Poll Talk: Blockbuster Friday is coming this week; meanwhile, how is Colquitt County still ranked?

There are eight region games between ranked teams this week, the most of the season so far. That doesn’t include No. 2 Marist at unranked Chamblee in Class AAAA. Both are 8-0.

The games between ranked teams are:

-No. 1 Camden County vs. No. 4 Lowndes (AAAAAA)
-No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins vs. No. 7 Warner Robins (AAAAA)
-No. 2 M.L. King vs. No. 5 Tucker (AAAAA)
-No. 1 Sandy Creek vs. No. 4 Carrollton (AAAA)
-No. 1 Peach County vs. No. 4 Carver Columbus (AAA)
-No. 7 Blessed Trinity vs. No. 9 St. Pius (AAA)
-No. 5 Lincoln County vs. No. 9 Wilkinson County (A)
-No. 7 Wilcox County vs. No. 8 Irwin County (A)

In rankings news, seven ranked teams lost Friday, and none fell out of the Top 10. Most conspicuous among those will be Colquitt County (5-3).

The seven ranked teams that lost are West Forsyth, Parkview, Colquitt, Stephenson, Washington County, St. Pius, Cook.

Only the three AAAAAA teams (West Forsyth, Parkview, Colquitt) lost to unranked teams.

So, how does a three-loss team stay in the Top 10, not dropping a spot after a loss?

Ranking Class AAAAAA is pretty tricky right now. Colquitt has played the toughest schedule in the state and lost three games by three points or less. The Valdosta-Colquitt seemed like a blowout, but Colquitt missed a conversion to tie in the final minute.

Let’s assume everyone agrees on the top six (not the order, just the teams). Let’s look at No. 7-14. They’re listed with their most significant wins and losses -

Lovejoy (8-1) – W-Alpharetta; L-#10 Colquitt County.
West Forsyth (7-1) – W-Johns Creek, Gainesville; L-Chattahoochee
Parkview (6-2) – W-#5 Grayson, Brookwood, L- #3 Norcross, Central Gwinnett
Colquitt County (5-3) – W-#7 Lovejoy, Thomas Central, Carver; L-#4 Lowndes, #6 North Gwinnett, Valdosta
Valdosta (5-3) – W-#10 Colquitt County, L-#1 Camden County, #4 Lowndes, Brooks County
Walton (6-2) – W-McEachern, Brookwood; L-#2 Lassiter, North Cobb
McEachern (6-2) – W-North Cobb, South Cobb; L-#5 Grayson, Walton
Johns Creek (7-1) – W-Lambert; L-West Forsyth

How would you rank them?

Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Camden County (8-0)
Last week: Beat Brunswick 42-8. QB Brice Ramsey threw three TD passes and RB/CB J.J. Green rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Travis Johnson had three tackles for losses and a sack. Next: Friday at Lowndes (9-0)
2. (2) Lassiter (8-0)
Last week: Beat Wheeler 38-23. Lassiter jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and moved within a victory of clinching Region 5. QB Eddie Printz threw for 259 yards and connected with Willie Police (11 catches, 120 yards) for three touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Roswell (2-6)
3. (3) Norcross (9-0)
Last week: Beat Peachtree Ridge 36-3. Norcross clinched Region 7 with the victory. QB Joseph Wilber (12-of-18 passing, 248 yards) threw three TD passes, two to RB Alvin Kamara. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Meadowcreek (0-8)
4. (4) Lowndes (9-0)
Last week: Beat Tift County 42-7. DL Sam Washington had three of Lowndes’ seven sacks, and Lowndes held Tift to 105 yards of total offense. Nick Burgman returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Lowndes led 35-0 in the second quarter. Next: Friday vs. Camden County (8-0)
5. (7) Grayson (7-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Thursday at Archer (6-3)
6. (8) North Gwinnett (7-1)
Last week: Beat Collins Hill 38-24. North Gwinnett trailed 24-21 in the third quarter when QB Michael Haynes threw a TD pass to Caleb Scott on a flea-flicker, and North Gwinnett outscored Collins Hill 17-0 in the second half. Haynes was 15-of-25 passing for 251 yards and rushed for 73 yards. Next: Friday vs. Mountain View (3-5)
7. (9) Lovejoy (8-1)
Last week: Beat Newton 51-6. Lovejoy clinched Region 2. Travis Custis rushed for 118 yards and scored three touchdowns, and Alejandro Bennefield threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns, two to Jai Murphy. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Alcovy (3-5)
8. (5) West Forsyth (7-1)
Last week: Lost to Chattahoochee 29-28. Chattahoochee QB Travis Marshall scored on an 8-yard scramble and found a diving Collin Lisa on the edge of the end zone for a winning conversion with 38 seconds to play. West Forsyth (7-1, 4-1) still will win Region 6 with victories over South Forsyth (3-5, 0-5) and Lambert (5-3, 3-4) because the Wolverines have wins over the other first-place teams – Alpharetta (5-3, 4-1) and Johns Creek (7-1, 4-1). Next: Friday vs. South Forsyth (3-5)
9. (6) Parkview (6-2)
Last week: Lost to Central Gwinnett 30-27. Central Gwinnett’s Samir Ramic made a 35-yard field goal in the third overtime. Parkview played without injured 1,000-yard rusher Chris Carson. The upset brought about a four-way tie for first in Region 8. Parkview, Grayson, Brookwood and South Gwinnett are 5-1. Parkview still holds the edge because of victories over Grayson and Brookwood. Parkview can win its first region title since 2004 by beating Berkmar and South Gwinnett. Next: Friday vs. Berkmar (1-7)
10. (10) Colquitt County (5-3)
Last week: Lost to Valdosta 38-36. Valdosta led 38-14 with less than four minutes left, but Colquitt roared back with three touchdowns. Colquitt failed on a conversion pass with 1:26 left and did not recover an onside kick. Valdosta intercepted five passes, and running backs Malcolm Joseph and Nelson Herring each went over 100 yards. Next: Friday vs. Coffee (5-3)

Class AAAAA
1. (1) Northside-Warner Robins (8-0)
Last week: Beat Greenbrier 35-0. Northside scored touchdowns on its first five drives. Keshun Hill scored on a 49-yard punt return and a 70-yard run. Hill had 111 yards rushing on two carries and one catch for 32 yards. Next: Friday vs. Warner Robins (7-1)
2. (2) M.L. King (8-0)
Last week: Beat Stephenson 49-28. Stephenson got within 34-28 with 7:34 left, but M.L. King drove for a clinching score and followed it up with Wesley Green’s 70-yard interception return for a touchdown and the final margin. QB Monquavious Johnson was 17-of-23 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns. Demarquis Polite-Bray had five catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at Tucker (7-1)
3. (3) East Paulding (8-0)
Last week: Beat South Paulding 20-16. RB Kamani Thomas scored on a 39-yard run with nine minutes left for a 20-10 lead, and East Paulding held on. South Paulding (4-4) became the first Region 5 team out of eight to come within 20 points of East Paulding. Next: Friday at Lithia Springs (1-7)
4. (4) Gainesville (7-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Loganville (2-6)
5. (5) Tucker (7-1)
Last week: Beat Miller Grove 28-13. Corey Hunter intercepted a Wolverines pass and returned it 55 yards to put the Tigers up 21-13 at the half. Kirk Tucker’s third-quarter interception and return to the Miller Grove 2-yard line set up a TD run by Dallas Rivers to push the lead to 28-13. Next: Friday vs. M.L. King (8-0)
6. (6) Thomas County Central (8-1)
Last week: Beat Hardaway 52-0. Thomas Central put up 414 yards rushing, and QB Adam Choice ran for 175 yards and three touchdowns. RB Shaquille Coleman rushed for 107 yards. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Harris County (4-4)
7. (7) Warner Robins (7-1)
Last week: Beat Grovetown 35-14. It was 14-14 in the fourth quarter until Danny Hite scored on a 6-yard run on fourth-and-2. D.D. Wright scored on runs of 14 and 30 yards later in the quarter. Next: Friday at Northside-Warner Robins (8-0)
8. (8) Allatoona (8-0)
Last week: Beat Hiram 20-17. Allatoona won in overtime when Hiram faked a field goal and threw incomplete in the end zone from the 9-yard line. Allatoona’s Nathan Shaw made a 26-yard field goal for the lead. Next: Friday vs. Woodland-Cartersville (2-6)
9. (10) Kell (7-1)
Last week: Beat Sprayberry 33-21. The game was tied 21-21 entering the fourth quarter. Kell intercepted five passes and forced a fumble. Brendan Langley and Taylor Henkle each had two interceptions. RB Khalil Bell scored three touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Pope (6-2)
10. (9) Stephenson (5-2)
Last week: Lost to M.L. King 49-28. Stephenson’s Evan Jones had 13 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns, the first coming on an 85-yard run on the Jaguars’ first play from scrimmage. Stephenson also scored on a 75-yard fumble return by Ryan George. But M.L. King had more than 500 yards in total offense. Next: Saturday at Mays (5-3)

