Georgia High School Football.

EagleNationRising

September 5th, 2009
12:38 am

Decatur 4 Life, why is it racist to point out the obvious. Northside-Warner Robins is going to beat a dancing band program. Period! I remember when there was a great deal of dancing on the Tucker sideline and on the Tucker side of the Georgia Dome with a big 28-3 lead. At the end of the day, the players (an overwhelming majority who are ethnic minorities) from Northside-Warner Robins made it look easy.

This happened, on occasion to Southwest DeKalb. If you are going to tell me that there was a single program in Georgia with more Division I signees than SWD, you are lying. Many times SWD, had as many DI signees are entire state classifications combined. Nonetheless, Buck Godfrey found ways to pull defeat out of the jaws of victory. To call that racist is absurd. Our teams in Middle and South Georgia do not look like Marist. They look like SWD in many ways. We just know how to win south of the Gnat Line.

EagleNationRising

September 5th, 2009
12:59 am

AVikingFan, Todd only accurately reports Georgia football when he runs out of logical metro Atlanta programs to overhype. After the wild proclamations of a Lowndes/P-Ridge HS classic, we can expect more logical proclamations from Todd. He does not really believe in Grayson and beating a down Warner Robins team did nothing to build his confidence in the Rams, who obviously struggle to score points. Who does he turn to now? The dancing bands and super athletes of Stephenson. He honestly has nowhere to turn except Region 1-AAAAA, which he hates doing.

By the way AVikingFan, there are no such things as metro Atlanta schools traveling to Middle or South Georgia classics. The metro Atlanta school always gets embarassed. We all knew how the Lowndes County/P-Ridge story was going to end.

SportsFan31313

September 5th, 2009
12:26 pm

Well everyone, as I Predicted, Lowndes County Beats Peachtree Ridge convincingly. Lowndes County Football Team this year is like Camden County last year. This is a mammonth of a team. The defense is very fast, and very physical. I can’t see any team beating this Lowndes County Team this year. This Lowndes County Team will definitely win the Class AAAAA State Title keeping the championship again this year in South Georgia.

Chigh

September 8th, 2009
3:06 pm

camden qb is 5′5 lol im only 14 and im 5′9 192 and can run a 40 in just under 5 secs now thats good imma play for camdne next year in 10th look out for mr.collins :]

Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Georgia is No. 1 in GA vs. AL

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Tucker is No. 1 in AAAA; Georgia is No. 1 in GA vs. AL

226 comments Add your comment

About Prep Zone: High School Sports

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