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October 2008
Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to the game tonight? Or are you hangin’ at the house, eagerly awaiting that new scoring update from your own special Game of the Week? We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to the game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com
Friday night photos
Peachtree Ridge vs. Norcross
Buford vs. Westminster
Clarkston vs. Towers
Friday night game stories/roundups
Newnan coach closing in on career win 300
Buford vs. Westminster
Redan vs. M.L. King
McEachern vs. Kennesaw Mountain
Peachtree Ridge vs. Norcross
Walton vs. Roswell
Stone Mountain vs. Chamblee
Jackson vs. Woodward Academy
Milton vs. Pope
South Gwinnett vs. Brookwood
State, Metro Atlanta and Greater Atlanta roundups
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AJC Football Predictions: Crunch time in many regions, but Buford strong
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Crunch time. Separating the men from the boys. Do or die.
Yes, my friends, we have made it to the 10th week of the high school football season, and things are really getting interesting. Each week brings games with bigger meaning, games with more intensity and games where you might be getting a little tired after seeing the same halftime show for nine games. (Band parents, that e-mail address is cwhitfield@ajc.com)
It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year, and I am not talking about the day-after-Thanksgiving sales.
Some regions are a mess. Some regions as predictable as they were back in August, and some regions are just downright screwy. Some questions abound.
Region 6-AAAAA is home to Walton and Roswell, but who saw Kell playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs? What happens if Peachtree Ridge, North Gwinnett and Collins Hill all end up 7-1 in the region since Collins Hill and North Gwinnett don’t play each other? Does Collins Hill get the edge for playing a 3-5 Dacula team rather than the nation’s preseason No. 1 like North Gwinnett did?
With the most crucial time of the year comes crunch time for pickers as well, and on the year, I am sporting a 64-28 mark after last week’s 8-4 record. It is a week of ranked vs. ranked all across the state. Let’s start with them.
DeKalb dominoes: Except in the win column, Southwest DeKalb and Tucker are almost mirror images of each other. The Panthers lost to Marist 27-21 last week, which is a lot closer than the 38-point blowout that the Tigers suffered at the hands of the War Eagles. For some reason, I just feel that SWD has something to prove this year after losing 21-0 last year. Plus, Tucker betrayed me big-time when I picked the Tigers to beat Marist. Weekend Predictions has a long memory. Take the Panthers and coach Buck Godfrey.
Buford hiccup: Did the rest of the state get a glimpse of Buford being human and almost losing a game last week? Unfortunately, Westminster, you get to be the whipping boy who takes the punishment for last week’s close game. Buford by a bunch.
Rest of the best vs. the best: No. 2 Baldwin vs. No. 9 Washington County was going to be off the charts this week, but then the Golden Hawks lost. Heck, still pick the Braves to get upset in the House of Pain in Sandersville. … Lowndes has won six straight and 12 of the last 13 against Coffee. Make that seven straight. … Westside vs. Thomas County Central will be the best game in the state, and I would love to pick the Jackets, but the game is in the House that Robert Davis Built. Westside survives by a hair. … Turner County in a mild Class A upset against Wilcox.
Here and there: Northside exorcises some Demons. … Roswell drops Walton from the rankings. … Norcross knocks Peachtree Ridge out of the race for first. … McEachern climbs Kennesaw Mountain. … Grayson pummels Open, and Gwinnett Rules!
WEEKEND PREDICTIONS WIN / LOSS PERCENTAGES Last week: 136-38 (.782) • Season: 1,150-323 (.781)
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Winner / Loser
Alcovy / Forest Park
Aquinas / Hancock Central
Apalachee / Madison Co.
Appling Co. / Tattnall Co.
Athens Academy / Lakeview Acad.
Atkinson Co. / Bacon Co.
Bainbridge / Amer.-Sumter
Banks Co. / Oglethorpe Co.
Banneker / Alexander
Beach / Jenkins
Blessed Trinity / Decatur
Bowdon / Walker
Brantley Co. / Long Co.
Bremen / Trion
Brooks Co. / Cook
Brookstone / Central-Talbotton
Brookwood / South Gwinnett
Brunswick / South Effingham
Buford / Westminster
Burke Co. / Thomson
Cairo / Crisp Co.
Calhoun / Adairsville
Callaway / Heard Co.
Camden Co. / Savannah
Campbell / Wheeler
Carrollton / Cedartown
Cartersville / Haralson Co.
Carver-Atlanta / Therrell
Central-Macon / Monticello
Central Gwinnett / Meadowcreek
Chamblee / Stone Mountain
Chapel Hill / Lovejoy
Charlton Co. / Jeff Davis
Chattooga / Dade Co.
Clarke Central / Winder-Barrow
Claxton / Calvary Day
Clinch Co. / Pelham
Collins Hill / South Forsyth
Coosa / Temple
Creekview / Lumpkin Co.
Dacula / Berkmar
Dalton / N.W. Whitfield
Darlington / Gordon Lee
Dawson Co. / East Jackson
Dooly Co. / Irwin Co.
Dublin / S.E. Bulloch
Dunwoody / Druid Hills
Eagle’s Landing / South Atlanta
ELCA / Fellowship Christ.
Early Co. / Mitchell Co.
East Coweta / Riverdale
East Paulding / Cherokee
Eastside / Morgan Co.
ECI / Montgomery Co.
Etowah / North Cobb
Evans / Cross Creek
Fannin Co. / Rabun Co.
Fitzgerald / Albany
Forsyth Central / North Springs
Gainesville / Johnson-Gaines.
Georgia Military / Hebron Christian
Griffin / Dutchtown
Glenn Hills / Westside-Aug.
Glynn Academy / Effingham Co.
GAC / Cross Keys
Greenville / Stewart Co.
Harlem / Josey
Harris Co. / Upson-Lee
Harrison / Marietta
Hart Co. / Franklin Co.
Henry Co. / Howard
Heritage-Conyers / Monroe Area
Hillgrove / Paulding Co.
Holy Innocents’ / Our Lady of Mercy
Jefferson / North Oconee
Jefferson Co. / Screven Co.
Jenkins Co. / Wheeler Co.
Jones Co. / Lee Co.
Kell / Alpharetta
Lakeside-Evans / Butler
Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. / S.E. Whitfield
Landmark Christ. / SACA
Laney / East Laurens
Lassiter / Centennial
Liberty Co. / Richmond Hill
Lincoln Co. / Wilkinson Co.
Loganville / Rockdale Co.
Lovett / Avondale
Lowndes / Coffee
Luella / Douglass
M.L. King / Redan
Macon Co. / Spencer
Marion Co. / Chattahoochee Co.
Marist / Lithonia
Mary Persons / Spalding
Mays / Lithia Springs
McEachern / Kennesaw Mtn.
McIntosh Co. Acad. / Pierce Co.
Mill Creek / Northview
Miller Co. / Calhoun Co.
Miller Grove / Lakeside-DeKalb
Milton / Pope
Monroe / Perry
Mount Paran / N. Cobb Christ.
Mount Pisgah / Pace Academy
Mt. Zion-Jones. / Ola
Newnan / Mundy’s Mill
Norcross / Peachtree Ridge
North Forsyth / Chattahoochee
North Gwinnett / Duluth
North Hall / Gilmer
North Paulding / Allatoona
Northeast-Macon / Putnam Co.
Northside-Col. / Columbus
Northside-W.R. / Warner Robins
Oconee Co. / Jackson Co.
Pacelli Catholic / Taylor Co.
Parkview / Shiloh
Pepperell / Model
Pike Co. / Lamar Co.
Ridgeland / LaFayette
Ringgold / Heritage-Catoosa
Riverside Military / Union Co.
Rockmart / Armuchee
Roswell / Walton
St. Pius / Riverwood
Salem / Habersham Cent.
Sandy Creek / Northgate
Sav. Christian / Portal
Sav. Country Day / Bryan Co.
Schley Co. / Webster Co.
Seminole Co. / Randolph-Clay
Sequoyah / Murray Co.
Social Circle / Commerce
Sonoraville / Gordon Central
South Paulding / Osborne
S.W.-Macon / Greene Co.
Sprayberry / Hiram
Starr’s Mill / Fayette Co.
Stephens Co. / Elbert Co.
Stephenson / Greenbrier
Swainsboro / Dodge Co.
Telfair Co. / Hawkinsville
Thomasville / Berrien
Tift Co. / Valdosta
Toombs Co. / Vidalia
Towers / Clarkston
Treutlen / Metter
Troup / Kendrick
Turner Co. / Wilcox Co.
Union Grove / Newton
Villa Rica / Tri-Cities
Ware Co. / Wayne Co.
Washington Co. / Baldwin
Wash.-Wilkes / Warren Co.
Wesleyan / Athens Christian
West Forsyth / Chestatee
West Hall / East Hall
Westlake / Pebblebrook
Westside-Macon / Thomas Co. Cent.
White Co. / Pickens
Whitewater / McIntosh
Windsor Forest / Groves
Woodland-Carters. / Cass
Woodstock / South Cobb
Woodward Acad. / Jackson
Worth Co. / Westover
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Winner / Loser
Colquitt Co. / Houston Co.
Creekside / Morrow
Grady / North Atlanta
Manchester / Jordan
McNair / Columbia
Richmond Acad. / Hephzibah
Rutland / Jackson-Atl.
S.W. DeKalb / Tucker
*Games against out-of-state teams not included
— Compiled by Chip Saye
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Take 10: Suggestions for Friday Night Football Halloween Costumes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Halloween is a special time for the crew of Take 10. You could say it’s our favorite holiday. It all began with our first costume back in 1986: He-Man. Sadly, we had neither the muscle tone nor the flowing blonde hair. We looked more like some sort of half-naked Hobbit with a plastic sword.
Then there was a run of consecutive Dracula years, Batman made an appearance, Jim Carrey’s The Mask and the ill-timed Pee-Wee Herman costume of 1991. We’d be willing to put our catalogue of work up against anyone else’s childhood. It’s strong, diverse, and we never once mailed it in with a ghost/sheet with two eye holes.
So we consider ourselves experts on the subject. Since this Friday happens to be All Hallows Eve, we thought it would be helpful to give our loyal readers suggestions for costumes that keep the spirit of Friday Night Football. But READER BEWARE! These suggestions are not for the faint of heart or those that would be easily embarrassed walking around looking like Mrs. Butterworth.
Photos: Check out these 10 frighteningly funny costume themes.
Here are 10 suggestions for looking spooky, funny or just full of … spirit on Friday night:
10: Be a Gainesville Red Elephant - We’re not sure which would be scarier right now: Pretending to look like the Republican mascot or dressing up like a pachyderm covered in blood. You have to wonder why that is that elephant red? Gainesville is undefeated, so it’s probably covered in the remains of Chestatee, North Hall and West Hall - all teams GHS blanked this season. We recommend some duct tape, tomato sauce and a dryer ventilation hose for a nose. If you don’t think an elephant can be scary, then read this. We grew up near a town that actually hung an elephant for a bloody rampage back in 1916. Yes, we’re serious.
