Wesleyan replaces Buford as state’s most likely to go 15-0
Now that Buford is beaten, which Georgia team has the best shot of going undefeated?
My first thought is Lowndes, but it’s pretty tough going unbeaten in Class AAAAA. Much depends on home-field advantage and coin tosses. There’s so much depth. Plus, the No. 2 team, Grayson, beat Lowndes the last time they played.
In AAAA, there’s no clear-cut favorite yet, so I wouldn’t pick any of those teams to go 15-0.
Gainesville is No. 1 in AAA, but the Elephants have never gone undefeated. Plus, many would say once-beaten Carver of Columbus remains the team to beat.
In AA, nobody would be surprised if Buford went 14-1, so it’s tough picking any of those, although Calhoun and Fitzgerald look awfully good. And don’t forget Lovett, the team that ended Buford’s 32-game winning streak last week.
My choice would probably be Wesleyan. A friend asked me last week if Wesleyan is unbeatable in Class A, and the answer is no. Wesleyan was not a dominant state champion last year, although the 2009 team is better than last year’s team that peaked at the right time.
Here are the 11 teams that I think are most likely to go undefeated, and their chances. Note that I don’t think any team has a better than 50-50 chance of going undefeated looking at it this early in the season. Let me post this before I change my vote to Lowndes.
Wesleyan (40 percent)
Lowndes (35 percent)
Calhoun (30 percent)
Fitzgerald (30 percent)
Gainesville (25 percent)
Grayson (25 percent)
Westside, Macon (20 percent)
Griffin (20 percent)
Peach County (20 percent)
North Gwinnett (12 percent)
Lovett (10 percent)
Todd Holcomb is co-publisher of Georgia High School Football Daily, a free email newsletter. To join his mailing list, go here.
This week’s rankings:
CLASS AAAAA
1. Lowndes (3-0)
2. Grayson (3-0)
3. North Gwinnett (3-0)
4. Northside, Warner Robins (2-0)
5. Stephenson (2-0)
6. M.L. King (3-0)
7. Newnan (3-0)
8. Peachtree Ridge (2-1)
9. McEachern (3-0)
10. Camden County (1-2)
CLASS AAAA
1. Tucker (3-0)
2. Griffin (3-0)
3. Southwest DeKalb (2-1)
4. Westside, Macon (3-0)
5. Hillgrove (3-0)
6. North Clayton (3-0)
7. Sandy Creek (2-1)
8. Clarke Central (3-0)
9. Bainbridge (3-0)
10. Mount Zion, Jonesboro (3-0)
CLASS AAA
1. Gainesville (3-0)
2. Peach County (3-0)
3. St. Pius (3-0)
4. Carver, Columbus (2-1)
5. Carrollton (3-0)
6. LaGrange (2-1)
7. Washington County (3-0)
8. Burke County (3-0)
9. Creekview (2-0)
10. Flowery Branch (2-1)
CLASS AA
1. Calhoun (3-0)
2. Fitzgerald (3-0)
3. Lovett (3-0)
4. Buford (2-1)
5. Jefferson County (3-0)
6. Pepperell (3-0)
7. Brooks County (2-0)
8. Dublin (2-0)
9. Jefferson (3-0)
10. Charlton County (2-0-1)
CLASS A
1. Wesleyan (3-0)
2. Lincoln County (3-0)
3. Wilkinson County (3-0)
4. Savannah Christian (3-0)
5. Wilcox County (2-1)
6. Johnson County (3-0)
7. Bowdon (3-0)
8. Chattahoochee County (3-0)
9. Treutlen (3-0)
10. Twiggs County (2-1)
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195 comments Add your comment
MHS
September 13th, 2009
6:51 pm
The Mays Raiders snubbed yet again. When will this paper and its writers finally recognize what they have tried to ignore all along and that is the fact that the Raiders are LEGIT contenders in AAAA. The win from Friday night displayed a team that started slow but refused to lose. Lack of Disipline??? Try raw emotion of a team coming together for what will continue to be a run towards a championship. Watch out 5AAAA there is only one undefeated left and they plan on staying that way.
Bear_Backer
September 13th, 2009
6:56 pm
Be it known…Griffin High has a very talented team this year, like most years. They are fast, and the new spread offense is fitting for a team with the speed of Griffin High. That being said, they are also small. The first real test will be against Mt. Zion of Jonesboro this friday, and they are fast AND big. They beat us last year, and are also off to a great start to their season. (congrats) I hate to say it, but after seeing GHS early on, and knowing what they have, I’m afraid they will struggle this friday and lose to Mt. Zion. Just being objective. The game is in the bears den, so maybe the fans will be extra loud and help out the Bears. the game is also on TV,and will probably (my guess) be picked as one of the games of the week, so it should be a good one. Go Griffin. The team nobody knows about, We’re # 2 !!!
Todd Holcomb
September 13th, 2009
6:58 pm
I was on the borderline with Mays. I hope the Raiders are LEGIT, but remember that they were undefeated this time last season and didn’t make the playoffs. That’s why I went with Mount Zion, a team that made the quarterfinals last season.
Todd Holcomb
September 13th, 2009
6:59 pm
Good comments on Griffin. I’m eager to see how Air Bear will do against a pretty good team.
benadawg
September 13th, 2009
7:08 pm
Has any of you ever heard of the Chattooga Indians? apparently not…Calhoun has been a thorn in our side for some time, if we can get by them then we will be in the dome…Go indians!!!
