AAAAAA blog: Five intriguing teams outside the Top 10
There are always a half-dozen unranked teams in early September that make their way into the rankings before the season is over.
Here are five that might make a jump. Who are others?
Johns Creek (1-0) – Be wary of these new schools that are just now having a full senior class. Remember Hillgrove and Peachtree Ridge. (Lambert is another to watch this season.) Two of those JC seniors that should get statewide attention this season are QB Skye Overton and two-way starting lineman Sam Arrington. JC was 9-2 last season in Class AAAA, losing once in overtime (Chattahoochee) and another time by three points (Flowery Branch).
Mill Creek (1-0) – This is a school that has never won more than seven games in a season, but the Hawks dropped Dacula 35-0 last week. Remember that Dacula went 9-4 last season. Mill Creek DL Casey Griffin is one of the state’s most heavily recruited players. Jacorey Lewis rushed for 216 yards against Dacula. Mill Creek’s game against Brookwood (0-1) should tell us something.
Milton (1-0) – Beat 2011 region champ Alpharetta 35-28 last week. Hard to think there is a team with a better combination of running backs in Peyton Barber (225 yards rushing vs. Alpharetta) and Treyvon Paul (109) and offensive linemen in three who have committed to FBS schools. But Milton hasn’t had a winning season since 2008 (8-3). Next is north Fulton rival Johns Creek (see above).
Norcross (1-0) – Unranked by the AJC, Norcross is No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. That’s kinda high considering the Blue Devils haven’t done better than 8-2 in a regular season since 2007. They have an RB in Alvin Kamara and another half-dozen players with college offers and beat South Gwinnett 35-20. On Thursday, they play Parkview, another intriguing team that could be much improved this season. Parkview’s 3-0 victory over Peachtree Ridge would not have been close if not for four Parkview turnovers. Parkview had 319 yards rushing and allowed only 81 yards of total offense.
Newnan (2-0) – It’s been only three years since Newnan finished the second of consecutive 13-=1 seasons, but the Cougars have been 13-11 since. Now they’re 2-0 after a couple of comeback wins over Marietta 38-29 (after trailing 22-17 and 29-25 in the fourth quarter) and LaGrange 24-21 (after trailing 14-0). (The Newnan newspaper is calling Newnan the Rally Cats.) Georgia-committed defensive back Tray Matthews has been dominant on offense and defense.
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33 comments Add your comment
West Cobber
September 4th, 2012
10:22 am
Would be no surprise if that Mceachern team shows up before the end of the season. Yes, 0-2 for the moment but no shame losing to last year’s champ and runner up. Pushed Grayson for 3 quarters and Walton the entire game with a young team. I can’t see any team in region 4 that is on the level of either of their first two opponents.
BamaBornDukie
September 4th, 2012
11:10 am
I was about to say McEachern. I attended the East-West Cobb Showdown Friday and honestly, I think McEachern beats Walton 50-7 if Walton doesn’t have Tyren Jones to extend drives and keep the McEachern offense off the field. McEachern’s speed advantage over Walton’s defense was extreme in person as Taj Griffin for McEachern made Walton defenders look as though they were running under water.
McEachern is a team to watch come playoff time. I’m a Walton supporter due in part to their players currently committed to Bama. However, the Walton offense is still a 1 dimensional ground game with 1 RB. I saw that episode last year against Grayson. Walton’s “refusal” to develop a passing game is the reason they won’t win the State Championship…..that and their lack of defensive speed.
McEachern will make a deeper playoff run than Walton.
only a matter of time
September 4th, 2012
11:24 am
I agree. McEachern is very talented on offense. I think they settle down and could possibly run the region. The QB is nice and if Taj Griffin isn’t the next talked about Cobb County RB I’ll be scared to see who is. That kid has a trendous burst. Don’t know how he is in the classroom but if he’s a good student he can right his own ticket in a couple of years. You’re both right Walton is a one trick pony and 1-AAAAAA will be poised and ready for that.
