Goodbye to South Georgia’s reign of dominance in Class AAAAA? Or is 2010 just a fluke?
Is the balance of power finally shifting in Georgia’s largest classification for high school football?
South Georgia teams have ruled in recent years, winning 6 out of the last 7 state championships in Class AAAAA. South Georgia was expected to be a top contender again this year with both Lowndes and two-time defending state champion Camden County. However, both have been eliminated in earlier rounds of the playoffs and Colquitt County is now the South’s last hope for 2010.
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS OF GEORGIA’S LARGEST DIVISION
2003: Camden County
2004: Lowndes
2005: Lowndes
2006: Peachtree Ridge/Roswell (tie)
2007: Lowndes
2008: Camden County
2009: Camden County
2010: ???
2011: ???
Is this year’s playoffs a fluke? Or is the Atlanta area about to have a dominant reign in Class AAAAA? The other three semifinalists are Brookwood, Grayson and Collins Hill.
What do you think? Is the North finally taking control of Class AAAAA? Or is this a one-year wonder? State your case below.
Note: In this particular post, we’re only talking about the state’s largest division.
[The AJC's Michael Carvell is out while recovering from surgery, but you can follow the AJC's coverage of the high school playoffs by clicking here .... and here.]
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164 comments Add your comment
GwinnettDad
November 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
This north vs. south routine has been a source of more nonsense and anger than any single subject over the years of blogs. I have no desire to add to the flames, No need for more lost tempers and hurt feelings all for perceptions that don’t matter one bit once the kids take the football field.
Fred
November 30th, 2010
3:26 pm
@GwinnettDad,
I agree that the whole North/South thing is way overblown. The problem is that we know our issues up here and they don’t and vice versa. We will never be able to resolve this. I am pretty confident that Gwinnett will win 5A this year but things happen! Look at how we have gotten to where we are now with all of the upsets.
I am not sure but I think it was Plowboy that said wait until you win and have the target on your back. Grayson went through all of last year as the team to beat so yes, we have been there, done that.
Camden74
November 30th, 2010
4:32 pm
You guys are talking as though Gwinnett has already won the championship this year! It ain’t over yet!
plowboy
November 30th, 2010
4:55 pm
@Fred, I meant WIN state…….then you will have to fight every dadgum game! Everyone will get up for that one game and they will give you their best!
plowboy
November 30th, 2010
4:57 pm
I can`t remember the last time I watched Lowndes storm onto the field after they beat somebody, but everytime we get beat, teams storm the field like they have won the SUPERBOWL…
plowboy
November 30th, 2010
5:00 pm
we along with others around the state have a PROGRAM, no one is gonna win every year. I felt like Lowndes should have won it with the past 2 years, because we were loaded….but that is why the game is played on the field….We will slip in some more state titles over the next 10 years….WE ARE NOT DOWN!
david kidd
November 30th, 2010
5:19 pm
dream on north. enjoy this december, it just might fall your way in AAAAA. we are still holding out for the pack. the bluecats, yellowcats and vikings will merely reload and bring again next season. that all being said, good luck to all the teams and fans and by all means play fairly, stay safe and God speed.
camdenbluecatfan
Fred
November 30th, 2010
5:38 pm
@Plowboy, I agree with your programs and having some up and down years. Where I struggle is that many of the SG fans talk about their programs but are unwilling to give some of the NG programs a chance to build up. Lowndes and Valdosta, among others, have outstanding programs but if you go back and look at what they did when they were starting up, they don’t look as good as some of the newer programs. Parkview and Brookwood are relatively old programs for Gwinnett but still much younger than Valdosta/Lowdes. Grayson, Peachtree Ridge, Mill Creek and the like are all 10 years old or younger. That is not a lot of time to build a dynasty. This is especially true of schools like Grayson that have already been subdivided in that time. Heck, they took the equivalent of a large AAAA school OUT of Grayson 2 years ago. Things like that have an effect. Even though I grew up in DeKalb, I cannot speak for them and their issues.
GwinnettDad
November 30th, 2010
5:42 pm
billdog November 30th, 2010 10:05 am Let’s face it; if Mill Creek could have picked their nose just a little better, they could have flicked that Colquitt booger out of the playoffs.
@billdog, Mill Creek is too new for you to have graduated from there. My question to you: have you graduated from anywhere? Your choice of metaphors suggest you should be confined to a barnyard, and believe me, you’re not doing Mill Creek, or yourself, any favors. I suggest you first take a remedial English class, as soon as your take that big foot of yours out of your mouth. Or is that nose?
