Final rankings: At least we agree on who’s No. 1
Throughout the season, we hear that the only rankings that matter are the final rankings. Then when the final rankings come out, we find that those are the most controversial of all.
These are the ones that live in history. So I hope I haven’t messed them up too badly.
Now, a look back at the finals. If I were a head coach, or a fan of a particular school that’s playing for a championship, I might feel differently, but as a fan of high school football in general who lives within easy driving distance of the Georgia Dome, it’s pretty nice having the finals in one spot.
Congrats to Wilcox County and Sandy Creek for winning their first state titles. Before the playoffs, I claimed that only SWD and Griffin could win AAAA. That wasn’t smart. On the other hand, I’m proud that I stuck w/ Wilcox in the rankings when others didn’t after the Pats lost two games. One of my favorite posts: “Can you guys explain to me how a two-loss Wilcox Co. team gets the nod … ? … Man you guys haven’t got a clue!”
We also stuck w/ Camden County w/ two losses. That was a weekly source of contention, but I will add that many Poll Talk bloggers came to my defense on that one. Rule of thumb for ranking teams: When you’re not sure, trust history. Camden is the most improved state champion in the big class from Week One to Week 15 since perhaps Brookwood in 1996.
We never ruled out Buford. When the playoffs started, I picked Buford. When the draw was changed and Buford was seeded to travel to Fitz, I picked Fitz. When game time came, I picked Buford again. Class AA was a lot of fun this year, for a chance, because Buford was beatable. But the Wolves ruled in the end.
Gainesville-Peach was one of the best finals I’ve seen. (So was Wilcox-Savannah Christian.) The defense in the AAA final was intense and vicious on both sides. Good high school football.
Finally, who would be your statewide player of the year? Da’Rick? Ogletree? Sims? Nick Marshall? Ean Days? Mason?
Class AAAAA
1. Camden County (13-2)
2. Northside-Warner Robins (13-2)
3. Lowndes (10-2)
4. Newnan (13-1)
5. Grayson (12-1)
6. Colquitt County (11-3)
7. North Gwinnett (12-1)
8. Stephenson (11-1)
9. Peachtree Ridge (10-3)
10. Lassiter (12-1)
Class AAAA
1. Sandy Creek (14-1)
2. Griffin (13-1)
3. Clarke Central (12-3)
4. Apalachee (12-1)
5. Southwest DeKalb (10-2)
6. Thomas County Central (11-2)
7. Rockdale County (10-4)
8. Marist (9-3)
9. Westside-Macon (11-2)
10. Hiram (11-1)
Class AAA
1. Peach County (15-0)
2. Gainesville (14-1)
3. St. Pius (12-1)
4. Flowery Branch (10-4)
5. Carver-Columbus (11-2)
6. Eastside (11-3)
7. Cairo (9-4)
8. North Hall (9-3)
9. Baldwin (9-3)
10. Jackson (12-1)
Class AA
1.Buford (14-1)
2. Calhoun (14-1)
3. Fitzgerald (13-1)
4. Lovett (12-2)
5. Jefferson County (12-1)
6. Charlton County (12-1)
7. Callaway (10-3)
8. Westminster (8-4)
9. Jefferson (11-1)
10. Thomasville (8-4)
Class A
1. Wilcox County (13-2)
2. Savannah Christian (14-1)
3. Wesleyan (12-1)
4. Lincoln County (11-2)
5. Clinch County (10-4)
6. Darlington (9-5)
7. Greenville (11-1)
8. Bowdon (10-2)
9. Twiggs County (11-2)
10. Holy Innocents’ (11-2)
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310 comments Add your comment
Fred
December 19th, 2009
9:37 pm
Oops, meant to add congratulations to all the championship winners in all classes!!!! See you next year.
Bubba Ram
December 20th, 2009
12:46 pm
5A? Didn’t Grayson beat Camden and lose to Newman by having a last minute field goal blocked? This team was raked as high as #3 in the Nation this season, and they lose one game in the playoffs by 2 pts and fall to #5?
You guys have never given Coach Conn and the Rams the respect they deserve. Trust me, Camden was glad they didn’t have to face that Ram defense again.
Camden74
December 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
Are you freaking kidding me?……!!!! Only one Camden County player on the All Star roster!
Camden74
December 20th, 2009
4:11 pm
Yes, Grayson beat Camden the first game of the season. I prayed Grayson would make it to the finals to face Camden again…….But by this time, Camden would have had their act together, which it did! Which is why they’re back to back state champions! Understand something, first game of the season Camden had 3 starters returning on offense and 3 returning on defense. It took 3 games against very good competition for the new players to figure things out and get their act together. And the rest, as they say, is HISTORY! Just like Grayson!
