Prep Zone

By Hornets of Roswell

October 2, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this

Todd, I can understand Roswell dropping, but totally outside of the Top 10? They’ve been ranked since the preseason, so why the total abscense?

By It is about you Todd

October 2, 2006 05:29 PM | Link to this

I too can understand Roswell dropping in the polls, but for them to drop from #1 to completely out of the top 10 with a 14-3 loss really turns the focus to your inability to accurately rank anyone. Fortunately your ranking means absolutely nothing and there is a playoff system we can rely on.

By 01'Wildcat

October 2, 2006 06:01 PM | Link to this

I can understand that roswell has dropped out of the top ten. They lost to a team that people on here about because they beat a number one team. Anyway, Camden, lowndes, and possible tift are the only REAL state contenders. Any yes, the playoffs will be where all the arguments will be settled.

By JoJo

October 2, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this

Hey 01 Wildcat. Does the title mean that you graduated in 2001??

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 07:24 PM | Link to this

I think Roswell’s ejection from the Top 10 was justified. Should Roswell be ahead of undefeated South Cobb? Or once-beaten Harrison, a team whose loss was by one point to Lowndes? Roswell lost to a twice-beaten team that likely will lose a couple more.

One thing to remember is that I’m not ranking the teams based on how good I think they are. (Sounds absurd, I know, but follow me for a second.) I’m ranking them based on where I believe they deserve to be ranked based on this season’s results. If this season’s results don’t separate teams, then I consider last season. Roswell was the only preseason Top 10 team still undefeated. It was the reigning region champ still undefeated. The AP and coaches polls also had Roswell No. 1. Roswell was the correct choice for Sept. 25.

Frankly, it’s easier to defend Roswell as No. 1 last week and unranked this week than it is to defend North Gwinnett as No. 1 this week. Hard to separate the top 4-5 this week.

By Bear Fan

October 2, 2006 07:53 PM | Link to this

Todd,

You and this paper can bite me! This sucks and Griffin is being ignored by people who obviously don’t see the scores or know anything about football. We DEMOLISHED! North Clayton and here we still sit at #2. Get your head of your tush and move us where we belong. Call Mr. Super 11 at North Clayton and ask him who he thinks is number one.

By Chuck D

October 2, 2006 08:05 PM | Link to this

Next week will make it 5 when Tift County takes over after beating Valdosta.

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

BearFan:

I can only say that I wrestled with that one for quite awhile because Griffin was my original No. 1, and Griffin shelled a team that Northside had some trouble with. But Northside has played the tougher schedule overall, having beaten two pretty good AAAAA teams in Houston County and Warner Robins. Northside also played at North Clayton a week after the emotional game with its archrival, WR. And the more I do this, the less I like to disrespect the results of 2005 (when Northside beat Griffin) when the 2006 results are pretty comparable.

But I don’t think there is a media member outside of Griffin that has thought and still thinks more highly of Griffin than I do.

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this

Chuck D:

You might be right about five No. 1’s in five weeks. If Tift County defeats Valdosta handily, that might be the separation that Tift needs among a half-dozen near equals. Of course, that’s what I told BearFan about Griffin last week, but I didn’t pull the trigger.

I went into this believing that each team should be evaluated anew each week, not based on last week’s game but on the season as a whole. That’s not a very popular way to do it, because most believe that an unbeaten No. 1 should stay No. 1 until it loses. Not sure I agree. We’ll say how it plays out. In the end, if a 1-AAAAA team is 9-0, it will be hard not to rank that team No. 1 due to schedule strength. I would say 10-0, but by then, North Gwinnett might have just beaten 9-1 Norcross.

By GR

October 2, 2006 08:53 PM | Link to this

This constant complaining by Griffin fans is ridiculous! Griffin has not beaten Northside since 1996. When Griffin finally wins a significant game, Griffin can serve as the #1 team in the state. Todd picks Northside #1, because Northside is #1. For a matter of fact, Northside is the best team in any classification.

Griffin has played Northside 4 times since 2000. Griffin is 0-4…winless! Furthermore, Griffin averages 1.75 points per game in that time. Northside averages 28.75 points per game. Griffin has scored a total of 28 points dating back eight seasons. Northside averages more than that per contest.

Northside schedules some powerful teams to open the season. Griffin could do the same. Instead, the green wants to cry and complain about rankings (which mean nothing). Playing a game like the Northside-Warner Robins game (rated as one of the top 10 HS football rivalries in America by some) takes a little out of you.

Of course, Griffin has no rivalries. Griffin has had opportunities to make the Northside-Griffin game a rivalry. Of course, Griffin would have to be competitive for those games to become rivalries. Instead of competing, Griffin fans complain as their poor Bears are regular whipping boys to the mighty Northside Eagles.

