Jeff Haws’ Top 10 List
It’s nice to daydream sometimes. At The List, we do it a lot. Mostly about unicorns and pie, but high school football also often finds its way into our hopes and prayers.
This week, we’ve been looking week by week and fantasizing about which games we really wish we could see played out this season.
Realignment took some of these precious games away from us, but others are matchups we think would be darn fun to watch.
10. Lincoln County-Bowdon
The two winningest active coaches in Georgia (Lincoln County’s Larry Campbell and Bowdon’s Dwight Hochstetler) have a combined 882 wins and 14 state titles in 76 seasons. Who knows how many years we have left to see these two legends roaming the sidelines? They’ve only played twice over the years, including a state finals clash in 1989. They split those two games. We want to have a rubber match.
9. Grayson-Calhoun
The shine has gone off the Grayson rose just a bit after last week’s loss to Parkview, but this is still one of the best defenses in the state. The Panthers’ 22 points will probably be one of the highest numbers of the year posted on them. Meanwhile, on the subject of “irresistible force vs. the immovable object,” Class AA Calhoun has scored 42, 55 and 46 points in its first three games – all against Class AAAA teams, if the points weren’t enough on their own. Maybe the Yellow Jackets should try a very good AAAAAA team on for size.
8. Camden County-Alpharetta
It’s not too often we get to see two national top-25 quarterbacks face off around here, but this would give us that shot with Camden’s Brice Ramsey and Alpharetta’s Joshua Dobbs. Both are committed to major FBS schools, and they’re both bound to put up big numbers this year. We do love a good shootout.
7. Tucker-Northside (Warner Robins)
They’ve only played each other twice in the past, but both came in the state semifinals, and both were wild, close games that we want to keep watching over and over. They split those two, and they’ve combined to win four of the past six Class AAAA titles before they moved up a classification this year. Let’s just make this an annual thing. What do you think?
6. Walton-M.L. King
OK, so it appears nobody Walton has played so far had much chance of stopping running back Tyren Jones, who has 807 yards in three games. After two straight 300+-yard games to open the year, his mere 172 against North Cobb seemed downright pedestrian. But MLK has size and speed all over the field on defense. We think they might have a chance of keeping up with Jones. Or, well, at least holding him to 150.
5. Marist-Tucker
One of the best rivalries in the metro area has always been enhanced by the fact that, for whatever reason, Tucker just kept beating Marist when no one else could do that. Particularly at Marist. Of the Eagles’ eight home losses since 2001 (Yes, they only have eight home losses since 2001), half of them came at the hands of Tucker. Let’s hope this rivalry doesn’t completely go away.
4. Avondale vs. anybody
Driving by Avondale High is sort of sad, and we really try to stay positive ‘round The List HQ. But we can’t help it. This was such a proud program for almost 40 years. But after having just two coaches while winning three state titles over 38 years until 1988, they had 10 coaches in the next 22 years before the school shut down after the 2010 season. We’d just like to see them on the field again.
3. Valdosta-Lincoln County
They have a boatload of state titles (24 and 14, respectively), but they’ve never been on the same field at the same time. Yeah, they’ve always been pretty far separated by size and geography, but it just seems like the high school football gods would have to be calling out for this one, if for historic value alone.
2. Marist-St. Pius
Did this one fall off the calendar just as St. Pius finally got the edge back? Yeah, we’re not gonna go all conspiracy theory on you guys, but the Lions had finally won two straight in this series just as realignment took it off the schedule. Marist won 21 straight between 1982 and 2002, then four more from 2004-07. I think the Pius kids would like another shot, and we want to see it.
1. Buford-Calhoun
Yeah, they’re in different classifications now, but we just want to see these guys play again. Who plays in four straight state title games? Let’s just say that’s pretty unusual. Knowing we won’t see a fifth rendition sort of hurts. It really does. Why can’t we just schedule these two one more time? Could Calhoun repeat last year’s long-awaited breakthrough after losing the previous three? The world aches to know.
There have to be a lot more, though. Which games would you want to see this year if you could put them together? Are you more interested in history or matchups? Could your team hold Jones to fewer than 200 yards? We want to know. Give us your thoughts in the comments here or on Twitter at @ajcprepsports.
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82 comments Add your comment
WarEagle
September 19th, 2012
8:51 am
Marist v SPX would be great to bring back. An all-region schedule took it away 2010-11. Ask SPX why they declined to schedule it 2012-13. Miss playing Tucker too — good program, good kids, good fans.