NCHS KING
September 13th, 2009
7:08 pm
Reguarding to the new standings…hillgrove is no match or even close to North Clayton…The match up of the year is Griffin vs. North Clayton…The winner of that game will win state and the loser will be runner-up…LETS GO EA-GLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Truth Be Told
September 13th, 2009
7:35 pm
Todd
I know that you must play the schedule put before you so with that said… Mays has not faced a quality opponent yet. Carver, and Douglas are not what they used to be and Whitewater has never been strong. When play and defeat a quality opponent early in the season then maybe you will get the recognition you deserve. I think the same thing is going to happen this year that happened last year…you are going to speed by every one you play because they can not match your speed and then you will run into Banneker who matches you in that department and then you will struggle. Not saying you will lose but you will find it hard when you meet a team that matches up well with you. You lost at home last year. You travel to Banneker this year. Same scenario. you come in undefeated because you were able to outrun everyone.
Let' get real
September 13th, 2009
7:49 pm
How in the world can you be 1-2 and ranked in the top 10. I don’t care who you have played. Stop ranking teams on last year.
Lovett Fan
September 13th, 2009
7:53 pm
Lovett is better than you think they are. Remember that they broke Buford’s streak and that is not that easy.
Bulldog Bravo
September 13th, 2009
8:09 pm
Why can’t Newnan be in the discussion for undefeated teams?
decatur where it is greater
September 13th, 2009
8:09 pm
Todd
I agree with you about home field advantage in the playoffs. Stephenson is the only AAAAA school that has not been scored on this year through three games. Tucker fell 16-0, Mcnair 42-0, and Columbia 68-0. The last two foes were not that great but tucker is the same team that is #1 in AAAA.
CJ Dawg
September 13th, 2009
8:16 pm
I grew up in Camden, when it was much smaller and played football there for 3 years on the Varsity. This year, I have to say , we have no shot. Our play at QB is too bad. Our best option is below 5′5. Our ‘throwing’ QB is more or less a slinger with no idea where he is throwing it. He also cannot manage a game. If we had a good QB, we would be legit as ever. It is tough to swallow, but my Cats are not going far this year. But look out next year. A kid is coming up that can do it allllllll
Jonathan Megrue
September 13th, 2009
8:24 pm
Union Grove…Union Grove…
Grayson Student
September 13th, 2009
8:26 pm
to say it but yall gotta start showin south some love… they deserve it
John Wells
September 13th, 2009
8:50 pm
First, thank you AJC for “finally” giving Newnan a little space in your newspaper. It’s about time! However, I find it mildly amusing that you did not include the Cougars in your list of teams that “might” go undefeated this year. Still no respect!!!!!!
decatur where it is greater
September 13th, 2009
9:00 pm
union grove is playing for third place in 2AAAAA. They cant beat stephenson or MLK
MAD-DONNA
September 13th, 2009
9:04 pm
Let’s k.i.r! Mays is a inner-city, predominantly black school, and will never get the ink it deserves. Plus, it makes no sense to rate a team on what they did last year, when a team is doing better than they are now! Real lame excuse man!
Joe
September 13th, 2009
9:16 pm
Mays or any other Atlanta City School will never get any praise on here that’s just the truth it sucks but it is what it is. Mays was undefeated in the regular season a couple of years ago and they still wasn’t ranked as one of the best the state had that let’s you know right there that it is a bias towards predominantly black schools on here.
MAD-DONNA
September 13th, 2009
9:17 pm
Let’s k.i.r.!
Let's get real
September 13th, 2009
9:27 pm
Don’t over look Union Grove. Them boys are for real!!!
SouthGARules
September 13th, 2009
9:27 pm
In AAAAA, several teams will be eliminated due to multiple teams from regions ranked in top 10. Todd, like you said, a lot depends on coin flips & who has the home field advantage. However, the teams in AAAAA that probably have the best chance going undefeated in the regular season would be Grayson & Newnan. Newnan’s biggest test will be in the regular season finale versus East Coweta & Grayson’s will be Parkview or South, but the South game is at Grayson. I know its says the whole season, but you have to get through the regular season first. Also, the Lowndes/NSWR winner & Stephenson/MLK winner stand a good chance, but Regions 1 & 2 are tougher than Regions 4 & 8.
Tell The Truth
September 13th, 2009
9:34 pm
Joe and all you other Mays supporters – GET REAL. Mays has played a weak schedule. You all keep hollering about respect. You earn respect. Mays is a good team with some good players, but a state contender, get real. They have never advanced past the second round, and I don’t see that string being broken yet. They always flame out in the second round.
Until these city teams get in the playoffs and win, nobody is going to get on this board pushing them as a state contender. Consider this, for all the talent that Douglass has had, the Astros haven’t won a playoff game away from Lakewood Stadium since Dec. 5, 1975.
However, teams like Southwest DeKalb and Stephenson get recognition because at least they make it to the playoffs and some years do something. During the 1980s and 1990s, SWD was a serious playoff contender. Stephenson and MLK have been playoff teams that have won some big games. Mays HAS NOT beaten anybody of note in the playoffs.
I am sure no one would have been surprised last Friday if Whitewater would have won. Enjoy your mild success, because when the playoff begins, it will most likely be one and done, but no more than a second round appearance.
