There was only one change to the Class AA rankings this week — the Douglass Astros debut at No. 10, replacing the Dodge County Indians, who lost handily to AAA’s Appling County, 41-7. The Astros — led by eighth year coach Rodney Cofield — are off to a 3-0 start and have outscored Washington, Tri-Cities and Towers a combined 110-26. They slide into the rankings coming off a bye week.
The Astros’ place in the rankings is long overdue, having flown under the radar all of last year despite a 10-2 finish. It’s the first time they’ve been ranked since 2005, when they were as high as No. 5 in AAAAA and finished 7-4, losing in the first round to Lowndes.
Nos. 1-9 stay the same, and that includes the Brooks County Trojans maintaining their No. 7 spot after nearly beating the top-ranked, defending AAAAA state champs Bainbridge on the road. They lost 27-26.
All other ranked teams either won or were on a bye week. For the Friday night recap, go here.
Below is the new top 10. The number in parenthesis represents the previous week's ranking.
1. (1) Rockmart (3-0)
2. (2) Hapeville Charter (1-1)
3. (3) Callaway (2-1)
4. (4) Dublin (2-0)
5. (5) Rabun County (3-0)
6. (6) Washington County (3-0)
7. (7) Brooks County (1-2)
8. (8) Swainsboro (2-1)
9. (9) Fitzgerald (3-1)
10. (NR) Douglass (3-0)
In brief:
- The Vidalia-Jeff Davis rivalry in Region 2 is heating up, with an Indians' Twitter account throwing a little shade the Yellow Jackets' way. Perhaps the Indians are comfortable with smack talk seeing as how the Jackets haven't won a game in the series since before the turn of the century (1999), an eleven-game losing streak. The Indians won 43-15 last year.
- Jeff Davis won a tight one on the road against AAA's Brantley County, 7-0, to improve to 4-0. The Jackets head into a bye week, then close the season out with Region 2 play starting with a home game Bacon County on Setp. 27.
- Vidalia beat AAA's Tattnall County, 15-6, to improve to 2-1. Southeast Georgia Today has the details.
- The NFL dream stays alive for former Callaway standout receiver Terry Godwin, who was signed to the Jaguars' practice squad last week.
- Hephzibah defensive back Enoch Howard has been invited to participate in the Elite Raw Talent All American Bowl. The three-day event will take place Dec. 26-28 at South Cobb.
- The Hephzibah Rebels are 2-0 after beating Screven County 35-27 in Region 4 action. Highlights include Javeon Harris' 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and a Marshall Chambers scrambling touchdown pass.
- The Pepperell Dragons will head into Region 7 play with a 2-1 record after beating Heritage-Ringgold 20-13 on Friday. Jonathan Blaylock has the game story for the Rome News-Tribune.
- Toombs Now has coverage of Toombs County's high-scoring affair with Claxton. The Bulldogs won 49-31 to improve to 3-0 heading into Region 2 play.
- Temple's Phillip Johnson had a big game in the Tigers' 22-16 win over Mount Zion-Carroll, rushing for three scores, a two-point conversion and more than 200 yards. The Tigers are 3-0 and play AAAA's Northwest Whitfield next week. Mason Wittner has the story for The Times-Georgian.
- The Union County Panthers improved to 3-0 with a 33-14 win over AAA's Fannin County. Todd Forrest has the story for NGN Sports.
- Here's the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane community celebrating after a close win on Friday. They edged AAAA's Upson-Lee 21-18.
- The Blitz recently interviewed Rabun County coach Jaybo Shaw and the quarterback-receiver duo of Gunner Stockton and Braxton Hix.
- The Rockmart student section was rocking for the Yellow Jackets in their 47-14 revenge win over Heard County.
- The Thomasville Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 10 in the preseason polls, notched their first win of the season, 52-13, over Everglades. They're 1-3 and have a bye next week.
- Tank Bigsby had a big night for Callaway in their 69-0 blowout win over AAAAA's Cross Keys, including touchdown runs of 65, 69, 70 and 24 yards. Demetrius Coleman had a 48-yard touchdown run.
- Here's a breakdown of Callaway's win by the West Georgia Football Podcast.
- For their 56-10 win over LaGrange the week before, the entire Callaway Cavaliers team was named WRBL's Athletes of the Week.
- The No. 6 Washington County Golden Hawks had their game pushed from Friday to Saturday thanks to weather, but they beat AAAAAA's Greenbrier 42-7 to improve to 3-0. Courtney Broxton earned player of the week honors from coach Joel Ingram. They host No. 8 Swainsboro next week on short rest.
- Here's some interesting Vidalia Indians history. And here's some on Elbert County.
- Here's a feature from All On Georgia about former Chattooga standout Isaac Foster thriving at Kennesaw State.
- GHSF Daily's top performers for Week 4 include Rockmart quarterback Javin Whatley (five touchdowns and 191 rushing yards on 12 carries, and 15-of-19 passing for 221 yards and one touchdown); Elbert County quarterback D.J. Ardister (18-of-28 passing for 273 yards and two touchdowns, and 22 carries for 88 yards and two touchdowns); Hephzibah receiver Erick Harris (three receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score); Temple running back Phillip Johnson (24 carries for 229 yards and three touchdowns); Thomasville receiver Ricardo Johnson (seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown); Toombs County athlete Chandler Lynn (six receptions for 124 yards and three touchdowns, one rushing touchdown); Union County quarterback Pierson Allison (14-of-24 passing for 268 yards and four touchdowns, 63 rushing yards, an interception and forced a fumble on defense); Washington County running back Shamarcus Poole (165 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries, 92-yard punt return touchdown).
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