Coach
September 19th, 2012
9:51 am
Shame on DeKalb Co. for closing Avondale, when a never was school ( Cross Keys ) continues to field a football team!
jim dog
September 19th, 2012
9:57 am
Griffin vs Sandy Creek every year!
Tiger4Life
September 19th, 2012
10:05 am
The Tucker vs Marist was more like a “sibling rivalry” We wanted to beat them, but didn’t want them to lose to anyone else. We have to get them back on our schedule! Fans are always classy and everyone knows about how good the program is.
As far as playing NSWR every year, it wouldn’t make it special anymore. Two very well played games coming down to the wire and ended in dramatic fashion for a chance to play for a state championship #classic
TItletown USA
September 19th, 2012
10:09 am
Camden v. Northside WR….I would think that NSWR would want a shot at redemption after being violated at the Dome.
ALL TUCKERRED UP
September 19th, 2012
10:38 am
Just loved going over to Marist!!! The prayer to all the players. The total atmosphere & the tailgating. The Marist people helped me get a table to use. If that’s not great.At first we just wanted to compete & tghen we found out ew could actually win!!!
ALL TUCKERRED UP
September 19th, 2012
10:51 am
I also remember a time that Tucker had won 3 times in a row & my daughter was on the cheerleading squad & I wanted the break threw banner to be 4PEAT !!!! They would not do it & Marist went on to spank Tucker pretty good that year.GOOD TIMES !!!
John
September 19th, 2012
11:01 am
Rome v. Dalton. This game always produced big plays and usually had exciting fnishes when both schools were in the same region and Rome was not forced to play an all region schedule. Carrollton v. Bowdon also was fun.
Big Al
September 19th, 2012
11:04 am
Sandy Creek vs. Camden. Lots of athletes here. SC should win state, and Camden has a good shot in 6A. Would be exciting
ALL TUCKERRED UP
September 19th, 2012
11:05 am
In fairness of accuracy it might have been only a 3peat not sure old man’s disease. OH WELL
WarEagle
September 19th, 2012
11:39 am
@All Tuckered Up — If you’re thinking of the ‘08 game at Marist, then I hate to admit ya’ll were going for a 5-peat! Marist won that home regular season game, but then your young men beat us in December at the Dome. Want to trade?!!
WarpEagle
September 19th, 2012
11:56 am
Pius beat Marist two in a row playing early in the season. Marist didnt want to play Pius and Tucker (who would) so close early in the season anymore instead Marist wanted to play Pius 10th game. Pius had a region play-in game for 2 years scheduled. Marist then went to the region meeting which resulted in all region slate. Not surprised! So the two could not play when Marist plays all region which is not ALL region since every team does not play every team. How stupid ! Thats like the Braves not playing the Nationals in MLB. That makes no sense but you have Dekalb County AD involved that says it all.
This year ask Marist/Coach why he didn’t get a FB game with Westminster after they called him instead opting for Lovett later. Obviously Pius feels like they ducked them in FB. They may never play again.
ALL TUCKERRED UP
September 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
@WarEagle
I told you I was old.I’m talking around 2000.
TomDawg
September 19th, 2012
12:44 pm
Lincoln Co. won’t ever play anybody like that. Campbell only plays class A and weak higher classification teams. Thats how he’s got all those wins and championships.
Warner Robins Demons
September 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Anyone that will beat Chokeside has my vote.
Jeff Haws
September 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
John – Rome-Dalton is a good one. They’ve played some good games over the years.
Big Al – Love the Sandy Creek-Camden idea. Wish I had thought of that one.
Laser
September 19th, 2012
1:38 pm
I am another one that really misses the Marist-Tucker games. I think it made both teams better. There have been some great games between the two.
WarEagle
September 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
Yup, Marist “ducked” Westminster to instead play Lovett, Thomas County Central, and Clarke Central. Just looking for easy non-region games. LOL!
WarEagle
September 19th, 2012
2:38 pm
@All Tuckered Up — must be the 2003 game at Marist. We had lost 2 in a row to Tucker. Won that game and state championship in 2003. What a great rivalry game.
BullDawg Rick
September 19th, 2012
2:40 pm
Agree with Coach (& also a SHOUTOUT to Jeff Haws for the mention)….
I played on the last state championship team at Avondale ‘76 & it was an honor just to walk the hallways in the “day”… We were EVERYONE’S rival – Decatur, Towers, Columbia, SWD, Clarkston, Shamrock, Stone Mountain, Murphy, Gordon….
