Collins Hill and M.L. King suffer first losses of season
Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell
Peachtree Ridge knocked Collins Hill from the ranks of Gwinnett’s undefeated Class AAAAA teams with a 21-7 win on Friday, but the Lions were not really in the mood to celebrate afterwards.
As the final buzzer sounded, there were no Peachtree Ridge players jumping up and down in jubilation, and coach Bill Ballard barely cracked a post-game smile.
When asked why he wasn’t happier, Ballard shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know what to say. We’ve just got to play better. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Peachtree Ridge’s Brandon Stanley scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns as the No. 9-ranked Lions improved to 6-1. Unranked Collins Hill dropped it first game after kicking off the year with six wins in a row.
“There’s some learning moments we need to look at,” Collins Hill coach Billy Wells said. “In big games, you can’t make crucial mistakes … like turning it the ball over, and taking sacks when you don’t need to. We’ve got a lot of learning to do.”
It was a devastating loss for Collins Hill. All the Eagles had to do was find a way to get past Peachtree Ridge and they had inside track on the Region 7-AAAAA championship and an undefeated regular season. Due to a wacky conference schedule, Collins Hill does not play against still-undefeated North Gwinnett this season. North Gwinnett is ranked No. 3.
No. 1 Grayson, which is in a different region, improved to 8-0 on Friday.
So which Class AAAAA team do you think is the state’s best after the Friday games? Is it Grayson or North Gwinnett? Stephenson — which shut out MLK on ESPNU? Newnan or Northside-Warner Robins?
YOU make the call.
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204 comments Add your comment
NHSEagle
October 19th, 2009
12:23 pm
Enter your comments here
Decatur 4 Life
October 19th, 2009
12:27 pm
The Grove
Tom Brady and Emmitt Smith had excellent offensive lines, what games were you watching?
Decatur 4 Life
October 19th, 2009
12:34 pm
Also, I missed Decatur where its greater post, I was interested in what he said considering we represent the same city.(not the same team)
NHSEagle
October 19th, 2009
12:35 pm
Sports Fan,
I haven’t seen Grayson play this year, so I won’t comment on them. But, as a football fan, what I do know is that rankings don’t make a team the best, victories do. And, we (NHS Eagles) have plenty of those to go around. Remember…men lie, women lie, but numbers don’t. As a matter of fact, we can let you borrow a few “W”s and still have a winning record for the last 10 years or so. So, either come see us at home in Warner Robins (with one “b”, thank you) or at our 2nd home in the GA Dome. We WILL be there waiting. To my WR Demons fans…Great year so far. I haven’t see y’all play, but I heard y’all have a good team this year. The Showdown should be another great game in the rivalry. But, it’s still all about the Eagles!
Decatur 4 Life
October 19th, 2009
12:37 pm
NHSEagle
Is the Georgia Dome really yall second home? I think not and since that jump to AAAAA you might not see it again.
SportsFan31313
October 19th, 2009
12:47 pm
NHS Eagle,
Point taken when you say Rankings don’t make a team the best victories do. With that being said, Grayson hasn’t lost either, and they are ranked Number 1.
region 5 aaaaa fan
October 19th, 2009
12:52 pm
Enter your comments here
Regular Joe
October 19th, 2009
1:02 pm
The voice of reason must now speak! Stephenson has a very good team this year. Will they go to the dome ? Who knows, but its possible. Hell its possible for any top 10 team to go to the dome. Football is one of those games where you never know until its over. Every good team that won state had to do it for the first time and until they did they was probaly doubted by everyone. We speak so freely about winning state like its something easy to accomplish but it ain’t. Hell it takes some schools 30 years to do it. Give Stephenson a break; what they have done in the last ten seasons is phenonmenal. They may not have won state but they have had many winning seasons. They have my respect if nothing else.
NHSEagle
October 19th, 2009
1:13 pm
Decatur 4 Life,
Yes, it is. If I recall correctly, the last Dekalb County team we played in the Dome (Tucker) got sent away with an “L” like the rest. You remember Tucker, don’t you? The DeKalb County team that said NHS hadn’t played anybody…? Anyway, has ANY Decatur school EVER made it to the Dome?(Go Towers Titans!)We made the jump to AAAAA because these metro Atlanta AAAA teams couldn’t compete. So, we did y’all a favor by moving up. Sports Fan, congrats to Grayson for being ranked #1. I commend you on the fact that, in someone else’s opinion, y’all are the #1 team right now. The only #1 ranking that matters to the NHS Eagles is the postseason #1…
NHSEagle
October 19th, 2009
1:19 pm
BTW…Congrats on the success to the players of Grayson, WRHS, NHS, Peachtree Ridge, Lowndes, Valdosta, and any and every team working hard and preparing every week! Go Eagles!