To anybody from Colquitt County, we here in Gwinnett obviously aren’t immune from occasional displays of bad taste on this blog. Please accept my apology for being on the same planet, not to mention county, as billdog. He reminds me of the old ethnic joke: “How would you break billdog’s index finger? You’d punch him in the nose!”
Wing_T_Fan
November 30th, 2010
5:58 pm
Lowndes Defense wasnt equipped to handle the quick passes friday night. they used camdens’ 3-4 defense witch only allowed the opposing offence to chew up the clock. Perhaps a defencive end contain would have stop the qb from reading lowndes safety. But other than that Lowndes offence was on lock. Even camden county last yr didnt put lowndes offence on lock like that.
good game though, got my money’s worth.
unbiased fan
November 30th, 2010
6:25 pm
I can tell you from experience, growing up in a south Ga. town with 1 high school, that HS football is more like a religion for a lot of the residents. You have generations of people that played for and support these schools for years. The football legacy and tradition is passed on from generation to generation. The entire town gets behind their team in a big way. This kind of tradition is hard to maintain in urban schools where the landscape can change rapidly. in most of these small towns there is little else to do but eat, breathe and sleep football, and they do.
The teams that are traditional powerhouses usually win because of great coaching and tradition. If you just went by talent (D1 recruits) alone, Stephenson should have won at least 2 titles in the last 5 years. The metro Atl. area has great talent year in and year out, but you need coaching, support from the BOE, and maintained tradition to be good every year. I love watching well coached teams play (think Camden) and I love watching great players play, and I don’t care about the who’s better North/south debate.
There is great talent all over this state
Stephenson Fan
November 30th, 2010
7:02 pm
Can we get a story on high school coaches in Georgia that are on the HOT SEAT?! I love my Stephenson Jaguars but I really hope this is Ron Gartrell’s LAST season at Stephenson. The community is FED UP and one would have to think if he doesn’t make a SERIOUS playoff run for the 2011 season…HE’S GONE! Pleeeeaaaaseee Stephenson MAKE A CHANGE!!! NOW!!!
jackets speed
November 30th, 2010
7:40 pm
If the D of the south comes back undisciplined they will not be on top next year. That’s what it all boils down to. They have the atheletes but don’t see the fast paced pass teams like Gwinnett shows. Wing T works, but you have to make stands and control the ball (and convert points not just yards).
Columbia Blue
November 30th, 2010
7:55 pm
The way I look at it is you must give credit where credit is due.The Camden Wildcats are on the outside looking in and we tip our hats to everyone who is in the final four.HILLGROVE BEAT US–NO EXCUSES. The only thing I can say is congratulations and good luck. There is nothing wrong with saying good luck. Has the power changed from the South to the North. Heck who knows. The only thing I can say is the Wildcats will work their rears off to get back to the championship. We will remain humble. Why talk trash? Good luck you guys deserve to be where you are.
SouthGARules
November 30th, 2010
8:23 pm
unbiased fan: I could not agree with you more. You are right about the South GA towns-when I lived there the town revolved around HS football on Friday night & church on Sundays. I can remember being in Valdosta when they had blue laws.
plowboy: Sorry to disappoint you, but the stands were not full at all. Not on the visitors side & there were empty seats on the home side too. There were more people @ the South Gwinnett game in August-I know, I went to both games.
As far as a power shift, who knows. I remember in 1997 after Parkview won state after Brookwood won in 1996, some jackwagon @ the GDP proclaimed that the road to the state championships ran thru Gwinnett County. Funny, I didn’t know Valdosta (1998) & Lowndes (1999) were in Gwinnett. Yes, Parkview won 3 in a row (2000,2001,2002) & Roswell/Peachtree Ridge (2006) shared one, but I seem to remember Camden won 3 (2003, 2008, 2009) & Lowndes won 3 (2004, 2005, 2007). Camden beating the Ridge in 2008 & Lowndes beating Parkview, Brookwood & North Gwinnett.
Those are the facts, folks.
UncleJunior!
November 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
Aiight. To be honest, I am loving this discussion. In an earlier blog, I stated that this competitive structure reminded me of an older brother vs. the younger brother sibling rivalry. Even though big brother has the accumulated victories there may come a time where little brother becomes a force to be reckoned with. In some cases, the younger brother becomes even more dominant (more skillful) from being handled relentlessly. Not calling any names. But this competitive environment will only improve Georgia Football. YES. Many of us are fans and are pretty much irrelevant. But the competition between these young athletes will only improve the overall status of Georgia Football. When I see these athletes do battle on Friday nights, they end the battle with a respectful handshake.
