Georgia High School Football Daily Spotlight: Computer rankings say M.L. King, Stephenson are overrated
Above all else, computer rankings are objective. That’s not the same thing as accurate, but it’s something that human polls can’t deliver 100 percent.
Here, the GHSF Daily staff takes a look at the Maxwell Rankings, calculated by Loren Maxwell, the founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. The Maxwell Rankings consider performance from previous seasons (as do human pollsters), but historical influence diminishes each week as the season grows older.
Class AAAAA
The computer says Lowndes would beat Grayson by seven on a neutral field and that M.L. King and Stephenson are overrated in human polls based on Region 2-AAAAA’s recent playoff struggles.
1. Lowndes (2-0)
2. Grayson (2-0)
3. Northside, Warner Robins (1-0)
4. North Gwinnett (2-0)
5. Newnan (2-0)
6. Peachtree Ridge (1-1)
7. Camden County (1-1)
8. McEachern (2-0)
9. Roswell (2-0)
10. Walton (2-0)
11. East Paulding (2-0)
12. M.L. King (2-0)
13. Woodstock (1-0)
14. Collins Hill (2-0)
15. Warner Robins (1-1)
Next: Harrison, Stephenson, Valdosta, Brookwood, Parkview
Class AAAA
The computer likes southeast Georgia teams and says Hillgrove has been the most impressive AAAA team so far but lacks the pedigree for a top-five ranking this early.
1. Tucker (2-0)
2. Westside, Macon (2-0)
3. Griffin (2-0)
4. Statesboro (2-0)
5. Marist (1-1)
6. Hillgrove (2-0)
7. Sandy Creek (1-1)
8. Whitewater (2-0)
9. Brunswick (1-1)
10. Ware County (1-1)
11. North Clayton (2-0)
12. Thomas County Central (1-1)
13. Rome (0-2)
14. Southwest DeKalb (1-1)
15. Dalton (1-1)
Next: Mays, Bainbridge, Mount Zion, Chamblee, Sequoyah
Class AAA
The computer holds an inexplicable grudge against Gainesville but says human polls are generally accurate otherwise in this classification.
1. Carver, Columbus (2-0)
2. Flowery Branch (2-0)
3. Baldwin (2-0)
4. St. Pius (2-0)
5. LaGrange (1-1)
6. Peach County (2-0)
7. Carrollton (2-0)
8. Burke County (2-0)
9. Gainesville (2-0)
10. Hart County (1-1)
11. Thomson (1-0)
12. Dunwoody (1-1)
13. North Hall (1-1)
14. Creekview (1-0)
15. Washington County (2-0)
Next: Woodward Academy, Cairo, Eastside, Troup, Monroe
Class AA
The computer says Charlton County and Dublin are back but would be three-touchdown underdogs to Buford. It remains skeptical of Jefferson.
1. Buford (2-0)
2. Charlton County (1-0-1)
3. Fitzgerald (2-0)
4. Dublin (1-0)
5. Calhoun (2-0)
6. Lovett (2-0)
7. Brooks County (2-0)
8. Jefferson County (2-0)
9. Thomasville (1-1)
10. Pepperell (2-0)
11. Swainsboro (2-0)
12. Blessed Trinity (2-0)
13. Laney (1-1)
14. Westminster (0-2)
15. Cook (1-1)
Next: GAC, Screven County, Appling County, Jefferson
Class A
The computer says Wilcox County, Wesleyan and Lincoln County are about 10 points better than Savannah Christian and Wilkinson County. The rest are not legitimate state contenders. The computer really loves Clinch County’s history of being good at the end.
