Georgia high school football poll released

By Todd Holcomb

For the AJC

Unless their teams are defending champions, most coaches don’t like to be ranked No. 1 in preseason. Southwest DeKalb’s Buck Godfrey, on the other hand, relishes the challenge.

“To be ranked like that is a honor and we will defend it with all the character and fight that goes along with being No. 1,’’ said Godfrey, whose Panthers will start at the top in Class AAAA this season.

Lowndes in AAAAA and Carver of Columbus in AAA also are No. 1 without having won their championships last year but both schools have recent state titles in their history.

Southwest DeKalb last won state in 1995 with Quincy Carter as its quarterback. Godfrey is DeKalb County’s leader in coaching victories (240) and Southwest for decades has been the county’s most famous football program.

But since 1995, Southwest has not advanced past the quarterfinals and only twice has won 10 or more games (in 1998 and 1999). The last time Godfrey’s team was ranked No. 1 was September of 2000.

This year’s team by Godfrey’s account is his most talented since then. It made the quarterfinals last season. Two of its losses were to the AAAA finalists — Tucker (10-7) and Marist (27-21) — by a total of nine points.

Southwest returns 16 of 22 starters. They include AJC Super 11 defensive end T.J. Stripling and running back Kendrun Malcome, who have committed to Georgia. Defensive backs Jonathan Mincy (Auburn) and Sharod Golightly (Vanderbilt) also have committed to SEC schools.

In AAAAA, defending champ Camden County figures to be good again but the Wildcats return only seven starters overall from its 15-0 team.

Lowndes, winner of three of the past five titles, opens at No. 1 with new motivation after its shocking loss last season in the quarterfinals to Grayson, the preseason No. 2.

“Since that game, we’ve worked harder than we ever have before,” Lowndes coach Randy McPherson said. “There’s just a total new sense of urgency.”

In AAA, the 2008 champion, Cairo, has only three starters back and is ranked No. 5. The No. 1 team is Carver, which has six major Division I-A recruits.

In AA, Buford was hit hard by graduation but that hasn’t deterred the Wolves lately. They’ve won 30 straight games.

In A, defending champion Wesleyan returns the core of its team, including quarterback Conor Welton and all-state running back Kyle Karempelis.

Of the 45 teams that started No. 1 this decade, 16 have gone on to win state championships.

The season begins with four games on Friday and six on Saturday.

The most anticipated matchup is No. 2 Grayson against No. 4 Camden County in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Provided by Georgia High School Football Daily

Class AAAAA

Lowndes

Grayson

Peachtree Ridge

Camden County

Stephenson

North Gwinnett

Northside-Warner Robins

M.L. King

Etowah

Newnan

Class AAAA

Southwest DeKalb

Tucker

Rome

Marist

Sandy Creek

Griffin

Westside-Macon

Statesboro

Sequoyah

Loganville

Class AAA

Carver-Columbus

Gainesville

Flowery Branch

LaGrange

Cairo

Baldwin

Peach County

Carrollton

Washington County

Jackson

Class AA

Buford

Calhoun

Thomasville

Fitzgerald

Jefferson County

Pepperell

Lovett

Callaway

Brooks County

Jefferson

Class A

Wesleyan

Wilcox County

Clinch County

Lincoln County

Wilkinson County

Emanuel County Institute

Brookstone

Savannah Christian

Turner County

Bremen