Losing to Buford is not something to be ashamed of. Especially when the Wolves are no longer in your classification. Take Washington County for example – the Golden Hawks lost to Buford in last year’s state championship game. This year, however, WaCo is our preseason No. 1 in Class AAA.
Quarterback A.J. Gray (a Georgia Tech commitment) leads the Golden Hawks’ offense while Logan Hunt and Will Conaway anchor WaCo’s usual aggressive and stout defense. Coach Joel Ingram’s group has made the playoffs all but one time since 2005, his first year.
Calhoun has risen to Class AAA after an uber-successful stint one class below. The Yellow Jackets won at least 10 games every year since 2011 in AA including the state championship in 2011. We have the Jackets at No. 2 in a classification that was riddled with teams being classed up to AAAA.
Top recruit Terry Godwin leads what could potentially be Callaway’s best team ever. The Cavaliers have made the state semifinals once and quarterfinals multiple times, but this year’s squad may be better than any of those editions. Godwin is one of the top prospects in the 2015 class and is committed to Georgia after starring as a wide receiver/defensive back at Callaway.
Blessed Trinity has become consistently successful under coach Tim McFarlin, but has struggled to make its way to the elite of Class AAA. Last year’s quarterfinals berth is the furthest the Titans have advanced in the playoffs, and they look like a good bet to make it at least that far this year. There are no true stars on McFarlin’s squad, but it competed with the big boys in the Corky Kell 7-on-7 this summer and is consistently solid throughout the depth chart.
Peach County, one of the AAA’s top programs, rounds out the top five. The Trojans are coming off just an 8-win season, a disappointment in Fort Valley. The last time Peach County won just eight games, the Trojans bounced back the following season to go 15-0 and win the state title.
Cook, Ringgold, Jefferson, Hart County and Central-Carroll round out the top 10. Cook and Jefferson have each moved up from AA. Jefferson won the AA title in 2012.
CLASS AAA PRESEASON POLL
1. Washington County
2. Calhoun
3. Callaway
4. Blessed Trinity
5. Peach County
6. Cook
7. Ringgold
8. Jefferson
9. Hart County
10. Central-Carroll
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