Tide Fan
October 19th, 2009
1:22 pm
NORTHSIDE EAGLES!!!!
Warner Robins Ga.
Tide Fan
October 19th, 2009
1:34 pm
The Georgia Dome Home of the Northside Eagles!!!!!!!
Home Sweet Dome!!!!
Former Eagle
October 19th, 2009
1:49 pm
Being ranked number 1 means nothing especially with the bias that is shown the metro atlanta teams. Northside has already proven they are the best team in the state by beating lownes.
BulldawgBite
October 19th, 2009
2:22 pm
all this bias all the northside fans complain about is crazy. if they were biased why would they continue ranking camden with 2 losses over an atlanta team?
ColquittCountyUnderdog
October 19th, 2009
2:27 pm
the Wartown battle should be a good one and will have a serious playoff implications. Northside is a lock to make the playoffs but to win the region and take the #1 seed they have to win out, beating WR and Colquitt. im assuming Northside wins both games but i just hope the Packers play them close.
the team that i think will surprise some folks, especially South Georgia, is North Gwinnett. they are the real deal this year and have big play threat at QB. i could easily see them winning it all just as much as Lowndes, Northside, or Grayson…
NHSEagle
October 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
What does Camden County have to do with Northside?
BulldawgBite
October 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
former eagle said that the bias is shown towards metro teams. that has a lot to do with his assumption that northside is ranked behind grayson because of bias
Tide Fan
October 19th, 2009
5:33 pm
Well whatever team comes out of the metro atl area if they’re in AAAAA and they want to win a state title they’ll get there shot at the Northside Eagles, they can’t be first but they can be next!!!
tj
October 19th, 2009
9:40 pm
MLK should still be in the top 10 it one game they losed just lik SWD
Tell like it is
October 19th, 2009
10:43 pm
South Ga— there are a lot of good teams in the north this year.Get ready to strap your pads own come play off time.
Decatur 4 Life
October 20th, 2009
9:35 am
NHSEagle
Actually we’ve had plenty teams from the county in the dome. What does that have to do with anything, and if you can recall you guys had to come back from 4 touchdowns to get that win against Tucker that year. Why are we talking about AAAA anyway, Northside isn’t there anymore. Get to the dome in AAAAA, that why I made that comment. Heck I’m not even a Tucker fan but I would just say their coaches lost that game being up by so many and then lose. You get some props for beating Lowndes this year but don’t consider the dome your second home after when you might not see it anymore.
Decatur 4 Life
October 20th, 2009
9:45 am
Isn’t it funny that all the Northside fans didn’t think they had a chance against Lowndes but after they won, they’re the clear cut best team in the state. What happened to all the talk about how young Northside is and how once they get experience everyone better watch out. I guess they got all the experience they need in that Lowndes game, things that make you say hmmmmmm.
Bravo
October 20th, 2009
10:23 am
Michael,
Great stories lately. I really like the story you did on the young player from West Forsyth, and today’s story was terrific. It’s a good point: No one gives seniors an opportunity to flourish. Scholarships already snapped up. It’s too bad. But the seniors having a breakout year will land someplace great, even if it’s not in the ACC or SEC. Thanks for the introspective.
montanto
October 20th, 2009
11:46 am
northside wr are 61 and 3 since 2004 stop hating and give the boys from wr some credit they are getting better every week loaded with talent and looking very strong on defense 59 points all year
AVikingFan
October 20th, 2009
1:52 pm
Region 1AAAAA three way tie breaker system counts points allowed among teams tied as the tie breaker. When two teams are tied, the head to head competition winner decides the tie breaker. Before we went to this foremat, we counted non region AAAAA wins as the tie breaker. But it is difficult for South Georgia teams to schedule non region AAAAA opponents, so we changed our tie breaker system several years ago. The regular season has 3 more games, and a lot can happen. No team in 1AAAAA is a lock to win 1st place, though NSWR is certainly in the cat bird seat. If NSWR stumbles to either Colquitt or Warner Robins lowndes could very easily be the region champs. I realize EagleNationRising said there is no way Lowndes can win first place in its region, but I just explained a way that it can. Lowndes gave up six to Colquitt, 10 to NSWR, and has WR at home in the last reg. season game.
highschool football fan
October 20th, 2009
4:04 pm
B.Eagle, my mistake, I understood wins against all aaaaa teams in the state to be the tie breaker, then the points allowed on defence….Of course Colquitt, Lowndes and NSWR have to win out for each team to only have 0ne loss. I assumed that as a given. In fact, any of the four teams (including WR) could finish 1,2,3,or 4. Are you sure about tie breaker???Just asking……….
slalom1
October 20th, 2009
4:23 pm
observer, Maybe I should have said something like, “after the thrashing suffered at the hands of Lowndes, NO WAY P’Ridge is or will become the state’s best”.