Jammer
September 4th, 2012
12:46 pm
McEachern is probably the best 0-2 team in the State at this time, they will be there come playoff time.
Dum-Bass
September 4th, 2012
12:47 pm
Of course there are no high schools at all with any interesting programs below the Atlanta area. Same old story!
Jammer
September 4th, 2012
1:17 pm
@Dum-Bass
Who would you pick for this feature, I would say Coffee fits it but we’ll have to wait and see on that one
Jammer
September 4th, 2012
1:44 pm
@ grayram
Camden has eliminated more teams from region 1 in the last few years than any other single team in the state with your Rams most likely being second. Camden is now in region 1 and not going to be doing the dirty work for the rest of the state in the playoffs
CoffeeC100
September 4th, 2012
3:24 pm
Coffee is quickely developing some very young talent. The Trojans have a good chance to go into the second week of region play 5-0 against some pretty respectable pre-region clubs. I tnink a lot of cards would have to fall right with other clubs losing some games for Coffee to be ranked at that point. It remains to be seen how “the pollsters” rank region 1 teams after they start beating one another in the heart of the region schedule. The computer influenced polls will probably be kinder as that happens. The personable opinion polls probably less kind.
FridayNightLightsFan
September 4th, 2012
3:48 pm
Don’t forget McEachern lost a key defensive player the entire 2nd half against Walton (right or wrong). We will never know if it would have made a difference in the outcome but my guess would be yes.
Todd Holcomb
September 4th, 2012
5:39 pm
Would be no surprise if that Mceachern team shows up before the end of the season.”
Interesting you mention McEachern. I originally had McE in the list, but switched them out simply because they at least have been given an opportunity to show where they stand, whereas the others are waiting for that opportunity.
Also, I was just discussing w/ my friend Chip Saye how McEachern is ahead of Valdosta in the Maxwell Ratings and how that would generate a storm of ”these rankings are a joke” comments. But my answer to that would be that there is no evidence in scores here lately to think McEachern still isn’t a top 10 team. I mean, Grayson is pretty good.
Todd Holcomb
September 4th, 2012
5:41 pm
Maxwell Ratings also like Coffee in AAAAAA
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2012/09/04/maxwell-ratings-lopsided-win-boosts-northside-wr-to-2-in-all-class-poll/
1 Grayson (97.34)
2 North Gwinnett (93.4)
3 Camden County (91.5)
4 Walton (90.4)
5 Lowndes (88.89)
6 Colquitt County (87.38)
7 Norcross (83.63)
8 Lassiter (82.28)
9 McEachern (82.05)
10 Valdosta (81.48)
11 Brookwood (81.31)
12 Mill Creek (79.83)
13 Coffee (79.02)
14 West Forsyth (78.44)
15 Newnan (77.61)
16 Lovejoy (77.32)
17 Hillgrove (75.93)
18 East Coweta (75.48)
19 Peachtree Ridge (75.28)
20 Parkview (74.83)
BamaBornDukie
September 4th, 2012
7:28 pm
@FridayNightLightsFan……if you are referring to #24 for McEachern, he should be glad he isn’t done/suspended for the season. I just re-watched those hits and they were illegal. Especially the hit on the TE, #80 for Walton. If that hit happens in the NFL, there is a major fine and suspension for leading with the crown of the helmet while hitting on defenseless receiver.
No place in football [at any level] for such hits.
FridayNightLightsFan
September 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
Like I said right or wrong(never said it was the wrong call). Even the anouncors said the second hit was questionable after watching slow motion replay but agreed you error on safety. I was just saying it could have made a diffrence in that game and it didn’t help then the 2nd half losing #24.
Safety first!!