I don’t know where the so-called dominant region in Georgia resides but I love the competition. BUT! . . . . . .you cannot deny . . . . .well, you might have to bow to the Gwinnett teams this year!
TJ
November 30th, 2010
9:48 pm
Grayson surprised me this year. I made predictions and stated Grayson would be in the hunt but did not predict this far. This was suppose to be a rebuilding year for them. Yes folks………they will be better next year. I am not surprised by Brookwood this year. I think Gwinnett will be taking the title home the next 2 years….do not know after that. I would not be surprised if the title would be in 8 AAAAA the next 2 years.
UncleJunior!
November 30th, 2010
9:58 pm
I am torn!!!!! I don’t know which ballgame I will attend this Friday! Grayson vs. Colquitt Co. or Tucker vs. Star’s Mill? Please help.
Packerdad
November 30th, 2010
10:38 pm
@GwinnettDad – thanks for the post. Looking forward to a good football game this Friday night. We, as Packers, are proud of our kids, not just for their accomplisment this far, but also their sportsmanship. Do you have any suggestions on how to get to the stadium from I-75. We got lost the last two trips to Atlanta looking for stadiums. Google maps was not very helpful on the last two.. Thanks!!
THSALUM00
November 30th, 2010
10:40 pm
LMAO!!! The Powerhouses (No disrespect to Colquitt County) of South Georgia finally falls off, and there is a debate about whether or not their dominance is over!!!?? Bring this question back up in 2012 if North Georgia (AAAAA) takes the ‘10 and ‘11 titles…..SMH
Fred
November 30th, 2010
11:14 pm
@Packerdad,
The school/stadium address is 50 Hope Hollow RD, Loganville, GA 30052. Add an hour to whatever your mapping preference says to allow for Friday afternoon traffic. It is notoriously bad in ATL on Fridays!
Take I75 north to I675 (only one exit). I675 around past I20 to US78 to Snellville/Athens. Do NOT take Memorial Dr/Cynthia McKinney Pkwy! After about 9 miles, the Stone Mtn Fwy ends at Park Place. It is 6.5 miles to the center of Snellville. Continue through Snellville. After passing through the built up area of Snellville it will open up some. Get in the left lane and turn left at Cooper Rd (2-3 miles maybe, haven’t clocked it). Rudy’s Bar will be on your left. Go through the first light past Hope Hollow Rd. At the second light, Turn right onto GA20. There is a Wendy’s, Publix, Chevron at the intersection. Go 1.1 miles to Hope Hollow – the first light – and turn right. The entrance to the school is on the left about 100 yards. Once you get close, I bet most traffic will be headed there anyway.
There are plenty of places to eat in the general area. Eat at Joe’s is in the Publix center at Cooper and GA20 and is pretty good for wings, burgers, that kind of stuff. If you turn left on GA20 and head into Grayson proper, Hail Mary’s Pub is there as well as a large Mexican place, Chinese, Zaxby’s, McDonalds, KFC/Taco Bell, Burger King and I’m sure others I am forgetting. It is probably a mile or so up to Grayson proper.
Have a safe trip!
Fred
November 30th, 2010
11:30 pm
Oops, that’s what I get for watching TV while typing! Take I675 to *I285* (about ten miles) exit right onto I285 toward I20. The rest is right.
Safe travels!
GwinnettDad
December 1st, 2010
7:13 am
@Packerdad – I couldn’t improve one bit on Fred’s directions. Don’t get too concerned that after you’re making that left onto Cooper, that you think you’re in the middle of nowhere. It is country and rural, and keep in mind that most of what you see has been built very recently. Heck, the school isn’t older than 10 years or so itself. And as Fred said, earlier the better. Avoid the Atlanta commute, if you can, and get there early. .
Collins Hill threw 57 passes last week. Brookwood throws a lot too. Grayson runs the ball. I hear Colquitt is balanced. Your game may be over way before the CH BW game. Using somebody’s Iphone, monitor the BW CH game. If your game ends early, all you need do is retrace your steps from Grayson HS, get back to US 78 west bound, take a right on US 124, and a left on Dogwood, and you’ll be at Brookwood HS. 9.9 miles in total. Don’t buy a ticket, and stand on the hill at the west end outside the fence, and you’ll see the end of the game.