Evidence of Griffin mediocrity (I can not believe that Griffin fans are so excited about simply reaching the Dome…a place your team looked scared fumbling opportunity after opportunity-inside the 10 yard line-to reach the State Championship another beating from Northside): 9.2.05: Northside 14, Griffin 7 (NHS advances to the State Championship game) 9.3.04: Northside 30, Griffin 0 9.21.01: Northside 37, Griffin 0 9.22.00: Northside 34, Griffin 0 11.19.99: Northside 31, Griffin 7 9.5.97: Northside 21, Griffin 14…

…this story goes on and on and on and on. We own Griffin! Griffin does not belong as the top ranked team.

By Fan 06

October 2, 2006 08:58 PM | Link to this

I think St Pius shoul dbe given a little bit of respect for their fine start. Before the season everyone said they would be 2-3 or worse at the break. These kids are 5-0 and no one seems to care, especially the AJC and the surrounding areas. Tucker is 3-2 and gets in the headlines every week as well as Marist at 4-1.

By GR

October 2, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

Todd, Northside beat Griffin last season at Griffin 14-7 and advanced to the State Championship in 2005. Furthermore, Northside has displayed an ability to regularly kick Griffin around. Griffin has to prove that their team can win a big game. Todd, you saw Griffin player totally fold and fumble away opportunity after opportunity to put away Statesboro in the semifinals at the Georgia Dome.

Northside ran up the score on Griffin in 2004, 30-0. Northside ran up the score the time before that in 2001, 37-0. Oh yes, Todd Northside beat Griffin mercilessly the time before that in 2000, 34-0. Griffin showed some more fight the time they played Northside before that only losing to Northside 31-7.

Todd, you don’t have to explain yourself to Griffin fans. When Griffin beats Northside, Griffin can beat their chests. Until then, we have to evaluate the Bears body of work. Their is no reason to believe that Griffin can beat Northside. Playing Northside constitutes a big game for any team in Georgia. Someone tell me the last big game that Griffin HS has won. Bear fans…North Clayton, Spalding, and Upson-Lee just does not count.

Northside has played and beaten the best in the state. Whether it is Warner Robins, Lowndes County, Camden County, Parkview, Valdosta, Statesboro, Peach County…you name it. Griffin can play these types of programs. If they do so Todd, you and the AJC staff should give them more respect and credit.

Look at the high schools in Warner Robins. One school (Warner Robins) plays Parkview, Northside-WR, and Central Gwinnett to open the season. Houston County has played a great schedule and Northside has already beaten two strong 5A schools. Griffin Bear fans do not have a leg to stand on in the Northside-Griffin debate. There is no debate.

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this

GR:

I try to make arguments like yours all the time here, but people tell me it’s 2006 that counts. And they are right — to the extent that what has happened so far in 2006 allows you to separate teams.

In 2006, the only thing separating N’side and Griffin is the fact that N’side has played three pretty good teams, while Griffin has played one. Perhaps Griffin off-sets that by having performed much better against the one common opponent.

Essentially, it’s a wash. So the recent past — Northside’s victory over Griffin last season — is not a bad tiebreaker.

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 09:09 PM | Link to this

Fan 06:

St. Pius is No. 10 in my rankings. It’s the jokers w/ the AP poll that didn’t have Pius ranked but had Tucker No. 10 last week. And Marist was No. 8.

The AP:

Marist > Tucker > St. Pius

What really happened:

St. Pius > Tucker > Marist.

I don’t get it.

By 34Diva

October 2, 2006 09:23 PM | Link to this

Todd: Disagree that NSide has whipped 2 good 5A teams; i was at the HoCo — WR game Friday. Neither of those teams is near pretty good; neither has an offense. NSide’s first real test is coming up in 2 weeks at Baldwin. NSide will pass the test! Go EAGLES!

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 09:33 PM | Link to this

Well, Diva, I probably just have a looser definition of ”pretty good” than you do. They’re not Top 10 teams, but they’re probably among the best 20-30 in AAAAA. That’s pretty good to me. But maybe you’re right. You’re definitely right about Baldwin.

By 01'Wildcat

October 2, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this

JoJo. Yes I did grad in 01’. Alot of folks have a problem with Camden co ranked where they are. However, I believe they’re probably the best team in the top ten. There are teams that are undefeated, but undefeated against what kind of teams? Besides, #1 is a jinx right now. I’ll happily take #2!!!

By 01'Wildcat

October 2, 2006 09:43 PM | Link to this

Oh, I forgot to mention that if Tift beats valdosta, even handily. It won’t prove anything except they can win against a 1-4 team. Even if they’re the best 1-4 team of all time! (chuckle, chuckle) Why people still look at valdosta this year as a team to prove yourself against, I’ll never know. Maybe next year, but certainly not in this one.

By Kyle

October 2, 2006 09:43 PM | Link to this

So Todd, if your all about records and schedules, where in the world is the justification for Brookwood. Yes, they played tough competition, but you’re forgetting one small detail. They lost. They didn’t win either of their games. They have no justification for being ranked #8 in the state. Almost doesn’t count except for horseshoes and hand grenades.