Class AAAA
1. (1) Sandy Creek (8-0)
Last week: Beat LaGrange 47-13. Eric Swinney rushed for three touchdowns and Delvin Weems had two for Sandy Creek, which can clinch its region with a victory over Carrollton this week. Next: Friday vs. Carrollton (6-2)
2. (2) Marist (7-1)
Last week: Beat Stone Mountain 34-8. Marist allowed just 27 yards rushing. PK Patrick Anhut was 6-for-6 on touchbacks. Kenneth Brinson had three sacks. Next: Friday at Chamblee (8-0)
3. (3) Burke County (7-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday at Butler (1-7)
4. (4) Carrollton (6-2)
Last week: Beat Alexander 48-0. Carrollton scored touchdowns on its first four possessions. Trey Chivers scored two rushing touchdowns on his only two carries and two receiving TDs on three receptions. Next: Friday at Sandy Creek (8-0)
5. (5) Statesboro (7-1)
Last week: Beat South Effingham 13-6. RB Quan Daniels rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. His 1-yard run with 1:38 left in the third quarter broke a scoreless tie. South Effingham’s Josh Mercer, who is committed to N.C. State, was held to 77 yards on 17 carries. Next: Friday at Wayne County (4-3-1)
6. (6) Monroe Area (8-0)
Last week: Beat Madison County 63-6. Backup QB Michael Gallup, starting for injured Stanton Truitt, scored two touchdowns, one a 33-yard run, and threw a TD pass. Next: Friday at Chestatee (7-1)
7. (7) Stockbridge (7-1)
Last week: Beat Woodland-Stockbridge 34-7. Stockbridge held Woodland to 145 yards of total offense. QB Malik Bryan rushed for 144 yards and was 11-of-17 passing for 149 yards. Next: Friday vs. Locust Grove (6-2)
8. (8) Griffin (7-1)
Last week: Beat Upson-Lee 28-14. Griffin clinched Region 4’s subregion B with the victory. WR Quay Mangham had eight catches for 132 yards. QB Jaquez Parks was 20-of-35 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Next: Friday at Spalding (1-6-1)
9. (9) Jonesboro (7-1)
Last week: Beat Riverdale 15-7. Next: Friday vs. Upson-Lee (3-5)
10. (10) Cairo (6-2)
Last week: Beat Americus-Sumter 29-20. Cairo took a 27-6 lead early in the fourth quarter by recovering a fumbled punt snap in the end zone and held on. Cairo got a sack in the Americus-Sumter end zone for a 29-20 lead with less than three minutes left. Next: Friday at Monroe (6-2)
Class AAA
1. (1) Peach County (8-0)
Last week: Beat Pike County 24-14. Nicholas Searcy rushed for 100 yards, and his 1-yard run in the second quarter gave Peach the lead for good, 21-14, before a nearly scoreless second half. Peach led in total yardage 294-236, according to the Macon Telegraph. Next: Friday vs. Carver-Columbus (7-1)
2. (2) Thomson (9-0)
Last week: Beat Washington County 28-14. RB Chris Jordan rushed for 201 yards on 25 carries and scored all four Thomson touchdowns. Thomson trailed 14-7 until Jordan scored on runs of 55, 7 and 28 yards in the second half. It was Thomson’s 600th all-time victory. Next: Nov. 9 vs. Jefferson County (3-5)
3. (4) Buford (5-3)
Last week: Beat Fannin County 51-0. Buford had 309 yards rushing, with no player getting more than 65, and was 8-for-8 passing for 133 yards. Next: Friday at East Hall (4-4)
4. (6) Carver-Columbus (7-1)
Last week: Beat Central-Macon 46-14. Dreilon Freeman returned the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown, and Brandon Thomas ran a kick back 75 for a touchdown for a 46-7 lead in the third quarter. Torrance McGee threw two TD passes in the first quarter and scored one in the second. Next: Friday at Peach County (8-0)
5. (3) Washington County (8-1)
Last week: Lost to Thomson 28-14. QB William Walker rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and was 14-of-21 passing for 193 yards and a touchdown, but Washington County was shut out in the second half. WR Deonte Latimer had seven catches for 120 yards. Next: Friday at Dodge County (4-4)
6. (7) Cartersville (8-0)
Last week: Beat Adairsville 45-3. QB Brooks Barden threw three touchdown passes for Cartersville, which won easily against a team that entered 5-2 and moved within one victory of clinching Region 5. Next: Friday at Sonoraville (1-7)
7. (8) Blessed Trinity (7-1)
Last week: Beat McNair 38-6. Blessed Trinity scored 24 points in the third quarter after leading 14-0 at halftime. QB Spencer McManes threw three TD passes, two to Sam Roberts. Timmy Mertz rushed for 78 yards on nine carries. Next: Friday at St. Pius (6-2)
8. (10) Woodward Academy (7-2)
Last week: Beat St. Pius 20-14. Terry Googer threw a 39-yard TD pass to Conor Pilch for the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds left. Googer scrambled for first downs on two third-and-long downs to reach midfield with about one minute left. Woodward’s Jollyce Myrick 12 tackles and a 54-yard kick return, and sophomore FS Arrington Farrar had 15 tackles. Next: Friday at Cedar Grove (5-3)
9. (5) St. Pius (6-2)
Last week: Lost to Woodward Academy 20-14. St. Pius lost five fumbles, one into the end zone on a controversial play when RB Ryan Braswell came down at the Woodward 1-yard line on a rushing attempt. Braswell rushed for 155 yards on 19 carries. St. Pius outgained Woodward 354-212. Next: Friday vs. Blessed Trinity (7-1)
10. (9) North Oconee (7-1)
Last week: Beat East Jackson 57-0. North Oconee had 560 yards in total offense. Nick Colvin and Tate Adcock took turns at quarterback, with Colvin going 6-of-10 for 11 yards and Adcock 6-of-9 for 151 yards. Each had two TD passes. Next: Friday vs. Oconee County (2-6)

