The following is an excerpt from the September 8 edition of the Georgia High School Football Daily, an e-mail newsletter compiled by longtime Georgia high school football writers Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye:
Weekend Roundup:
10 BIG SURPRISES
Brooks County 27, Tift County 7: We understand that Brooks County beat Tift County even worse (35-7) in 2008 and that Tift got beat 42-7 the week before by Roswell, but it’s still hard to fathom getting smoked so badly by a Class AA school, even a good one such as Brooks. Tift went on to finish third in Region 1-AAAAA last season and beat M.L. King in the playoffs. Against Brooks, Tift’s defense – which returned only one starter – was flagged nine times for being offsides. Leading 20-7 early in the fourth quarter, Brooks County converted a fourth-and-14 with a 33-yard touchdown pass (Keojuan Rose to Todd Manning) to put the game away.
Chattahoochee County 42, Brookstone 20: Let us get this straight: Brookstone blew through Region 4-A last season with a 9-0 record and returned its top passer, rusher, receiver, blocker and tackler. Chattahoochee County, a team that has never won a state playoff game and lost to Brookstone 36-13 last season, graduated a first-team all-state quarterback and three other players who got all-state honorable mention. And Chattahoochee County spots Brookstone a 13-0 lead. Yep, we saw that coming from a mile away.
Irwin County 14, Clinch County 7: Irwin County is coming off a 2-8 finish, its worst in 14 years. In its opener, Irwin lost to Fitzgerald 63-0. Clinch was the preseason No. 3 team in Class A. Looking at Clinch’s favorable state-playoff draw if it wins Region 1-A, some publication (perhaps GHSF Daily, we don’t recall) predicted the Panthers would reach the state final with all-state candidates such as QB Vintavious Cooper, RB Anthony McNeill and OL Clay Cross. Kudos to Irwin’s defense, which returned 10 starters from a unit that allowed 28.5 points per game last year and never held any team to less than 10.
Lowndes 51, Peachtree Ridge 17: Lowndes coach Randy McPherson said this game would be a learning experience for his players. So what did he take from it? “I learned they want to win,” McPherson told the Valdosta Daily Times. McPherson says more in fewer words than any coach in the state. Losing to Grayson in the quarterfinals ensured that effort and desire won’t be issues for the Vikings this season. Tyler Hunter returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Two plays later, he returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. On Peachtree Ridge’s next possession, Hunter forced a fumble that set up a 43-yard field goal. It was 17-0, and the rout was on.
McEachern 49, Etowah 10: Etowah is the defending champ in Region 5-AAAAA, but McEachern is the hottest team out of the gate. McEachern had 368 yards rushing and scored on a punt return and a fake punt. Star running back Rajaan Bennett had 97 yards rushing.
North Gwinnett 41, Brookwood 13: If it wasn’t obvious that North Gwinnett is a state power and that Brookwood isn’t any more, this settled it. Until this season, Brookwood had never allowed 30 points in a regular-season game since losing to Valdosta 31-28 in the 1996 Corky Kell Classic. Now, the Broncos have surrendered 40-plus in each of its first two games, and North Gwinnett is poised to do something Brookwood has never done: Win 10 games or more in four straight seasons.
Sandy Creek 48, Shaw 7: Two seasons ago, Shaw lost only two games – each to a Class AAA finalist, Cairo and Carver of Columbus. Now, Shaw has lost 48-7 and 49-0 to teams that beat Shaw by one point (33-32 and 17-16) last season. It begs the question: Can Columbus support two state-contending football teams? It’s Carver’s town now. But don’t forget that Sandy Creek, ranked No. 5 in preseason, is pretty good. DB Isaiah Johnson, DE Lacy Coleman and RB Rajion Neal each are rated among the top 70 prospects in Georgia, according to Scout.com.
Savannah Christian 34, ECI 0: Savannah Christian put up one point for every game that ECI had won in its 34-game regular-season winning streak that came to an emphatic end and signaled a changing of the guard in Region 3-A. Savannah Christian is 31-7 in the past four seasons, and the first two came in Class AA. With the growing success that private schools are having in football in Class A, Savannah Christian is looking like the Wesleyan of South Georgia, a program that could be destined for a state title within a few years. Chris Barnwell is the kind of running back one typically sees on a state contender.
Whitefield Academy 21, Athens Academy 15: Athens Academy lost a ton of talent and was projected to be down, and Whitefield Academy was 10-2 last season. But Whitefield also lost to Walker in its opener (a team it beat 44-22 last year), and Athens Academy had never lost to Whitefield, including a 40-14 pounding last year.
