MLK, Stephenson, Collins Hill must answer bell Friday

There are 12 undefeated teams in Class AAAAA, and about half have not been tested against another top AAAAA opponent.

The chance to make an impression is now for MLK and Stephenson, which play each other Friday, and Collins Hill, which takes on Peachtree Ridge, another team that has something to prove.

I think Peachtree Ridge will reassert itself as a state-title contender and handle Collins Hill. I have no feel for MLK-Stephenson other than a sense that one is better, and one is worse, than we all think and that it could be a blowout.

In other news, I’d like to her people’s take on Lowndes-Valdosta. The score – 57-15 – was stunning, but then Lowndes also beat Peachtree Ridge by similar numbers. Valdosta had some injury issues. I expected Lowndes to roll, but not like that.

Because it’s Valdosta, I quickly went to some of the message boards to hear the backlash after the game.

I don’t know Rick Tomberlin well, but I’ve had many conversations with him, and it’s hard for me to think those who spend time around him don’t like and admire him. Truth is, Valdosta always has had a good head coach, and the current one seems like the kind of role model I’d want around my kids. Is that enough in Valdosta? I think Valdosta will make the playoffs this season and bounce back from this loss, but Tomberlin is still a game under .500 at Valdosta

I also think most Valdosta fans realize the current challenges in the football program and support Tomberlin, who told me this summer, “I never thought Valdosta would be so nice. In some respects, Valdosta gets a bad rap in terms of not treating coaches good. Maybe some things happened in the past. I can’t say good or bad, but they’ve treated me nothing but wonderfully.’’

Of course, Tomberlin doesn’t read the message boards. There, he would find people who don’t realize that winning at Valdosta is tougher now than it’s been in 70 years.

This week’s rankings:

CLASS AAAAA
1. Grayson (7-0)

2. Northside, Warner Robins (6-0)

3. North Gwinnett (6-0)
4. Newnan (6-0)
5. Lowndes (6-1)

6. McEachern (7-0)
7. Stephenson (6-0)
8. M.L. King (6-0)
9. Peachtree Ridge (5-1)
10. Camden County (4-2)

CLASS AAAA
1. Griffin (6-0)

2. Westside, Macon (7-0)

3. Southwest DeKalb (5-1)

4. Hillgrove (6-0)

5. Sandy Creek (5-1)

6. Marist (5-1)

7. North Clayton (6-1)

8. Tucker (5-1)

9. Apalachee (6-0)

10. Hiram (6-0)
CLASS AAA
1. Gainesville (7-0)

2. Peach County (6-0)

3. St. Pius (6-0)

4. Carver, Columbus (5-1)

5. Washington County (6-0)

6. Carrollton (7-0)

7. LaGrange (5-1)

8. Jackson (7-0)

9. Baldwin (4-2)

10. Burke County (5-1)

CLASS AA
1. Calhoun (6-0)

2. Fitzgerald (6-0)

3. Buford (5-1)

4. Jefferson County (7-0)

5. Charlton County (5-0-1)

6. Lovett (6-1)

7. Thomasville (4-2)

8. Westminster (4-2)

9. Jefferson (6-0)

10. Brooks County (5-1)
CLASS A
1. Wesleyan (7-0)

2. Savannah Christian (6-0)

3. Johnson County (7-0)

4. Lincoln County (5-1)

5. ECI (5-1)

6. Twiggs County (6-1)

7. Wilkinson County (5-1)
8. Greenville (6-0)
9. Seminole County (6-1)

10. Miller County (5-1)

209 comments Add your comment

31

October 12th, 2009
7:26 pm

Im feeling the love for the hornets. GO HIRAM!!!!!!

Chris

October 12th, 2009
7:53 pm

Where is Roswell? Why aren’t they ranked?

BROOKWOOD MOM

October 12th, 2009
8:16 pm

Hey Todd: What happened to SweetPea??

GO UG!

October 12th, 2009
8:16 pm

Newton, think we might have that beat, Union Grove is 6-0, Woodland is 5-2 and Dutchtown is 6-1 for a combined record of 17-3!

GO UG!

October 12th, 2009
8:19 pm

Dekalb I was typing my post when yours posted, yep yours is the winner.