By thomas

October 2, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this

northside runs up the score but when the marbles are on the table conrad nix chokes like a queer at a weiner factory

By fan 06

October 2, 2006 09:57 PM | Link to this

People… stan dup and give St Pius their due.. They are a fine team striving to be great

By Norcross '97

October 2, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this

Todd, do some research. Norcross finished 11-2 in 1991 and ended the season #7 in the state. In 1994, Norcross was 10-0, the first team from Gwinnett to go undefeated in the state’s highest classification (AAAA at the time) and went into the playoffs as #6 in the state. In 1995, Norcross was #4 in the state after week 3 of the season.

So, for you to say that “Norcross had never been ranked higher than No. 10 at any point since starting varsity football in 1961” is a falsehood. How can I trust anything else you say if you can’t do some simple research?

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 10:08 PM | Link to this

Re: Brookwood

You don’t get credit just for playing good teams, but you don’t get penalized either, provided that you play them closely. I see no evidence that any team below Brookwood would’ve done any better vs. Camden or North Gwinnett. If Camden and N.Gwinnett begin to lose, or if teams behind Brookwood have significant wins, then the house of cards might begin to fall. And while people like to call Valdosta a 1-4 team, I think any reasonable person knows this is not an easy team to beat. Do you think Tift believes this week that Valdosta will be one of the easier teams it has to face?

By Fan 06

October 2, 2006 10:41 PM | Link to this

AAAA is by far better than AAAAA right now. The competition in AAAA is week by week more interesting. People get carried away and think that AAAAA is the best because it is the highest classification. There are a few lower level teams that would fare well in AAAA and AAAAA. Such as: Fitzgerald, Charlton, Buford, Peach, Etc…. Don’t think that AAAAA is the supreme class just because of enrollment

By Todd Holcomb

October 2, 2006 10:42 PM | Link to this

Norcross ‘97:

My error. I meant North Gwinnett. That’s the team I was discussing, but I typed Norcross. I just called in to correct that error, as I can’t edit it online. Yes, Norcross has a much better history than North Gwinnett. Norcross definitely had some good teams in the ’90s w/ England and Daniels and Backus.

By Bear Fan

October 2, 2006 10:57 PM | Link to this

Dear GR,

I see you are somewhat of a historian. Well please venture back to the days when it was Griffin playing those cross town Demons for the state. We were the guys winning the state down in Valdosta , we were the guys playing Lowndes for the state. From what the records show Northside was an all girls school until about 1996. When we split schools you boys took us to the wood shed, I agree. Last year you were also better than us. Somehow and as usual, you pooped the bed and did not even get to the dome. I assume “GR” stands for “great review” of the past, or is that “Great Runner Up?” Let’s go back to this year and reality. You can call the North Clayton boys and ask them who is number one. I would say we can decide this in the dome, but as usual, I am not certain NWR will even be there. That is sad……

By Joe Manzini

October 2, 2006 11:43 PM | Link to this

roswell deserves to drop out of the top then they were over-rated in the first place

By griffinalumni02

October 3, 2006 12:16 AM | Link to this

ok i understand ns warner ronbins played played two good aaaaa griffin will crush them to i’m not going to lie but i played for griffin 98-01 and right now they have the best defense in the state there de 6’6 aqnd the other one 6’5 and they are some best i went to the game when the played the super 11 guy and after the game we didn’t know who he was and again there was some northside fans in the crowd ask any fan that went to that game griffin should be #1 and for bobby rainey and sidney harris giev my bois some credit ya’ll should have changed it to SUPER 13 GRIFFIN BEARS AAAA STATE CHAMPS

By NGJacket

October 3, 2006 12:24 AM | Link to this

Todd,

You’ve ranked North Gwinnett at no. 1 and have all but apologized for it! Why not defend your decision with at least a LITTLE bit of praise and respect N. Gwinnett? After all they have knocked off some very good teams - playing strong games against Walton and Brookwood (albeit when Brookwood was shorthanded) and then pulling a very convincing win against a great Collins Hill team last week. Even though the score reads 20-6, the game was much more a blowout than the score suggests.

Few have mentioned likewise that North held Collins Hill to just over 80 yards of total offense. Offensively North is averaging almost 28 points/game and is scoring more often in the second half than the first (38 points in the 4th quarter alone). I haven’t seen an offense that has operated this efficiently since Parkview of the late 90’s and early 00’s.

They may not be big but they have many athletic talents including a very underrated 6-4 220 tight end in Rodd amongst a group of much more hyped recievers. Their sophomore QB is already a rock-star and the whole team is orchestrated by a genious of a new coach with a reputation for building programs.

Come on Holcomb, even if you have a counter-argument to all of those points, doesn’t North deserve at least a little respect for being “No. 1”. They likely will be longest to hold the position after all.

By Dre

October 3, 2006 01:37 AM | Link to this

Why must rankings be ranked on how the other team opponents fair. This isn’t the AP Poll, there’s no “strength” of schedule here. Whatever happen to wins and losses??? This is only HIGH SCHOOL! C’mon Todd, you have to agree with me on this just a bit. And where’s my Douglass high school at?? Lol. Seriously though, If Douglass wins this week over MLK you have to agree that’s a big win. MLK is not just beating lil regular teams around here. They are playing the big boys and winning big. So you guys know how big of game this is this weekend. Oh well, Sunday I hope to see my ‘Stros somewhere in the top 10 at 5-0

By Todd Holcomb

October 3, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

Dre: MLK and Douglass would’ve been 11-12 if this was a Top 20. But if the rankings were W-L and not strength of schedule, then this would just be standings. There would be nothing to debate. No fun in that.