1. Wilcox County (2-0)
2. Lincoln County (2-0)
3. Wesleyan (2-0)
4. Savannah Christian (2-0)
9. Holy Innocents’ (2-0)
5. Wilkinson County (2-0)
6. Clinch County (0-2)
7. Irwin County (1-1)
8. ECI (1-1)
9. Seminole County (1-1)
10. Washington-Wilkes (1-1)
11. Chattahoochee County (2-0)
12. Twiggs County (1-1)
13. Hawkinsville (1-1)
14. Athens Academy (1-1)
15. Johnson County (2-0)
Next: Commerce, Bowdon, Miller County, Whitefield Academy, Darlington
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86 comments Add your comment
joeinformed
September 10th, 2009
11:16 am
wolverine fan – so why are talking about EP like that’s your team??? you still have not told me what they done because you must have something the way you backing them!!! so what has Woodstock done tell me that… who have they beatin that made some people turn there heads and say man there goes them Woodstock boys…im mean really i have alot of things that i can say about my school that you and the haters already no…so just stop because Woodstock or EP are NOT worth talking about thank you!!!
wolverine fan
September 10th, 2009
11:33 am
joeinformed..I have no clue how you thought EP was my team. Woodstock by the way had a stellar year last year. Beat EP last came of the year as big underdogs, Beat Walton in playoffs as big underdogs, Beat Norcross in playoffs as big undersdogs. Lost to Camden County after a 6 hour bus ride by 1 point…..
joeinformed
September 10th, 2009
11:48 am
OK GOOD JOB…NOW DO IT AGIN AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT WOODSTOCK…ONE SEASON DON’T PUT YO NAME ON THE MAP…IT’S DOING IT EVERY YEAR…
phoenix falcon
September 10th, 2009
11:49 am
who the hell cares, IT’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.
carlos
September 10th, 2009
11:49 am
Stephenson ain’t got no 16 D1 players on their team- you have got to be kidding.
Yo
September 10th, 2009
11:51 am
K how much sooner might it have taken Lowndes to get into the playoffs and how much more might they have been in the playoffs if they were playing in a Decalb region instead of region 1AAAAA? You make a lot of good points, but you choose to only use the history that meets your goals. Take all of history into account. How about the years prior to last years state champs? Why just choose one year? Maybe because some of your agrument (to choose your wording) is ignorant and you know it.
GAME TIME
September 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
THE PROBLEM AT STEPHENSON IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT.AT STEPHENSON THE COUNTY ONLY PAYS 4 COACHES, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE 12 ON THE STAFF.LOOK AT REGGIE BALL , HE WHAT MAKE STEPHENSON DURING THE OFFSEASON WITH STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING BUT DO YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY CARE ABOUT THAT HELL NA. LOOK AT COACH COREY, HE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN WORKING HARD WITH RECRUITING , DO YOU THINK COMMUNITY CARES HELL NA. HELL AT STEPHENSON THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE LIGHTS ON THEIR PRACTICE FIELD. DO YOU THINK COMMUNITY HAVE TRIED TO RAISE MONEY TO PUT SOME OUT THERE HELL NA. LOOK AT THE FOOTBALL FIELD, DO YOU THINK COMMUNITY DONATED ANYTHING SO THE PLAYERS COULD HAVE GRASS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD HELL NA. ALL THEY DO AT STEPHENSON IS COMPLAIN. KEEP YOUR NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO YOURSELF, WHEN YOU DON’T PUT NO TIME AND ENERGY BACK INTO THE PROGRAM. STEPHENSON NEEDS PARENTS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WE NEED BIG TIME SPONSOR FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED A BOOSTER CLUB THAT HAS A 6 FIGURE BUDGET LIKE PARKVIEW, HARRISON, PEACHTREE RIDGE, BROOKWOOD, NOCROSS, ROSWELL AND SO ON. SO QUIT BLAMING GARTRELL AND BUCK FOR EVERYTHING AND DO YOUR PART IN THE COMMUNITY. HELL WHEN THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM WON STATE DO YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY DID ANYTHING HELL NA. DO YOU THINK THEY DID ANYTHING FOR THE COACHES AND GIRLS HELL NA. PART OF PROBLEM IS COACHING BUT THE COMMUNITY AND PLAYERS HAS TO DO THEIR PART TOO.