TJ
December 1st, 2010
7:28 am
If you can not make it to Grayson early, parking can be terrible at Grayson. Do not show up late. Let everyone heading up know that and ride share as much as possible. It would be worth chartering a bus if that arrangement has not been made already.
Suwanee 0wnz
December 1st, 2010
7:56 am
The real question is why AJC decided to throw gasoline on this fire by introducing this as a separate topic? I’m not pleased.
There are great players, coaches, and teams all over Georgia. We ought to respect and encourage each other as a whole state without fueling tempers or further negative balkanization.
Did any of you guys at AJC actually get degrees in journalism? There certainly are not any degrees in diplomacy.
soutgaman
December 1st, 2010
8:05 am
3/4 of the state is in Atlanta. It is obivious that the Atlanta schools have the advantage in recurting. And dont even act like it doesnt go on. That is why I allways pull for South GA teams, becasue it is all home grown Tallent. Combine Lowndes and Valdosta and see it anyone can beat them.
Dostahawk
December 1st, 2010
10:09 am
Frankly, I’m tired of this South Georgia – North Georgia talk/debate….in football, basketball, baseball, whatever.
There is really no “area” better than the other. Each team has their own identity, strengths, weaknesses, etc. It doesn’t matter what part of the State they come from.
Grayson just whupped our fannies last week. Didn’t matter one iota where either team came from
Fred
December 1st, 2010
10:20 am
@TJ – Amen Brother! The AD told me they are opening up the bus parking lot and moving all the buses of site before the game so that will help a lot. Buses are a *very* good thing!
@Suwanee 0wnz & Dostahawk – Double Amen Brothers! We all have our issues whether they be uncontrolled growth and schools subdivided to rural decline and poverty. Let’s just play some good slobber knocking GA football and gang up on the other states, not each other!
Tortugasteve
December 1st, 2010
10:45 am
Here’s my question…..what would this whole thing look like if the Gwinnett Teams weren’t forced to square off in the 2nd round and if the South teams didn’t eliminate each other in the 1st round?? Wow!!! I think that South Georgia has always had legitimate championship teams since the dawn of time. There is no question about that. I mean, ESPN and Sports Illustrated dubbed Valdosta “Title Town” for a reason. And yes, Gwinnett has 2 of the best 4 regions in AAAAA…..all within 10 minutes of each other! This debate will never have an absolute answer, but I am personally just glad to see that Georgia can compete on the national stage! Whether it be N. Gwinnett, Camden, Grayson, Coffee or Lowndes…..let’s not forget Buford either! And this is coming from a Gwinnett resident!!!!
PC Fanatic
December 1st, 2010
12:35 pm
All I can say is that when the metro AAAAA teams out number the South Ga AAAAA 4-1 the metro teams have a huge advantage. Their are only 14 AAAAA teams south of the gnat line, and those 2 regions matched up in the first round. Given the fact that those 2 regions were slated to play each other in the first round, one can fairly say that AAAAA was set up for the metro schools to dominate. Maybe next year the GHSA can set the brackets up as Reg 1 vs Reg 4 and so on, then lets see how it plays out!
K-From Da Wood
December 1st, 2010
1:39 pm
Well here is my two cents. As far as schools size, every school in Gwinnett is a legit 5A with facilities and resources. They should be able to compete on a regular basis and quite a few do. From what I have seen about the South GA schools, most seem to have a different sense of school and community pride that is very evident. With that said, outside of Lowndes, Camden and NSWR(I consider them middle GA) in the higher classifications, there aren’t anymore juggernaughts from South GA. Colquitt has competed recently, but the only way these teams from South GA even get competition is to play teams from out of state or Metro ATL teams. Dekalb county only has 1 true 5A school by size and that is MLK. The way programs are being built and the work that goes into it from the coaching staffs, I think it’s fair to say that the rest of the state has caught up to South Ga…I don’t know if it will translate into more championships at the 5A level, but the gap is closing fast.
BR
December 1st, 2010
1:51 pm
If metro Atlanta had any coaching quality, it wouldn’t and shouldn’t be a fluke. But we all know that the six 5A schools outside of Atlanta will always dominate the 47 Metro atlanta schools available in the same classification. Never heard of odds being so much in one regions favor and minus a 3 year period and a tie, all of the rings have gone elsewhere in this decade.
