The new AA poll came in on Sunday, and the big story is the Bleckley County Royals entering at No. 8. As was reported when the polls were released, it's the first time they've been ranked since 1992. The Royals take Brooks County's place following the Trojans' loss to Thomasville.
Also new to the top 10 is Union County, which has won 15 of their last 16 regular season games dating back to 2017. The Panthers are 6-0 and coming off a 35-14 win over Elbert County. It’s the first time the Panther have been ranked since 2015.
With Union County and Bleckley County’s entrance into the polls, two teams had to leave.
Brooks County was an obvious candidate to be bounced given its 3-4 record, albiet against quality competition. Washington County was allowed to stay in the rankings after its loss to the Royals, dropping one spot to No. 10. That means the Jefferson County Warriors, which only entered the rankings a week ago, had to leave despite shutting out Laney on Friday, 31-0. The reasoning makes sense, however, as Washington County beat Jefferson County head-to-head on Aug. 30 by a score of 28-20.
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 (6-0)
2. (2) Hapeville Charter (5-1)
3. (3) Callaway (6-1)
4. (4) Dublin (6-0)
5. (5) Rabun County (6-0)
6. (6) Swainsboro (5-1)
7. (7) Fitzgerald (6-1)
8. (NR) Bleckley County (5-2)
9. (NR) Union County (6-0)
10. (9) Washington County (4-2)
Out: No. 8 Brooks County, No. 10 Jefferson County
In brief:
- In No. 3 Callaway's blowout win over Lamar County, Jacob Freeman opened the game with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Freeman, rated as a three-star athlete by recruiting services, holds 11 offers including Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oregon, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.
- Here's a WRBL highlight from the Lamar County-Callaway game.
- Callaway running back Tank Johnson was recently featured in Episode 303 of "Contenders", an online series broadcasted on Hudl.
- The West Georgia Football Podcast talks about Callaway and its latest win.
- Joshua Mixon of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer recently profiled first-year Spencer coach Robert Sanders. He is the third coach in three years for the Greenwave Owls, who are 2-4, 0-2 in Region 5.
- South Atlanta football recently appeared in a feature in Forbes. The Hornets are 5-2, 3-1 in 6-AA and are in line for a third consecutive trip to the state playoffs.
- Brooks County defensive tackle Jakobee Mitchell was recently spotlighted by ITG Next.
- In Vidalia's 45-17 demolishing of previously-undefeated Jeff Davis, it was another Davis — Indians quarterback Bryce Davis — who dominated. He broke a 75-yard scoring run on Vidalia's first possession and finished the first quarter with with 177 yards and three touchdowns. WJCL has the highlights (0:52 mark).
- WTOC has highlights of the Vidalia's win, beginning at the 1:48 mark of the first segment. Davis was nominated for play of the week.
- Here's a fired-up Vidalia assistant after the big win.
- Here's a preview the Indians' next game against Toombs County from ToombsNow.
- The Indians are calling for a "white out" against the Bulldogs.
- Here is the coverage from ToombsNow on the Bulldogs' 62-0 win over Bryan County, which moved the Bulldogs to 5-1, 2-1 in Region 2. The 62 points were a program record.
- Here's The Bleckley Progress' writeup on the Royals' big win over Washington County.
- Bryce Bailey did big things for Bleckley County in the win.
- Here's the Royals celebrating afterward.
- The win was Von Lassiter's 50th at Bleckley County. He was recently featured in GHSF Daily's "Four questions with...".
- Hephzibah lineman Jalen Gibson has been chosen to play in the Elite Raw Talent All-American Bowl.
- Jamie Walker of The Walton Tribune has a writeup of Social Circle's 20-18 win over Clarkston. The Redskins are 2-4, 0-3 in Region 8.
- Miami started it all with "The Turnover Chain". Since then, an unknown number of programs across the country have adopted all sorts of tokens for players to hold on the sideline during games if they achieve on the field. At Hapeville Charter, the Hornets have the Chucky doll.
- Former Hapeville Charter standout and current South Carolina sophomore defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare had three tackles — including one for a loss — in the Gamecocks' upset 20-17 win over then-No. 3 Georgia in Athens.
- Here's the Thomasville Bulldogs celebrating their big win over Brooks County.
- Bremen's Jacob Reynolds earned a spot in Recruit Georgia's Week 8 Top Plays for his touchdown in a 57-6 win over Georgia, which pulled the Blue Devils to 3-3, 1-1 in Region 5.
- Curious to see which teams Maxwell's ratings project to win their regions? Go here.
- GHSF Daily's top performers from AA are Bleckley County running back Bryce Bailey (193 rushing yards, three scores on 18 carries); Dublin quarterback JaQues Evans (201 yards, two touchdowns on 18 carries and a 19-yard scoring reception); Fitzgerald receiver Chance Gamble (seven receptions, 104 yards); Harlem running back Cameron Garnett (281 yards, two touchdowns on 23 carries); Heard County running back-defensive back Alex Boyd (224 yards, two touchdowns on 16 carries, two receptions for 72 yards and a score, seven tackles on defense); Thomasville linebacker Ty Anderson (10 solo tackles, one sack, a 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown); Toombs County cornerback Tyler Heather (two interceptions including a pick-six); Vidalia sophomore quarterback Bryce Davis (252 yards, four touchdowns on 12 carries, a 36-yard touchdown pass); the offensive line of Harlem (lines of distinction).
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