#1scout
September 13th, 2009
9:44 pm
TODD, I just wanna know how is it that AAA Washington County begined the season ranked? AAA Burke County beat WACO last season, and wasn’t even ranked this season. WACO was ranked #4 when the two played each other last season. If you compare their schedules you will see the toughness of the opponents. Burke first 4 opponents is AAAA teams: Effingham, ranked Ware County, ranked Statesboro, and ranked Brunswick. WACO first 4 opponents is: Cross Creek, Greene County, Morgan County, and Troup County. Have you or anybody heard of these teams? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Burke Couty is getting robbed. NOTE, Burke Co. beat AAAA ranked Statesboro and AAAA ranked Ware Co. without several key Bears due to injuries from the Effingham County game. That along should tell you that Burke County is loaded with talent. So, go ahead and give it up cause the kids DESERVE it. DO IT BEARSSSSS……..
HSBallfan
September 13th, 2009
9:49 pm
.. for the sake of accuracy, mr decatur, the tucker-stephenson “game” you mentioned was a pre-season scrimmage and doesn’t really mean squat. But, also for the sake of accuracy, this is not nearly the same Tucker team as last year, and does not merit that #1 ranking. Also for the sake of accuracy, we said the same thing same time last year about Tucker LOL. Only thing that counts is the standings after 11 weeks, and then we’ll see what happens. Right now Tucker looks like an 8-2 team to me.
Michael
September 13th, 2009
10:20 pm
It is about time that Mceachern broke the top ten. Woodstock has a good team this year and they should go far into the playoffs. Stephenson has not really played a good team during this football *season* in an official game yet. Let’s see how they do up against good competition like MLK.
john
September 13th, 2009
10:25 pm
congrats to fitzgerald this week, I read alot of talk about these AA teams up north, they got 3-4 even 5 maybe good athletes on their team, well…. I have seen fitz blank coffee in the preseason until this past fri. they dont have any 4 or 5 star athletes, they play with such precision and intensity, speed, never mind have one heck of a coach they play as one. the huricane is coming for buford, let me know if FEMA needs to be called….
TRUE BLUE
September 13th, 2009
10:27 pm
NCHS KING, TUCKER , MARIST,OR SWD WILL WIN STATE THIS YEAR.REGION 6-AAAA WILL DOMINATE AGAIN THIS YEAR.THEY PLAY PHYSICAL FOOTBALL FOR 4 QUARTER AND I DON’T THINK AS A TEAM GRIFFIN OR NORTH CLAYTON CAN.
Gerry
September 13th, 2009
10:30 pm
#1 scout are you serious who the hell has ever heard of burke county you backwoods retard.
BAD GLAD
September 13th, 2009
10:36 pm
Clarke Central is back! Coach Ryals has a big-time QB in JR Martay Mattox. Also- HSFB upset of the week: TROUP over WACO! I’m gone!!!
TRUE BLUE
September 13th, 2009
10:39 pm
MICHEAL, DOES THE WORD STEPHENSON SCARES YOU. YOU KNOW WE ARE OVERRATED AND SHOULDN’T BE RANK AT ALL ACCORDING TO AJC COMPUTER RANKING.SO, WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT STEPHENSON.
Michael
September 13th, 2009
10:54 pm
True Blue, I happen to like Stephenson and have been following them since the days of Kregg Lumpkin, Isreal Route and Reggie Ball. I was just saying that Stephenson hasn’t scheduled good teams in the their early season games. I hope this doesn’t hurt them by not making them playoff ready unlike North Gwinnett (played powerhouse Prattville), Camden County (played very good out state teams like Hoover of Alabama & First Costal of Floride plus in state powerhouse like Grayson). My only kncok on Stephenson is their coach doesn’t think big enough by playing good non-region games (NcNair and Columbia were scrimmages for them) early in the season to get his team play off ready.
Todd Holcomb
September 13th, 2009
11:01 pm
Joe: I would love to see Mays make a run this year. I like seeing teams in the semifinals or finals that haven’t been there. But let’s face the facts: Mays has never had one season in its history that was deserving of a final Top 10 ranking. Not one. Mays has never made it to the final 16 of the state playoffs. So every time that Mays was ranked, including No. 8 in 2003 with the 10-0 record, it turned out to be a mistake. Mays was 10-0 in 2003 and lost in the second round. Most teams that are good, but not good enough to make the Top 10, lose in the second round. I’ve got no problem with Mays, but it’s simply false for anyone to say that Mays historically has been underrated because in fact, the opposite is more often true.
re Newnan: I wasn’t listing every team that could go undefeated, just the 11 that I thought had the best chance. The chance of Newnan going undefeated is certainly less than 10 percent, IMO. If Newnan couldn’t go 15-0 with the team it had last season, I don’t see it happening now. That’s not to say this isn’t a very good team. But 15-0? That’s a longshot, to say the least.
SouthGARules: Good points. One thing that makes it tough for Lowndes is the fact that the Vikings must win in McConnell-Talbert Stadium vs. Northside, which has won about 40 straight there.
#1 Scout: I like WaCo and Burke. WaCo returned just a little more of the nucleus of 2008 than Burke, but Burke returned The Man in Brigham. It’s hard to argue you on that point. I could see anyone ranking Burke higher. But just know that I’m not ranking 2008. And Burke has to go to WaCo this time.
Lovett
September 13th, 2009
11:17 pm
I put money on Lovett going undefeated. Who is harder to beat than Buford, it doesn’t seem like anyone could beat the team that ended Buford’s reign.
