AA in brief: Model tired of the disrespect

By Adam Krohn

Sept 6, 2016

Following the contests involving AA teams during Week 3, there has been some movement in the new top 10. Vidalia lost its No. 3 spot while taking a bye, leapfrogged by the Brooks County Trojans, who beat a No. 1 ranked team in Clinch County of A-public. The Elbert County Blue Devils were booted out of the rankings from their No. 7 spot after a shocking 17-15 loss to Madison County. That pushed Nos. 8-10 Rabun County, Dodge County and Model up a spot and allowed Heard County to re-enter the rankings.

Chip Saye mentioned the Blue Devils' loss - Elbert County was a 24-point favorite - in Monday's edition of GHSF Daily, saying, "Madison County (1-9 a year ago), picked up its biggest victory in at least a decade." The Blue Devils haven't gotten off to a very good start, also tying Hart County in Week 1. They'll get a week off, then host Franklin County on Sept. 16 before jumping into Region 8 play, so they still have plenty of time to get to the level a Sid Fritts-coached team plays at. Fritts has a 152-43-3 all-time record in Georgia dating back to 2000 and is in his seventh season at Elbert County.

Here’s a glimpse at the updated rankings, with the previous week’s rankings in parenthesis:

1. (1) Fitzgerald (1-0)

2. (2) Benedictine (2-0)

3. (4) Brooks County (2-0)

4. (3) Vidalia (2-0)

5. (5) Jefferson County (2-0)

6. (6) Callaway (2-0)

7. (8) Rabun County (1-0)

8. (9) Dodge County (1-1)

9. (10) Model (2-0)

10. (NR) Heard County (2-0)

Out: No. 7 Elbert County (1-1-1)

In brief:

The Pepperell Dragons took on the Pickens Dragons on Friday, but before the game took place, the Pepperell Sports twitter account had fun with the scenario of two PHS Dragons schools playing each other, hosting a poll on which team would win: The PHS Dragons, or the PHS Dragons? The PHS Dragons won.
If you catch a game at Bleckley County and aren't sure why, at the start of every fourth quarter, there are fans turning on their phone lights, it's because they're honoring fallen students.
As was the case the week before, Week 3 was affected by weather, but even more so this time around. AA schools involved in canceled or postponed games include Bryan County, Jeff Davis, Bacon County, Thomasville, East Laurens, Josey, Glenn Hills, Westside-Augusta, Dublin, Washington County and Laney. The Augusta Chronicle's Chris Gay covered Laney's game, which was moved to Saturday, and noted the difference in atmosphere from if the game had been played on Friday.
One school not affected: Benedictine. The Cadets left for Atlanta on Thursday, just ahead of the bad weather. Before reaching the big city, they made a pit stop in Macon for a workout. Everything about their preparation for and execution of the game worked.
More on Benedictine: Georgia Tech released a good read on former Cadet Brad Stewart and his grandfather - a former Benedictine coach and athletic director - ahead of the Yellow Jackets win over Boston College in Dublin, Ireland.
Rabun County noted that the Wildcats hosted a team from Taccoa for the first time in nearly half a century when Stephens County visited on Friday. The Wildcats treated their guests to a 24-10 loss. GHSF Daily recognized the Wildcats offensive line, naming it Offensive Line of the Week.
WGXTA TV has the highlights from Bleckley County come-from-behind 14-13 victory over Treutlen. Nykeem Farrow's performance earned him area top performers honors.
Temple edged Oglethorpe County 36-32 in the coaching debut for OC's Richard Andrews. The Tigers win earned them a nomination for Fox 5 Atlanta's high school team of the week.
Model football is tired of being disrespected by the local press. On the contrary, the AJC has nothing but respect for the Blue Devils, having bumped them up a spot in this week's rankings and named Blue Devils QB/LB Kyler Eldridge one of the state's top five performers for Week 3.