CoffeeC100
September 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
@ Todd – Any idea why Maxpreps was so much kinder to Coffee this week? Is there a major difference in the algorithm they use.
cougar
September 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
newnan is a surprise team and if they beat sandy creek this week they will be the truth watch out AAAAAA
AVikingFan
September 4th, 2012
10:50 pm
My thoughts are Coffee would beat Mill Creek, Johns Creek and Milton, and might crack the top ten for a week or so, but not at the end. And, Newnan may well be in the top group of teams come playoff time, as will McEachern. .
Special note to Coffee100’s comment about Coffee developing “young talent.” Lowndes’ B Team beat Coffee’s last week 35-6. Just saying! Looking for yall to have some good games this year, but I believe Valdosta, Colquit, Camden, and my Lowndes will keep your guys, and a sure to improve Tift, out of the playoffs for some time to come. I truly think in a not too distant season these 6 teams could all be ranked in the top 10 before we start knocking each other off. Our region is truly as strong as it was back when we had Warner Robins, Houston County, and Northside in it with us, now that Coffee and Tift seem to be heading in the right direction with great coaches, and with the addition of Camden and Brunswick.
CoffeeC100
September 5th, 2012
5:01 am
@ AViking Fan – Special note. I found it of interest that the Coffee 9th grade team beat Lowndes 24-21 the same day the Lowndes JV beat Coffee 35-6. Coffee is fielding two 8th grade, two 7th grade and for the first time two 6th grade teams. Pruitt has tasked the 8th grade coaches with presenting 80+ students of the wing-T to the 9th grade every year. You are right. It will be a year or two before Coffee will be at the same level as Camden, Colquitt, Lowndes and Valdosta. But I will not be shocked if Coffee makes it to bracket play this year or the next. Pleasantly surprised. But not shocked.
Blowfish
September 5th, 2012
8:17 am
Todd, as a Gwinnett football fan, I’ve been close to most of the programs for many years. While I was the director of the Grayson youth program, my peer over at Mill Creek was building a youth powerhouse. I have told people for years that they are the next Gwinnett County powerhouse. Their youth programs have been racking up championships for years, and the current crop of youth champions are now juniors and seniors. That said, Grayson won’t give up the title without a fight!
BamaBornDukie
September 5th, 2012
9:15 am
Good info on Mill Creek. I will definitely keep an eye on this team.
Blowfish
September 5th, 2012
11:09 am
Bama – good observations on Walton…..that could have been said about Grayson years ago (lack of passing threat). My expereince tells me that a solid ground game, with just the THREAT of a passing game opens up lots of options. Look no further than Grayson last year and this year. A “prolific” passing game (5-6 tosses per game) loosens up the LBs and safties enough to create a virtually unstoppable WingT attack. Maybe Hidalgo over there in East Cobb will figure it out. …would love to see a more competitive rematch deep into the playoffs. My prediction this year – depending on how the bracketts align – Graysom v Camdon at the Dome.
yo
September 5th, 2012
12:36 pm
Todd says “that would generate a storm of ”these rankings are a joke” comments”.
The reality Todd is that the all classification Maxwell rankings are “always a joke” and not worth the hot air it takes to comment. imho
yo
September 5th, 2012
12:39 pm
Bama…I see you have come around to where I was last year with Walton. Blowfish…Grayson runs a wing T and not a one dimensional one man attack. A little harder to key on one person in the Wing T.
Also as noted by Bama, Walton doesn’t play the D that Grayson does or any where close.
yo
September 5th, 2012
12:41 pm
Camden has away games at Colquit, Lowndes and Valdosta this year. We’ll see. I suppose the good news in that is they don’t have to visit any of those 3 next year.