A ratio 6:47(when the Houston County schools were in 5A it was 9:47) should easely eliminate all south GA schools based on the chances. You want to shrink it to the playoff brackets, we can go 5:27. You’re telling me 27 teams cant find a way to knock off 5? Metro Atlanta is one of the worst football metros in the nation, when it comes to coaching and one of the best when it comes to players. You have an abundance of athletes, just look at any college roster. You guys couldn’t win a title with sCam Newton, the Ogletree twins, ect. Big football goes to good coaching. Just keep celebrating Buford High Schools and Wesleyan rings(two schools that give out free tuition to students with one purpose in mind)and the one Tucker is about to win, unless Statesboro High is hungry to redeem the last 3 seasons. And celebrate the players you send to major colleges throughout this great nation. Until great coaching makes an appearance in metro Atlanta’s largest classification, you can always “Remember the Panthers.”(the name of Atlanta’s only dominant period in the largest classification).
I don’t consider Carrolton Metro Atlanta when it comes to football. They are metro Alabama. They are too great to be polluted by the bad coaching that exist in the rest of Metro Atlanta’s communities.
Fred
December 1st, 2010
2:42 pm
@BR, did you even look at the brackets this year? People are complaining about the region 1 having to play each other early and the disparity in the playoff numbers. What would you have GHSA do? Seriously. The Metro teams play each other in the early rounds to cut down on travel for everyone. The two Gwinnett regions played each other in the second round, paring down the number of Metro teams. The answer is not to start off playing N/S in the first round. That travel is brutal and I have a lot of respect for teams that are able to do it. We just made the trip to Valdosta and it is no fun. Had it not been done on a holiday, the kids would have missed at least one day of school. Colquitt Co is traveling on Thursday this week so they will miss at least a day and a half of school and I would offer a full second day no matter what time they leave. Do you really think they get anything done in class the day they are leaving? You also would wind up with few fans at the games for the visitors. There are limits as to how many times you can or are willing to make that type of trip.
I think I understand they GHSA rotated the brackets every two years. Call or write them and give them your ideas to make it better. The numerical difference between the Metro schools and South Ga will always exist so there will always appear to be a disparate number of Metro schools in the playoffs.
HS Fan
December 1st, 2010
3:12 pm
PC Fanatic,
The GHSA rotates which region plays another every year. This year, it was 1v3 and 2v4 in the South Ga brackets. Next year it will either be 1v2 or 1v4, and region 3 will get the other. Same goes for the North Ga. bracket. This year 5v6 and 7v8, next year it rotates. The reason for the North and South Ga brackets is to reduce travel, and it’s only in effect for the first 2 rounds. It’s not designed so that there will be a “North vs South” final. It could be worse, they could go back to the old formula that they had around 1990 and before. They had all the South Ga. playoff teams play, and all the North Ga playoff teams play, crown North and South champs, then those 2 would play for the State Championship. In that format, you could NEVER see a Camden/Lowndes, Valdosta/Lowndes, or Gwinnett/Gwinnett championship game.
shankit
December 1st, 2010
3:13 pm
Kudos to Grayson for fanny whipping my cats.
We are very familiar with fanny whipping cause
we have fanny whipped North Georgia 23 times.
Lowndes has fanny whipped North Georgia 6 times.
As Clint says, “I’ll be back”.
HS Fan
December 1st, 2010
3:15 pm
shankit,
Sorry, but that would be Arnold that says that.
shankit
December 1st, 2010
3:33 pm
HS Fan – Sorry, I got “Make my Day” confused with “I’ll Be Back”.
Anyway, Grayson did not make my day, but we will be back.
shankit
December 1st, 2010
3:36 pm
Also, we played Colquitt (which we won) and we
played Grayson (which we lost). Grayson had
better have their jockey straps on tight, cause
Colquitt ain’t gonna be no push over, even though
they are from our “weak” 1-AAAAA.
HS Fan
December 1st, 2010
3:44 pm
Any team left in the playoffs by now is legit. It just took longer for Grayson and Colquitt to gel as a team. Plus, both played tough schedules early in the year
PackerAlumni66
December 1st, 2010
3:49 pm
Everyone up in Buford ok? I heard about the tornadoes touchdown last nite. Is it going to affect the games up there?
South will rise up!
December 1st, 2010
3:51 pm
I happen to be from the metro area and went to school in the metro area but throughout high school I found it hard to find a dominant high school football team. Which brings me to the point that I KNOW south ga has better football with valdosta getting back to well valdosta powerhouse football and camden co and lowndes always being good. Metro teams are horrible ill be putting my son in some dsgf preferrably valdosta with its rich tradition.
shankit
December 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Fred – The reason our crowd was down last week
against Grayson, is GHSA states we have to send
one half tickets to ya’ll. Congratulations on selling
a few hundred tickets. The previous week our weak
1-AAAAA team sent over 4,000 fans to McEachern.