Joe
September 13th, 2009
11:25 pm
Tell The Truth the only reason why Mays or any other Atlanta city school never make it far is cause the teams usually don’t be as big as county schools. Atlanta city schools are not as big as county schools and the kids usually don’t big as big but the city schools usually produce NFL caliber players.
TruFan
September 13th, 2009
11:27 pm
As far as potential undefeated teams, Wesleyan and Calhoun (both play in weak regions and are classic “neighborhood bullies”) make some sense, as does Fitzgerald, who looks impressive. Griffin (if they survive Mt. Zion) and North Gwinnett are long shots, but have the talent to pull it off. However, why no mention of Lincoln County? Larry Campbell always finds a way to wring the last drop of talent and gutsy performances from his players. History bears this out…what other active coach in GHSA can boast 8 undefeated seasons and 11 state chanpionships? Oh, and before I’m accused of being a “backwoods retard”…check your stats and history. There IS quality football played outside Metro Atlanta and Valdosta…in LC’s case, consistently for the last 35+ years…and no, I’m not an alumnus, just a knowledgeable fan who is not a homer.
Joe
September 13th, 2009
11:30 pm
Todd Holcomb it’s not that Mays isn’t talented enough it’s cause the kids are not as big and the city schools are not as big as the county schools. Mays, Douglass & Washington has all produced NFL players it’’s just unfortunate that our city schools never win in high school but it is what it is we still good quality teams.
Yo
September 13th, 2009
11:44 pm
The problem with Fizgerald’s chances are that they have Brooks Co. (has looked very good also) and Thomasville to go through to be undefeated. Not easy!
WHOA
September 13th, 2009
11:58 pm
MICHAEL, DO U RECALL A YEAR OR TWO AGO WHEN THERE WAS THIS ARTICLE IN THE SUMMER ABOUT STEPHENSON LOOKING FOR A TEAM TO PLAY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS?? NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY STEPHENSON.. NOT THIS EARLY ANYWAY
Michael 18
September 14th, 2009
12:06 am
Thanks Grayson student for showing south some love looking forward to the game this week
daylon baker
September 14th, 2009
12:57 am
todd hillgrove is #5 and that is a respectable ranking spot but trust me when i say there are only two teams that can play with hillgrove this season. that is tucker and sw dekalb. top recruit synjyn days and hillgroves triple option offense is hard to stop and not to mention the excellent defense hillgroves defense is playing. hillgrove beat rome and seqouya who were both preseason top 10 teams in AAAA. this week is hillgrove’s homecoming against decatur, i encourage you to go and see hillgrove play and i think you will definetly agree.
AstroFan
September 14th, 2009
1:48 am
Mays is getting snubbed the same way Douglass used to get snubbed in our heyday. It’s always going to be that. Win the state championship, probably will still get voted #2. Yall can easily run the table and still barely get ranked. City teams just don’t get the respect. Look at Grady, they’re 3-0 and beating snot out of everybody and still not being ranked. TAKE IT PERSONAL and leave the anger on the field.
JD
September 14th, 2009
3:05 am
hey astro…..inner city schools (atl) suck! sorry but its a fact!
Suwanee 0wnz
September 14th, 2009
3:06 am
SouthGARules,
You always have insightful comments. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I would like to point out that North Gwinnett has a good chance of going undefeated during the regular season. They are not going to be tested by a tough opponent again until their final game of the season at Peachtree Ridge. While that is an away game, “away” is only 5 minutes away and there will be as many North fans as Lions fans in attendance. It is not the same as driving 5 hours to Valdosta to play in front of a packed stadium of hostile fans.
North starters have only given up 2 touchdowns in 3 games against at least one very tough opponent. The D Line is a wrecking crew and size will NOT keep them out of the backfield. In the meantime, North’s 6’ 5” QB is for real. The 2 Alabama committed OT’s are providing plenty of protection to give him a good look at 4 or more receivers in the pattern. As you know, a team that can execute Mumme’s system is capable of scoring at any time. Even the best teams do not have 5 strong DB’s to keep tight coverage on all the receivers.
At worst, P Ridge will be a toss up for North. So I would give North a 50% shot of going into the playoffs undefeated.
BTW, Buford’s years of recruiting top talent from North, Collins Hill, and Flowery Branch appear to be over. We’ll see how they do over the next few years relying only on talent from Buford and Mill Creek. Buford still has an awesome coaching staff, but they are not going to have the same level of talent.
BEARMAN
September 14th, 2009
5:27 am
BEAR BACKER,
THAT’S WHY THE GAME IS ON T.V. TWO GOOD TEAMS AND I THINK GRIFFIN WILL BE READY.
GRIFFIN 35
MT ZION 21
SPX fan
September 14th, 2009
5:35 am
Hey Astro Fan Saint Pius X is ranked and will CRUSH Grady. SPX is for real and could go undefeated
dawgma
September 14th, 2009
6:17 am
Yawn! Single A private school ball team located in Atlanta going undefeated is about as exciting as the MTV music awards show.
The real story is Wesleyan surpasses Buford as the Best team money can buy in the baby divisions of football in Georgia.
The Cannon Rules!