9: Be a Southside (Atlanta)/Jackson Laser - This is a fantastic mascot that is just ripe for something out of a Kanye West concert. We’re imaging several possibilities. You could always construct something literal with cardboard, looking similar to Megatron in Transformers. If that’s too much, we’d like to see working Christmas lights wrapped around the torso and shoulders, but that may not be practical. If you can’t work out how to power the lights, just stick glowsticks all over your body. A student section with that illumination would be great bobbing up and down.
Editor’s note: Jackson’s changed its mascot to the Jaguars but we liked the Megatron reference.
8: Be a Clarkston Angora - An “angora” is actually a nickname for a goat. That’s a nickname as a nickname. Apparently, Clarkston used to be known as “Goatsville,” which is much better than “Chickenville” and “Pigville” in our book. Sure, this might not be intimidating, but you’d look pretty awesome dressed like this.
7: Be a Dunwoody Ryan Seacrest - This is actually for Druid Hills, which plays the undefeated Wildcats Friday. Looking for an upset win? Try reminding Dunwoody of its famous alum by mocking him relentlessly. Seacrest graduated from DHS in 1993 where he hosted morning announcements (naturally), was a reporter for the school paper and was captain of the school swim team. This costume demands a gallon of moose/hairsoray, designer t-shirt and jeans and a gigantic microphone to emphasize RyRy’s small stature.
6: Be a Warren County Screaming Devil - This one is almost too easy. We’re throwing it in because there’s always that guy at Halloween who grabs the first thing off the rack. Sadly, that will probably be us this year. Take Ten has sported a Frankenberry costume for two years running, and it’s time for change. The Screaming Devil mascot itself very unique, so why not take advantage of the holiday with a student section full of crazed, horned monsters against Washington-Wilkes.
5: Be a Johnson (Savannah) Atomsmasher - A lot of possibilities to work with here. The school opened in 1960 and had ties to Savannah State University. The particle accelerator had just been invented, so the school went science first. We were thinking of something that looked like that hammer that always wins the tool races at Braves games. But that wouldn’t be easy. The cheap approach could work: hula hoop plus Styrofoam balls.
4: Be a Buford/ECI Streak - We at Take Ten are not endorsing public nudity. But tan body suits can be used creatively. The Wolves and Bulldogs share Georgia’s longest active winning streak at 23 games-in-a-row with Lowndes, who has won 22 and running, a close second.
3: Be a Valdosta Buck Belue - The Wildcats need a reason to remember the good ol’ days, especially with tough trip to Tift County on Friday. Belue gives you options, and we wanted to have a former great player on the list. Belue started all four years at Valdosta, lettered in baseball and football at Georgia and now co-hosts are drive-time radio show in town. So you’ve got the possibility of wearing an old Wildcats uniform, some sort of Georgia football/baseball hybrid or carrying around a mic. If no one gets it, just pretend you’re handing the ball off to Herschel Walker all game. That might help.
2: Be a Glynn Academy Red Terror - The name itself leaves any costume design open to interpretation, but the name just screams Halloween. Anything could work: Red Power Ranger, Red Carebear, Clifford the Big Red Dog or even Little Red Riding Hood. Just slap some fake blood on there and you’ll fit in. The school’s mascot - easily one of the best we’ve seen - is in reference to the uniforms of Scottish Highlanders who defended the coast from the Spanish.
1: Be a Cairo Syrupmaker (Syrupmaid) - Just imagine it: A sea of fans dressed like Mrs. Butterworth’s greeting Crisp County on Friday night. We think that spells ‘W’ for Cairo which chose this mascot because the town was a major player in the cane syrup market with companies like Roddenbery’s back in the 1900s. ESPN actually chose the school as the No. 1 nickname for a high school sports team in 1986. Let’s go ahead and give them best costume as well.
Go on. Take Ten. What’s a Halloween costume that would be appropriate for your school on Friday? How one would go about making a Mrs. Butterworth’s costume? Does your school have an alumnus worse than Ryan Seacrest? Here’s your challenge. Let us know. Happy Halloween, everybody.
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AJC Football Rankings: Three No. 1 teams play ranked opponents this week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are seven games this week between ranked teams. That’s the most this season. Previous high was five in early September. Would love to hear some fans break down those games.
Here’s what I see:
Winning comfortably (14+ points): Lowndes over Coffee, Buford over Westminster, Baldwin over Washington County.
Tight (3-10 points): Westside over Thomas County Central, Tucker over Southwest DeKalb, Wilcox over Turner.
Toss-up (1-3 points): Carver over LaGrange. Carver has played a tougher schedule and is perhaps more battle-tested.
Rankings shakeups:
AAAAA - Harrison, Union Grove out. Stephenson, Norcross in. Walton hangs on for losing close. But I’m starting to think Region 6 ain’t all that. Region 5 is stronger if you look at non-region results, the few of them that exist. And I like Gwinnett, so that’s why Norcross got the nod over one-loss teams such as Etowah, Kell, East Paulding, etc.
AAAA - Rankings stayed the same despite SWD losing to Marist. I gave Villa Rica a long look.
AAA - I gave in and ranked Jackson, dropping Carrollton, which just isn’t playing like a Top 10 team.
AA - Try ranking this class. You’ve got Buford & Pepperell, solid 1-2. Then No. 3 through No. 12 (with Dublin and Blessed Trinity being the teams that I couldn’t shoe-horn in there) is anybody’s guess, except when head-to-head determines the order. With Buford showing itself vulnerable last week, Class AA might wind up having the most interesting postseason of them all. And don’t count out 4-4 Thomasville.
A - Wesleyan replaces Athens Academy.
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about this week’s rankings.
AJC High School Football Rankings - Week of Oct. 27, 2008
Class AAAAA
1. Lowndes (8-0) at Coffee
2. Camden County (8-0) vs. Savannah
3. Newnan (8-0) vs. Mundy’s Mill
4. Grayson (9-0) OFF
5. Northside-Warner Robins (7-1) vs. Warner Robins
6. North Gwinnett (7-1) vs. Duluth
7. Coffee (7-1) vs. Lowndes
8. Stephenson (7-1) at Greenbrier
9. Walton (7-1) at Roswell
10. Norcross vs. Peachtree Ridge
Class AAAA
1. Westside-Macon (8-0) vs. Thomas Central
2. Statesboro (9-0) OFF
3. Sandy Creek (8-0) vs. Northgate
4. Marist (7-1) at Lithonia (Panthersville)
5. Rome (8-1) OFF
6. Thomas County Central (7-1) at Westside
7. Sequoyah (7-1) vs. Murray County
8. Southwest DeKalb (6-2) vs. Tucker (Hallford) (Sat.)
9. Tucker (6-1) vs. SW DeKalb (Hallford) (Sat.)
10. Evans (8-0) at Cross Creek
Class AAA
1. Cairo (7-0) vs. Crisp County
2. Baldwin (8-0) at Washington County
3. St. Pius (8-0) vs. Riverwood
4. Dunwoody (8-0) at Druid Hills (Adams Stadium)
5. Gainesville (8-0) at Johnson-Savannah
6. LaGrange (7-1) vs. Carver-COL (Thu.)
7. Carver-Columbus (5-2) vs. LaGrange (Thu.)
8. Peach County (6-2) at Dougherty (Thu.)
9. Washington County (7-1) vs. Baldwin
10. Jackson (8-0) at Woodward Academy
Class AA
1. Buford (8-0) at Westminster
2. Pepperell (8-0) at Model
3. McIntosh County Academy (8-0)
4. Brooks County (7-1) vs. Cook
5. Fitzgerald (7-1) at Albany
6. Charlton County (7-1) at Jeff Davis
7. Westminster (7-1) vs. Buford
8. Appling County (7-1) vs. Tattnall County
9. Callaway (7-1) vs. Heard County
10. Henry County (7-1) vs. Howard
Class A
1. ECI (8-0) vs. Montgomery County
2. Wilcox County (8-0) vs. Turner County
3. Clinch County (7-1) vs. Pelham
4. Savannah Christian (7-1) at Portal
5. Lincoln County (7-1) vs. Wilkinson County
6. Brookstone (8-0) vs. Central Talbotton
7. Turner County (7-1) at Wilcox County
8. Bremen (7-1) at Trion
9. Bowdon (8-0) vs. Walker
10. Wesleyan (7-2) vs. Athens Christian
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Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to the game tonight? Or are you hangin’ at the house, eagerly awaiting that new scoring update from your own special Game of the Week? We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to the game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com
Friday night photos
Roswell vs. Milton
McNair vs. Dunwoody
Southwest DeKalb vs. Marist
Collins Hill vs. Mill Creek
Walton vs. Lassiter
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AJC Football Predictions: Bet on Harrison, but Union Grove falls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Where did the season go?
For all you fans out there with a passion for those Friday night lights, it is hard to believe that this is Week 9 of the high school football season. Just yesterday it seemed like we were working on our preseason Super 11 and picking our Top 150 recruits in the state of Georgia.
It has gone by fast, but for some people, the season is just now getting interesting. Take Region 5-AAAAA, for example.
Now, on the surface, last week’s victory by Harrison against East Paulding would put the Hoyas in prime position for a region title and a deep run in the playoffs. However, Harrison didn’t come out of this one without some major wounds.
Harrison isn’t a one-man team, but the loss of Robby Godhigh is devastating. Add in a few others on the disabled list, and the Hoyas are primed for an upset from their west Cobb rivals in McEachern. Also, first-year McEachern coach Kyle Hockman has never lost to Harrison, winning the last two seasons at Campbell.
All that being said, it would take more than that to make me to pick against Harrison three weeks in a row. Take Harrison, but if this were on the board in Vegas, I would avoid it like the plague.
Speaking of crap shoots, I was a pitiful .500 last week, which will let you leave Vegas with exactly what you came in with, but I am a high roller, baby! On the year, your fearless football forecaster is 56-24, which would definitely get me the No. 2 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Division.
Gwinnett groove: I won’t be able to show Grayson any love next week. Not because the Rams will lose, but because they are off. Besides, my love alone should be enough to get them past Meadowcreek this week and the season finale with Central Gwinnett. Undefeated and headed to the playoffs! Go Rams! … Blessed Trinity seems to think they have something up their sleeve for Buford. Best of luck with that. Wolves roll again.
A country? A fruit stand? Union Grove is our latest metro media darling, to borrow a phrase from our blogs, but can anyone really call this team a dominating force? I guess it helps to have all the tough teams at the end of the schedule, but Union Grove’s ranking this week for the first time ever seems a little bogus. The Wolverines have a 7-0 record against teams with a combined record of 17-32-1. Well, 8-2 will get the Wolverines into the playoffs. Have fun against Region 1. Go with Stephenson this week.