SportsFan31313
September 10th, 2009
12:35 pm
I don’t agree with the entire ranking in Class AAAAA. There should have been more South Georgia teams in there. Why is McEachern in there?
carlos
September 10th, 2009
1:16 pm
Which South Georgia teams, SportsFan? There just are not many teams south of the gnat line. Do you sincerely see anyone worthy from Region 3, besides Camden? Except for them, that region has laid an egg in the first round every season for the past several. Who do you see missing from Region 1- maybe Valdosta? Surely not Coffee or Tift…and Moultrie has got to show me a heap more before I would consider them a top team. Outside of those, what the heck could your argument be for “there should have been more South Georgia teams in there?”
RealisticEP_Fan
September 10th, 2009
1:19 pm
Wow lots of passion……love it.
joeinformed – what is and EP,,,,,,,,,,hmmmmm “not to informed I guess”
K – I will say right off that I know nothing about MLK other then looking at there record, past and present and what I read on the blogs. I’m interested in facts and an insightful objective assessment of MLK would be great. Keep the BS to a minimum please.
Also as a note: Ryan Ayers, is a SOUTH Paulding DB who is committed to Georgia Tech. Another Paulding country athlete you might put in that category is Chris Conley from NORTH Paulding (Jr, WR).
But if you are asking how many athletes that EAST Paulding has that are of the type of Ryan Ayers,,,,,I’d say I really don’t know. I do know that the past few couple of times that EP has played a big name recruit (aka, Lott(UGA) from North Cobb, or Garrion Smith from Douglass), that they were both taken completely out of the game by our Offensive line, last year and this. East has NOT fair as well stopping some notable running backs in recent playoff games (ie, White Buffalo from Marist, D-Train Smiley from TCC, or even Toney Williams from Milton(Ark).
What does it all mean not much other then EP prides itself on playing a very hard nosed team oriented game and there are few stars on the roster, yet alot of kids that are willing to sacrafice for the greater good. IF MLK has 6 or 7 of rated/recruited athletes that is great for them and would pose a supreme challenge for EP……….But it is a challenge that those boys, their coaches and all of RaiderNation would welcome. Best of Luck, maybe we’ll play one day.
SouthGARules
September 10th, 2009
1:44 pm
I define success as winning state titles. Getting scholarships is an INDIVIDUAL success. There is NO I in team.
GAME TIME: Thanks for your insight into the Stephenson community.
K;: I would suggest you not refer to me as ignorant. Just because I do not agree with you, that does not make me ignorant. BTW, 2 of the North GA programs were from Gwinnett.
K
September 10th, 2009
1:46 pm
Yo-”Take all of history into account. How about the years prior to last years state champs? Why just choose one year?”
I really don’t understand your point, and apparently you don’t understand mine. So let me break it down a little better. I was not referring to playing in that region, because it is not a Dekalb region, I was referring to hypothetically placing Lowndes or any other “top team” in Dekalb county. The talent pool would be diluted(see SWD), your resources would be limited and your community support would not be as strong! Dude I am way too versed and resourceful to enter into useless banter with you. I wasn’t even talking to you…which is probably why you didn’t understand my post. I was not attacking any team in particular, but used the teams that I did for specific reasons. I am not arguing who is better, because at the end of the day I like to see kids go to the next level and get an education. If you only care about HS bragging rights(Al Bundy), I can tell you that playground legends don’t live forever and they usually die broke on that same playground…so argue all you want, but I am going to see the kids I support when they are in college bettering themselves and football is paying for it.
K
September 10th, 2009
2:12 pm
SouthGARules – Ignorant is not a derogatory word, it means not knowing. There are clearly somethings that you don’t know. That is fine, but you speak as if you are an authority and its all opinion. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but please don’t put down hard working kids! Furthermore, if you don’t think each and every kid that puts the hard work and dedication into every football season deserve an opportunity to further their education and football career at some level, if so desired,then I really can’t talk to you. Winning is great, but there are only 5 State Champs, to consider the rest of the teams that compete inferior or losers, then your perspective is not one that I can share. BTW the 2 teams from Gwinnett have a great mix of coaching, talent, resources, and facilities…my point from the beginning!