By Todd Holcomb

October 3, 2006 08:54 AM | Link to this

North Gwinnett:

Good point of my failure to defend the Bulldogs. … I guess it sounded like I was apologizing. I intended merely to point out how remarkable it was to have four No. 1 teams in four weeks and how unusual a choice North Gwinnett is considering NG’s history.

But, contrary to rumor that I get a weekly bonus of $100 for every Gwinnett team that I rank No. 1, I certainly believe NG was the choice, albeit a choice among near-equals that are in the Top Five.

NG went to Brookwood and shut down a team that moved the ball quite well against No. 2 Camden County. Camden was much more fortunate to beat BW than NG was.

Further, NG went to Collins Hill and dominated a team that gave more trouble to the AP’s No. 1 team, Tift County. Not sure if South Georgia appreciates that Collins Hill is a darned good team.

So hail to the Bulldogs. I think they’ve earned it.

By Todd Holcomb

October 3, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

And finally, this is my favorite part of the week, when I look at the AP poll and do to it what you guys do to me: Criticize.

Colquitt County and Tift County are co-No. 1. I’ve got no problem with those, even if I believe North Gwinnett is the better choice. Just honest people disagreeing. Norcross is No. 3, Camden No. 4, NG No. 5.

Here’s what I think is a failure to think outside the box: Roswell is No. 7 in the AP poll. With one loss to a twice-beaten team and no wins over teams with winning records, is Roswell more deserving of a ranking than unbeatens South Cobb, ML King and Douglass? Some people thought Roswell should’ve been behind those three when Roswell was still undfeated. It would be different if SC, ML King and Douglass were bad teams last season that were 4-0 due to bad schedules, but that’s not the case. All made the playoffs last year.

Rome is No. 10 in AAAA. Rome lost to the No. 10 team from AAA, Cartersville. Westside of Macon beat the No. 6 team from AAA, Peach County. Westside is undefeated. Westside is unranked. Why Rome and not Westside? Just wrong.

In AAA, Stephens County and Peach County each have one loss. But Stephens lost to a AA team, Dublin. Peach lost to a AAAA school, Westside. OK, maybe Dublin is better than Westside. But Peach also is the defending state champ, beat Stephens 56-42 in the QF last season and was ranked No. 1 in preseason. How did Stephens sneak its way to No. 5, while Peach is No. 6?

Also in AAA, Cartersville is behind both Peach and Stephens, at No. 10. Cartersville’s loss, like Stephens County’s, was to a highly ranked AA team, Buford. But unlike Stephens, Cartersville has a high-quality win over a ranked opponent from the higher classification, Rome. So why Stephens ahead of Cartersville? Perhaps because Stephens beat Cartersville in the playoffs last season. OK, but if that’s the logic, Stephens most definitely should be behind Peach.

And why are 95 of posters here fans of AAAAA schools, Northside or Griffin? Not many AAA, AA or A fans. Does anyone care about the smaller schools? Or is it AAAAA that I need the most help on?

By Yo

October 3, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

I think the Griffin/Northside fans fussing over who should be #1 is a legitimate thing. They both realize the history that tells us it is the only time they have at being #1. Both schools always manage to be somewhere below #1 at the end of the year, no matter how talented they are.

By KSShake

October 3, 2006 10:58 AM | Link to this

Dre, you can forget Doug getting ranked or ML King if they won the game for that matter. This is a School Preference, Gwinnett/North Fulton Popularity Poll. Douglass, ML King, Stephenson, and South Cobb have to move mountains and have D1 prospects all through their roster to get respect and recognition. And when they beat someone from their area it’s not given the same respect. I’m just gonna start saying “for whatever reason”. That way, people will think I don’t know what’s going on. And I won’t have to read the same tired excuses that are used to justify the consistent pattern of excluding CERTAIN teams. ML King, Douglass, Stephenson, South Cobb, and Campbell (even though they laid an egg against Etowah). Man, talk up a Cobb team and they let you down EVERYtime!

No matter who you support, if you know anything about high school football in Georgia, you gotta be interested in whose gonna come out of that 1AAAAA region. Boy that thing is thick this year.

Now I’ll give credit to Collins Hill, North and Central Gwinnett for being improved and tougher than they’ve benn in the past. (They closed the gap on Parkview and Brookwood pretty fast). Collins Hill should be in the top 25 in the country every year, don’t they got like 4 or 5 thousand in enrollment at that school. I wish instead of opening up a new school (ML King), they Dekalb had just made a bigger, better SW Dekalb (just think about the combined undefeated teams and coaching staffs, and ther combined enrollment woul be comparable with larger school like Collins Hill, Chattahoochee, Lassiter, North Gwinnett, Brookwood and Milton).