Up with the Hill: Not enough has been written this year about the phenomenal job that Chris Parker has done in his first year at Chapel Hill. Douglas County’s also-ran school was 1-9 last season in Class AAAA, but the former Sequoyah assistant has taken the Panthers to AAAAA and is 6-1 in Region 4. Given the playoff brackets, Chapel Hill could be playing 12 games this season. Sorry Creekside, but Cinderella is still balling.
Fast and quick: Marist squeaks by SW DeKalb … Cat-scratch Fever (Dalton) in a mild upset of Rome … Sequoyah on the road at Northwest Whitfield … Dunwoody big over McNair … Carrollton over rival Central … Coffee on the road at Valdosta. … Roswell reigns in Milton’s running attack.
THE WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
Last week: 137-31 (.815) • Season: 1,014-285 (.781)
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Winner / Loser
Adairsville / Sonoraville
Apalachee / Heritage-Conyers
Appling Co. / McIntosh Co. Acad.
Armuchee / Temple
Athens Academy / Wesleyan
Bainbridge / Upson-Lee
Baldwin / Liberty Co.
Banneker / Lithia Springs
Berkmar / Central Gwinnett
Bowdon / North Paulding
Bremen / Gordon Lee
Brookstone / Webster Co.
Brookwood / Dacula
Bryan Co. / Portal
Buford / Blessed Trinity
Cairo / Perry
Calhoun / Dade Co.
Callaway / Crawford Co.
Camden Co. / Jenkins
Campbell / Centennial
Carrollton / Central-Carroll
Cartersville / Cedartown
Carver-Atlanta / North Atlanta
Cass / Murray Co.
Cedar Grove / Towers
Central-Talbotton / Taylor Co.
Chamblee / Forsyth Central
Chapel Hill / Creekside
Charton Co. / Brantley Co.
Chattahoochee / Northview
Chattahoochee Co. / Stewart Co.
Chattooga / Gordon Central
Clarke Central / Cedar Shoals
Claxton / Sav. Country Day
Coffee / Valdosta
Collins Hill / Mill Creek
Columbia / Clarkston
Commerce / Lakeview Acad.
Cook / Berrien
Creekview / Pickens
Crisp Co. / Dougherty
Dalton / Rome
Darlington / Mt. Zion-Carroll
Douglass / Newton
Dublin / East Laurens
Dunwoody / McNair
Dutchtown / Forest Park
ELCA / Landmark Christ.
Early Co. / Albany
East Coweta / Morrow
East Paulding / Kennesaw Mtn.
Elbert Co. / Jackson Co.
ECI / Metter
Etowah / South Cobb
Evans / Hephzibah
Fannin Co. / Banks Co.
Fitzgerald / Brooks Co.
Flowery Branch / West Forsyth
Gainesville / Gilmer
Glenn Hills / Josey
Glynn Academy / Wayne Co.
Grayson / Meadowcreek
Greene Co. / Howard
Greenville / Pacelli Catholic
Groves / Savannah
Habersham Cent. / Rockdale Co.
Harlem / Butler
Harris Co. / Lee Co.
Harrison / McEachern
Hart Co. / Morgan Co.
Heard Co. / Lamar Co.
Hebron Christian / Mount Paran
Henry Co. / Northeast-Macon
Hillgrove / Hiram
Jackson-Atlanta / South Atlanta
Jefferson / Rabun Co.
Johnson-Gaines. / East Hall
Johnson Co. / Treutlen
Jonesboro / Griffin
Kell / Wheeler
LaFayette / S.E. Whitfield
LaGrange / Columbus
Lakeside-Evans / Westside-Aug.
Laney / Swainsboro
Lanier Co. / Bacon Co.
Lithonia / Lakeside-DeKalb
Loganville / Monroe Area
Lovett / GAC
Lowndes / Houston Co.
Luella / Redan
Lumpkin Co. / White Co.
Macon Co. / Manchester
Marion Co. / Schley Co.
Marist / S.W. DeKalb
Miller Co. / Randolph-Clay
Miller Grove / North Springs
Montgomery Co. / Jenkins Co.
Mount Pisgah / Our Lady of Mercy
Mt. Zion-Jones. / Alcovy
Newnan / Pebblebrook
Norcross / Duluth
North Cobb / Marietta
North Gwinnett / North Forsyth
North Hall / Chestatee
North Oconee / East Jackson
Northgate / McIntosh
Pace Academy / S.W. Atl. Christian
Paulding Co. / Osborne
Peach Co. / Worth Co.
Peachtree Ridge / South Forsyth
Pelham / Atkinson Co.
Pepperell / Coosa
Pierce Co. / Jeff Davis
Pike Co. / Jordan
Pope / Alpharetta
Putnam Co. / Monticello
Richmond Acad. / Cross Creek
Richmond Hill / Long Co.
Riverdale / Mundy’s Mill
Riverside Military / Oglethorpe Co.
Rockmart / Model
Roswell / Milton
St. Pius / Grady
Salem / Winder-Barrow
Sandy Creek / Starr’s Mill
Sav. Christian / Calvary Day
Screven Co. / S.E. Bulloch
Sequoyah / N.W. Whitfield
Social Circle / Prince Avenue
South Gwinnett / Shiloh
Southwest-Macon / Central-Macon
Spalding / Rutland
Sprayberry / South Paulding
Statesboro / South Effingham
Stephens Co. / Franklin Co.
Stephenson / Union Grove
Tattnall Co. / Benedictine
Terrell Co. / Calhoun Co.
Thomas Co. Cent. / Hardaway
Thomasville / Mitchell Co.
Thomson / West Laurens
Toombs Co. / Bleckley Co.
Tri-Cities / Douglas Co.
Trion / Walker
Troup / Shaw
Tucker / Stone Mountain
Turner Co. / Dooly Co.
Twiggs Co. / Telfair Co.
Union Co. / Dawson Co.
Vidalia / Dodge Co.
Villa Rica / Mays
Walton / Lassiter
Ware Co. / Brunswick
Warner Robins / Colquitt Co.
Warren Co. / Aquinas
Washington / Riverwood
Washington Co. / Burke Co.
Wash.-Wilkes / Wilkinson Co.
Westlake / Lovejoy
Westminster / Cross Keys
Westover / Monroe
Westside-Macon / Amer.-Sumter
Whitefield Acad. / Holy Innocents’
Whitewater / Fayette Co.
Wilcox Co. / Hawkinsville
Windsor Forest / Johnson-Sav.
Woodland-Stock. / Eagle’s Landing
Woodstock / Cherokee
Woodward Acad. / Mary Persons
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Bradwell Institute / Beach
Carver-Col. / Kendrick
Decatur / Avondale
Eastside / Oconee Co.
M.L. King / Greenbrier
— Compiled by Chip Saye
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Stormy weather: Will Friday’s forecast keep you from going to the game?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the words of the ad for that local barbecue chain, Friday’s football forecast is as follows: It’s gonna be messy, but it’s gonna be good.
With an all-day rain predicted for metro Atlanta Friday, we wonder how many fans (if any) will stay away from this weekend’s big games, including super-rivalries like McEachern-Harrison and Roswell-Milton as well as potential upset specials like McNair-Dunwoody or Stephenson-Union Grove.
Tell us: Are you hunkering down at home instead of heading out to your favorite high school game this Friday? Or are you such a superfan that neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays you from the swift completion of your appointed rounds while looking for that perfect seat in the stands? How do you plan to beat the rain, wind and cold?
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Take 10: Georgia’s finest statewide high school football rivalries
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Isn’t there something special about a good rivalry? We at Take Ten understand this just like you. We get excited every time we face Todd Holcomb’s Poll Talk in the Battle of the Blogs.
Sadly, we’re losing that matchup 173-1. (One week, Todd had the flu.) But we still feel the same passion you probably do when your favorite team is facing [insert hated school here].
Last fall, we examined the top football rivalries in the Metro Atlanta area. This year, we decided to take a look at the top matchups in the state. Some of them just happen to be playing this week.
Photos: Check out our AJC archival shots of the top 10 rivalries!
Here are your top 10 high school football rivalries:
10: McEachern-Harrison — Welcome to the next generation of one of the best rivalries of the last decade or so. Both schools are under first-year head coaches. Both schools lost legends to retirement. Both schools have set the bar for Cobb County football. Oh, and the series is tied. That’s what we call a good rivalry.
Series record: Tied 7-7
Last game: Harrison 40-6 (Nov. 2, 2007)
9. Clarke Central-Cedar Shoals — This matchup was so good the two teams played twice in 2006. The Gladiators won both games that year. Cedar Shoals got its revenge last season, and the two will play Friday at the Jungle.
Series record: Clarke Central 26-15
Last game: Cedar Shoals 27-14 (Sept. 7, 2007)
8: Carver (Columbus)-Spencer — This isn’t a matchup that screams even playing field. We’ve never been, but we’ve heard the experience of watching the two high schools play in Columbus is something special. Sometimes records aren’t as important as atmosphere.
Series record: Carver 31-8-1
Last game: Carver 31-0 (Aug. 29)
7: Roswell-Milton — There’s a bit of history to this game. Aside being one of the oldest rivalries in the metro-Atlanta area, there is genuine hate here. There was a fight between fans of the two programs in 1963. The series was halted and didn’t resume against until 1970. When the spectacle off the field is as good as the one on it, that’s a good rivalry.
Series record: Roswell 32-20-1
Last game: Roswell 45-0 (Oct. 26, 2007)
6: Lincoln County-Washington-Wilkes — This game has been so good some of the participants have even changed names. Lincoln County was once Lincolnton High, and the school has a sizeable advantage in the series lead. But the game dates back to 1945, which is impressive. The Red Devils also won the 2005 state crown against Wilkes.
Series record: Lincolnton/Lincoln Co. 33-23-4
Last game: Lincoln Co. 14-6 (Oct. 17)
5: Northside (WR)-Warner Robins — OK, so it has to be difficult sharing the same stadium. It surely does nothing to make the Eagles and Demons like each other any more. Northside has been the better team of late, winning eight of the last 10, but Warner Robins holds the series lead.
Series record: Warner Robins 32-18
Last game: Northside 34-7 (Sept. 7, 2007)
4: Marist-Tucker — Think this season didn’t feel good for the War Eagles? Marist snapped a four-game losing streak to the Tigers. Tucker is the only program to have beaten Marist four consecutive times in the past 32 years.
Series record: Tucker 10-7
Last game: Marist 38-0 (Sept. 26)
3: Parkview-Brookwood — Neighborhood rivalries are always the best in our book. It doesn’t hurt when the coaches of the two teams happen to have been former high school teammates. The series began in 1982 and settled the 2002 state title with a 28-7 Parkview victory.
Series record: Brookwood 16-10
Last game: Brookwood 16-3 (Nov. 9, 2007)
2: Charlton County-Clinch County — The Swamp Bowl is the definition of even. The series has belonged to the Indians of late. Charlton County has won six in a row with the Panthers last victory coming in 2002 (14-12). Four of these games have been decided by 10 points or less, and both schools have three state championships to their credit.
