Class AA blog: In brief — Metter’s 14-minute drive secures big win

For the first week since this season, the Class AA rankings remain unchanged from the previous week. All teams either won or enjoyed a bye week. Next week could prove to be different, however. No. 10 Douglass and No. 2 Hapeville Charter play, so the Astros will likely need to either win or lose by a razor-thin margin to stay in the polls.

For Friday night's recap, go here.

Below is the latest top 10. The number in parenthesis represents the previous week's ranking.

1. (1) Rockmart (5-0)
2. (2) Hapeville Charter (3-1)
3. (3) Callaway (4-1)
4. (4) Dublin (4-0)
5. (5) Rabun County (5-0)
6. (6) Swainsboro (3-1)
7. (7) Fitzgerald (4-1)
8. (8) Brooks County (2-3)
9. (9) Washington County (3-1)
10. (10) Douglass (5-0)

In brief:

• Callaway quarterback Demetrius Coleman was nominated by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for Week 5 top player following his three-touchdown performance in a win over Troup.
• Youth football participation isn't shrinking, the NFHS said.
• Pepperrell is 4-1, 2-0 in Region 7 after shutting out Coosa 42-7. They've outscored their league opponents — the other being Gordon Central — 70-7 thus far. They'll play top-ranked Rockmart after their bye, on Oct. 18, in a game that could decide the region championship.
• No excuses for Pepperell. The Dragons must take the field with clean uniforms.
• Here's some Northeast-Macon history, courtesy of Georgia High School Sports History. Here's some Thomasville history.
• Here's the latest on Screven County football from the PoJos Coaches Show.
• The early bird catches the worm. But perhaps the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets could have used the extra sleep after weather postponed their game, which didn't end until the wee hours of Saturday morning. Nonetheless, the Jackets are 5-0 after beating Bacon County 54-14 in their Region 2 opener.
• Vidalia's Jaedyn Stanley rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on five carries in the Indians' win over Bryan County. The Indians improved to 4-1, 1-0 in Region 2 and  they're on a bye next week before traveling to play Jeff Davis on Oct. 11.
• Callaway football announcer Andrew Caraway provided some history for the Cavaliers' matchup against Temple last week, which the Cavs won handily.
• WLTZ has a highlight of Jalin Shephard's 86-yard touchdown run against Temple. Here's a punishing hit by a Cavs defender.
• Check out Callaway's Tank Bigsby rocking the retro Air Jordan cleats.
• Jonathan Blaylock has a feature on Model's first win in the Rome News-Tribune.
• Halloween came early at Vidalia.
• You're not a lineman if your helmet doesn't look like this Vidalia player's.
• No, Josey wasn't ready. Westside won 42-0 to improve to 2-2, 2-1 in Region 4. Both of the Patriots' wins have been shutouts, with the other a 6-0 win over league opponent Laney.
• WJBF has a segment on how coach William Harrell has built a winner at Hephzibah.
• The Metter Tigers beat the Toombs County Bulldogs 14-3 in the Region 2 opener for both teams. It was an important win for the Tigers, and may have cost the Bulldogs a playoff spot. Toombs Now has complete coverage, which talks of a 14-minute drive by the Tigers. According to Metter, the drive was 24 plays, covering 98 yards.
• The Bleckley County Royals have already matched their win total from last season, beating Northeast 35-20 to improve to 4-1, 1-0 in Region 3. The Bleckley Progress has details. Up next: No. 4 Dublin at the Shamrock Bowl.
• Hepzibah's Marshall Chambers' pass to Erick Harris made WJBF's top plays. Here's another impressive touchdown by E'Shawn Mayes, courtesy of AugBall.
• The Walton Tribune has details of Elbert County's 56-7 win over Social Circle in Region 8 action, improving to 3-2, 2-0. Elbert County has outscored league opponents 119-7 thus far. The Blue Devils travel to Union County (5-0, 2-0) this week.
• NGN Sports has coverage of Union County's wild 74-57 win over Putnam County.
• Former Model standout kicker Matthew Syverson earned the Southern Athletic Association's Special Teams Player of the Week Honors, announced on Monday. Syverson, a true freshman, punted five times for an average of 40.4 yards, including a 62-yarder, for the Vikings (4-0, 2-0 SAA).
• Hapeville Charter will want to keep an eye on this development, which could push the Hornets to AAAA.
• The No. 6 Swainsboro Tigers are calling for a "white out" for their road game against Metter in the "battle of the Tigers."
• Rob Grubbs of NWGA Football has a history piece on the 2008 Rockmart-Chattooga game ahead of this week's matchup.
• Lamar County's Channing Buckner and Don Safford were named the Trojans' offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, following their 21-16 win over Jordan in Region 5 play. The Trojans are 5-0, 1-0. They've already surpassed last year's win total (4-6) in coach Jeff Sloan's first year with the team.
• The defending state champion Heard County Braves are finally in the win column after beating Spencer 34-8 in their Region 5 opener, improving to 1-4, 1-0.
• The Thomasville Bulldogs have won two in a row following their 28-18 win over Cook. Clint Thompson has a game story for the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. The Bulldogs are 2-3 after beginning the year ranked No. 10.
• WMAZ has highlights from Dodge County's 45-8 win over Southwest in its Region 3 opener. The Indians, who were ranked No. 10 at points during the season, improved to 2-3.