By Joe

October 3, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this

Please spare me the “bigger school” rhetoric. Collins hill has roughly 3500 students, and Mill Creek have over 3600. Central, Norcross, North, South, and Parkview all have roughly 2600 students.

Even Lowndes have 2700.

By KSShake

October 3, 2006 01:21 PM | Link to this

I knew somebody would say that. And you’ve kinda got a point. Coach Godfrey at SW Dekalb NEVER has complained publicly or made excuses about it. I personally, wish that that was done with ML King and SW Dekalb and alot of folks in Dekalb feel the same way. But there’s a big push to reduce class sizes, which means more schools with less kids. I realize that it maybe something statewide. But in our own little inner circle of Dekalb and city of Atlanta, when some of us discuss high school football and OUR local, neighborhood, or community, WE talk about that amongst ourseleves, as well as other things that would improve and make things different for our teams. I don’t want to back and forth with you about it your obviously like the Gwinnett Schools Superintendent or mascot or something.

Back to the subject. ML King and Douglass should be ranked. I won’t mention Stephenson or Campbell because Roswell lost and fell off the top 10 map as well. Though I’d put Stephenson’s 7-10 lost to McNair (who never gets any respect no matter if they’re 1-3 or 5-0. Every year they have a tough, athletic, physical football team that goes pretty much unnoticed, and I bet they still make the playoffs). Wheeler’s RECENT history is no better.

North Gwinnett may be #1 but they aren’t even in the top 3 in Gwinnett (Dacula, Buford, Central, and perhaps GAC are ALL better). Ain’t that funny!

By tony

October 3, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

Does someone at AJC have a relative that plays for Brookwood or something??? Why I ask..well they have lost 2 games, regardless of the team they lost to, they lost, but they remain in the top 10 when your have 2 other AAAAA that are undefeated and the state runner up in the AAAAAA class with just on loss. Can someone explain that??

By CarverofColumbus

October 3, 2006 02:50 PM | Link to this

In regards to your question about the the majority of the posters having issues with your 5 and 4-A poll, I think that it is the later. It is obvious that 5-A is going to be a toss up this year.I agree with you on giving the nod to Northside over Griffen, because Griffen has not scheduled the caliber of teams that Northside has.

As for AAA, I see that you are starting to recognize the power of the region that Lagrange is in. Shaw is probably the best one loss team in AAA. Carver will be tested this week by a scrappy bunch from Troup County. This region is so stacked, there is no wonder that 4 teams from this region have been ranked in the top 10 this year. It sort of mirror’s region 1-AAAAA in that any team in this division is capable of beating another any given weekend.

By CarverofColumbus

October 3, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

To Tony,

What you may not realize is that Brookwood had to deal with the suspension of a few key players, mainly their starting quarterback, at the beginning of the season. Brookwood is a good team, just like the New England Patriots when all of the key members are playing. Now that the suspension’s are over, we should all look forward to seeing Brookwood in the playoffs.

I must admit, I felt just as you do at first. But, when I looked at the situation, I see what Todd was thinking. At some point, Brookwood is going to prove to you that they deserve to be ranked where they are.

By Todd Holcomb

October 3, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

Tony:

I’m good at answering this question — if only because it’s been asked of me two dozen times!

It’s about ranking philosophy, Tony. You believe that undefeated teams should be ahead of twice-beaten teams, no matter the circumstances. Lots of people look at it that way. So I don’t have a problem with that. It’s just not the way I think rankings should be.

If a team plays the best 10 teams in the state and goes 5-5, wouldn’t that have to be a Top 10 team also? Regardless of the 5-5 record? Brookwood has lost to the No. 1 and the No. 2 teams in my rankings, both in close games. Given its schedule, Brookwood has played as one would expect a No. 8 team to perform. Brookwood started in the Top 10 and has played like a Top 10 team in every game.

By Todd Holcomb

October 3, 2006 04:21 PM | Link to this

CofC and I are in cahoots this week. I agreed to rank Carver if he’d defend me on Brookwood. :)

Kidding, of course. Carver’s victory over Shaw has stood the test of time because both remain undefeated when not playing each other. Granted, both teams need more significant victories to solidify themselves.

By Tony

October 3, 2006 04:27 PM | Link to this

I see what you are saying now, I will admit I never looked at it that way. I guess I like standings better. Because once the playoffs start the regular season means nothing. But Im glad to see Georgia HS football getting better, it was good when I played but now its on another level literally, i wouldn’t mind seeing how one of our teams would fair with a Texas team. Keep up the good work.

By KSShake

October 3, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this

Okay! Brookwood IS a good team, and rankings are pretty much opinions based on recent past performances. And as long as Mr. Holcolmb feels that Brookwood with whatever issues they had AND two loses to apparently the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Auburn Tigers are more deserving than undefeated teams he likes and respect less than Brookwood for “whatever reason”. All I know is Douglass, ML King, and South Cobb ARE undefeated against competiton he doesn’t seem to respect. And Stephenson 3 point loss to McNair is no worse than 2 losses to whomever. And what’s messed up is ML King, Stephenson and Douglass all play on another so when they knock each other off, none of them will get to be ranked. Thankfully, there are the playoffs. Because I’m bout sick of these AAAAA rankings! North Gwinnett as was the case with Roswell hasn’t done anymore in the playoffs in the past than Stephenson, ML King, or Douglass to warrant them ALWAYS getting the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being ranked. I can’t beleive this and I’m not even a Douglass fan by any means, But I know that they aren’t being done fairly when it comes to these so called rankings. Popularity contest is more like it!