Series record: Charlton Co. 24-22-1
Last game: Charlton Co. 24-7 (Aug. 29)
1: Lowndes-Valdosta — Surprised? No, we didn’t think so. The statistics don’t lie. The series started in 1968. These two teams have combined for 14 state championships since then, and in 13 of those 14 seasons, the winner of the showdown usually won a state crown as well. We think that stat is safe this season as well. The Vikings have taken eight of the last 10.
Series record: Valdosta 33-14
Last game: Lowndes 14-7 (Oct. 10)
Go on. Take Ten. What are the best high school football rivalries? Is there someone that is worthy of your hate, stealing a team mascot or burning anything of that general color? What did we miss? Here’s your chance to voice your opinion. Let us know.
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AJC Football Rankings: Union Grove in for first time ever; Mays falls out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Talking points …
Who would you rank in Class AAAAA after East Paulding, the former No. 10, lost to Harrison?
I considered four teams, including East Paulding. The others were Peachtree Ridge, Norcross and Union Grove. The dart hit UG. Maybe we’ll find out if UG - ranked for the first time ever - is worthy this week vs. Stephenson. …
In AAAA, Mays dropped out of the Top 10 from No. 2. Banneker is not a bad loss, but there’s so little to separate No. 6 from No. 15 in this class that one defeat can spark a free-fall. I couldn’t get past the fact that Mays lost to an unranked team, and that team (Banneker) was blown out by Villa Rica. And Villa Rica was handled by a AA school, Pepperell. My ranked teams have no losses, or they’ve lost to other ranked or bigger schools. So Tucker, despite the 38-0 thing, is back in the rankings after beating Chamblee, which helps atone form the shocking margin of defeat vs. Marist.
No big changes in AAA, AA or A.
Another question: Who are the biggest surprises and disappointments this season?
For me, the top surprise is Appling County. Others: Union Grove, Gainesville, Sequoyah, WaCo, Callaway, SWD, East Paulding.
Biggest disappointment? That’s easy: Ware County. Others: MLK, Perry, Charlton County, maybe Thomasville. Also Shaw and Valdosta.
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about this week’s rankings.
AJC Football Rankings - Week of Oct. 20, 2008
Class AAAAA
1. Lowndes (7-0) vs. Houston County
2. Camden County (7-0) vs. Jenkins
3. Newnan (7-0) vs. Pebblebrook
4. Grayson (8-0) vs. Meadowcreek
5. Northside-Warner Robins (6-1) vs. Tift County
6. North Gwinnett (6-1) vs. North Forsyth
7. Walton (7-0) at Lassiter
8. Harrison (7-0) vs.McEachern
9. Coffee (6-1) at Valdosta
10. Union Grove (7-0) vs. Stephenson
Class AAAA
1. Westside-Macon (7-0) at Americus-Sumter
2. Statesboro (8-0) at South Effingham
3. Sandy Creek (7-0) vs. Starr’s Mill
4. Marist (6-1) vs. Southwest DeKalb
5. Rome (7-1) vs. Dalton
6. Thomas County Central (6-1) at Hardaway
7. Sequoyah (6-1) at NW WHitfield
8. Southwest DeKalb (6-1) at Marist
9. Tucker (6-1) vs. Stone Mountain
10. Evans (7-0) vs. Hephzibah
Class AAA
1. Cairo (6-0) vs. Perry
2. Baldwin (7-0) vs. Liberty County
3. St. Pius (7-0) vs. Grady
4. Washington County (6-0) at Burke County
5. Dunwoody (7-0) vs. McNair
6. Gainesville (7-0) vs. Gilmer
7. LaGrange (6-1) at Columbus
8. Carver-Columbus (5-2) at Kendrick
9. Carrollton (6-1) vs. Central Carrollton
10. Peach County (5-2) vs. Worth County
Class AA
1. Buford (7-0) vs. Blessed Trinity
2. Fitzgerald (7-0) vs. Brooks County
3. Appling County (7-0) at McIntosh County Academy
4. Pepperell (7-0) at Coosa
5. Charlton County (6-1) vs. Brantley County
6. Westminster (6-1) at Cross Keys
7. Brooks County (6-1) at Fitzgerald
8. Callaway (6-1) at Crawford County
9. Henry County (6-1) vs. at NE Macon
10. McIntosh County Academy (7-0) vs. Appling County
Class A
1. ECI (7-0) at Metter
2. Wilcox County (7-0) at Hawkinsville
3. Clinch County (7-1) OFF
4. Athens Academy (7-0) vs. Wesleyan
5. Savannah Christian (6-1) at Calvary Day
6. Lincoln County (6-1) vs. Hancock Central
7. Brookstone (7-0) vs. Webster County
8. Turner County (6-1) vs. at Dooly County
9. Bremen (6-1) vs. Gordon Lee
10. Bowdon (7-0) at North Paulding
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Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to the game tonight? Or are you hangin’ at the house, eagerly awaiting that new scoring update from your own special Game of the Week? We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to the game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com
Friday night photos
East Paulding vs. Harrison
Dacula vs. Shiloh
M.L. King vs. Stephenson
Peachtree Ridge vs. Collins Hill
Lassiter vs. Milton
Riverwood vs. Therrell
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AJC Football Predictions: East Paulding-Harrison a region title
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We have had Lowndes-Valdosta, Grayson-Brookwood, Marist-Tucker and Northside-Lowndes as star attractions in this column, but the game that people in northwest Metro have been clamoring for all season is finally upon us.
Yes, it is time for that big McEachern-North Cobb contest we have all been waiting for. What? That wasn’t the game you were waiting for me to pick this week?
Oh, yeah, now I remember! There is a little contest about to be played off of Due West Road that we might want to talk about. The blogs have been full of it and the cannon has been loaded and the Hoyas have been unleashed, so let’s get to East Paulding at Harrison.
This game has been the source of intense speculation all year. After barely avoiding the Upset Special of the Week by the hair of Robbie Godhigh’s little pinky that deflected a would-be game-winning field goal, No. 8 Harrison should be firmly focused on the Raiders. No. 10 East Paulding took care of business at North Cobb last week, and now the anticipated showdown between ranked and undefeated teams to decide the Region 5-AAAAA title is upon us.
Having seen both teams play, it is hard to see a whole lot of difference between the two. Both teams have solid lines of scrimmage, and both teams have shown they know how to win even when it seems like they shouldn’t. Both teams have opportunistic defenses that force turnovers and skill people that can make the difference.
Harrison gets an edge at home, but is it a big enough edge? The Hoyas also own two victories against the Raiders, but that was a decade ago. So who has the edge? People are going to accuse me of jumping on the East bandwagon and having something against the Hoyas, but neither is the case. I just think that right now, the Raiders have a lot to prove and some respect to earn. This victory will bring the respect they have been craving.
Don’t worry Hoya fans, I have been wrong about you before, but for the record I was 10-3 last week and am 51-19 on the year,
Gwinnett groove on: With Region 1-AAAAA practically shut down this week, it has been kind of quiet in south Georgia, but that just means I get to show Gwinnett some more love. My big crush on Grayson continues this week as Berkmar joins the ranks of the fallen. … Talk about a team needing some love, how about Collins Hill? Even though they are undefeated and at home, I am picking Peachtree Ridge to end the Cinderella run of the Eagles.
Here, there and everywhere: Let’s cruise around the state in a haphazard manner. Johnson County is good, but ECI is on another plane. Washaun Ealey breaks another record against the team that Herschel used to run for. … Stephenson and M.L. King are both 5-1, so this one should be must-see viewing at Hallford Stadium. Since the King family is out of sorts this week, gimme Stephenson. … Who saw Hillgrove at Sprayberry as a big game? I like a feel-good story, so take the third-year school in Hillgrove. … Chamblee to bounce back over Tucker. … Lassiter over Milton. … Kennesaw Mountain handles Woodstock. … Dunwoody to keep rolling past Columbia.
WEEKEND PREDICTIONS W-L PERCENTAGE
Last week: 137-27 (.835) • Season: 877-254 (.775)
FRIDAY
Winner / Loser
Adairsville / Chattooga
Alcovy / Ola
Armuchee / Coosa
Apalachee / Loganville
Appling Co. / Brantley Co.
Athens Academy / Athens Christian
Bainbridge / Hardaway
Baldwin / Richmond Hill
Beach / Groves
Bleckley Co. / Dodge Co.
Blessed Trinity / Cross Keys
Bowdon / Trion
Bradwell Institute / Savannah
Bremen / Mt. Zion-Carroll
Brooks Co. / Berrien
Brookstone / Marion Co.
Brookwood / Central Gwinnett
Brunswick / Glynn Academy
Buford / Thomson
Burke Co. / Liberty Co.
Cairo / Dougherty
Calhoun / Sonoravillee
Calvary Day / Portal
Camden Co. / Johnson-Sav.
Cartersville / Central-Carroll
Cedar Grove / Clarkston
Cedar Shoals / Salem
Central-Talbot. / Webster Co.
Chamblee / Tucker
Chattahoochee Co. / Pacelli
Chestatee / White Co.
Claxton / Bryan Co.
Clinch Co. / Atkinson Co.
Crawford Co. / Lamar Co.
Creekside / Lovejoy
Creekview / Gilmer
Dacula / Shiloh
Douglass / Redan
Druid Hills / Towers
Dublin / Swainsboro
Dunwoody / Columbia
ELCA / Pace Academy
East Coweta / Chapel Hill
East Jackson / Rabun Co.
East Laurens / Screven Co.
East Paulding / Harrison
Eastside / Jackson Co.
Effingham Co. / Wayne Co.
ECI / Johnson Co.
Etowah / Marietta
Evans / Josey
Fannin Co. / Riverside Military
Fitzgerald / Early Co.
Flowery / Branch / East Hall
Franklin Co. / Elbert Co.
Glascock Co. / Mount Paran
Gordon Central / Dade Co.
Gordon Lee / Walker
Grayson / Berkmar
GAC / Avondale
Greene Co. / Central-Macon
Greenville / Taylor Co.
Griffin / Stockbridge
Habersham Cent. / Monroe Area
Haralson Co. / Cedartown
Hart Co. / Oconee Co.
Heard Co. / Jordan
Hephzibah / Harlem
Heritage-Conyers / Madison Co.
Hillgrove / Sprayberry
Hiram / Osborne
Holy Innocents’ / Fellowship Christ.
Jackson / Eagle’s Landing
Jefferson / Banks Co.
Jefferson Co. / S.E. Bulloch
Jenkins / Windsor Forest
Jenkins Co. / Metter
Jones Co. / Americus-Sumter
Jonesboro / Forest Park
Kell / Campbell
Kennesaw Mtn. / Woodstock
LaFayette / Ringgold
LaGrange / Northside-Col.
Lakeside-Evans / Cross Creek
Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. / Heritage-Catoosa
Laney / Vidalia
Lanier Co. / Pelham
Lassiter / Milton
Lincoln Co. / Wash.-Wilkes
Long Co. / Jeff Davis
Marist / Miller Grove
McEachern / North Cobb
McIntosh Co. Acad. / Tattnall Co.