September 14th, 2009
7:03 am
Todd…
They don’t deserve it “YET” but after the RAIDERS from EAST PAULDING march thru the Indians AT McEachern this week let’s see IF you will drop a 1-2 Camben team and list our RAIDERS who will then be 3-0 and on the top of 5A-AAAAA!!!
daylon baker…
I would reserve the talk about Hillgrove going undefeated until they play Hiram who is sitting at 3-0 also!!!! They have a much improved team this year and have been “lighting-up” the scoreboard.
and finally all these MAYS supporters need to remember when they came to “THE BONEYARD” year before last and got a lesson about who the REAL RAIDERS are, they brought their “LOWNDES imitation THUG game” and EAST PAULDING sent em’ packing back to the ATL!!!!
GET READY McEachern the clock is ticking and you know what’s coming to Powder Town Friday night…It’s RAIDER TIME…
TICK…TICK…TICK…BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!! GO RAIDERS!!!!!
TJ
September 14th, 2009
7:10 am
South Gwinnett does deserve some love. To me, this is for the Region 8 AAAAA championship. Could be Parkview as well but that is hype for another time. But not looking past this week, Grayson has to stop the Comets this week. This will test the Grayson defensive backs, one of which has commited to BYU. My prediction is the defensive line will be in the backfield disrupting the passing game all night long.
wolverine fan
September 14th, 2009
7:12 am
Cannon Rules…….I hope EP has one heck of a good pass defense, because they will need it against McEarchen…….
rwdekalbfan
September 14th, 2009
7:13 am
Metro Atlanta teams need to earn respect by beating quality teams and advancing deep into the playoffs. Inflated winning records against mediocre teams and early playoff exits will not do it. Rankings are good for school morale but its what you do in the playoffs against quality teams that earn you that respect.
TRUE BLUE
September 14th, 2009
8:11 am
RWDEKALBFAN, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE LAST I HEARD WAS THAT TUCKER, WESLEYAN,AND BUFORD WAS IN METRO ATLANTA.ALSO,GRAYSON, MARIST,LOVETT,AND PEACHTREE RIDGE ARE IN THE METRO ATLANTA. THESE SCHOOLS WERE IN THE FINALS OR SEMI-FINALS LAST YEARS WITH METRO ATLANTA TAKIG 3 OUT 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
SouthGARules
September 14th, 2009
8:19 am
rwdekalbfan: Very good point.
TJ: Agreed.
TruFan: Very good point about Lincoln Co. Being a A team & not a ton of D-1 talent (with the exception of Garrison Hearst), they tend to get overlooked.
Suwanee Ownz: Thanks. You are right about North Gwinnett, even though its more than 5 min away. Suwanee Dam Rd can get congested, but I understand your point. Also, not having to travel hours to games in more spread out regions helps, too. However, don’t sleep on Norcross. I know you beat them last year in a tremendous comeback at home but they are not as bad as they have shown. I know they are 1-2, but a 1 pt OT loss to Walton was one of the losses. We will find out about South Friday night @Grayson.
roswellfan
September 14th, 2009
8:39 am
Wheres the love for Roswell football? I know its early in the season, but why would a 1 or 2 loss team still be ranked in the top 10 ? Roswell deserves to be ranked somewhere in the 6-10 category. They beat pope on the road last week after beating Centenial handily and should get to 5-0 at the by week.
chad
September 14th, 2009
8:46 am
Calhoun is going to be a monster no one is going to want to play by the end of the season. They have just gotten started. They waxed Rome in a preseason game, beat a very good Dalton team and Ridgleland team. Those are 3A and 4A teams. Look out for the yellow jackets this year.
shankit
September 14th, 2009
9:00 am
Tickets available for the AAAAA State Championship game.
played early this year in November
Lowndes vs. Valdostta
TJ
September 14th, 2009
9:08 am
Some food for thought, Warner Robins only allowed their opponent 1 yard of rushing this week. They beat Beach 49 to 6. Beach is no power house team but it was tell tale of their stout defense and ability to score on teams. Where does Warner Robins rank now in their region, playoff caliber? Think Grayson beat a good team when they played Warner Robins and won 10 to 0. Grayson put up 44 points and shut out on Dacula, which says they have ability on their offense. South Gwinnett and Grayson should be game of the week? Will see.
fan
September 14th, 2009
9:12 am
mays do not worry about ranking we the city want championships that is better than ranking as for stephenson & swd & mlk i do not see them winning any thing because it is all about having your team prepare when it it time for the playoff you will see the same teams winning because there coach take time to perpare.
Waltonfan
September 14th, 2009
9:21 am
Todd –
from what I’ve read in the past, you don’t have much love for Region 6-AAAAA teams…especially Walton.
but considering their schedule, I think they have a decent shot at 10-0. Undefeated all the way? Hell no, but regular season is possible.
Yes, Roswell & Lassiter are tough, but both those games are at home.
They already beat a pretty good Norcross team in the Dome.
9-1 is more likely, but you can’t rule out 10-0 based on what they’ve done do far & who/where they have coming up.
APS Football Fan
September 14th, 2009
9:26 am
To all the APS Football Teams: Congratulations. I know you want to be recognized in the Top 10. You have to remember that this newspaper will never recognize any of you. It has nothing to do with making the plays.
Pops
September 14th, 2009
9:27 am
The way it has been going East Paulding will beat Mc Ceachern and we will have our 4th region 5AAAAA team ranked in the top ten. We have talked before about how balanced this region is at the top. What happens then if Etowah beats East after East beats McCeachern? We will have gone full circle?
Don’t worry Wolverine Fan – I haven’t forgotten about you.