Woodland (Stockbridge) 31, Worth County 13: Reversal of fortune: Woodland lost 75-14 last week to Lowndes. Worth County beat Turner County 39-0. Worth County considers itself a playoff contender in Region 1-AAA. After this, Woodland is thinking playoffs in soft 4-AAA in its third season of varsity football.
In The News:
Lowndes moves to No. 6 in national poll
Lowndes moved up 14 places to No. 6 in the MaxPreps Top 25 on Monday after beating Peachtree Ridge 51-17 last week.
Lowndes was ranked No. 21 by RivalsHigh 100, No. 16 by USA Today and No. 5 in the National Prep Poll. Those rankings will be updated later this week.
In the top 10
On Mondays, GHSF Daily gives a summary of how the state’s top 10 teams in each classification performed in their games the previous week. We missed a couple this week. Here’s an update on …
Class AAAA
6. North Clayton (2-0)
Last week: Beat Banneker 28-6. Clarence Jackson rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns. North Clayton led only 7-6 at halftime. North Clayton cut its turnovers down to one after having four in its opener against Riverdale. Next: Friday vs. Alcovy.
Class AA
3. Fitzgerald (2-0)
Last week: Beat Hawkinsville 62-0. Fitzgerald allowed no first downs and held Hawkinsville to minus-10 total yards. Nick Williams rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns on nine attempts. Fitzgerald led 49-0 at halftime. Next: Friday vs. Worth County
Region Standings: Class AAAA:
Region 1-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week* |
| Americus-Sumter |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Crisp Co. 21-14 | vs. Hardaway |
| Bainbridge |
0-0 |
2-0 |
Off | at Lee Co. |
| Hardaway |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Cent., Macon 16-12 | at Americus-Sumter |
| Jones County |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Calhoun Co. 34-12 | at Harris Co. |
| Westside (Macon) |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Forest Park 54-0 | at Upson-Lee |
| Harris County |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. NE, Macon 28-14 | vs. Jones Co. |
| Thomas Co. Central |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Cairo 14-3 | Off |
| Upson-Lee |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Whitewater 31-15 | vs. Westside, Macon |
| Lee County |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Dutchtown 46-28 | vs. Bainbridge |
Region 2-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Statesboro |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Groves 44-0 | vs. Burke Co. |
| Brunswick |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Cook 16-10 | Off |
| South Effingham |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Jenkins 26-14 | at Johnson, Sav. (SCD) |
| Ware County |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Burke Co. 19-14 | vs. Lowndes |
| Effingham County |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Appling Co. 3-0 | at Liberty Co. |
| Glynn Academy |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to McIntosh Co. 18-0 | at Monroe (Sat., M) |
| Wayne County |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Bradwell Inst. 21-6 | vs. Colquitt Co. |
Region 3-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Hephzibah |
2-0 |
2-0 |
d. Josey 48-0 | at Lincoln Co. |
| Richmond Academy |
2-0 |
2-0 |
d. Butler 38-6 | at Josey (WRS) |
| Lakeside-Evans |
1-0 |
1-0 |
d. Evans 17-0 | at Greenbrier |
| Westside (Augusta) |
1-1 |
1-1 |
d. Cross Creek 14-7 | vs. Aquinas |
| Glenn Hills |
0-0 |
0-1 |
Off | at Harlem |
| Harlem |
0-0 |
0-1 |
l. to Greenbrier 27-12 | vs. Glenn Hills |
| Evans |
0-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Lakeside, Ev. 17-0 | Off |
| Cross Creek |
0-1 |
0-2 |
l. to Westside, Aug. 14-7 | Off |
| Josey |
0-1 |
0-2 |
l. to Hephzibah 48-0 | vs. Richmond Ac. (WRS) |
| Butler |
0-2 |
0-2 |
l. to Richmond Ac. 38-6 | at Elbert Co. |
| Grovetown |
|
2-1 |
d. L. Hughes 35-20 | at Allatoona |
Region 4-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Alcovy |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Eastside 3-0 | at North Clayton (SC) |
| Dutchtown |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Lee Co. 46-28 | at Stockbridge |
| Griffin |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Spalding 42-10 | vs. Ola |
| Mt. Zion (Jonesboro) |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Shiloh 40-10 | at Forest Park (T) |
| North Clayton |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Banneker 28-6 | vs. Alcovy (SC) |
| Jonesboro |
0-0 |
1-0 |
Off | at Valdosta |
| Forest Park |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Westside, M. 54-0 | vs. Mt. Zion, Jones. (T) |
| Ola |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Luella 29-28 | at Griffin |
| Stockbridge |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Union Grove 21-6 | vs. Dutchtown |