Mill Creek / Chattahoochee
Miller Co. / Seminole Co.
Model / Temple
Montgomery Co. / Wheeler Co.
Mount Pisgah / S.W. Atl. Christian
Newnan / Westlake
Newton / Greenbrier
Norcross / North Forsyth
North Gwinnett / Northview
North Hall / Pickens
North Oconee / Dawson Co.
N.E.-Macon / Monticello
Parkview / South Gwinnett
Peach Co. / Westover
Peachtree Ridge / Collins Hill
Pepperell / Rockmart
Pike Co. / Macon Co.
Pope / Wheeler
Prince Avenue / Lakeview Acad.
Putnam Co. / Howard
Richmond Acad. / Glenn Hills
Ridgeland / S.E. Whitfield
Riverdale / Pebblebrook
Riverwood / Therrell
Rockdale Co. / Winder-Barrow
Rome / N.W. Whitfield
Roswell / Alpharetta
Sandy Creek / Fayette Co.
Sav. Christian / Sav. Country Day
Schley Co. / Stewart Co.
Sequoyah / Cass
South Cobb / Cherokee
South Forsyth / Duluth
South Paulding / Paulding Co.
Spalding / Jackson-Atlanta
Starr’s Mill / McIntosh
Stephens Co. / Morgan Co.
Stephenson / M.L. King
Telfair Co. / Irwin Co.
Terrell Co. / Randolph-Clay
Thomas Co. Cent. / Harris Co.
Thomasville / Cook
Towns Co. / Georgia Military
Tri-Cities / Alexander
Twiggs Co. / Hawkinsville
Union Co. / Oglethorpe Co.
Union Grove / Luella
Upson-Lee / Lee Co.
Villa Rica / Douglas Co.
Walton / Centennial
Ware Co. / Statesboro
Warner Robins / Houston Co.
Warren Co. / Hancock Central
Washington Co. / West Laurens
Wesleyan / Commerce
West Forsyth / Johnson-Gaines.
West Hall / Lumpkin Co.
Westside-Aug. / Butler
Westminster / Decatur
Whitefield Acad. / Our Lady of Mercy
Whitewater / Northgate
Wilcox Co. / Dooly Co.
Wilkinson Co. / Aquinas
Woodland-Carters. / Murray Co.
Woodland-Stock. / South Atlanta
Woodward Acad. / Rutland
Worth Co. / Perry
SATURDAY
Carver-Col. / Shaw
Charlton Co. / Benedictine
Forsyth Central / Lakeside-DeKalb
Grady / Carver-Atlanta
Mays / Banneker
St. Pius / Washington
S.W. DeKalb / Lithonia
Stone Mountain / North Springs
— Compiled by Chip Saye
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State Report: Hots outnumber Nots in Northeast Georgia football
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Northeast Georgia is home to some of the most picturesque views in the state from the mountains of Helen to the water sports of Lake Hartwell. There’s also some good football in the area. Hot/Not takes a look through the Northeast this week, enjoying the scenery as we pass by.
HOT
Towns County: Granted the Indians are playing a non-region schedule, but a 6-1 mark this season after going 1-39 over the previous four years is something to be excited about.
Jefferson: Known more for their wrestling prowess (winners of every Class A title since 2001) than their excellence on the football field, the Dragons are starting to make waves. After playing in 12 games last season, Bill Navas’ team is 6-0 on the year. Even though Jefferson plays in one of the weakest regions in the state, the team is doing exactly what it should do, averaging 40 points per game.
Athens Academy: The Spartans are the highest-ranked NE Georgia school, claiming the No. 4 spot in Class A. Coach Michael Gunn’s team has rolled to a 6-0 start with an impressive win over Whitefield Academy and a quality win over rival Commerce. The Spartans played in the Dome last season and should make another deep run in the playoffs.
Clarke Central: The Gladiators haven’t made anything easy this year, but a 6-1 record in a highly competitive Region 8-AAAA speaks volumes. Every week has seemingly been a fight for Clarke Central with two overtime games this year (including a five OT marathon win over Heritage). Huge rival Cedar Shoals is up next.
Loganville: The Red Devils hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Gladiators, and this region could get messy with Apalachee with just one loss as well.
Gainesville: There is a lot of Red in the Northeast. The Red Elephants have steamrolled everyone this year en route to a 7-0 mark. Gainesville’s closest game was a 19-point win over West Forsyth.
NOT
Oglethorpe County. After opening with a win over Athens Christian, the Patriots haven’t been close in dropping their last five.
Gilmer: The Bobcats have given up 50-plus in their last two games.
You report. We reply. Send us YOUR reports from around the state on the football season. Who’s hot? Who’s not?
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Take 10: Top turnarounds in the state from coaches who changed addresses
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There seemed to be no end to the coaching turnover last season. We at Take Ten have been trying to keep up with the rookie coaches and the ones who just changed colors.
It’s hard to decide who is doing the best job. There is much to consider, including returning talent, tradition and a booster club willing to quickly donate thousands of dollars. We’ve scanned the state and judged — on many levels — the best performances we could find.
Here are the 10 best first-year coaching jobs so far this season:
10: David Hines, Harrison (6-0, 5-0 Region 5-AAAAA) — The cupboard wasn’t bare for Hines, but he has done nothing but keep the Hoyas a title-contender. 2007 record: 9-3, 6-2. A loss to Walton ended the season in the second round of the playoffs. That would be a good matchup again. What’s left: The last four include undefeated East Paulding on Friday and Etowah to end the regular season. The Hoyas’ opponents are a combined 17-7.
9: Brian Montgomery, North Atlanta (4-3, 2-2 Region 5B-AAA) — We also like to give props to a man who doesn’t have his own stadium. 2007 record: 2-8, 2-5. That included four losses in a row to open the schedule. What’s left: There will be no playoffs in Montgomery’s future this season, but there is a chance to upset rivals Grady or Carver-Atlanta.
8: Greg Robinson, Houston County (3-3, 0-3 Region 1-AAAAA) — It’s not easy getting victories in the state’s toughest region. Robinson hasn’t yet, but things seem to be heading in the right direction. 2007 record: 1-9, 0-6. There was an eight-game losing streak at season’s end. What’s left: The opponents are 17-10, but more importantly, top-ranked Lowndes is on the schedule on Nov. 1.
7: Bill Shaver, Thomas County Central (5-1, 4-0 Region 1-AAAA) — The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost their winning ways with Shaver. 2007 record: 13-1, 3-0. Yes, they were very good. What’s left: Shaver’s final opponents are a combined 18-7, but all eyes are on Oct. 31 against undefeated Westside-Macon.
6: Stanley Pritchett, Washington (5-2, 4-0 Region 5-AAA, Div. B) — The Bulldogs haven’t been to the postseason since 2005, but appear headed back there again under Pritchett. 2007 record: 5-5, 5-5. Washington did win three consecutive games to close the year. What’s left: There’s a date with undefeated St. Pius X and 1-5 Riverwood.
5: Chip Lindsey, Lassiter (5-1, 4-1 Region 6-AAAAA) — The Trojans have a nice turnaround going under Lindsey, but they will have to prove their worth at season’s end. 2007 record: 3-7, 2-3. Lassiter won six games in two years prior to this season. What’s left: A lot, actually. Lassiter has beaten the weaker teams in region while falling to Kell. The Trojans’ final four opponents have a 15-9 record, with undefeated Walton lurking.
4: Dominic Callaway, Mays (6-0, 3-0 Region 5-AAAA) — Here’s another team that had the resources in place, but Callaway made the best of a tough situation. 2007 record: 9-3, 8-2. The Raiders fell to East Paulding in the second round of the playoffs. What’s left: The teams are 11-8, with a key match against Villa Rica looming.
3: Steven Collins, Union Grove (6-0, 3-0 Region 2-AAAAA) — The Wolverines are off to a fantastic start under Collins. The finish will be the true challenge. 2007 record: 3-7, 2-5. Union Grove is just two years removed from a playoff appearance. What’s left: The Wolverines face three 5-1 teams, including Luella, Stephenson and M.L. King. The combined record of the final opponents is 17-7.
2: Derek Cook, Kell (5-1, 4-1 Region 6-AAAAA) — The Longhorns are legitimate region title contenders in Cook’s first season. 2007 record: 2-8, 2-3. That record included a seven-game losing streak to start the season. What’s left: Kell’s final opponents are 8-16 with only a home date with Milton (4-2, 3-2) to end the season as a possible stumbling block.
1: Chris Parker, Chapel Hill (5-1, 4-1 Region 4-AAAAA) — This program won 15 games total from 2000-07 before Parker arrived. 2007 record: 0-10, 0-9. Two of those losses were by forfeit. What’s left: The remaining teams hold a combined record of 14-10 with East Coweta and Westlake standing as the largest hurdles.
Go on. Take Ten. What are the teams we’ve missed? Is there a better candidate out there? Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
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Extra Point: Tough economy spells tough times for high school sports
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Reason No. 834 Why You Shouldn’t Look Past Our Metro Section: All politics is local.
This story about likely state budget cuts got us doing a double-take when we read this:
“[Georgia lawmakers have] put a hold on doling out politically popular community grants for things like high school football uniforms…”
Not exactly thrilling news for some schools, we’re guessing.
Put in your two cents (if you can spare it): How’s your school handling the current economic climate. Cutting back? Managing to hang in there, thanks to private funds from a booster club, bake sales and the like? And what about you? Are you spending as much on high school sports as you have been? Will you likely cut back on your own prep sports-related expenses? Any ideas on how teams and fans can save cash at the games? Share your thoughts.
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Extra Point: Is losing 91-0 worse than losing 91-90 in football?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After reading the story of how Florida’s Naples High beat area rival Estero 91-0 this past Friday, we’re left wondering if a 91-0 football game is even a real “game” after a certain point (or 91 certain points, in this case). Then again, we’re thinking that a one-point loss hurts just as much as a 91-point shutout romp. What if the score had been 91-90? Is a loss just a loss, no matter the point difference?
Make YOUR point: Which is worse, in your opinion - a loss of mind-bending proportions or a one-point heartbreaker?
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AJC Football Rankings: Walton, Harrison win barely, drop barely
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s some reshuffling in Class AAAAA this week, despite no upsets.
Down go Walton and Harrison.
Up go Northside and North Gwinnett.
That’s after Walton beat Milton 24-20 and Harrison beat Woodstock 17-15. I realize Milton and Woodstock are pretty good, but I also realize the only losses for Northside and North Gwinnett are against teams contending for national titles (Lowndes and Byrnes, S.C.). If Harrison and especially Walton are going to play weaker schedules, they need to win these games by more than a touchdown.
Furthermore, if East Paulding were to upset Harrison, I need an excuse to keep East down. Jest kiddin’. I wonder if anybody will want discuss that game here.
In other news, Southwest DeKalb is in, and Chamblee is out in Class AAAA. Waiting to see if Tucker isn’t better than both.