Grayson Student
October 20th, 2009
5:03 pm
slalom 1… grayson being overhyped doesnt necessarily reflect on their talent. Of course their gonna get more media coverage becuase were the best team around atlanta. Not to say the state because that will soon be determined. I also like North
sports fan
October 20th, 2009
5:21 pm
Right now I see Lowndes and Northside as the favorites and Grayson because they play a slow down frustrating offense style with a good defense.I think Camden is too young tocompete against the top teams.Mlk and Stephenson could get in the mix if the coaches will listen to people in the program besides themselve.These two teams have the talent to beat any one. South west Dekalb should be hard to beat this year with the big back and tough defense. The cold weather will also play a factor in the playoffs, it really does affect a lot of high school football players.
UnionGrove2010
October 20th, 2009
6:46 pm
Well, we all know Union Grove won’t be close to keeping up if the coaches don’t quit the crappy plays and go out on a limb and get the ball to our play makers. If we put our best line up on the field and keep them there, we could have a very good game with Stephenson this weekend, but if we continue on with these same plays every team sees us do every week, nothing is going to happen to give them a challenge.
AVikingFan
October 20th, 2009
9:54 pm
I guess some of us are getting off track. Michael asked us to pick our top teams. So here goes my two bits: Greyson, Northside Warner Robins, Camden, McEachern, Newnan, North Gwinnett, Lassiter, Lowndes, Warner Robins, Colquitt County.
Also receiving votes, Stephenson, Valdosta & Woodstock tied, Roswell, Etowah, Peachtree Ridge
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT
October 21st, 2009
1:23 am
COLQUITTCOUNTYUNDERDOG,You need to stop acting like you from Colquitt County living in DEKALB COUNTY. You probably couldn’t name THE WORLD REKNOWN AQUATIC CENTER in Colquitt County and in COLQUITT COUNTY you have some of your best high school swimmers and divers from COLQUITT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
CopnBlue
October 21st, 2009
2:30 am
To be the best, you have to beat the best. All banter and rhetoric aside, Northside has done so in defeating previous ranked #1 Lowndes and Grayson did so in defeating also previous ranked #1 Camden County.
I’m amazed reading all the kool aid drinking Lowndes posts stating they are still the team to beat. Ummmm nodda! Good thing the game is played on the field and not in this forum. Head to head match ups is the true indicator. The rest is biased speculation.
This is a strong year for Georgia football, great teams all over the Peach state. Exciting Friday nights ahead!
Jaguars
October 21st, 2009
8:45 am
Stephenson is 0 – 2 vs Lowndes
Stephenson is 2 – 0 vs NG
Stephenson has never played Grayson and Northside
Stephenson is 1 – 0 vs Newnan
So much for playing proven teams. Grayson just came on the seen about 3 years ago. Grayson wasn’t know as a powerhouse in 5A.
So get records together then talk about Stephenson.
Blake Ashmon
October 21st, 2009
8:57 am
I’m a true Stephenson Jaguar fan. I wish that they could receive a little more love. But, after all, haters are haters. All of the hate is just what’s making them so great. Stephenson Jaguars got a new game bag and we all in the Jaguar fan club know what it is. That’s the difference in this STEPHENSON HIGH SCHOOL JAGUAR TEAM from the teams from the past. We will see all of you in the DOME. Imagine when JACK JOHNSON was beating up on those good old boys. That’s how it’s going to be when Stephenson enter the Georgia Dome.
ZUMA 5164
October 21st, 2009
8:58 am
I agree with you B A, Stephenson is going to take it all.
yo
October 21st, 2009
9:22 am
Quote from the Valdosta Daily Times:
“Since the GHSA expanded to five classifications in 2000, no school with fewer than 2,400 students has won the AAAAA state championship in football.”
yo
October 21st, 2009
9:23 am
I posted something at 9:23 where is it?
yo
October 21st, 2009
9:24 am
SHOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE THESE 2 SIMPLE POSTS.