Lived in Belvedere behind another Blue Devil legend the Dudish’s and the next street over, the Knight’s… Won’t mention my name… But……. In the words of the Boss – “Glory Days”!!
Jeff Haws
September 19th, 2012
3:04 pm
BullDawg Rick – Played for Avondale in ‘76? Very cool. You guys had some great teams back then. It was already too bad to see the program fall on such hard times in recent years, but now it’s just hard to imagine the school doesn’t exist at all anymore. This was one of the top programs in the state for close to four decades. Sigh. I’m sure you have some great memories, so it’s gotta be even tougher for you and your buddies who played there.
BullDawg Rick
September 19th, 2012
3:32 pm
@Jeff – Memories – Yes!! And the advent of technology (FaceBook,etc) has brought many of us back together.. We had a few players that were on the UGA ‘80 & Clemson ‘81 championship teams… When we have our lil reunions, we were bigger than life (LOL – JK)
Thanks again for the mention!
dougmo2
September 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
TomDawg @ 12:48
Lincoln County’s nearest “big” town is Augusta/Columbia County. The teams from that area play in that area are 3A and 4A and will never compete at the level as DeKalb, Cobb, or Gwinnett teams. That being said, those teams will hardly ever play Lincoln because they have a history of going to the Augusta area and kicking the crap out of them.
Mighty Mighty Wildcats
September 19th, 2012
3:49 pm
Would like to see some of those Tucker Marist games….all we got in Valdosta now is memories and some ole farrrts who cant see what the REAL problem is….
Mighty Mighty Wildcats
September 19th, 2012
3:52 pm
btw @ Bulldawg Rick….ur wrestling teams were NO slouches either back then.
RAIDER FAN
September 19th, 2012
3:54 pm
I would personally like to see an East Paulding vs. Griffin game. Both teams look very good this season and I think it would be a great game. I wished during 2006-2011 when they were in the same class to see them meet in the playoffs but it was never to be. I would be torn between which side to sit on, I graduated from Griffin but have been a avid Raider fan since 2006 when my stepson played for E.P.
Sammy Dawg
September 19th, 2012
3:55 pm
Best high school match-up? That’s a tough one. I’d go with Parkview against Georgia Tech’s 1st team. What a barn burner that would be! Probably come down to the last possession with a score like 56-53.
Northside Dawg
September 19th, 2012
4:20 pm
The Warner Robins Demons had 2 weeks to prepare for Peach County, and still couldn’t beat’em. I guess all that frustration will be taken out on Jason Respert’s Douglas County Tigers.
Gamer
September 19th, 2012
4:23 pm
Warner Robins Demon: Why hate a team in your own city when we should be supporting each other. You must be a kid on here.
Carol Williams
September 19th, 2012
4:44 pm
I think we should have Rockmart vs. Parkview. I think it would be a great game I know the Rockmart fans would be up for it. There is a lot of talent in that school.
pioneer
September 19th, 2012
4:56 pm
Buford vs. North Gwinnett. Florida has loads of small schools – public and private – playing at the large enrollment level. Ask Valdosta and Colquitt about little Madison County. Let’s see how good the “private” public school really is. (I think they’re pretty good!)
Dogpound
September 19th, 2012
5:26 pm
Peach County vs Sandy Creek and Buford vs Sandy Creek
kbrab
September 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Lassiter v. Camden Co., then you can see the best QB in the state in Eddie Printz.
C'mon Man
September 19th, 2012
5:58 pm
Northside vs Tucker (only when fumbles inside the one don’t count)
Northside vs Camden (only when they open 3 more schools in their county)
Northside vs Lowndes (only without their band and Greg Reid)
Northside vs Warner Robins every week (guaranteed 10 victories)
Northside vs UGA (a little competition)
Northside vs Atlanta Falcons (well we might need to lose one so we don’t get over confident)
Trojan94
September 19th, 2012
6:07 pm
Carrollton vs peach co rematch!
Trojan94
September 19th, 2012
6:09 pm
How about calhoun vs sandy creek matchup?
BullDawg Rick
September 19th, 2012
6:17 pm
@ Mighty Wildcatzzz – I have to agree.. I wrestled too.. Coach Hage was – IMO – the best wrestling coach & teacher ever.. He also built great teams at Redan & Harrison.. There were some other great programs in DeKalb in “the Day”.. Columbia, Towers, Chamblee & I’d be remiss to not mention Briarcliff..