The Cannon Rules!
September 14th, 2009
9:47 am
Pops…
GOOD QUESTION…East plays Etowah, and Woodstock both as away games this year…while EAST plays GREAT on the road and takes (as you know) a HUGE crowd that fills the visitors section, both of these games are going to be TOUGH wins!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…the Battle continues this friday as EAST goes to McEachern, to answer your question…AFTER EAST beats McEachern it would be up to Etowah to TAKE its spot atop the division but they also have to take care of business between now and the EAST match-up!
But Friday night should be FUN to say the least…I saw em’ building some kinda barricade looking contraption around the big Injun’ on their stadium, that want help though…”THE CANNON” will still find him!!! (or her???…maybe that Injun’s a “SQUAW”)…
CLOCK’S TICKING MCEACHERN…105 HOURS AND COUNTING TICK…TICK…TICK…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
GO RAIDERS!!!!!
drock09
September 14th, 2009
9:56 am
Will be looking forward to see creekside defense vs tay willis this friday. The amey kid from creekside and willis from east coweta are the real deal. Union grove will give stephenson and mlk all they can handle. I predict they will win the region. Mt zion will upset griffin
Wolverine2Blazer
September 14th, 2009
10:03 am
Hmmm, I’m going to predict that the week after the Woodstock-Etowah game there will be 3 region 5 teams in the top 10. And to Waltonfan, I wouldn’t be showing much love to region 6 either after ya’ll almost got swept in the first round by region 5. The first seed getting man handled by our fourth.
STOP WORRYING
September 14th, 2009
10:13 am
drock09, Why are you worrying about Stephenson and MLK. You forgot that we are overrated by the AJC COMPUTER RANKING.They say we want make it past the quarterfinals. Plus ,they say Stephenson Coaches want prepare the players for play-off.Thats the STATE of GEORGIA prediction,but who cares what they think cause the BLACK AND BLUE JAAAAAAAAAAAGUARS ARE BACK TO MAKE A STATEMENT STARTING FRIDAY AT WARE COUNTY.
Panola's Finest
September 14th, 2009
10:21 am
TRUE BLUE I AM PRETTY SURE SWD WOULD HAVE PLAYED STEPHENSON AS WELL AS TUCKER AND OTHER OF THOSE TEAMS IN GWINNETT LOOKING FOR THE COME UP.
Excuses, Excuses. There are plenty of good teams other than Columbia and Mcnair that will play you guys. Say what you want but those were scrimmages with JV teams at best.
Hawkflying high
September 14th, 2009
10:25 am
Hillgrove has one of the strongest defenses out there. The true litmus test will be Hiram on their schedule! I thought it would of been Rome or Squoyah, but I guess not! LOL. The only reason Harlison scored 14 is because Hillgrove doesn’t believe in kicking someone when there down. Can you say JV in the 4th quarter?
R.W. Gweed
September 14th, 2009
10:38 am
Jackson was ranked #10 in your preseason AAA poll. They have won all of their games convivcingly, yet have dropped out of the top ten. It’s obvious that you have an ax to grind with the Jackson people, stemming back from last year. Thus, you only teased us with that #10 ranking and never intended to keep us there, no matter what. Vengeance is mine, says Todd.
Cane-66
September 14th, 2009
10:51 am
Not only is Fitzgerald undefeated, but also UNSCORED upon in three regular season games, plus the scrimmage game against AAAAA Coffee Co….
titletown
September 14th, 2009
10:58 am
NSWR has to get past Valdosta friday i think everyone is overlooking valdosta. Has anyone took a look at this team this year, they have a qb that is almost like vick take notice. NSRW has to come to death valley friday can they escape Valdosta 24 NSWR 10
HeadEast
September 14th, 2009
11:00 am
After Friday EP, Etowah, and Woodstock will be battling it out for 2nd place and at least one home game in the playoffs. Based on the East D that showed up last Friday MAC will continue to light up the scoreboard. Even a weak team like S Cobb moved well enough to have a field goal try. We’re just too small and too slow this year.
KIR
September 14th, 2009
11:14 am
I saw SWD against MLK and you guys shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence with Stephenson.
wolverine fan
September 14th, 2009
11:30 am
HeadEast……..McEarchern is fast…We held them until the 3rd quarter then their speed took over. Our passs defense could not contain them.
CKDawg65
September 14th, 2009
11:31 am
Glad to see Creekview finally getting some love outside of Cherokee Co. Beating a then top 10 AAAA Sequoyah and going to Flowery Branch and beating a then top 3 AAA team will do it for you. Not having to play Gainesville in the regular season will help, but W Forsyth and N Hall will be challenges.
Tell The Truth
September 14th, 2009
11:34 am
I don’t think Grady is getting a snubbed, they haven’t beaten anybody. They are 3-0 against teams with a combined 2-6 record and the two wins for their opponents have came against North Atlanta and Cross Keys. Unfortunately, the only test that Grady will face in the regular season is against St. Pius in late October. The Grey Knights should come into that contest with a 7-0 record. This Friday against might give some indication of where Grady and Washington stand when they play each other. Anything short of a two touchdown victory for Grady will certainly prove they are not as strong as their record indicates. Nothing against the city teams, because there have certainly been some good ones, but on the state level they fail to prove themselves on the field.