Decatur 4 Life
September 10th, 2009
2:39 pm
SouthGARules
How long has AAAAA been in exsistence? It amazing that you talk about championships won in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s by teams in S. Georgia but don’t give Quincy Carter credit for winning the highest classification in 95. Going through the same WR team I been hearing a lot about in 95 and nearly Valdosta the year before. It did take overtime and a phantom holding penalty during the kickoff return run back to end the game. Since GHSA started AAAAA, you’re right we haven’t had a championship in Dekalb but when we did why is it not valid.
SouthGARules
September 10th, 2009
2:39 pm
K: Get off your high horse. I am not putting down hard working kids. More power to the kids that get scholarships. At least it takes the financial burden off of the parents. You miss the point entirely. This blog is about a computer saying that Stephenson & MLK are overrated due to their playoff struggles. If you do not agree that Stephenson & MLK have had issues in the playoffs, then so be it. Win a state title or at least make the finals. Then, they may not be overrated. Good day.
SouthGARules
September 10th, 2009
2:43 pm
Decatur 4 life: Read my post from 9/9 @ 5:02. I did give SWD & Tucker credit. This blog is about MLK & Stephenson.
joeinformed
September 10th, 2009
3:32 pm
RealisticEP_Fan- i was gone say something to you but i realize that EP is not even the topic of this conversation or any other on the ajc blogs…so can say what you want because know one cares!!! Im tired of teams and there fans trying to take shine from the real issue at hand…do it like Stephenson and MLK did earn it on the field…weather you like one of those two teams or hate them there most be something you like ABOUT them to have all these opinions about them…to no they are overrated you must have come to see them play or want to and heard about them…because there’s no way im getting on a blog to talk about teams i don’t no about!! jsut somtehing to think about!!
joeinformed
September 10th, 2009
3:55 pm
SouthGARules – so you making it to the playoffs don’t mean anything…? Stephenson and MLK make it to the playoffs every year sometimes they get put out before they should doesn’t make them overrated it makes them not focused not unprepared and many times looking past the team that they are playing and looking forward to teams that won’t come til later on not knowing that the team that they are suppose to beat up on wants to get as far as they can because they may not be able to go to the playoffs next year..or not be able to go play at a higher level after the season is over like many of the kids from those teams…and when kids get offers from d-1 school it is not just and personal success its a team success because how do you think those kids got there it took there coaches and there teammates to help them they just didnt do it by them self’s…but you should know that tho… you may ask how?? well the coaches train them up and there teammates push them on the field so that when they get to the game they are prepared to show there talents..ask any coach
SportsFan31313
September 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
Greetings Carlos,
To answer your question, and if you want to use last year’s ending results, Bradwell Institute made it to the 2nd round last year, and did Mceachern? You have Collins Hill, Roswell, North Gwinette, come on. Yes Bradwell Institute should be in there. What team do you support anyway?
SouthGARules
September 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
joeinformed: How about making some sense.
Yo
September 10th, 2009
5:09 pm
Now Game Time has simply hit the nail on the head.
Yo
September 10th, 2009
5:15 pm
So K why does Gwinnett have all of these things and Decatur doesn’t?
Are you part of the community that Game Time says is the problem? Quit crying, blaming, thinking the grass is greener on the other side and change things. That my friend would be the “BEST” education you could teach your kids and better than any so called free education they might get in the future.
Will Jones II
September 10th, 2009
8:33 pm
Southgarules-
Did you know that the same Rod Perrymond the great RB out of Dunwoody is in his 2nd year as head coach at Forest Park high . His brother Larry Perrymond is the off. coordinator they helped a couple of guys get scholarships last year the first The Park have had in a few years . Coach Perrymond has put together a great team of coaches to coach up the boys. The best coaching they have had in a while.
