Here’s a look at the top 10 teams in Class AAAAAA entering week three. The top game Friday is No. 3 Parkview at No. 7 Lowndes.
1. Marietta (2-0)
The Blue Devils moved up in the national polls after the victory over St. Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia. Marietta is now No. 6 in USA Today and No. 10 in MaxPreps’ Xcellent 25. The victory moved Marietta to No. 14 from No. 59 in the High School Football America poll. Marietta plays this week at Collins Hill, which defeated Walton 14-12 last week. Then comes No. 5 Grayson on the road Sept. 13
2. Colquitt County (1-0)
The Packers, off last week, play at Thomasville this week. Thomasville is a Class AA team that’s normally pretty good but 0-2 this season. Next is Valdosta, which looked awfully good in beating Tift County 37-0 last week. Colquitt won its opener 17-6 over North Gwinnett. That win looks better now that North Gwinnett defeated Armwood, a top team in Florida’s Class 7A, last week.
3. Parkview (1-0)
The Panthers looked OK in their opening win over Mountain View 28-18 on Aug. 23. This week’s game at Lowndes is the big one this week in the high class. The two teams have played three thrilling games the past three seasons with Parkview winning 39-27 last season at home after losing two to the Vikings the previous three seasons. Parkview has scored no fewer than 34 points in all three.
4. Archer (1-0)
Archer, off last week, should win at home this week against Spartanburg, S.C. (1-1). Archer won its opener 41-7 two weeks ago. Archer’s pre-region schedule includes Mill Creek (Sept. 13), Norcross (Sept. 20) and Buford (Sept. 27).
5. Grayson (2-0)
The Rams beat Tucker 37-14 last week. Quarterback C.J. Dixon passed for 263 yards, and LaFayette Gurvin rushed for 181 and had 65 yards receiving. Grayson is off this week, then faces No. 1 Marietta, Westlake and No. 2 Colquitt County.
6. Milton (1-0)
Milton looked great last Thursday in beating Alpharetta 45-0. Milton outrushed Alpharetta 402 to minus-7. Now, the Eagles are playing Buford in a makeup game from the Corky Kell Classic.
7. Lowndes (2-0)
Lowndes has won 69-6 against Drew and 44-14 against Champagnat Catholic of Florida. It gets real this week when the Vikings play at home against No. 3 Parkview.
8. McEachern (2-0)
McEachern looks to have its most explosive team in a few years. The Indians have beaten Brookwood 48-10 and South Cobb 46-0. This week comes Cedar Grove, the defending Class AAA champion. McEachern beat Cedar Grove 24-17 last season.
9. Hillgrove (2-0)
Hillgrove should enter the region opener against McEachern on Oct. 11 with a 5-0 record. That would require the Hawks defeated Banneker, Etowah and South Forsyth.
10. North Gwinnett (1-1)
Some might’ve thought North Gwinnett should have been bumped from the rankings after losing to Colquitt County 17-6 in the opener, but the Bulldogs were impressive last week in a 26-23 victory over Armwood, Fla., which entered ranked No. 2 in Florida's Class 7A. North Gwinnett plays at Norcross this week and will be favored in each remaining game. The Bulldogs have won 14 straight in region play.
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