Jaymac
October 21st, 2009
10:32 am
Humble Observer. You say that WHS dominated McEachern for 30 minutes. There are 4 qtrs in a game. You realize that WHS had a bye the week before…giving them 2 weeks to prepare? MHS came into that game sluggish and overconfident after a blowout of Etowah the week prior. MHS is the better team with the better athletes. The right team won.
Grayson Student
October 21st, 2009
12:21 pm
jaguars… are u kidding me. What does it matter if we were known as a powerhouse or not. we are known now arent we??? If you are so ignorant you need records here is one that you can NOT match. Grayson is 1-0 against lowndes and stephenson well they are 0-2 as you said.
randy prosen
October 21st, 2009
1:18 pm
The season starts back new on 13 Nov 09. My heart is with Camden County. Let some of those Atlanta teams take a 5 hour bus ride then play ball.
Marcus
October 21st, 2009
1:48 pm
i watched the MLK and Stephenson game. Mack brown is babdly over rated. The jags running back is much better than him, but stephenson fumbled the ball alot! That wont cut it in the playoffs. Being nationally ranked, im not sure about that one, as there are quite a few teams in 5A that would hand it to them, and a hand full in 4A that would also. SWD, GRIFFIN, MARIST to name a few. Im not hating, they have a good team, but they havnt played any tough opponents, and thats gona kill them incrunch time( the playoffs)
TRUE BLUE
October 21st, 2009
2:50 pm
MARCUS,didn’t SWD play MLK early in the season. I think it was the first game of the season and the score was MLK 13 and SWD 9.You know turnovers are a part of the game and yes it been time that we put the ball on the ground too much, but other teams haven’t capitalize yet but onetime and that was at NEWTON COUNTY. You can bet this will be addressed in practice like everything else.We are winning and that what counts, but in the coming weeks you will see improvement everywhere on the field, because the KING of the JUNGLE has yet to play their best. GO JAGUARS
AVikingFan
October 21st, 2009
4:36 pm
jaquars- I think you were trying to say that North Gwinnett and Newnan are proven teams in your post at 8.45am post today. But in the same post you apparently are putting Grayson down, saying they’ve only been around awhile. Well, I see a few things you might be just a little wrong about. First of all, how many championships have NG and Newnan won? Second, Grayson was in the title game last year and are undefeated this year. And polls are about current teams, not what someone has done in the distant past, as in 1995-96.
I know you are proud of your win last week, and you should be. But face it, Stephenson could not stay on the field with Grayson, Northside, or Camden. Sometimes we all have to be realists and accept reality. But I do hope your team has continued success, and does well in the playoffs.
Northside Observer
October 21st, 2009
8:05 pm
I think it’s crazy to argue with an indivdual who talks about his county teams as a “whole” without identifying a team within his county that he truly supports. I notice this with Decatur 4 life. He is communicating a lot with bloggers that support NSWR but have yet to identify HIS team. Naming his team will level the field when he throws up wins/loses and other statistical data used to tear down anothers program. I am not hating but lets be fair.
Puddin
October 21st, 2009
8:11 pm
Newnan and the Ogletree brothers scare me. NSWR is crazy talented. Lowndes is Lowndes. Grayson is ground and pound. North Gwinnett is finese and fire. Cant wait for the semi finals and final. One of these four teams will be the 2009 AAAAA Champ!
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT
October 21st, 2009
9:58 pm
You are wrong vikingfan about GRAYSON in the title game last year. I think it was CAMDEN COUNTY and PEACHTREE RIDGE
NHS_2013_LB #26
October 21st, 2009
9:59 pm
Many knock Newnan down due to SOS but try to come that Cuga Cage called Drake Stadium on a Friday night during the playoffs, and eliminate Newnan. It’s nearly impossible. I know. Im a freshman and i play there on Thursday Nights and its loud, imagine how loud it gets on a Friday. Ill give u hint it sounds like a Falcons game at the Dome. and its outside. But thats beside the point. sure we get weak schedlues but, we always show in the playoffs. our only losses in recent playoff history were North Gwinnett in 07′ but that was due to GHSA not allowing a playoff game in the Cuga Cage due to seating, which has been fixed, and Camden in 08′ whn All-State QB Russell Powell was trying to play basketball and football simutanelously, which didnt work because his numbers dropped dramatically after basketball started and some even say he threw the Camden game to better his chance of a D-1 basketball scholarship. so this year with the “Tree” twins leading both defense and offense and a new confident QB, Newnan is a big favorite for the Dome.
MY Pick
NHS 24; NSWR 20
or NHS 20; LHS 18
big boi Newnan
October 22nd, 2009
1:36 am
Newnan may have a weak schedule but there defense will keep them in the game against anybody!