Reeze
September 14th, 2009
11:42 am
Titletown………..We heard the same in 2008 ,at half time you could hear a pin drop on the Cat side .You guys might win if this years team found speed on offense ,or maybe Tomberlin trashed his offensive play book with the lame and predictable plays that we were chuckling at in the stands or coach and play the game with intensity like your’re in it to win it. In other words a complete turn around
Wolverine2Blazer
September 14th, 2009
12:00 pm
Creekview’s been a good team sense they opened. Last year they took Saquoyah to 3OT at the Cheif’s place. I think they’re this year’s Woodstock.
Head Bear
September 14th, 2009
12:02 pm
The Bears will be ready Go Bears
Golden Lion
September 14th, 2009
12:04 pm
Need to pay more respect to St. Pius in AAA, They lost to gainesville last year only because of a QB named Donovan Tate. This years team is senior led and have the determination and strength
Jefferson
September 14th, 2009
12:32 pm
5-0 in the playoffs trumps an undefeated regular season. It ain’t over till its over. Buford and their chop blocking center needs a rematch.
Go Jackets.
fitzgerald
September 14th, 2009
12:34 pm
I am no fan of Buford. However, it is a long road until the playoffs and Buford will improve by then. So, who knows what will happen. Those very long (5-6 hours) road games do take a toll of the visiting teams. Particularly if they have to do it more than one time. It is too bad that neutral sites are not used in the playoffs. Supporting fans do and will travel during the playoffs. Check playoff game attendance in other states.
Grayson Student
September 14th, 2009
12:59 pm
For all the south supporters… Theres only so much stats can tell you about a player. Is there any film on the internet of this season, I would like to see kent rollins and his offensive line.
Matt
September 14th, 2009
1:00 pm
Bowdon #7 in class A what a joke! look at who they have played! more cupcakes than at a bakery!
The Cannon Rules!!
September 14th, 2009
1:06 pm
Hawkflying high…
Good comment, I agree the true test for BOTH Hiram and Hillgrove appears to be the game they have against EACH other. I would predict you both will be in a fight that night and NEITHER team will be playing their J.V. team by the 4th.
Don’t overlook Rome showing up later in the year, they were tough against EAST in our first game 3 weeks ago. They are just not LOADED 2 and 3 deep like in years past, but they are still fielding a VERY GOOD team.
va 7
September 14th, 2009
1:25 pm
Thanks whoa, SWD did not want to play Stephenson anymore, great gwinnett/cobb county schools were scared and could not find anyone out of state. People for get that despite playoff success this program is known throughout the whole United States. Over the last few years that Comcast broadcast games Stephenson is the biggest draw for them.
Etowah Fan
September 14th, 2009
1:30 pm
Head East – I agree with your assessment. MAC at home will be too much for EP as much as Cannon will hope! MAC is red hot and deserving of their ranking… Leaving EP, Etowah, and Woodstock to fight it out for 2nd. Thank goodness that Etowah has EP and Woodstock at home.
Wolverine2Blazer – you are definitely drinking some spike’ed Kool-Aid if you think there is any scenario that gets three teams from Region 5-AAAAA in the top 10 before the end of September. While MAC will have played the “meat” of their region schedule after Friday (Etowah, Woodstock, EP), I expect them to still be undefeated and staying ranked near the bottom of the Top 10.
The only very remote chance for a second team from Region 5-AAAAA to creep in by early October is if Etowah easily handles both Woodstock and EP (and I don’t see that happening). I am fairly confident that Woodstock won’t creep back into the Top 10 with a sound victory at Etowah (I don’t see that happening either!) without some very strange things happening to the rest of the current Top 10.
Everybody else in the Top 10 will not have played each other within their respective regions to knock each other out of the Top 10. Besides Todd (per your Region 6 comment) does not generally give any close calls to the North/Northwest side of Atlanta. At least Todd has kept a Region 5-AAAAA team in the Top 10 so I don’t think we can complain too much.
I like your Region 5-AAAAA spirit though… just trying to be realistic.
down south fan
September 14th, 2009
1:44 pm
valdosta28-nswr10
objective observer
September 14th, 2009
1:57 pm
Don’t worry about Lincoln County going undefeated after this week. Abbeville will beat them by at least two touchdowns. LC is extremely small up front and they only give the ball to #25. That’s why Wesleyan beat them last year is because they only had to key in on one player.
Dekalb til I die
September 14th, 2009
2:16 pm
Man if I hear some
RedandBlack
September 14th, 2009
2:35 pm
Check out Roswell next time they play. Coach Barker has the Hornets buzzn. Great plays for high school ball. Look out North Fulton county.
VIKING DAD
September 14th, 2009
2:35 pm
HEY Titletown, the only way the cats will beat Northside is if they don’t show. I have seen the cats play. Your cats are 3-0 only because they’ve not played anyone. Remember last year,3-0 start, 2-5 finish. And don’t even think about beating the Vikings this year, because it’s not going to happen.
VIKING DAD
September 14th, 2009
2:38 pm
Congrats to Lovett for beating Buford.
HeadEast
September 14th, 2009
2:40 pm
wolverine – I’ve seen MAC, Etowah, Harrison, and EP play in person and MAC looks like the best team and Harrison the worst. They just have so many offensive weapons and special teams scored on a fake punt and a punt return when I saw them. East will need to be able to run some clock on offense and go about +2 in turnovers to keep it close. Heart and good coaching have a hard time overcoming pure speed and talent.
Dekalb CO.