By Big "T"

October 3, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this

Griffin vs. NS WR. I have been to all Griffin games and I am here to tell you their defensive front is second to none. The problem Griffin has is at CB. They have yet to play a team that has receivers that can hang onto the ball. When they do it will be their downfall. The offense is run by Rainey and Harris and will score. I hope we meet NS WR for the state championship. The defensive front and offensive back field should put us there. “Go Bears”

By Jim

October 4, 2006 12:19 AM | Link to this

It’s time to look at Sequoyah in AAAA. The Chiefs are undefeated and haven’t been scored against in the past 148 minutes of play!

By Yo

October 4, 2006 06:43 AM | Link to this

Region 1 tough as advertised Three 1-AAAAA games decided by 10 points

Christian Malone of the Valdosta Daily Times

VALDOSTA — Three games decided by a combined 10 points. Two games decided on an extra-point play in the final minute. One region that looks tougher than ever.

Welcome to Region 1-AAAAA football.

It was no secret that Region 1 was going to be a dogfight this season — and for seasons to come — with the quality of the programs in the region. But it appears the region may be even tougher than it looked in the preseason.

Two teams share the No. 1 ranking in this week’s Associated Press AAAAA football poll, and both of them — Colquitt County and Tift County — hail from Region 1. The two-time defending AAAAA state champions, No. 6 Lowndes, also come from that region, and so do two other teams who received votes in this week’s poll, Warner Robins and Coffee.

“This region is as tough a region as I’ve seen in my 22 years of coaching,” Valdosta head coach Rick Tomberlin said. “Every team in this region is a good football team.”

“This is a good region,” Lowndes head coach Randy McPherson said. “You’d better come ready to play every week.”

No region in the state owns as many state championships, 33, as the seven teams of Region 1. Valdosta has 23 state championships, both Lowndes and Warner Robins have won four, and Colquitt and Tift each own one. The region is so good this year that it is quite possible that one or two of the state’s best programs could miss the playoffs.

By bobthebuilder

October 4, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this

It’s entertaining to read rankings by fantasy-league statisticians like you who have never seen the teams actually play. The playoff system makes you irrelevant so move your stuff to the Entertainment section. You only annoy everyone except fans of the school you are currently calling number one, TODD.

By bobthebuilder

October 4, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this

It’s entertaining to read rankings by fantasy-league statisticians like you who have never seen the teams actually play. The playoff system makes you irrelevant so move your stuff to the Entertainment section. You only annoy everyone except fans of the school you are currently calling number one, TODD.

By Todd Holcomb

October 4, 2006 04:19 PM | Link to this

Sports is the entertainment section, Bob. So take your shoes off and relax.

Also, no one can see all the teams that might be ranked. It’s one thing to say, “Todd, you have no idea what you’re looking at,” but to say, “Todd, you aren’t even looking” is just wrong. I make it to one game a week. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not always Brookwood.

Re: Seqouyah

The Chiefs’ schedule is so weak that it will be hard to asses Sequoyah. And the Top 10 of AAAA is tough to crack because each team already there is undefeated with strong pedigree. Sequoyah is simply undefeated.

Just to see what it would look like, here are the Top 10 in AAAA based on average margin of victory:

This is mostly for our fantasy league fans.

Griffin — 37.8 Westside, Macon — 32.3 Effingham County — 28.6 Northside — 27.8 St. Pius — 27.6 Creekside — 26.8 Sequoyah — 26.5 Rome — 26.0 Mays — 23.2 Statesboro — 22.2

By packerfan

October 4, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this

I just read that “why do people think to beat Valdosta, proves you’re for real.”

Let me get one thing straight, I hate the Wildcats, but I respect them. Name another school that plays nationally ranked teams from another state(Pennsylvania, Utah)and I am not talking about teams from Florida, Alabama, or South Carolina? Name another team that has won 23 state and 7 national titles? You have to respect that.

The AJC doesn’t give a lot of love to Region 1-AAAAA just like the AP doesn’t give a lot of love to the SEC. Why? It’s simple we beat each other up every week. Even the Vanderbilt of 1-AAAAA (Coffee) is a monster this year.

Valdosta itself isn’t a large school. Sure it gets tons of funding, but Lowndes has double the student population as well as Colquitt and Tift.

I hate to keep comparing high school to college football. But Valdosta is the Notre Dame of High School Football. They are a smaller school that plays the toughest schedule imaginable and usually do pretty good. However, every once in awhile they will always have a bad year. If you beat them during that year, then it’s just as big as a win. Ask Purdue. Ask Colquitt County Fans after last week’s win. Sure, the Packers are 5-0 and the Wildcats are 1-4, but by far the biggest win of the season, and the win the kids will always remember is the year they tamed the Cats.