Fred
December 21st, 2009
12:03 am
Camden74,
I was hoping for a rematch in the Dome because I thought that would have been a very good game. No one doubts that Camdem Co. came a long way and improved a lot. If, however, you are basing your assesment of Grayson on that first game, you are making the same mistake that people did by basing their assesment of Camdem on the first game.
Camdem won the state championship and is to be congratulated. I had the opportunity to look at the first quarter of the Grayson/Newnan game today and the calls on the two fumbles by Newnan in that quarter were clearly blown by the officials. The Newnan receiver caught the ball, had possesion and took 4 steps before being hit and fumbling. I don’t see how that gets called an incomplete pass. Likewise, the fumble that our safety picked up and ran with was clearly several feet in bounds while the runner was also clearly in when he lost the ball. But you know what, that is the way the game happens sometimes.
I know we won’t see you in the Dome at the first of the season but hopefully we can meet there in December!
slydog
December 21st, 2009
4:23 pm
Love High School Football now I see why Jarvis is leaving MLK because you all do not appreciate hard work and effort put in by good coaches. I watched every game except the SWD game this year and have seen every MLK game the past three years and Jarvis and his staff did not lose the games they were outplayed. The Newnan game Brown was hurt (fumble when he got in)and the kickoff was what they did all year when the girl kicked off not a onsides kick no one complained until then. The boy who kicked from what I heard from parents did not come to practice for two weeks in the playoffs so should Jarvis let him kick instead.Then the high snap against Newnan which ended the game was Jarvis’ fault too.Good luck to Jarvis and his family and my friend your opinion is just that an opinion.
Camden74
December 21st, 2009
11:56 pm
Fred,
I was actually responding to Bubba Ram’s post. He insinuated that Camden could not and/or would not defeat Grayson if they met in the championship game. My point is, the Camden team playing in August was not the same team playing in December! Maybe Grayson was better too. But there is not a team in Georgia that would beat Camden right now. There were a number of mistakes made by Camden in the Corky Kell match up. Both players and coaches were not at their best. If you remember, Camden’s offense was terrible in that game and the defense was not up to their normal standard either. Even with that, Camden lead with little more than seven minutes left in the game. I’m not saying Grayson didn’t deserve to win the game, but I am saying that as bad as Camden played, they still had a very good chance to win…………As bad as they played, a rematch would have been totally different! Anyway, doesn’t matter, Camden is the 2009 Georgia 5 State Champion!
r p
December 22nd, 2009
9:26 am
Bubba Ram , Sir Camden would of beat Grayson 50 -0 if Grayson would have made it to the Dome. Grayson saw one { Camden} team on 22 Aug. Camden was a different team on 12 Dec. Grayson was overrated all season long, and the playoffs proved that. The allstar rosters are just politics. Congrats to the boys that made it. Camden is just getting started, be carefull what you wish for Bubba Ram.
wildcat fan
December 22nd, 2009
6:57 pm
Budda Ram,, sounds like and IDIOT. You were clearly overrated at the first of the season. Stop the foolishness, Camden 03, 08 and 09 State Champs with a great chance to win it again. Grayson great team, but not a great program. Great programs do it year after year. Camden, Lowndes, Northside, Buford, Lagrange, Charlton, Peach, Lincoln, these teams do it year after year, not a one hit wonder.
Newnan Fan
May 1st, 2010
1:42 pm
there are several teams in AAAAA that are being blown off in these discussion because they haven’t been powerhouses for decades like the Valdosta’s, Lowndes;s and Northside’s of the world.
Here are some points to consider for 2010
1. Newnan is tired of being disrespected. The biggest sign in their locker room reads; “This state doesn’t respect you, why don’t you go out tonight and make them” Newnan only lost 4 starters this year, and has had enough of the Semi-Final blues. USA Today has Newnan ranked #25 in the nation. Every Newnan player wants to win state but after 4 straight Semi appearances, the Cougars have their a eye on a prize much larger. A National Championship. The Class of 2013 has the best chance to do it. The 2010 season is a step towards it.
2. East Coweta had their best season to date in 2009. Making the playoffs for the first time in 3 years, EC was disappointed to find that their first-round opponent was national powerhouse, Lowndes. The residents and fans of football, love the Newnan-East Coweta rivalry game in mid November. It’s almost as big here as Georgia-Florida or Georgia-Georgia Tech, imagine if it happened once in the regular season then again in the playoffs. MADNESS. EC wants the playoffs again. They are hungry. East Coweta lost 3 starters. They have the talent. They want state. A sign reads on EC’s campus, “Newnan isn’t the only football program in Coweta County, show ‘em” EC is ready to show yall.
3.