Class AA
1. (1) Calhoun (8-0)
Last week: Beat Armuchee 53-0. Taylor Lamb threw for 295 yards and five touchdowns. Tydus Curtis had 118 yards receiving. Calhoun got its third shutout in four games. Next: Friday vs. Model (5-3)
2. (2) Brooks County (9-0)
Last week: Beat Cook 35-21. QB Malcolm Parrish scored three touchdowns and threw a Hail Mary pass from midfield at the end of the first half for a touchdown to Deric Herring for a 21-14 lead. Brooks built the lead to 35-14 in the third quarter and went on to clinch Region 1, the school’s first title since 2008. Next: Nov. 9 at Berrien (3-5)
3. (3) Vidalia (8-0)
Last week: Beat Bacon County 14-10. Vidalia went up 14-10 on a 42-yard pass from D.J. Mincey to Shaawn Hunter in the third quarter for the final scoring of the game. Vidalia’s Juan Foster rushed for 93 yards on 14 carries. Bacon led in total yards 193-170. Bacon was trying to beat Vidalia for the first time since 1974. Next: Friday vs. Toombs County (6-2)
4. (4) Fitzgerald (7-2)
Last week: Beat Early County 17-14. Fitzgerald PK Manuel Chavez made a 40-yard field goal with 2:52 left for the game winner. Early County, which missed a potential tying field goal in the final seconds, led in total yardage 341-298, according to the Albany Herald. Next: Friday vs. Thomasville (2-6)
5. (6) Greater Atlanta Christian (6-2)
Last week: Beat Hapeville Charter 38-20. RB Kyle Scales rushed for 119 yards and scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, and Rafe Chapple threw an 80-yard TD pass to Peter Whiteneck to break the game open early. Next: Friday vs. Wesleyan (4-5)
6. (7) Lamar County (7-0-1)
Last week: Beat Bleckley County 39-7. Lamar County took advantage of seven takeaways, including two acrobatic interceptions by Quay Searcy. QB Lance Austin had 12 carries for 69 yards and three touchdowns and threw a 32-yard scoring pass to his brother, RB Lawrence Austin, who rushed for 82 yards on seven carries. Next: Friday at Macon County (3-5)
7. (5) Cook (6-2)
Last week: Lost to Brooks County 35-21. Ross Pickle threw two TD passes in the second quarter to tie the game 14-14, but Brooks scored the next three touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Berrien (3-5)
8. (8) Heard County (8-0)
Last week: Beat Temple 62-27. Duranta Dunson scored three touchdowns and rushed for 107 yards on 13 carries. Damon Pearson returned a kickoff 62 yards for a touchdown. Next: Friday vs. Spencer (3-5)
9. (9) Jefferson (7-1)
Last week: Beat Social Circle 47-10. Jefferson led 47-0 at halftime and moved within one victory of clinching Region 8. Next: Friday at Riverside Military (1-7)
10. (10) Lovett (4-4)
Last week: Beat Wesleyan 24-21. Lovett drove 72 yards on 11 plays for the winning touchdown, which was Grant Haley’s 1-yard run with 29 seconds left. Haley intercepted a pass at midfield to clinch the win. Haley also returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 75-yard run to get Lovett within 21-16 in the third quarter. Wesleyan led in total yards 256-244 and first downs 19-9. Next: Friday vs. Westminster (3-5)