SWD Panther Pride

October 12th, 2009
9:16 pm

27-3 when you factor in Tucker and Stone Mountain

stfu

October 12th, 2009
9:33 pm

who is advisor? lol this guy is totally weak =}

SouthGARules

October 12th, 2009
9:51 pm

Etowah Fan: Of course you know who Region 5-#4 seed gets, yes, an all expense paid trip to Grayson.
Brookwood-South Gwinnett winner will probably be #2 seed & Dacula or Parkview will be #4 seed with Dacula holding the head to head tiebreaker.
BROOKWOOD MOM: You may want to get to Central kind of early Friday night. The visitor stands are dinky & crappy. Have a good week. Good call on Sweetpea. i had forgotten about them until you mentioned it.

BROOKWOOD MOM

October 12th, 2009
9:56 pm

SouthGARules: Hey buddy! Yea, we have been to Central before and it really gets cramped over there. You have a good week too. Try not to get flooded out!!

BulldawgBite

October 12th, 2009
10:18 pm

Pridge,
we’ll see i think we both know it will be a good game between 2 of GAs championship contenders. and dont forget last year was the only time pridge has beaten north. and there is no way you can say your more talented than our offense… ya roby is great and stanley is good but the other guys are just eh.

Haiku-575

October 12th, 2009
10:35 pm

Stockbridge, don’t forget
your next game is in Griffin.
Wear extra padding!!

SouthGARules

October 12th, 2009
10:47 pm

BROOKWOOD MOM: I get to go out of town Tue, Wed, Thur, so hopefully I’ll be able to steer clear of the rain. We live up on a hill, so I’m not worried about flooding. However, I did see a NTB store in Marietta whose rear parking lot was flooded & some creeks out of their banks in Bartow County. Hopefully, none of the games have to be moved or delayed.

jasonrepsnewnan

October 12th, 2009
11:07 pm

id really like to know who these “beast” westlake defense players are, i keep hearing they’re doing work

mark newnan 1

October 12th, 2009
11:08 pm

My Playoff – Newnan beats N. SIDE and plays Lowndes who beats N Gwinnet or {Camden}
there still the champs.

mark newnan 1

October 12th, 2009
11:16 pm

if you go to gaprepcountry,net and click on football playoff it has the brackets

mark newnan 1

October 12th, 2009
11:30 pm

jason they are not beast but they are pretty good M. TAYLOR MLB COMMITED TO {TENN}
D. ROBINSON CORNER COMMITED TO {CLEMSON} D

jasonrepsnewnan

October 13th, 2009
12:24 am

THATS ALL THEY GOT MARK?

Wolverine2Blazer

October 13th, 2009
12:32 am

Hey wolverine fan. How you think the ole turf is going to hold up for friday’s match?

Newton

October 13th, 2009
5:55 am

dekalb fan: wasn’t sure if King and Stephenson were close enough. But Suwanee has Collins Hill, Peachtree Ridge, and North Gwinnett. Obviously more losses are to come in that trio because they all play each other. Powder Springs has Hillgove and McEachern, both undefeated. UG: Good record from the Henry schools.I work out there they got some talent now. Union Grove is abeast with a good school to boot.

Pridge

October 13th, 2009
7:59 am

Enter your comments here

yo

October 13th, 2009
9:22 am

Newnan’s likely playoff run to get to the Dome.

1st round – Valdosta/Warner Robins
2nd round – Stephenson/MLK
3rd round – Grayson
4th round – Lowndes
then the Dome

patty cake season ends for Newnan when the playoffs start.

GO UG!

October 13th, 2009
9:33 am

Hey Yo, do you think that you could possibly be overlooking Union Grove in that 2nd round?

ROCK

October 13th, 2009
9:49 am

I think that region 3aa is a very strong region. Nobody talks about this region. Jefferson County has a good chance of winning the region. They are undefeated and have a good chance of staying that way. Swainsboro and Dublin are fighting for second place. The third and fourth place is up for grabs. JEFFERSON COUNTY WARRIORS are a very good football team. Don’t underestimate them. They are for real. GO WARRIORS.

eagleforlife

October 13th, 2009
9:50 am

mark newnan- wake up!!