In Class AAA, WaCo’s up; Dunwoody’s down; Thomson’s out. Peach County’s in despite losing. Jackson is snubbed despite winning. Not a lot of convincing teams to choose from.
In Class AA, there are lots of good contenders for the Top 10, and I picked undefeated McIntosh County Academy to replace JeffCo this week over Blessed Trinity, Dublin and unbeaten Jefferson. After Buford and Fitz, that’s the toughest class to rank.
Class A stayed the same. Big game this week is ECI vs. Johnson County as Washaun Ealey seeks to break Matt Dunham’s state record of 111 career touchdowns. Ealey has 110.
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about this week’s rankings.
Class AAAAA
1. Lowndes (7-0) OFF
2. Camden County (6-0) vs. Johnson-Savannah
3. Newnan (6-0) vs. Westlake
4. Grayson (7-0) at Berkmar
5. Northside-Warner Robins (6-1) OFF
6. North Gwinnett (5-1) at Northview
7. Walton (6-0) vs. Centennial
8. Harrison (6-0) vs. East Paulding
9. Coffee (6-1) OFF
10. East Paulding (6-0) at Harrison
Class AAAA
1. Westside-Macon (7-0) OFF
2. Mays (6-0) vs. Banneker
3. Sandy Creek (6-0) at Fayette County
4. Statesboro (7-0) vs. Ware County
5. Marist (5-1) at Miller Grove
6. Thomas County Central (5-1) vs. Harris County
7. Rome (6-1) at NW Whitfield
8. Southwest DeKalb (5-1) vs. Lithonia (Sat.)
9. Sequoyah (6-1) at Cass
10. Evans (6-0) at Josey
Class AAA
1. Cairo (5-0) at Dougherty
2. Baldwin (6-0) at Richmond Hill
3. St. Pius (6-0) at Washington
4. Washington County (6-0) vs. West Laurens
5. Dunwoody (6-0) vs. Columbia
6. Gainesville (7-0) OFF
7. LaGrange (5-1) vs. Northside-Columbus
8. Carver-Columbus (4-2) at Shaw
9. Carrollton (6-1) OFF
10. Peach County (4-2) at Westover
Class AA
1. Buford (6-0) at Thomson
2. Fitzgerald (6-0) vs. Early County
3. Appling County (6-0) at Brantley County
4. Pepperell (6-0) vs. Rockmart
5. Charlton County (5-1) vs. Benedictine (Sat.)
6. Westminster (5-1) vs. Decatur
7. Brooks County (5-1) vs. Berrien
8. Callaway (6-1) OFF
9. Henry County (5-1) at SW Macon
10. McIntosh County Academy (6-0) vs. Tattnall County
Class A
1. ECI (6-0) vs. Johnson County
2. Wilcox County (6-0) at Dooly County
3. Clinch County (6-1) at Atkinson County
4. Athens Academy (6-0) at Athens Christian
5. Savannah Christian (5-1) vs. Savannah Country Day
6. Lincoln County (5-1) vs. Washington-Wilkes
7. Brookstone (6-0) at Marion County
8. Miller County (6-0) vs. Seminole County
9. Turner County (6-1) OFF
10. Bremen (5-1) at Mount Zion
Permalink | Comments (388) | Post your comment | Categories: Poll Talk
Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to the game tonight? Or are you hangin’ at the house, eagerly awaiting that new scoring update from your own special Game of the Week? We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to the game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com
Friday night photos
Druid Hills vs. Columbia
Lassiter vs. Alpharetta
Milton vs. Walton
Brookwood vs. Grayson
Cedar Grove vs. McNair
Washington vs. North Atlanta
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AJC Football Predictions: Harrison falls into a trap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
II’m not going to crow over the end of the Northside winning streak (didn’t take a genius to pick that one). And even though I could be excused for climbing to the top of the building and giving a good shoutout to the northwest for Sequoyah making me 2-1 in Upset Specials of the Week, we’ve got a lot to get to this week.
We are at Week 7 of the high school football season, and that means that the true contenders are starting to show themselves, injuries may be starting to stack up, and people are hoping their homecoming opponent proves to be good cannon fodder (not an East Paulding reference … more about them next week).
The peerless prep pigskin prognosticator was 8-4 last week, which is about as good as you can expect in these difficult economic times. For the season my record is 41-16, which probably would get me in the Stanley Cup playoffs if I knew how many games hockey teams play in a year. Sorry, I am from Savannah, and the only ice we have is in our sweet tea. On with the picks, and I will try not to throw any voodoo curses on anyone this week.
Unbeatens all around: So who will fall down? That was the question on our website this week, and the obvious favorite in that position has to be No. 4 Grayson. Now, I have had a Gwinnett lovefest with Grayson all season, but is there anyone out there that would put their life on the line saying that Brookwood can’t beat the Rams? Grayson has an 0-4 record against the Broncos. Upset Special of the Week: Fooled ya, Grayson goes to 7-0, and Gwinnett is Great! … OK, so the last time I checked our unbeaten-getting-beat poll, No. 8 Coffee was leading that list by a wide margin. One thing about Coffee is that you haven’t heard a whole lot of crowing from their fan base. The 800-pound gorilla in the room is that Coffee has been in this position before and finished with a 6-4 or 7-3 record. Is this the year to re-write some Coffee history? Nope. …Harrison has an obvious trap game at Woodstock this week with East Paulding on the horizon. Harrison has a way of losing a game it shouldn’t. Heck, why not? Prove me wrong, Robbie Godhigh!
Upset Special of the Week: Wolverines pull it out.
Class AAAAA unbeaten rundown: Lowndes, East Paulding, Camden County, Newnan and Walton all stay that way.
Elsewhere: In Class A, top-ranked ECI is facing undefeated Treutlen in a Region 3 showdown. Yeah, that wasn’t a typo. TREUTLEN is undefeated this late in a season for the first time in decades. The Vikings won’t be that way for long. … Whitewater keeps Starr’s Mill in the Winless Protection Program (we miss you, Darryl Maxie). … McNair is 4-2 on the year, but the Mustangs haven’t beaten a team with a winning record. Cedar Grove has been putting up ridiculous numbers. Saints go marching out with the win. … Southwest DeKalb has allowed just nine points since losing to M.L. King in the opener. Chamblee scores more than nine points, but the Panthers move to 5-1 and get back into the state talk. … Lovett had its biggest win of the season last week, while Blessed Trinity had its first loss. Make it two in a row for the Titans.
Last week: 127-31 (.804)
Overall: 740-227 (.765)
FRIDAY
Winner / Loser
Alexander / Douglas Co.
Amer.-Sumter / Upson-Lee
Apalachee / Habersham Central
Aquinas / North Paulding
Athens Academy / Mt. Paran Christ.
Benedictine / Brantley Co.
Berkmar / Meadowcreek
Bowdon / Gordon Lee
Bradwell Institute / Windsor Forest
Bremen / Darlington
Brooks Co. / Early Co.
Brookstone / Stewart Co.
Brunswick / Effingham Co.
Burke Co. / Richmond Hill
Cairo / Peach Co.
Calhoun / Chattooga
Calhoun Co. / Randolph-Clay
Callaway / Lamar Co.
Calvary Day / Sav. Country Day
Camden Co. / Groves
Campbell / Pope
Carrollton / Haralson Co.
Carver-Atlanta / Riverwood
Cedar Grove / McNair
Cedar Shoals / Rockdale Co.
Central-Carroll / Cedartown
Chapel Hill / Mundy’s Mill
Charlton Co. / Long Co.
Chattahoochee Co. / Taylor Co.
Chestatee / Gilmer
Clarke Central / Salem
Claxton / Portal
Clinch Co. / Lanier Co.
Collins Hill / Duluth
Columbia / Druid Hills
Commerce / Athens Christian
Cook / Mitchell Co.
Coosa / Rockmart
Creekside / Westlake
Creekview / White Co.
Crisp Co. / Worth Co.
Cross Creek / Harlem
Dalton / Cass
Dooly Co. / Hawkinsville
Dougherty / Monroe
Dublin / Vidalia
Dunwoody / Towers
Dutchtown / Ola
ELCA / Mt. Pisgah
East Coweta / Lovejoy
East Paulding / North Cobb
Eastside / Hart Co.
Elbert Co. / Morgan Co.
ECI / Treutlen
Evans / Westside-Aug.
Fitzgerald / Berrien
Flowery Branch / North Hall
Franklin Co. / Jackson Co.
Gainesville / East Hall
Georgia Military / Montgomery Co.
Glascock Co. / Hancock Central
Glenn Hills / Hephzibah
Gordon Central / Adairsville
Grady / Therrell
Grayson / Brookwood
GAC / Decatur
Greenville / Central-Talbotton
Hardaway / Jones Co.
Heard Co. / Macon Co.
Henry Co. / Greene Co.
Hillgrove / Osborne
Hiram / South Paulding
Jackson / Woodland-Stock.
Jefferson Co. / East Laurens
Jenkins / Savannah
Johnson-Sav. / Beach
Johnson Co. / Jenkins Co.
Jordan / Crawford Co.
Josey / Butler
Kell / Centennial
Kennesaw Mountain / Cherokee
Landmark Christ. / Holy Innocents’
Laney / Bleckley Co.
Lassiter / Alpharetta
Loganville / Madison Co.
Lovett / Blessed Trinity
Lowndes / Valdosta
Luella / Greenbrier
Lumpkin Co. / Pickens
M.L. King / Newton
Marietta / South Cobb
Marion Co. / Webster Co.
Marist / Forsyth Central
Mary Persons / Eagle’s Landing
McIntosh Co. Acad. / Jeff Davis
Metter / Wheeler Co.
Monroe Area / Winder-Barrow
Monticello / Howard
Mt. Zion-Carroll / Walker
Newnan / Riverdale
Norcross / Northview
North Clayton / Griffin
North Gwinnett / Chattahoochee
Northeast-Macon / Central-Macon
Northgate / Fayette Co.
Northside-W.R. / Coffee
Our Lady of Mercy / S.W. Atl. Christian
Parkview / Dacula
Peachtree Ridge / Mill Creek
Pebblebrook / Morrow
Pelham / Bacon Co.
Pepperell / Temple
Pike Co. / Spencer
Richmond Academy / Lakeside-Evans
Ridgeland / Ringgold
Rome / Murray Co.
Roswell / Wheeler
Sandy Creek / McIntosh
Sav. Christian / Bryan Co.
Schley Co. / Pacelli Catholic
Screven Co. / Swainsboro
Seminole Co. / Terrell Co.
Sequoyah / Woodland-Carters.
Shiloh / Central Gwinnett
Social Circle / Lakeview Academy
Sonoraville / Dade Co.
South Forsyth / North Forsyth
Southwest-Macon / Putnam Co.
Southwest DeKalb / Chamblee
Spalding / South Atlanta
Sprayberry / Paulding Co.
Statesboro / Glynn Academy
Stephens Co. / Oconee Co.