Camden74
September 19th, 2012
7:04 pm
Early 70s…..Camden-Fitzgerald, Camden-Cook, Camden-Ware, Camden-Coffee, Camden-Bradwell…
Firstdowncreek!!!!
September 19th, 2012
8:33 pm
Calhoun, Buford, Peach County and Griffin all playing against Sandy Creek. I’d love to see Peach against Buford and Northside Warner Robins.
GoldenLion
September 19th, 2012
9:05 pm
First off, to all you Marist fans, you guys are the one who ended the rivalry, not Pius, Pius wanted to play you, but Coach Chadwick declined us, and that is respectable, seeing that we finished 12-1. So, when Pius lost all of their seniors to college, Chadwick comes back and wants to play them again, and the Lions would’ve if the schedule wasnt full. Personally, as a player who just missed the Fish Bowl by one year, I really wish I couldve been a part of the rivalry
War Eagles
September 19th, 2012
9:13 pm
@ Golden Lion
Are you sure about that? I was told that we had scheduled Pius for week 3, which is why we didn’t schedule Westminster then Pius said no thank you and Lovett asked us. Since Lovett and Marist had never met before, I think our coaches and athletic department were interested in the match-up.
Was the Thomson game an out of region game?
Smyrna RoadRunner
September 19th, 2012
9:27 pm
BullDawg Rick:
Were you a Midway MightyMite in 1970?
Just a fan
September 19th, 2012
9:30 pm
Whats with all this Marist, Tucker, Buford stuff…that’s the ACC…I’ve personally attended all those games involving those teams….nice BUT it’s like ole folks having sex: “not much”…lets put on our big boy pants and travel out to Gwinnett co and the battle of five forks trickem….Brookwood vs Parkview. That’s Bama vs Auburn HS style….forget the records……more fans than all the other games you mention…except Lowdnes vs Valdosta…but what else have they got to do on Frisay night???? Seriously, i love HS football, been to most stadiums to seem some of these othere games…….they are good….but Broncos vs Panthers is it.
ST PIUS fan
September 19th, 2012
9:41 pm
@ War Eagles
As a St Pius Grad in 82 We were the last class to beat Marist before the streak began 6-3. Then we finally got back on our feet and started beating you regularly. Remember how you copied use with the sprit turf ???????????????????? What school won the first regular season game on your (copied Sprint Turf) ??????????????????????? The GOLDEN LIONS and ever since you have ducked us.. It is so fun looking at the Fish Bowl Trophy every day knowing that you will never get it back unless you want to play us again.
GO GOLDEN LIONS
ST PIUS fan
September 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
@ Golden Lion
GO GOLDEN LIONS……. Marist Go to you know where……
Trojan94
September 19th, 2012
9:51 pm
@just a fan….what!? I think the second best rivalry in the state is northside wr and waner robins game.
ST PIUS fan
September 19th, 2012
9:54 pm
@ Just A Fan
The Marist St Pius game has always been the biggest and best. We got our own name the Fish Bowl. Heck we even sold out Gwinnett Arena for the girls state Championship 5 yrs ago in Basketball. It is worse than Ala Auburn or Tech Ga REAL PLAIN OLD FASHION HATE. TRUST ME……….
SWOLE
September 19th, 2012
9:57 pm
LINCOLN COUNTY vs LANEY would be a good one
War Eagles
September 19th, 2012
9:59 pm
@ ST Pius fan
We didn’t copy your turf, we needed to start construction on the school and created what looks like a gravel lot on the football practice field so the football team would have to practice on the game field and thus ruin the field. The coaches were not given much of an option, and you beat us for the first game on our new turf. I am not saying that I do not want to play the Lions, I think I speak for all of us when I say that Marist would love to play Pius (especially considering Pius is the bigger school).
Why don’t you guys petition up to play in 4A and we could play every year? But now you will ask why don’t we petition up to play 3A instead of up 2 classifications to 4A and my answer to that is I simply do not know especially now that Tucker is gone.
Pius has had some great teams lately, very hard working and disciplined, I just wish the two varsity programs could play each other again on a year to year basis on week 8, 9, or 10.
ST PIUS fan
September 19th, 2012
10:06 pm
@ War Eagle
Well we had the Turf first and yes you followed us. With that said I would love to take the war eagles out again. Just remember that Coach Chadwick gave credit to the loss to Pius the last season you won the state Championship. He said that loss made your team stronger so we all feel we were co state champs that year. 2003 or 04 ??? we were the only team to beat you……