Upsets reigned down in the second full week of the 2011 Georgia high school football schedule. Even though the Indians won last year, many Lowndes Vikings fans refused to give McEachern its due for the victory. Now, there is no doubt that the Indians are a title contender. A stirring win over North Gwinnett plus the road victory over Lowndes forecasts a special season for quarterback Trent Thompson and company. … Randy McPherson picked up his 100th win in the season opener, but he has struggled the past few seasons with teams from the metro-Atlanta area. From 2002-2005, McPherson was 13-0 at Lowndes against Atlanta-area schools but is just 4-3 in his last seven games. … Stephenson’s defensive line and running back received all of the headlines entering the year, but wide receiver DeMarcus Sweat has been THE story the last two weeks in Jaguars victories. He is a playmaker, and took two receptions to the house against Cedar Grove. … Grady beat Blessed Trinity in the GPB.org game of the week and while the Grey Knights are talented, I got the feeling that next year could really be special for coach Ronnie Millen and Grady. DeShawn Benton is could be better than Damian Swann. … Buford continues to churn out blowout victories. Can anyone in the state stop this Buford squad which could be the best Wolves team ever? Lovett has a shot on Sept. 23 and Buford plays Florida power Yulee this Saturday. … In August, we saw the defending Class AAAAA champion (Brookwood) lose its opener and in September, the Class AAAA champ (Chattahoochee) lost its season debut, both on GPB-TV. While no other champion can lose its opener, if any of the other defending champions should feel vulnerable, I would say that Clinch County might feel the heat this Friday when the Panthers travel to No. 5 Wilcox County.
Rankings 9/4/11
Class AAAAA
1. Camden County
2. Colquitt County
3. McEachern
4. Grayson
5. Stephenson
6. Walton
7. Hillgrove
8. North Gwinnett
9. ML King
10. Lowndes
AAAA
1. Tucker
2. Flowery Branch
3. Statesboro
4. Northside-WR
5. East Paulding
6. Starr’s Mill
7. Ware County
8. Lambert
9. Kell
10. Marist
AAA
1. Sandy Creek
2. Peach County
3. St. Pius X
4. Allatoona
5. Burke County
6. Stone Mountain
7. Carrollton
8. Mary Persons
9. Cairo
10. Grady
AA
1. Buford
2. Calhoun
3. GAC
4. Jefferson
5. Lovett
6. Dublin
7. Pepperell
8. Carver-Columbus
9. Vidalia
10. Fitzgerald
A
1. Clinch County
2. Wilkinson County
3. Charlton County
4. Savannah Christian
5. Wilcox County
6. ECI
7. Warren County
8. ELCA
9. Lincoln County
10. Wesleyan