Go Pack

By griffinalumni02

October 5, 2006 12:21 AM | Link to this

LET EVERYONE KNOWS RANKING DOESN’T MEAN NOTHING BUT I HAVE TO SAY GRIFFIN DON’T GET NO RESPECT AND ITS CRAZY LAST TIME WE GOT A LITTLE CREDIT IS WHEN JOHNATHAN SULLIVAN PLAYED AND I PLAYED THAT YR WE GOT CREDIT WE GOT BALL PLAYERS IT ALLWAYS NS WARNER ROBINS THEY GOOD AND THEY RIGHT GETING TO THE DOME IS NOTHING JUST TO SAY YOU NEED TO TELL YO SELF THAT YA’LL HAVEN’T WON IT EITHER THIS YR IS THE YR YA’LL HAD PROBLEMS WITH NORTH CLAYTON AND EVERYONE SAYS THEY PLAYED TWO GOOD TEAM HOUSTON AND WARNERS ROBINS I CAN GIVE IT TO WANRNER ROBINS THEY ALRIGHT BUT HOUSTOON PLEASE YA’LL FOR REAL MAN GRIFFIN #1#2#3 DON’T MATTER WE WILL GET SOME RESPECT

By dwalk

October 5, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

well todd i am here representing Baldwin, and i do agree with our number 3 ranking, even though i don’t agree with your super 11, Baldwin’s Darius Marshall is probably the best back in the state and wasn’t even ranked, he carries his team literally. He goes against 8 men fronts every game and still has put up over 900 rushing yards in 4 games. As for NSWR and Griffin, NSWR should be number number one because they have played better teams, and Griffin really does do alot of crying, Baldwin is undefeated, but i have been playing football for 17 years and I’ve learned one thing you can’t be the best unless you beat the best. So I would aspect Baldwin to be #1 in two weeks.

By Big "T"

October 5, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what your smoking in Baldwin but whatever it is I need to get some. The way I see it one person won’t win ever game for you (Mr. Marshall). Unless your packing a good defense you will drop to No. 5 in two weeks. NSWR and Griffin will remain on top until they play each other for the state championship. Better Luck next year!!

By Fan

October 5, 2006 01:20 PM | Link to this

About B’wood. There is a reason B’wood has to play teams like Camden and Valdosta at the start of every season. THEY HAVE TO!!! Why, b/c they have such a hard time scheduling non-region games. I know for a fact that the AD and coach at B’wood called every AAAAA school north of Macon and no one would play them. That includes all Gwinnett teams in 7-AAAAA(except N. Gwinnett), Cobb teams, Dekalb teams etc… Teams like Valdosta, Camden, and Lowndes have the same problem. Why do you think Camden and Valdosta have to play teams outside of the state? THEY HAVE TO!!! B’wood tried to get games with Byrnes, SC and Hoover, ALA. But the dates didn’t work out. Thank god Valdosta decided to play or they would’ve had to play a team from Ohio or some place like that.
So before all you people start whining about why your team isn’t in the top 10, tell your coach and AD to step up to the plate and play somebody instad of playing sisters-of-the-poor every week.

By dwalk

October 5, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

Hello little T, don’t worry he’s not the only person on the team he just makes a good team great. So we will see in two weeks who will be the best team in the state. By the way will you be there so I can laugh at you after Baldwin Wins!!!!!

By KSShake

October 6, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

Yo, Fan, I thought I was the only one that used the phrase “sisters-of-the-poor”.

Unfortunately, North Gwinnett is probably going to be able to remain #1 in THIS poll unless Peachtree Ridge, South Forsyth, or Norcross can beat them (Norcross has the best shot on the last game of the season for them). P’Ridge has a pretty good defense but, they may not have the horses on “O”. But, They’ll be exposed in the playoffs.

Ah, the playoffs the only thing teams like ML King, Douglass, South Cobb, and Stephenson can look forward to. Because, they’re as good as any of the teams that get talked up. And what’s funny is after all of this North Gwinnett, Roswell, Norcross talk. The usual two teams (aside from Dacula who’s moved down to AAAA), Brookwood and Parkview will probably end going further in the playoffs. I’m not from down there but, those 1-AAAAA teams are going to be the teams to beat in the playoffs. It’s ALWAYS been that way. Camden has proven they’re seperate from that weak a#* region they play in so you know they’re going to have to be contended with.

Now, for the teams I want to have some success this year (Stephenson, ML King, South Cobb, Douglass, and Campbell).My message to you; ignore these biased polls and rankings and get the job done in the playoffs.(Especially the coaches, ya’ll HAVE TO step up your X’s and O’s and game planning, because you won’t be able to simply “out athlete” good teams in the playoffs). Your not going to get the benefit of the doubt in opinionated pols and rankings for the simple fact that Gwinnett teams(as long as they some good ones) are ALWAYS going to be favored and given a bias (“for-whatever-reason”), as well as North Fulton, and East Cobb (check out the preseason rankings). And teams in South Georgia have long term winning, competitive traditions, that’s why the edge they get is more understanable. I desperately hope Douglass can FINALLY beat a good opponent outside the metro area (not East Coweta in the regular season.And Stephenson’s gotta stop laying eggs against Camden and Lowndes (even though they DID play Lowndes much better than Brookwood last year in the playoffs).

