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)