Plus, Lowndes, our cross town rival, was playing the same night
in the playoffs in our “weak” 1AAAAA region.
Fred
December 1st, 2010
5:46 pm
@sankit, I happen to know we got a 1,000 seat ticket allotment as I was standing there when the box was opened. I think maybe the ADs talked and agreed on the smaller amount. I also know we had a ton of people out of town as it was the Friday after Thanksgiving. I will admit we did not have as many in quantity as I would have liked but we made up for it in quality. We were up and loud all night and welcomed our boys onto the field at the first of the game and after the half. The large group of Wildcat fans in the middle of our fans (what’s up with that since they were particular about reserved seats and sitting in the seat on the ticket?) never got up to support the Cats.
Even if we got half, that doesn’t explain 2 full sections on the home side with no one in them or the number of fans that left at half time, the 3rd quarter and into the 4th quarter. While I am a die hard stay to the end kind of guy, I kind of understand leaving with maybe 5 minutes to go when you are down 20-0 but not before then and most certainly not in the quarterfinals!
drake43
December 1st, 2010
6:00 pm
I think S. Georgia is done, for now that is. A N. Georgia team will win this year, and im confident in region 8 or region 2 for next year. All the region 2 teams look strong, especially Newnan, who dissapointed this year, but with the potential firing of their boneheaded offensive coordinator, and with a new QB that actually has pocket presence, different from the last one who looked like, they will rebound strong next year. i like east coweta, they were young and went 7-0 before they lost their first game, and as always Stephenson and MLK will be strong. watch region 2 next season
Fred
December 1st, 2010
6:24 pm
@shankit, sorry for the typo on your name. I’m not sure why you are saying “weak” team and region. The only issue I have ever had with the South GA teams is the conviction at least some of y’all have that your teams walk on water and every other team is dirt. As I have said earlier, I remember back in the ’60s playing Valdosta when the top region was AAA. One year y’all won, one year we one. Both the programs there deserve and get my respect but I recognize that things change and now there are other good teams throughout the state. All I ever ask for is a little respect for us. We haven’t won it all yet but we are the ONLY 5A team to make the quarter finals the past 4 years. That is good for something. Yep, I agree that we need to win state and I hope and pray this is the year but even if it is not, I know that we have been a dadgum good team!
Fred
December 1st, 2010
6:25 pm
one year we “won”. dad gum cold! I can’t think straight!
GwinnettDad
December 1st, 2010
6:35 pm
@PackerAlumni66 – the tornado did hit Buford, the damage severe but local. Football will go on as it would have anyway. Forecast is for it to be 44 degrees or less at game time Friday. That cold temperature and wind led to 12 turnovers at Brookwood vs.Hillgrove. So the elements can significantly impact the game here. Bring your woolies!
PC Fanatic
December 1st, 2010
6:53 pm
@ HS Fan
Good point. I forgot about that. I personally can not stand this North vs South crap. We blessed with some of the best prep football in the country and we demean it by labeling it with a direction.
SouthGARules
December 1st, 2010
7:14 pm
PackerAlumni66: Any updates on the baby?
GwinnettDad
December 1st, 2010
7:28 pm
Looking at Lowndes playing Valdosta, I didn’t realize that Lowndes is 16-33 all time against Valdosta, but at one time was 5-30. Times sure have changed in that rivalry, since Lowndes has won 11 of the last 14.
Parkview won 46 games in a row. Valdosta 37, Camden 28, Lowndes 26.
Valdosta has played 775 football games (626-140-0 .814). What an awesome record that is! Lowndes is relatively mortal (318-187-3 .629). Camden County is a little better, but no Valdosta (446-205-12 .682).
Gwinnett AAAAA has no comparable history. The only team named after a city here is Norcross (275-243-9 ..530) and is without a State title. (Buford, of course, is AA) Berkmar is a perenial bridesmaid (164-298-10 .358) without even so much as a region title. South Gwinnett has had recent success, but historically is a bridesmaid too (249-304-9 .451) with just 2 region titles.
I imagine for a more successful Atlanta history, one would have to look towards Dekalb or Fulton or Cobb. Most of Gwinnett was fields and pine forests just 20 years ago.
Where am I going with this? Suffice to say, there’s plenty of good Georgia football history. But the fact of the matter is that due to inevitable changes as years go by, the history has nothing to do in determining the scores of today’s contests. But it sure makes for some lively rhetoric.