AA in brief: Defending champs Hapeville Charter debut with shutout
The top-ranked, defending-champion Hapeville Charter Hornets opened their season Saturday with a 42-0 win over River Ridge in the Inner City Classic at Buck Godfrey Stadium. River Ridge is a Class AAAAAA school that was also shutout the previous week, 28-0 by Etowah.
It was an important tune-up for the Hornets, who next week will put their 13-game win streak on the line when they take on the No. 2 Heard County Braves in Franklin on Friday.
The Hornets’ win closed the books on Week 2, which produced a number of big wins and one loss for the ranked teams.
To look back on the week, go here.
The rankings remain mostly intact, with no change to Nos. 1-8. However, Fitzgerald was booted from the rankings out of the No. 9 spot even though the Purple Hurricane narrowly lost, 16-10, to the No. 2 school in A-public, Irwin County. Rockmart moved into the No. 9 spot and the Dublin Fighting Irish debut at No. 10. The Fighting Irish are 2-0 after beating lowly A schools Emanuel County Institute and Tattnall Square a combined 97-7.
Here's a look at the updated rankings, with the previous week's rankings in parenthesis.
1. (1) Hapeville Charter (1-0)
2. (2) Heard County (1-0)
3. (3) Callaway (1-0)
4. (4) Thomasville (2-0)
5. (5) Brooks County (1-0)
6. (6) Bremen (2-0)
7. (7) Dodge County (1-0)
8. (8) Rabun County (1-1)
9. (10) Rockmart (2-0)
10. (NR) Dublin (2-0)
Out: No. 9 Fitzgerald.
In brief
- Callaway's Tank Bigsby earned AJC top five performance honors by rushing for 249 yards and three scores on 22 carries to go with 46 receiving yards in the Cavaliers' 35-21 win over Opelika. Douglass' Juan Powell (277 rushing yards, 81-yard score on an interception return, five touchdowns) and Early County's Aaron Yarbrough (224 rushing yards, two scores) earned honorable mentions. The six of the nine offensive lines given "lines of distinction" honors came from AA, including Callaway, Chattooga, Dublin, Rabun County, Union County and Vidalia.
- Thomasville's Jakarius Tillman's touchdown grab earned him a Play of the Week nomination from WTXL. The Bulldogs beat Cairo 39-7.
- Here are some more highlights of the Thomasville win from In the Game.
- Turns out a rose held the answer to who would win the Thomasville game all along.
- WDUN points out the quarterback position in Northeast Georgia, noting Rabun County freshman Gunner Stockton's 257 passing yards and four touchdowns last week in the Wildcats' win over North Murray.
- In Rockmart's Week 1 season-opening, 20-14 win over Cedartown, Juke Boozer had 122 receiving yards and two scores on three catches, including the game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds left. On Monday, he was honored by the school as Player of the Week.
- You can't say the Rockmart Yellow Jackets didn't warn Central-Carrollton of their impending 51-7 win.
- Putnam County put a unique twist on conditioning drills during Monday's practice.
- Keep an eye on the Washington County Golden Hawks, who should be considered a bubble team to enter the rankings should a top 10 team slip. They're 2-0 and are coming off a convincing 35-14 win over once-ranked Jefferson County. After stumbling to a 4-7 record last year, they were 9-3 season in 2016.
- Washington County coach Joel Ingram named Dyquan Bloodshaw his Player of the Week for his performance in the Jefferson County win. He rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
- Speaking of Washington County, former NFL standout Takeo Spikes gave a shoutout to his alma mater last week.
- Another bubble team, Toombs County, beat Hancock Central 14-8 to move to 2-0. Last season they went 10-2 and won their first playoff game since 2008.
- Rockmart's defense is off to an impressive start.
- On Friday, the Chattooga Indians earned a 17-0 shutout against a Wesleyan team that has gone 27-9 over the past three seasons. You can watch the game in its entirety here.
- Here is a highlight Hapeville Charter's win over River Ridge. Here is another one.
- Hapeville Charter's Marcus Carroll and Zavier Carter are headed to the NFL Hall of Fame Camp.
- WRBL has video highlights of Callaway's win over Opelika.
- Bremen receiver Jason Houston (four catches, 126 yards, three scores) had a big game against Bowdon.
- Model kicker Matthew Syverson is a team player.
- Friday is Hawaiian theme outfit day in Vidalia for the the Indians' game against Emanuel County Institute. So, you know, if you want to, go ahead and, uh, wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans.
- First responders were honored ahead of the Opelika-Callaway game.
- Social Circle earned a 31-0 win over Stone Mountain. It was their first shutout since 2011.
- Highlights from WTOC for a number of 4-AA schools can be found here.
- Putnam Count coach Shaun Pope notched his first victory with the War Eagles as they beat Temple 28-7.
- Butler's Thomas Hudson earned the No. 1 spot in WJBF's "Friday's Top Plays" for his game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown, though it's unclear if the play stood. Butler won 6-0.
- The Douglass Astros were confident they'd beat the Tri-Cities Bulldogs, retweeting smack talk from one of their fans. They backed it up, however, winning 70-32 to improve to 2-0.
- To beat Thomasville, you have to get up early. Real early.
- WTVM profiles Callaway's Tely Fanning, who overcame multiple ACL injuries to become a defensive leader for the Cavs.
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