Stephenson / Redan
Tattnall Co. / Pierce Co.
Thomas Co. Central / Lee Co.
Thomasville / Albany
Tift Co. / Colquitt Co.
Toombs Co. / Dodge Co.
Tri-Cities / Lithia Springs
Tucker / North Springs
Turner Co. / Telfair Co.
Twiggs Co. / Irwin Co.
Union Grove / Douglass
Villa Rica / Banneker
Walton / Milton
Ware Co. / South Effingham
Washington / North Atlanta
Washington Co. / Thomson
Wesleyan / Prince Avenue
West Hall / Johnson-Gaines.
West Laurens / Liberty Co.
Westside-Macon / Harris Co.
Whitewater / Starr’s Mill
Wilkinson Co. / Warren Co.
Woodstock / Harrison
Woodward Academy / Jackson-Atl.
SATURDAY
Winner / Loser
Buford / Cross Keys
Carver-Col. / Troup
Miller Grove / Lithonia
Shaw / Columbus
Stone Mountain / Lakeside-DeKalb
Westminster / Avondale
Whitefield Academy / Fellowship Christ.
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Take 10: The best motivational speeches in sports movies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
These are dark times for most of us. We at Take Ten are no exception. The economy is failing. Gas is proving more and more difficult to find. Things just aren’t easy.
It’s during these moments, the trying times, that we find it helpful to hear a good motivational speech. You’ll find several in “The Express,” a film coming out Friday about Ernie Davis. He was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy but had his professional career cut short because of leukemia.
We at Take Ten were lucky enough to see an early screening and enjoyed it. It got us to thinking, though. What are the best film-based sports motivation speeches? OK, so maybe we had to include some that were not high school-related. But we don’t think you’ll mind. Maybe you need to hear these. We sure did.
Photo vote: Pick or pan our top sports movie motivational speeches!
Click on the bolded movie titles to see the film clips of our fave speeches.
Here are the 10 best motivational speeches in sports film:
10: Coach Taylor in “Facing the Giants” — This is as simple as it gets. We’re not supposed to be here. They’re bigger than you. Have faith in who you are. Extra point: Mark Richt made a cameo in this film. This is the exact same halftime speech he gave to his team against Alabama.
9: Coach Gaines in “Friday Night Lights” — We’ve always enjoyed this speech. It’s the classic mold of “Look, we’re going to lose, but you’re winners in my book” monologue so many coaches have given. Extra point: The film and TV series were based on a book by H.G. Bissinger called “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream.”
8: The Rock in “Gridiron Gang” — We can’t relate to being in detention and trying to field a competitive football team. But listening to the Rock in this speech makes it seem OK. Extra point: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a member of the 1991 University of Miami national championship team. He eventually played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League but was cut after two months.
7: Coach Brooks in “Miracle” — Hockey isn’t our first love, but listening to Kurt Russell in this film makes us want to fight communism. Extra point: The “Miracle on Ice” wasn’t actually the championship game of the 1980 Olympic games. It was the semifinal and allowed the USA to advance and face Sweden for the gold.
6: Fortune in “Rudy” — There is another speech in this classic film that is more to the point, but Charles S. Dutton knows how to push Sean Astin’s buttons. Listen to the janitor. Extra point: Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger’s sack was against Georgia Tech. The movie depicts Notre Dame coach Dan Devine as a villain, not wanting to put Rudy in at the film’s conclusion. It was actually his idea.
5: Coach Boone in “Remember the Titans” — This was a tough decision. Coach Yoast has another motivational moment we enjoy, but this speech with Denzel Washington is the better of the two. Extra point: The film was shot in various locations around metro Atlanta including Druid Hills High School, Shamrock Middle School and Paulding High School.
4: Gale Sayers in “Brian’s Song” — We acknowledge this is a little sad for a motivational speech, but Billy Dee Williams channeling Gale Sayers is what loving a teammate is all about. If you felt this way about the guy next to you, you’d block better, run harder and play faster. Extra point: Brian Piccolo was not drafted but tried out for the Chicago Bears. He worked his way from practice squad to back-up for Sayers before ending his four year career.
3: Coach D’Amato in “Any Given Sunday” — Classic Al Pacino. If this speech can’t help you erase a 10-point halftime deficit, nothing will. Extra point: Are we the only ones who notice that fake professional sports uniforms look ridiculous in any movie? It’s like they don’t even try. Watch this film and let us know.
2: Coach Dale in “Hoosiers” — Gene Hackman plays the perfect coach. He did the same in “The Replacements.” The movie itself is inspirational enough. Our high school basketball coach must have played it 74 times. Extra point: We have no idea what a Hoosier is. We know it has something to do with Indiana. Please help.
1: Coach Wallace in “Braveheart” — Sure, this isn’t a sports movie. But we challenge you not to be fired up by pre-crazy Mel Gibson. We almost quit our job once after watching this. Not smart, but we were certainly motivated. Extra point: Gibson played a baseball player in his first feature film “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.” That’s as close to relating to sports as we could get.
Go on. Take Ten. What are the motivational speeches in film you remember? How was our list? Did it inspire you? Here’s your chance to voice your opinion.
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State Report: Football Hot/Not returns to the great Northwest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, Hot/Not took its traveling caravan to the northwest corner of the state. But it is such beautiful country that we needed two weeks to cover it all. After taking a look at the Class AAAAA and AAAA teams in the area last week, it is now time to check in on the Class AAA, AA and A teams.
Hot
Pepperell: The Dragons haven’t been challenged this season, rolling past Class AAAA and AAA competition early before outscoring Region 7-AA foes Gordon Central and Armuchee 76-22 in the last two weeks. No. 5 Pepperell should roll through the regular season, with Rockmart posing the most serious threat until the region playoff game.
Sonoraville: Who? The Phoenix are in their third season of existence and have a 5-0 record after going 1-9 last year. Coach Chuck King’s team has won close and won big this season, but their opponents haven’t exactly been the cream of the crop. Winless Dade County is up this week, but could Sonoraville actually go into its battle with Calhoun as the favorite?
Lafayette: A 4-2 record might not sound like a very hot team to you, but it is pretty strong when you look at the Ramblers’ history. The school has had just one winning season in the last 15 years and hasn’t made the playoffs since 1993, when a much younger Rayvan Teague was at the helm. Lafayette could very well be the top seed in the crossover games in Region 6-AAA.
Bremen: The Blue Devils are 4-1 this season and have played in at least 12 games every season since 2003.
Not
Southeast Whitfield: The Raiders are giving up an average of 37 points per game.
Temple: After winning 32-9 against Hebron Christian in the season-opener, the Tigers have been outscored 172-21 in their last four games.
You report. We reply. Send us YOUR reports from around the state on the football season. Who’s hot? Who’s not? Bring it.
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AJC football rankings: Player of year? Lowndes’ Reid is frontrunner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Our recruiting guru, Michael Carvell, called me Friday night as I was driving back from the Lowndes-Northside game and was saying he wasn’t sure there was a clear-cut Player of the Year candidate in Georgia this year.
Maybe I was under the influence of the game I just witnessed, but I’d have to say it’s Greg Reid of Lowndes. He was the biggest difference between those two teams. He made three long runs, one on a punt return. That’s what swung that game. The week before, he had a 99-yard run from scrimmage and a fumble return for about 100 yards. He also had a 75-yard run on a sweep.
Reid starts on defense as a cornerback, his college position when he goes off to Florida if he sticks with that commitment. I know that Georgia’s Rodney Garner and Willie Martinez were in Valdosta hoping to change his mind. (And Garner and Martinez had to be impressed with their own commit, Abry Jones, who I thought was as good as advertised on Northside’s defensive line.)
In the rankings: I dropped Northside to No. 6. I could’ve put the Eagles anywhere from No. 4 to No. 9. … In a minor adjustment, Sandy Creek moved to No. 3 in AAAA after the victory against Whitewater. … Dalton fell out, and Sequoyah entered. … I hate to say this, but I hope Westside keeps winning because there’s not another team in AAAA that would be a solid No. 1 if Westside slips. … Westminster stayed in the rankings despite the loss to Lovett, and Callaway entered at No. 10 to replace Blessed Trinity.
And finally, to honor Northside’s 35-game winning streak that just ended, here are the longest streaks in history. I reported last week that Northside’s was seventh-best all-time. Actually, it ranks eighth:
47, Buford (2001-04)
46, Parkview (2000-03)
44, Lincoln County (1989-91)
38, Lincoln County (1976-78)
37, West Rome (1981-84)
37, Valdosta (1960-63)
36, Thomson (1966-69)
35, Northside (2006-08)
34, Southeast Bulloch (1972-74)
33, Americus (1974-76)
32, East Rome (1977-79)
31, Morgan County (1958-60)
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about this week’s rankings.
This week’s rankings:
Class AAAAA
1. Lowndes (6-0) at Valdosta
2. Camden County (5-0) vs. Groves
3. Newnan (5-0) at Riverdale
4. Grayson (6-0) vs. Brookwood
5. Walton (5-0) vs. Milton
6. Northside-Warner Robins (5-1) at Coffee
7. Harrison (5-0) at Woodstock
8. Coffee (6-0) vs. Northside-Warner Robins
9. North Gwinnett (4-1) vs. Chattahoochee
10. East Paulding (5-0) at North Cobb
Class AAAA
1. Westside-Macon (6-0) at Harris County
2. Mays (6-0) OFF
3. Sandy Creek (5-0) at McIntosh
4. Statesboro (6-0) at Glynn Academy
5. Marist (4-1) vs. Forsyth Central
6. Chamblee (4-1) vs. Southwest DeKalb
7. Thomas County Central (4-1) at Lee County
8. Rome (5-1) at Woodland-Cartersville
9. Sequoyah (5-1) vs. Murray County
10. Evans (5-0) vs. Westside-Augusta
Class AAA
1. Cairo (4-0) vs. Peach County
2. Baldwin (6-0) OFF
3. St. Pius (6-0) OFF
4. Dunwoody (5-0) at Towers
5. Washington County (5-0) at Thomson
6. Gainesville (6-0) vs. East Hall
7. LaGrange (5-1) OFF
8. Carver-Columbus (3-2) at Troup
9. Carrollton (5-1) vs. Haralson County
10. Thomson (4-1) vs. Washington County
Class AA
1. Buford (5-0) at Cross Keys
2. Fitzgerald (5-0) at Berrien
3. Appling County (6-0) OFF
4. Jefferson County (6-0) at East Laurens
5. Pepperell (5-0) vs. Temple
6. Charlton County (4-1) vs. Long County
7. Westminster (4-1) at Avondale
8. Henry County (4-1) at Greene County
9. Brooks County (4-1) at Early County
10. Callaway (5-1) vs. Lamar County
Class A
1. ECI (5-0) at Treutlen
2. Wilcox County (6-0) at Telfair County
3. Clinch County (5-1) at Lanier County
4. Athens Academy (5-0) at Mount Paran
5. Savannah Christian (4-1) at Bryan County
6. Lincoln County (5-1) OFF
7. Brookstone (5-0) vs. Stewart-Quitman
8. Miller County (6-0) at Terrell County
9. Turner County (5-1) vs. Telfair County
10. Bremen (4-1) vs. Darlington
Todd talks back: Holcomb mixes it up with you all week long. Catch his running commentary in Poll Talk Monday-Friday. Leave comments, questions, etc., here and return to talk about this week’s rankings.