K-MAN

October 13th, 2009
9:53 am

MLK–STEPHENSON…I think both of your teams are very fine teams…youre strong and you get after it. But you both have a tendacy to exit the play-offs very early…year after year! You beat the weaker teams much sound through the year like you should…but its the stronger teams or should I say the ones that are just as strong….you have a problem with! I think its coaching…you both have talented atheletes that can do the job… but youre not taught to use all of your full potential! Youre playing under the radar so to speak! Youre only as strong as the coach can teach you! It boils down to preparation…game-plan…execution…and being able to adjust! That is where I think your coaches are weak at. SORRY…just calling what I see.

K-MAN

October 13th, 2009
10:01 am

Somebody please tell me why STEPHENSON and PARKVIEW are only 7 miles apart from eachother and they both play in 5AAAAA….but they are not in the same region? Whats that all about? Thats crazy!

K-MAN

October 13th, 2009
10:10 am

Why is MAYS an ATLANTA PLUBLIC SCHOOL…but they play in the DOUGLASVILLE region? Shouldnt they be playing SWD, TUCKER,MARIST,..and CHAMBLEE, and other teams like that? How did they get in their region and why?

Cougarfan

October 13th, 2009
10:17 am

UG- I won’t speak for Yo but it seems as though Union Grove could win that region. That would put them into a #1 seed and into a different playoff bracket. He is right with what it will take for Newnan to get through to the dome. I was looking at the same thing last night. If it CAN be done I’d say hand them the trophy before they get to the dome. Not saying whoever they would play couldn’t or wouldn’t win. But in my opinion they would have already beaten 2 of the top 4 teams in the state. I think it will be northside from the other side of the bracket. As much as I hate to say it, we will see a Northside Lowndes re-match.

K

October 13th, 2009
11:01 am

Not to mention that every coach without a State title is a “bad coach” too…according to these blogs!!! REALLY???????

GO UG!

October 13th, 2009
11:23 am

Cougarfan, one thing is for sure we will know not this Friday but next, that is our showdown with Stephenson. I know that we have never beaten them before and they have a fine team but we aren’t looking too bad. We may not be loaded with 10 to 15 Div. I players however, we are loaded with a lot of HEART and the will to win. Our defense plays hard from bell to bell.
I think the whole state may be in for a surprise this year with Newnan. You guys have always been a force and this may be your year.

AVikingFan

October 13th, 2009
11:46 am

Looking at the brackets, it looks like a pretty good chance that Peachtree Ridge could get to play Northside Warner Robins in the 1/4 finals in AAAAA. Man wouldn’t it be something if Peachtree Ridge “Valdosta’ed” NSWR?

NG18

October 13th, 2009
11:54 am

North Gwinnett will beat Peachtree Ridge for the #7 region and play NSWR. Peachtree Ridge will go down to Lowndes again.Newnan will take out Grayson with their tough Dee against the run.

K-MAN

October 13th, 2009
12:45 pm

Listen-up (K)…I never said that every coach without A title is A (BAD COACH)…but if you have all the tools you need to build A house…and you cant do it after A period of time…then maybe something is wrong with the builder! REALLY!!!!!!

cane fan

October 13th, 2009
12:51 pm

Fitzgerald will dismantle the Early county bobcats this friday, Jefferson in 3AA gives up to many points, they will not be able to get past any of our 1AA teams compare the two regions points for and points against, region 1AA top 3 teams are stingy on D,

yo

October 13th, 2009
12:59 pm

UG…maybe. But Union Grove needs to prove they can win the region first just like Stephenson/MLK needs to prove they are a state championship team before they will be completely taken seriously in that regard.

SportsFan31313

October 13th, 2009
1:12 pm

AVIKING FAN,

Boy wasn’t that a blowout this past Friday night. I watched the game on Direct TV. It was shown on here. I must say that, that Viking Defense, was the bomb. Valdosta didn’t stand a chance…. That Quarterback that in the 2nd half, was he on JV? I ask because Heck they scored too.