K
September 10th, 2009
8:45 pm
SouthGARules- I know what the blog is about. I made a really simple statement earlier, but you or someone else decided to make the declaration about Gwinnett and South GA have the best teams. I am not on a high horse just very knowledgeable about both sides because I have been a parent on both sides.
Yo – There is no crying going on! Don’t talk about things that you know nothing about. For your information I have been on both sides and the grass is greener when it comes to the things that I mentioned. I have been a parent in three separate counties in Metro Atl. I have seen it all, good coaches, bad coaches, politics, strong boosters clubs, weak boosters clubs, etc…once again my initial comments were in response to something introduced by another blogger. You can pretend like you are naive to what I am saying and call me what you may, but you know exactly what I am talking about, or maybe you don’t because you haven’t lived it!
Yo
September 10th, 2009
10:18 pm
K-Humble sort aren’t you.
Yo
September 10th, 2009
10:19 pm
K-One day even God will know as much as you about everything.
K
September 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
Yo – At least you recognized it…my humility, that is! I do draw the line at GOD. I will humbly bow down in he presence of the LORD!
HoyaFan
September 11th, 2009
1:53 am
“Also Any Computer that would rank Harrison or any team that Harrison plays close this year anywhere near the top 20 is Bias. Harrison has the worst team I have ever seen at Harrison.”
_________________________________________________________________________
But I bet we look darn good when we play East Paulding!
MLK Lions Fan
September 11th, 2009
12:46 pm
WOW! Overrated??? We will see. In the meantime, check out 2 Fabulous (Overrated
South DeKalb teams compete on ESPN on 10/16/09. And if you still need more, check us out at http://www.mlklionsfootball.com.
GO MLK LIONS!!!
EagleNationRising
September 11th, 2009
10:13 pm
Everyone knows that local metro Atlanta programs are GROSSLY overrated. That includes Martin Luther King, Stephenson, Peachtree Ridge, and Grayson.
Dekalbthebest
September 12th, 2009
5:37 pm
All the fuss over the best football county or school in Georgia. Play ball and have fun, prepare the kids for their next level. Isn’t that’s why they go to school? Correct me if I’m wrong (you may check official state docs) but a football team from Dekalb County has won a state championship in at least one of the classifications every single year from 1940 to 2008, Dekalb sends more athletes to college on scholarship every year probably more than all you others so call great championship teams combined. The Dekalb athletes have preformed in MLB, NFL, and brought home the GOLD in the Olympics. Over rated maybe, under appreciated never.
d-mann
September 13th, 2009
2:24 pm
stephenson and mlk would not be on espn if they was overated
ROBERT
September 13th, 2009
9:51 pm
CLARKE CENTRAL SHOULD BE IN THE RANKINGS.
BIG3
September 14th, 2009
2:51 am
The MLK football team has been to the state playoffs every year since it has been a full high school, compiling a remarkable 66-21 record over 7 years, which is the best record in Georgia football history for a high school in its first 7 years of existence.
BANG BANG
September 14th, 2009
5:14 am
whoever the nut that says STEPHENSON is overated do in your power to get game with best 5A team in this state we will bury them i wonder why all Div 1 scouits are on the sidelines on a regular basis lately its a a very big disrespect and these MEN will MAKE everybody pay. We are the men because God said we are. Bring it dont sing it
Dekalb CO.
September 14th, 2009
3:17 pm
GAME TIME you rock dude.SE Dekalb Co schools as a whole get almost no community support , where the foreclosure rate is at the top of all Dekalb CO. Look at Stone MTN/Lithonia as a whole, the community has gone to hell or to South Gwinnett CO. Lack of money and community support effects the two areas immensely and has for years. But Stephenson and MLK are constantly among the best teams in AAAAA,and continue to dominate region 2AAAAA. Who cares about a computer anyway? We will continue to prove it on the field.