McEachern Mom
September 5th, 2012
1:45 pm
Thanks to all you for including the boys of blue and gold as a contender for top ten, very kind words. We are definitely a young team with mostly juniors, some sophmores and a few seniors sprinkled in here or there. We are definitely rebuilding and learning to play together as unit. In regards to #24, yes the first hit was illegal and the 2nd hit questionable but never were they intentional to cause harm to the Walton players. I know the student he is perhaps the hardest hitter on our team, and it was a mistake, he did get excited but not because he was happy that Tyren got hurt but because he was able to tackle the number 1 running back in the state, it was a goal achieved per se. To all the bloggers from the other blogs, especially Walton Parent or fan or whatever, how dare you say our boys are thugs? How do you know? I know they are not because I’ve known 95% of them since they were in the 5th grade, I was team mom to the class of 2015 when they played middle grade ball and its a shame that adults on these blogs resort to name calling. Our boys go to church like yours, the have families like yours, and they have a love for football like yours, and as far as grades are concerned, take a look at the beginning August Issue of the Marietta Daily Journal and you will see what kinds of grades these players have. Two football players Uche Amkade and CJ Norell are leading the class of 2013 with 4.2 GPA’s, my son is an honor roll student, and so is Taj Griffin our running back. We have Honor Students taking AP courses along with other football players taking Honors classes. I don’t know what everyone thinks about McEachern Football Players but I would like to set the record straight: “Our boys are not a bunch of classless thugs, that can’t make the grades in the classroom, they are young men leading by example in the classroom, the true definition of a student athlete” On a side note, we had two tough games early on but with time, more experience, and discipline we will get better and hopefully we make the playoffs. To all the other teams from class A-6A, good luck on the field and in the classroom.
Camden74
September 5th, 2012
2:34 pm
North Gwinnett is overrated!
north fulton truthsayer
September 5th, 2012
2:49 pm
Johns Creek is too small on the lines to compete with Milton – expect a lop sided Milton win on Friday
westcobb5
September 5th, 2012
3:13 pm
McE Mom – Thank you for setting the record straight. I was hoping someone from Walton would step up and appologize on behalf of the original poster of those very inappropriate ‘thug’ comments.
OMacG
September 5th, 2012
4:10 pm
Beautifully written, well thought-out post, McEachern Mom…one of the best I’ve ever seen on here. Makes me even more proud to be an Indian.
For the record- the vast majority of posts I’ve seen from Walton folks on all message boards agreed that Kell was just making a hard-nosed football play and the second hit was clean (did not lead with his hat) and legal, had he not launched. Rules are different in this age of concussion concern and rightfully so…but it will take some time to get all adjustments made. I’ll tell you this- totally understandable for #24 to be jacked about making such a stop on a player of Tyren’s immense ability…I’ve watched #1 play since he was in middle school and never seen a pop put on him like that, not to mention the fact that a sure touchdown was saved.
WDE84
September 5th, 2012
4:15 pm
@Todd
Mill Creek’s DT is Kelsey Griffin not Casey Griffin.
jimb
September 5th, 2012
10:49 pm
millcreek is very large up front on both sides of the line. QB is only a sophomore but very good blood line,dad former Ga player.if they stay healthy, experience will be the key for the season they are young.Looked very poised against Dacula.
Region 1AAAAAA Fan
September 6th, 2012
7:35 am
The reason nobody outside the Atlanta area schools are listed is for that exact reason:
There are only 7 schools OUTSIDE the Atlanta area in AAAAAA.
Thank you so much GHSA!
HOWEVER, with that being said, why do we rarely get any coverage (unless playing an Atlanta school)?
Thank you so much AJC!
Watch Out for Lambert!!!
September 6th, 2012
8:40 am
Lambert has many weapons like Chandler Register, Brock Maxwell, TJ Russell, and Daniel Myers on offense as this team is hungry to win Region 6 this year!!!
JC real
September 9th, 2012
2:02 pm
North Fulton –Wow you really know your Football. Leave the predictions to somebody else.
Little guys 14 – Big guys 9
north fulton truthsayer
September 5th, 2012
2:49 pm
Johns Creek is too small on the lines to compete with Milton – expect a lop sided Milton win on Friday