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Live from Martin Stadium: It’s Northside vs. Lowndes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just pulled into Martin Stadium. I’ll start blogging around kickoff and let you know what’shappening. If you have any questions, I’ll get to it if I can. …
It’s 6 p.m., and it’s still 85 degrees. Had to stop by the Wal-Mart and get some cargo shorts for $7 because of this South Georgia heat. … Just had a conversation with Joe Wilson, the coach of the 1980 Lowndes state championship team. What a wealth of history he is. Wilson played on Valdosta’s state champion in 1951 and was a long-time assistant under Wright Bazemore. He wanted the Valdosta job when Bazemore retired but was passed over. He wound up at Lowndes and won the Plowboys’ first title in ‘80. Says he still likes Valdosta - ‘except when they’re playing Lowndes.’
I’ll be back later.
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Free-For-All Friday: Georgia high school football scores and chat — LIVE!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Going to the game tonight? Or are you hangin’ at the house, eagerly awaiting that new scoring update from your own special Game of the Week? We are here to talk football, football and more football. If you’re going to the game and you’re taking the cellphone or the Blackberry, let us know what’s going on at YOUR game and we’ll post it here.
If you have a score update - tell us who just scored, who’s ahead, who’s losing big. See a killer play? Message us. Got a shout-out? Keep it clean and email it our way. Send messages here: onlinesports@ajc.com
Friday Night Photos
• Northside vs. Lowndes
• Etowah vs. East Paulding
• Columbia vs. Towers
• Dacula vs. South Gwinnett
• Lovett vs. Westminster
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AJC Football Predictions: Northside-Lowndes will be close
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Thrilla in Manilla. The War on the Shore. The Trial of the Century. The Rumble in the Jungle. The War of Northern Aggression. The Shot Heard Round the World.
We sports fans (and history buffs) love a good title to throw on a game or event that transcends the sports and takes on epic proportions.
Such is the case this week as the state’s football senses focus on a concrete structure off of I-75 South in a town that has become synonymous with high school football excellence. Make no mistake about it; tonight’s game between Northside (not Warner Robins) and Lowndes (not county) is the biggest sports event of the weekend in the state of Georgia.
The Bulldogs are off. The Falcons are, well, the Falcons. If they were playing this game at Bobby Dodd on Saturday night, it would be a sellout — something the Jackets probably won’t get against Duke.
Sports writers, venters, bloggers and columnists have had this date circled on the calendar since last December when Lowndes wiped up North Gwinnett for the Class AAAAA state title and Northside claimed its second consecutive Class AAAA title. So, finally, let the fun begin, and if the game is indeed a classic, someone come up with a heckuva title for it.
Northside is averaging 27 points per game and giving up 9.2, most of which has come in mop-up duty. Lowndes’ offense scores at a clip of 38.8 a game and has three shutouts while allowing an average of 4.2 points per game on defense.
Running back Greg Reid and the Lowndes offense is the unstoppable force, while the Northside defense of tackle Abry Jones and linebacker Eric Fields is the immovable object. But something has to give, and it is on the other side of the ball for both teams.
Flat out, I think Lowndes’ defense is just better than Northside’s offense. No longer is wizard Marquez Ivory back there to bail the Eagles out when things break down, and Lowndes has a defense that will make an opposing offense simply break down. I’ll be in other parts of the state, but someone please TiVo this one for me. Lowndes 21, Northside 17.
Now that the BIG ONE is out of the way, it was a 7-3 record for the peerless prep pigskin prognosticator (that’s a lot of alliteration for you English majors out there) last week. That’s about what you could expect from a BCS-shaking weekend as Newnan made a mockery of the Upset Special of the Week, and Marist made a mockery out of all things having to do with Tucker.
Region 5 ramblings — There are two big games this week in Region 5-AAAAA, and one has state repercussions. East Paulding and Etowah meet in a battle of respect since both teams are undefeated and feel they should be ranked. After this week, one of them will deserve to be. Load the cannon, boys, because I want to hear it fire a few times. Whitfield is coming to Paulding County! Raiders blast the Eagles. … The other game is between Marietta and McEachern — two teams that are “fair to middlin” at best, but they have a good history. I’ll give the edge to the Indians in Powder Springs.
A lot in a little — Running out of space, so here goes a quick rundown of the best of the rest. In Gwinnett, take South Gwinnett at home, Grayson to keep on rolling and Blessed Trinity to top GAC. Gwinnett Rules! … No. 9 Carrollton is a lot tougher at home, but still take them over Cartersville. … No. 2 Westminster to handle Lovett … Upset Special of the Week: Sequoyah at home over No. 3 Dalton. … M.L. King to trounce Douglass. … Whitewater in an aqua-battle over Sandy Creek. … Whit(e)field Academy (you just knew I was partial to the Wolfpack) over Landmark Christian.
Pick / pan our Predix: Tell us how wrong - or right - we are with this week’s picks. And send in your predictions for Week 6.
AJC Weekend Predictions - Week 6
FRIDAY: Winner / Loser
Adairsville / Dade Co.
Alcovy / Dutchtown
Allatoona / North Paulding
Apalachee / Winder-Barrow
Appling Co. / Pierce Co.
Athens Academy / Commerce
Bainbridge / Jones Co.
Baldwin / Burke Co.
Banks Co. / East Jackson
Berrien / Albany
Blessed Trinity / GAC
Bowdon / Mt. Zion-Carrollton
Bradwell Institute / Jenkins
Brantley Co. / Jeff Davis
Brooks Co. / Mitchell Co.
Brookstone / Pacelli Catholic
Brookwood / Meadowcreek
Brunswick / Wayne Co.
Buford / Avondale
Cairo / Worth Co.
Calhoun / Gordon Central
Calvary Day / Bryan Co.
Camden Co. / Beach
Carrollton / Cartersville
Cedar Grove / Druid Hills
Cedar Shoals / Monroe Area
Central-Carroll / Haralson Co.
Chattooga / Sonoraville
Chestatee / Lumpkin Co.
Clarke Central / Rockdale Co.
Clinch Co. / Bacon Co.
Columbia / Towers
Creekview / Johnson-Gainesville
Crisp Co. / Perry
Dacula / South Gwinnett
Darlington / Walker
Dawson Co. / Oglethorpe Co.
Decatur / Cross Keys
Douglas Co. / Lithia Springs
Dublin / Bleckley Co.
Eagle’s Landing / Rutland
Eagle’s Landing Christ. / S.W. Atl. Christ.
East Laurens / Southeast Bulloch
East Paulding / Etowah
Evans / Butler
Fannin Co. / Union Co.
Fellowship Christ. / Our Lady of Mercy
Fitzgerald / Cook
Flowery Branch / West Hall
Gainesville / West Forsyth
Glascock Co. / N. Cobb Christian
Gordon Lee / Trion
Grady / Riverwood
Grayson / Shiloh
Greene Co. / Monticello
Greenville / Chattahoochee Co.
Habersham Cent. / Madison Co.
Hardaway / Upson-Lee
Harrison / Cherokee
Hart Co. / Jackson Co.
Hawkinsville / Irwin Co.
Heard Co. / Spencer
Henry Co. / Putnam Co.
Hephzibah / Lakeside-Evans
Hillgrove / South Paulding
Hiram / Paulding Co.
Holy Innocents’ / Pace Academy
Jackson / South Atlanta
Jefferson / Riverside Military
Jefferson Co. / Swainsboro
Johnson Co. / Wheeler Co.
Johnson-Sav. / Groves
Jonesboro / Ola
LaFayette / Heritage-Catoosa
LaGrange / Kendrick
Laney / Toombs Co.
Lanier Co. / Atkinson Co.
Lincoln Co. / Aquinas
Loganville / Heritage-Conyers
Lowndes / Northside-W.R.
M.L. King / Douglass
Macon Co. / Crawford Co.
Marion Co. / Central-Talbotton
Mary Persons / Woodland-Stockbridge
Mays / Tri-Cities
McEachern / Marietta
McIntosh / Fayette Co.
McIntosh Co. Acad. / Benedictine
McNair / Clarkston
Metter / Montgomery Co.
Miller Co. / Terrell Co.
Morgan Co. / Franklin Co.
Mt. Zion-Jonesboro / Stockbridge
Newton / Redan
North Clayton / Forest Park
North Cobb / Woodstock
North Hall / White Co.
North Oconee / Rabun Co.
Northeast-Macon / Southwest-Macon
Northgate / Starr’s Mill
Northwest Whitfield / Cass
Oconee Co. / Elbert Co.
Parkview / Central Gwinnett
Peach Co. / Monroe
Pepperell / Armuchee
Pickens / Gilmer
Pike Co. / Manchester
Prince Ave. / Athens Christian
Richmond Academy / Harlem
Ridgeland / Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe
Ringgold / S.E. Whitfield
Rockmart / Temple
Rome / Woodland-Cartersville
St. Pius / North Atlanta
Sav. Country Day / Portal
Schley Co. / Taylor Co.
Seminole Co. / Calhoun Co.
Sequoyah / Dalton
South Effingham / Glynn Academy
Sprayberry / Osborne
Statesboro / Effingham Co.
Stephenson / Luella
Stewart Co. / Webster Co.
Tattnall Co. / Long Co.
Thomas Co. Central / Americus-Sumter
Thomasville / Early Co.
Thomson / Liberty Co.
Tift Co. / Houston Co.
Towns Co. / Hebron Christian
Treutlen / Jenkins Co.
Troup / Columbus
Twiggs Co. / Turner Co.
Union Grove / Greenbrier
Valdosta / Colquitt Co.
Vidalia / Screven Co.
Villa Rica / Alexander
Washington / Therrell
Washington-Wilkes / Hancock Central
Wesleyan / Social Circle
West Laurens / Richmond Hill
Westside-Macon / Lee Co.
Westminster / Lovett
Whitefield Acad. / Landmark Christian
Whitewater / Sandy Creek
Wilcox Co. / Telfair Co.
Wilkinson Co. / Randolph-Clay
Windsor Forest / Savannah
Woodward Academy / Spalding
SATURDAY
Callaway / Jordan
Coffee / Warner Robins
Coosa / Model
Cross Creek / Glenn Hills
Georgia Military / Mt. Paran
Mundy’s Mill / Morrow
Savannah Christian / Claxton
Stephens Co. / Eastside
Westover / Dougherty
Westside-Aug. / Josey
The Weekend Predix W-L percentage
Last week: 128-32 (.800) / Season: 613-196 (.758)
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