The new polls are out for Class AA and there was some shuffling, along with the exit of one team. The Vidalia Indians fell from the rankings from No. 7 after losing to Swainsboro, which remains unranked despite having played like a top 10 team all season. The biggest jump is Heard County, which goes from being unranked to No. 3 after its big win over then-No. 2 Callaway, which fell only two spots to No. 4.
Though the Washington County Golden Hawks won big over Southwest-Macon on Friday, they dropped from No. 6 to 10 because the last week’s poll — rankings are released on Sundays — didn’t account for their Monday loss to Dodge County in a game that was delayed due to weather.
For a rundown of Friday's games, go here.
Below are the updated rankings, with the team's previous week's rankings in parenthesis:
1. (1) Hapeville Charter (7-1)
2. (3) Rockmart (8-0)
3. (NR) Heard County (6-2)
4. (2) Callaway (7-2)
5. (4) Bremen (7-1)
6. (5) Rabun County (7-1)
7. (8) Brooks County (6-2)
8. (9) Dublin (8-1)
9. (10) Dodge County (8-1)
10. (6) Washington County (7-1)
Out: No. 7 Vidalia
In brief:
- Two of GHSF Daily's top performers for the week come from AA. Giovanni Morgan of B.E.S.T. Academy rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns and had 12 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and Brooks County's Jacolby Brown had 230 receiving yards and three touchdowns while competing 5 of his 6 passes for 66 yards and another touchdown. Earning "best of the rest" honors were Harlem's A.J. Brown (215 rushing yards, two touchdowns in one half and a 45-yard punt return touchdown), Heard County's Alijah Huzzie (154 rushing yards and two touchdown passes), Hephzibah's Rayquan Riley (199 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and Swainsboro's K.J. Starnes (five tackles, forced fumble).
- WJFB has highlights of Hephzibah's 33-5 win over Laney. The Rebels are now 7-2, 6-1 in 4-AA and are a win away from home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They are enjoying their best season since 2009.
- Hephzibah's Lamarcco Hester will play in the CSRA All-Star Bowl.
- Here are some impressive stats from the offense and defense for the Rockmart Yellow Jackets in their 42-0 win over Coosa. At 8-0, 5-0 in 7-AA, they are two wins from their first 10-0 season since 1989.
- One team pollsters continue to overlook is the Union County Panthers, who improved to 8-0, 5-0 in 8-AA with a 59-0 win over Oglethorpe County. Todd Forrest of the North Georgia News has a game thread. They are two weeks from their season finale at No. 6 Rabun County. The Panthers are getting a big season from quarterback Pierson Allison.
- The Thomasville Bulldogs ended a three-game skid with a 28-13 win over Berrien to improve to 5-4, 1-2 in 1-AA. The Valdosta Daily Times and Thomasville Times-Enterprise have writeups on the game.
- Here's highlights of Harlem running back A.J. Brown's big game. The Bulldogs are 6-3, 5-2 in 4-AA and will be in the playoffs consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000-01.
- Here's the game-winning play from Heard County that beat Callaway. The Braves (6-2, 4-0 5-AA) are in the driver's seat for the region title.
- Spencer won a close game to keep its playoff hopes alive while denying Temple of its first region win. The Green Waves improved to 2-6, 2-2 in 5AA while the Tigers dropped to 1-8, 0-5.
- Screven County's Gary Hawkins earned WJBF top plays honors for his bulldozing touchdown run against Butler. The Gamecocks won 35-34 in a crucial 4-AA games that moves them into the final playoff spot.
- Here's former Hapeville Charter standout Tyleek Collins making a play at the next level. Former Hornet JeQuez Ezzard is doing bit things too.
- Jeff Davis beat Toombs County 35-14 to end an eight-game skid in the series. The Yellow Jackets are 6-2 in 2-AA and are tied with Metter for fourth place in the region for the final playoff spot.
- Gordon Central kept its playoff hopes alive with a 36-26 win over Model. Alex Farrer has the story for the Gordon Gazette. The Warriors are 3-5, 2-3 in 7-AA and in a three-way tie with Coosa and Model for fourth place in the region.
- WJBF has highlights from several 4-AA teams.
- Callaway's Keiondre Jones had his jersey presentation for the Under Armour All-American Game last week. Kevin Eckleberry has a feature about the day for The LaGrange Daily News.
- Here's No. 5 Bremen getting ready for its game against Lamar County. They went on to win 35-7, improving to 7-1, 3-1 in 5-AA.
- The time and date for the Model-Coosa game has changed.
Follow the AJC’s Class AA coverage on Twitter.
About the Author