September 14th, 2009
3:01 pm
When I read this blog, its clear the road to respectability goes through Dekalb, even though we, as I always hear, we don’t win anything. Tucker don’t deserve to be ranked NO.1. SWD didn’t. Stephenson and MLK don’t deserve to be ranked at all. Stephenson don’t play nobody. Playoff history. Blah, blah blah. Region 5 seems like the ones in search for the most respect, but yall aint going to get it by mentioning Stephenson and MLK. Id like to focus on those two teams for a minute. I went to Stone Mtn HS and we haven’t been really good for years. Lithonia and Redan neither. SWD has been decent, not as bad as the other 3. When Stephenson(1996) and MLK(2001) opened, they took attendance from those four aforementioned schools. Lokk at what they have done since they opened. Im willing to bet that the no team from Region 5 can match winning %, playoff wins or players that have gone on to have major college success that Stephenson/MLK have had since Stephenson opened. And I had to make sure I knew who was in Region 5 before I typed this so I wouldn’t look stupid. Only teams I saw with any tradition or success was Mareitta and McEachern, please Cherokee Co. and EP get your lifetime winning % at 500. before you call out the giants of 2-AAAAA and more importantly, encourage your AD to schedule us in the future because we aint scared. Oh and to those who think Union Grove will win region 2-AAAAA be for real. What basis do you have for such a prediction when you know you haven’t beaten BOTH Dekalb CO schools in the same season, EVER? Hope, yeah thats a good one lol
Coach
September 14th, 2009
3:04 pm
REGION 6AAAA is by far the roughest, toughest region of them all. Don’t expect any of their teams to go undefeated, but expect one, or two, to play for the State Championship. Check the football history of that region over the last few years. And FYI that region won 15 total State Championships for the 2008-2009 school year. No other region came close.
The Cannon Rules!!
September 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
Let’s just hope we have a CONSISTENT game called by the referee crew as I would HATE for a game this big to be cost by a bad call (in either direction)…the game needs to be played and WON on the field. The other night against South Cobb we again experienced several missed calls and one call on the EAST sideline after the EAST “D” had stopped South Cobb with a legal hit that “LAID OUT” the South Cobb player a penalty was called against EAST because the “D” player was giving and receiving high fives off the field on the sideline!!! These are high school kids, let em’ play…sure they get excited…he had just made a terrific stop / play and was celebrating with his teammates!!!
The calls I am referring to here had nothing to do with the overall outcome OF THIS GAME but they could have, and that would be a shame to hang a loss on a team from bad calls.
vikingsrule
September 14th, 2009
3:20 pm
Titletown, you are right on the money. I’ve tried telling Todd Holcomb that Valdosta is for real this year. Dont listen to Viking Dad either. I know a good football team when I see one. Valdosta will beat NSWR and they will give my Vikings a good game too. The Wildcats will be the only team this year to give LHS a scare. Lowndes goes 15-0 Mr. Holcomb and you can increase these odds up to about 70%. Also, Valdosta ends up in your top ten at the end of the year with two losses. Mark it down!!
slalom1
September 14th, 2009
3:53 pm
TODD, Do not under rate the Newnan Cougars. My prediction after game 1 was that NO ONE will put up double digits against the Cougars during regular season. I stand behind that prediction,(but I should have said “against the starters”) The Cougars are going to have one blow-out after another during the regular season, therefore someone may put up 12 or so against the JV. The defense is better than in 2008. The offense may be even more talented but still needs game time. By season’s end, I believe the Cougars have a better shot than in 2008. The Ogletree brothers along with the Ransby kid are simply amazing.
The Cannon Rules!!
September 14th, 2009
3:58 pm
Dekalb CO. …
It’s true several of the schools in 5A AAAAA don’t have “winning traditions” that go back 20 or 30 years like many Dekalb schools. Most of these schools are fairly new, 10 to 15 years old in some cases and what they are showing is RECENT winning trends. You are talking like many of the South Ga. posters who like to brag about the Championships they won back in the 60’s, the 70’s & 80’s.
Well welcome to the FUTURE!!!…Many of our 5A – AAAAA teams can play with ANY of your Dekalb schools ANY friday night!…The reality / logistics is that this can’t happen until playoff time but I’ll give you a recent history lesson you can go look up…Mays (I know before you tell me they are not a Dekalb School) came out to “THE BONEYARD” year before last for a playoff game and was sent back to the ATL with a new outlook on outside 285 football!
Sure you got good teams at MLK, Stephenson but go the other direction and you got Grayson & the Gwinnett powerhouses that are fairly new schools.
But I’ll give you this stat to “CHEW ON”…since 2005 East Paulding has gone 33-6 finishing 2008 (1st year in AAAAA play) going to the 2nd round of State Playoffs before losing to Grayson 17/7 (who beat “mighty Lowndes”). EAST had an UNDEFEATED (10-0) regular season in 2007, winning the Region and going to the State Quarter finals. They reached the State Semifinals in 2006 before losing to Marist in the DOME. Traditions START somewhere and this type play is what gets you there.
Washington high fan
September 14th, 2009
4:15 pm
Tell The Truth u think Grady beating Washington this friday u crazy.
SanityRules
September 14th, 2009
4:16 pm
Slalom1, I couldn’t agree with you more. This Newnan team has the potential of being the best ever. The defense has everything you could ask for. We don’t need any publicity right now ,so let them talk about Grayson, Lowdnes and all the rest, we will be there in the end.