BulldawgBite

October 13th, 2009
1:45 pm

agreed NG18. peachtree ridge has a chance if they play at home against lowndes. and the Newnan Grayson matchup will be a low scoring defensive struggle. now that graysons best player on the team. Joseph Champaign tore his acl. the front line will be significantly weaker

pmuckle

October 13th, 2009
1:47 pm

advisor never say NEVER

Reeze

October 13th, 2009
2:15 pm

Playoff talk this soon?…….Northside still has Colquitt and the Demons to play, and you Lowndes folks DO NOT sleep on the Demons…….. Those 50 plus point wins mean absolutely nothing to the Warner Robins schools . Warner Robins defense is better than Northside’s……As ENR says ” UPSET ALERT” for the Eagles ( Oct 30 ) and Vikes ( Nov 6 ) when we both face the Demons…..

GO UG!

October 13th, 2009
2:15 pm

Yo, I totally agree with you.

Pridge

October 13th, 2009
2:56 pm

pridge WILL beat NG. enough said.

BulldawgBite

October 13th, 2009
3:14 pm

pridge. not this year… although ill be cheering for the ridge against everyone else they play. if its any consolation yall will beat down collins hill this week.

yo

October 13th, 2009
3:40 pm

SportsFan31313 the last TD scored by Lowndes to start the second half was all second string offense and not just QB. Actually, the QB #14 would probably be 4th string since if the starter was hurt Lowndes would most likely either go with Franklin #2 or Hunter #15 as QB. Franklin was the starter last 2 years with Hunter playing considerably last year also. Franklin QBed the state championship team of 2007 as a sophomore.

Pridge

October 13th, 2009
4:18 pm

BullDawgbite- Ng was more talented last year. We beat yall last year. So we will beat yall this year. I say p ridge 21. North Gwinnett 10

Northside Observer

October 13th, 2009
4:30 pm

Unless the WR Demons upset Colquitt, NSWR, or Lowndes they will not make the play-off. Valdosta schedule favors them the rest of the way for the number 4-spot out of 1AAAAA. This is the Demons projected championship team they have waited for since these boys moved-up from their fedder middle schools. If they don’t beat NS this year, regardless or not NS moves down to AAAA, the Demons will not stand a chance the next 4 or 5 years. Alas, Lowndes taken taken revenge on Valdosta for the time when they were the whipping boys of the county. .

K

October 13th, 2009
4:45 pm

Advisor- With all that you laid out we should call ESPNU and tell them not to come…Stephenson has already won on paper so there is no need to play the game! Thanks for the consideration…..

Etowah Fan

October 13th, 2009
4:51 pm

SouthGARules – yep, I figured that would be the case: the #4 seed in Region 5 plays Grayson first round….

Which is why Etowah’s win over EP was so critical. Without that victory, Etowah would be scratching for the #4 seed. Now, there is a “hope” for a #2 seed. Etowah “should” win out as the collective records of the teams left on our schedule is 9-17. Harrison being the only team with .500 record, but they are about to run the gauntlet of the top 4 teams in the Region.

Besides how Harrison fares, the most significant game remaining to shape the playoff seeds in R5 is Woodstock/EP at the end. This game will go a long way to determining the 2 thru 4 seeds. I will have to see how the tie-breaker procedure works for Region 5 to decide who I need to pull for in that game.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of football to play for R5. If anyone (Etowah included) in the top 4 of R5 is looking past Harrison, then they will get beat… and I predict that Harrison will win one that they’re not supposed to as the “spoiler”.

slalom1

October 13th, 2009
5:08 pm

Newnan vs. Westlake? Drocko9 is right. Westlake is loaded with D-1 talent. But pathetic game preparation. Talent wise Westlake stacks up pretty well against the Cougars. But great coaching and game prep will turn this game into nothing more than yet another blow-out for Newnan.

slalom1

October 13th, 2009
5:11 pm

YO, Did you enjoy getting scolded as much as I did? LOL. On a serious note, since you have done the research into possible play-off scenarios, should Newnan vs. Lowndes turn into the semi’s, who gets home field?

Pops

October 13th, 2009
5:45 pm

Etowah Fan – Why do I think Marietta may be scrappy this week? We have had the bye week, and I hope we don’t come in a liitle tooo relaxed, after having to get pumped up back to back for Woodstock and EP.
I could see a let down here for some reason, and just want to get out with a win.