Newton (4-0) is ranked for first time since 1995

Newton is ranked for the first time since 1995, entering the poll at No. 10 in Class AAAAA place of idle Grayson.

 

That was a tough call because some will say that beating Newnan (1-3) doesn’t mean what it used to, and that Newton didn’t look that great in doing it. Newton committed six turnovers, and Newnan was without its top running back.

 

But I try to ignore that stuff because it’s a slippery slope of subjectivity. Bottom line is that Newton is unbeaten against a similar schedule that Grayson (3-1) has faced, so in go the Rams. They’ll have to validate their ranking against East Coweta (4-0) this week.

 

One thing I like about ranking Newton (although it had no factor in the decision) is that it sheds light on an interesting story over in Covington. Newton fired its coach, Nick Collins, just before the season and promoted Cortez Allen to replace him. The team has persevered.

 

Also, there’s a running back named Akeem Hunt who has been perhaps the state’s best back that nobody talks about. He rushed for 133 yards in the win over Newnan, scored the winning TD in overtime and also ran a kick back 96 yards to get Newton in the game after it trailed 15-0 in the third quarter. …

 

Other rambling thoughts …

 

Warner Robins is 0-4 for the first time since 1966. That’s also the year that Northside beat Warner Robins for the first time ever, and it game in Warner Robins’ fifth game. Warner Robins plays Northside. …

 

Kell has beaten five straight unbeaten teams. All five – Etowah, Woodstock, East Paulding, Hiram and Grayson — still would be unbeaten if not for losing to Kell. Next for Kell? Unbeaten Pope. That’s pretty cool. …

 

Camden County has called off school Friday so that students and staff can travel to Fort Lauderdale to see the Camden-St. Thomas Aquinas game. Win that one and Camden is a serious threat to win some sort of national title. …

 

Congrats to Marion County (5-0), which is ranked for the first time ever this week. Only one in 187 Georgians can find Marion County on a map.

 

Valdosta beats Brunswick 64-62, and Lowndes beats Ware County 3-0. Weird.

 

Cook plays Fitzgerald in a big one Friday in Region 1-AA.

 

More big games that I haven’t mentioned …

 

Valdosta (5-0) at M.L. King (3-1)

Brookwood (4-1) at South Gwinnett (4-1)
Wesleyan (5-0) at Pace Academy (4-0)
Eastside (4-1) at Sandy Creek (4-0)

 

Class AAAAA
1. Camden County (4-0)

2. North Gwinnett (5-0)

3. Peachtree Ridge (5-0)

4. McEachern (3-1)

5. Lowndes (5-1)

6. Stephenson (4-0)

7. Norcross (5-0)

8. Valdosta (5-0)

9. South Gwinnett (4-1)

10. Newton (4-0)

 

Class AAAA
1. Northside-Warner Robins (4-0)

2. Clarke Central (4-0)

3. Tucker (5-0)

4. Kell (5-0)

5. Griffin (5-0)

6. Marist (4-1)

7. Flowery Branch (5-0)

8. Thomas County Central (3-1)

9. Chattahoochee (4-0)

10. East Paulding (4-1)

 

Class AAA
1. Peach County (5-0)

2. Sandy Creek (4-0)

3. Cairo (5-0)

4. Carrollton (5-0)

5. Baldwin (5-0)

6. St. Pius (4-1)

7. Eastside (4-1)

8. Woodward Academy (4-0)

9. Gainesville (3-1)

10. Cartersville (4-0)

 

Class AA

1. Carver-Columbus (4-0)

2. Buford (4-1)

3. Calhoun (4-0)

4. Cook (4-0)

5. Dublin (4-0)

6. Thomasville (4-1)

7. Westminster (2-2)

8. Fitzgerald (4-1)

9. Swainsboro (4-0)

10. Lovett (2-2)

 

Class A
1. Charlton County (5-0)

2. Wesleyan (5-0)

3. Clinch County (5-0)

4. Savannah Christian (4-0)

5. Wilcox County (4-1)

6. Lincoln County (4-1)

7. Eagle’s Landing Christian (4-0)

8. Johnson County (5-0)

9. Darlington (4-1)

10. Marion County (5-0)

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