Class A
1. (1) Eagle’s Landing Christian (7-1)
Last week: Beat Strong Rock Christian 69-6. ELCA led 62-0 at halftime, when Strong Rock had 6 yards of total offense and no first downs. CB Jevius Terry returned an interception for a touchdown. DB DJ Curl returned a punt for a touchdown and had a 42-yard TD run. Next: Friday at Pace Academy (2-6)
2. (2) Emanuel County Institute (7-1)
Last week: Beat Johnson County 40-0. James Brown rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. ECI allowed only 111 yards in total offense. ECI led 34-0 at halftime. Next: Friday at Montgomery County (0-8)
3. (3) Athens Academy (8-0)
Last week: Beat George Walton Academy 21-20. George Walton Academy missed a 45-yard field goal in the final seconds after having made one earlier in the game. Athens Academy trailed 20-7 at halftime. QB Austin Schulte threw second-half TD passes to Eric Williams (50 yards) and Bobby Marshburn (14), the latter coming with 2:36 left for the final margin. Next: Friday vs. Hebron Christian (1-7)
4. (4) Prince Avenue Christian (7-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday at Pinecrest Academy (4-3)
5. (5) Lincoln County (7-1)
Last week: Beat Twiggs County 49-0. Mike McIntire (114) and Jamar Norman (119) each surpassed 100 yards rushing. Jalen Franklin had eight catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Wilkinson County (6-2)
6. (6) Savannah Christian (6-2)
Last week: Beat Jenkins County 42-12. Jalen Myrick, who has committed to Minnesota, had five receptions for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Savannah Christian scored five touchdowns in the second quarter. Next: Friday vs. Savannah Country Day (2-6)
7. (7) Wilcox County (6-2)
Last week: Beat Swainsboro 40-24. The Makail Grace and Jonathan Howard show continues. Grace threw five TD passes and passed for 333 yards and rushed for 84. Howard had 10 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at Irwin County (6-2)
8. (8) Irwin County (6-2)
Last week: Beat Turner County 27-26. Irwin won despite trailing 14-0 and 26-21. Ryan Peterson rushed for 105 yards and caught two TD passes, including the game-winner, a 28-yarder from Clay Paulk with 1:09 left. Next: Friday vs. Wilcox County (6-2)
9. (9) Wilkinson County (6-2)
Last week: Beat First Presbyterian 42-21. Wilkinson County came back from a 14-0 deficit as QB David Whipple threw for 343 yards on 22-of-29 passing and rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries. Antonio Whipple had eight catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at Lincoln County (7-1)
10. (10) Calvary Day (7-1)
Last week: Beat Claxton 49-12. Sophomore RB Robert Heyward rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Next: Friday vs. Portal (0-8)