Region 5-AAAA
Division A
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Whitewater |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Upson-Lee 31-15 | at Mays (L) |
| Fayette County |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Houston Co. 28-20 | vs. Douglas Co. |
| McIntosh |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Newton 42-14 | at Lithia Springs |
| Northgate |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Alexander 14-0 | at Banneker |
| Sandy Creek |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Shaw 48-7 | vs. Alexander |
| Starr’s Mill |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Villa Rica 20-13 | at Tri-Cities |
| Langston Hughes |
|
0-2 |
l. to Grovetown 35-20 | at Brooks Co. |
Division B
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Mays |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Douglass 20-6 | vs. Whitewater (L) |
| Alexander |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Northgate 14-0 | at Sandy Creek |
| Banneker |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. N. Clayton 28-6 | vs. Northgate |
| Villa Rica |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Starr’s Mill 20-13 | vs. Pepperell |
| Douglas County |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Carrollton 31-7 | at Fayette Co. |
| Lithia Springs |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Manchester 25-24 | vs. McIntosh |
| Tri-Cities |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Carver, Col. 39-13 | vs. Starr’s Mill |
Region 6-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Chamblee |
1-0 |
2-0 |
d. N. Springs 33-0 | at Marist |
| Tucker |
1-0 |
2-0 |
d. Lakeside, Atl. 60-27 | vs. Lithonia (A) |
| Lithonia |
1-0 |
1-1 |
d. Forsyth Cent. 26-16 | at Tucker (A) |
| Marist |
1-0 |
1-1 |
d. Stone Mtn. 49-20 | vs. Chamblee |
| Southwest DeKalb |
1-0 |
1-1 |
d. Miller Grove 21-7 | at Forsyth Central |
| Lakeside (Atlanta) |
0-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Tucker 60-27 | at North Springs |
| Miller Grove |
0-1 |
1-1 |
l. to SW DeKalb 21-7 | vs. Stone Mtn. (Sat., HS) |
| North Springs |
0-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Chamblee 33-0 | vs. Lakeside, DeKalb |
| Stone Mountain |
0-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Marist 49-20 | at Miller Grove (Sat., HS) |
| Forsyth Central |
0-1 |
0-2 |
l. to Lithonia 26-16 | vs. SW DeKalb |
Region 7-AAAA
Division A
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Dalton |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Sprayberry 27-21 | at South Paulding |
| Murray County |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Osborne 17-0 | at LaFayette |
| Northwest Whitfield |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Hiram 19-6 | at Sprayberry |
| Sequoyah |
0-0 |
1-1 |
l. to Creekview 13-7 | at Hillgrove |
| Woodland (Bartow) |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Paulding Co. 39-28 | at Osborne |
| Cass |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to S. Paulding 17-14 | at Hiram |
| Rome |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Hillgrove 14-3 | at Paulding Co. |
Division B
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Hillgrove |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Rome 14-3 | vs. Sequoyah |
| Hiram |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. NW Whitfield 19-6 | vs. Cass |
| South Paulding |
0-0 |
2-0 |
d. Cass 17-14 | vs. Dalton |
| Osborne |
0-0 |
1-1 |
d. Murray Co. 17-0 | vs. Woodland, Bartow |
| Paulding County |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Woodland 39-28 | vs. Rome |
| Sprayberry |
0-0 |
0-2 |
l. to Dalton 27-21 | vs. Northwest Whitfield |
| Allatoona |
|
0-2 |
l. to Chattooga 41-14 | vs. Grovetown |
| North Paulding |
|
0-2 |
l. to Armuchee 35-14 | vs. Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. |
Region 8-AAAA
| Team |
Reg. |
All |
Last week | This week |
| Apalachee |
2-0 |
2-0 |
d. Cedar Shoals 12-6 | Off |
| Clarke Central |
2-0 |
2-0 |
d. Monroe Area 21-7 | vs. Habersham Central |
| Salem |
2-0 |
2-0 |
d. Rockdale Co. 21-14 | at Loganville |
| Cedar Shoals |
1-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Apalachee 12-6 | vs. Winder-Barrow |
| Habersham Central |
1-1 |
1-1 |
d. Heritage, Con. 13-12 | at Clarke Central |
| Madison County |
1-1 |
1-1 |
d. Winder-Barrow 35-29 | at Monroe Area |
| Rockdale County |
1-1 |
1-1 |
l. to Salem 21-14 | at Heritage, Conyers |
| Loganville |
0-1 |
0-1 |
Off | vs. Salem |
| Winder-Barrow |
0-1 |
0-1 |
l. to Madison Co. 35-29 | at Cedar Shoals |
| Heritage (Conyers) |
0-2 |
0-2 |
l. to Habersham 13-12 | vs. Rockdale Co. |
| Monroe Area |
0-2 |
0-2 |
l. to Clarke Cent. 21-7 | vs. Madison Co. |
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