By Fred

October 6, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

I watched Camden and North Gwinnett play Brookwood and I can say that North Gwinnett has a much stronger offense than Camden. Camden was unable to get much going on offense. In fact I don’t believe they had a first down in the first half of the game. They did manage one long touchdown pass against Brookwood’s second string corner in the second half. North Gwinnett was at least able to move the ball a bit against Brookwood’s D. Both teams have strong defenses. Brookwood was able to move the ball pretty well against Camden’s D but they did cause two turn overs for TDs. North Gwinnett did a better job of slowing down the Brookwood. I would have to give the edge to North Gwinnett.

That being said, don’t be too quick to count out Brookwood. They are a much stronger team now with all of their starters back. They have beaten Valdasta and crushed Shiloh 49-6 in the first half. They will finish the regular season 8-2, only loosing to North Gwinnett and Camden with a short handed team. Football is a team sport and one missing player IS just an excuse. However, I doubt that the Falcon’s would win many games with Mike Vick, Michael Jenkins, Kynen Forney (RG), Wayne Gandy (LT), and DeAngelo Hall sitting on the bench. Loosing that many starters does weaken a team, especially when you are competing against teams like Camden and North Gwinnett. We’ll see you at the finals!

By griffinalumni02

October 7, 2006 02:47 AM | Link to this

dwalk man you played football for 17 yrs and still don’t know nothing about it as i can remember my 11 grade 00 we beat ya’ll 38-0 and ya’ll was mad as hell that was so funny and the my sryr 01 we beat ya’ll again like 36-6 and you have nerve to say we crying we crying home boi you hit nerve for real we crying you serious i understand ns wanrner robins #1 good hey they deserve it really do you talking about ya’ll have a running back that should be this and that ya’ll never beat us and never will real talk ya’ll suck cuzin real talk you really did hit a nerve ya’ll beat somebody good then talk sh*t cuzin we smashed ya’ll then and we will do it know and you talkng about he goes against a 8 man front my homeboi bobby rainey and sidney harris still get over a hundred yards still amek it so bad bobby have over a hundred in passing to if you give booby the ball 20-25 times like whatever buddy name is bobby would have over 1400 homeboi please leave griffin out yo mouth please cause what you talking is trash can and if you really want to say something about me sr yr allstate dl and all region 2001 we produce football players remember that GRIFFIN #1 UNTIL YA’LL BEAT US BALDWIN WHATEVER YA’LL NAME IS TALK THEN UNTIL THE DWALK PLEASE SHUTUP HOMEBOI REALTALK.

By griffinalumni02

October 7, 2006 02:54 AM | Link to this

HEY TODD WHOEVER DWALK IS HE IS A FUNNY PERSOM HE REALLY IS HAVE BALDWIN EVER ONE A CHAMPIONSHIP AT ANYTHING BE SERIOUS REALLY BOBBY RAINEY AND SIDNEY HARRIS IS GOING TO ALWAYS SCORE THE DEFENSE TODD THERE DEFENSE DIDN’T KNOW THEY WHERE THAT GOOD TODD THERE DE TODD YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW HOLLA AT YO BOI MAN I KNOW FOOTBALL HAHAHAHAH BALDWIN YA’LL FUNNY MAN NS #1 GRIFFIN #2 THEY WILL PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

By dwalk

October 9, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

first off griffinalumni02 I graduated in 99 so that means i didn’t play yall and if we did we would have beat yall. so yall keep crying that’s what girls do. you to young to homeboi to really know what baldwin is about you only know the years when they had 3 coaches in 5 years so who could blame them and as for your boys they couldn’t hold Darius Jock strap so. By the way has Griffin ever won as championship???? and check the states i was at baldwin when it was only 4 classes that means we played at the highest level youngster. So yea stop crying cause yall won’t win this year either suckas!!!!

By griffinalumni02

October 14, 2006 01:56 AM | Link to this

hey lil buddy dwalk yeah youngster i was in the 9th grade in 99 and we would have beat the sht out of ya’ll that yr we beat warners robins and they where #1 then ya’ll wasn’t around then lil boi and damn ya’ll lost didn’y ya’ll 28-6 and the running back is good how tellme please and baldwin never won a championship in nothing everybody knows about us probably don’t respect ous but they know home boi and why you talking in 99 we where playing teams like valdosta wanrner robins lagrange lovejoy when teams like that was good some of the best teams in ga and in two weeks ya’ll be like number 6 sorry asses we always standing you talking about ya’ll would have beat us in 99 you really is smokin that good sht real talk i need that holla at me when you have some more until then shutup and keep griffin out yo mouth we still undefeated and ya’ll still sorry