Allatoona and Pace Academy didn’t exist in the world of Georgia high school football just 10 years ago. Now, both are state champions and ranked No. 1 for the first time.
Allatoona (Class AAAAA) and Pace (Class AA) – neither regarded as one of the favorites when the playoffs began - are joined at No. 1 in the final rankings by fellow champions Colquitt County (AAAAAA), Cartersville (AAAA), Westminster (AAA) and Eagle’s Landing Christian (A). Clinch County, the Class A public-school champion, is ranked No. 2 in the combined Class A poll.
Pace and its Buckhead neighbor, Westminster, also made history as the first teams to win five playoff games away from home. Each won four road games, plus neutral-site state final at the Georgia Dome.
Westminster, which defeated Blessed Trinity 38-31 in overtime in the AAA final, amazingly won only one home game all season. The Wildcats (11-4) won their final seven games, six on the road, one at the Dome. Westminster’s most recent loss had been to Blessed Trinity, its Region 4 rival, on Oct. 16.
In the highest classification, Colquitt County made history by completing its second straight 15-0 season with a 30-13 victory over Roswell. Colquitt became only the third school to go unbeaten in consecutive seasons in the highest class, first since Parkview in 2002. Ranked in the top three of several national polls, Colquitt remains in contention for mythical national titles.
In AAAA, Cartersville won its first title since 1999 and denied Buford a fourth straight championship. Cartersville’s 10-0 victory marked the first time that Buford has been shut out in the playoffs since 1999. The 10 points made the game the lowest-scoring final since 2000. With Buford's demise, there is no state champion from Gwinnett County for the first time.
Eagle’s Landing Christian won its second state title in four seasons with a 35-14 victory over Aquinas. Clinch County won its second since 2010 and sixth in history with a 24-7 victory over Irwin County.
Class AAAAAA
1. Colquitt County (15-0)
2. Roswell (14-1)
3. Mill Creek (13-1)
4. Grayson (13-1)
5. Archer (11-2)
6. Camden County (10-2)
7. McEachern (10-2)
8. Westlake (10-3)
9. Peachtree Ridge (8-4)
10. South Forsyth (11-2)
Class AAAAA
1. Allatoona (14-1)
2. Glynn Academy (12-3)
3. Stockbridge (12-1)
4. Northgate (12-2)
5. Ware County (11-3)
6. Houston County (11-2)
7. Mays (10-2)
8. Lanier (11-1)
9. Coffee (10-2)
10. Stephenson (9-2)
Class AAAA
1. Cartersville (15-0)
2. Buford (13-2)
3. Woodward Academy (13-1)
4. Bainbridge (13-1)
5. St. Pius (10-3)
6. Jonesboro (11-2)
7. Thomson (11-2)
8. Marist (10-3)
9. Sandy Creek (9-3)
10. Mary Persons (11-1)
Class AAA
1. Westminster (11-4)
2. Blessed Trinity (13-1-1)
3. Calhoun (13-1)
4. Cedar Grove (11-2-1)
5. Jefferson (10-2)
6. Elbert County (10-3)
7. Adairsville (11-2)
8. Peach County (9-3)
9. Dodge County (11-1)
10. Callaway (10-2)
Class AA
1. Pace Academy (13-2)
2. Fitzgerald (13-2)
3. Benedictine (12-1)
4. Greater Atlanta Christian (12-2)
5. Jefferson County (11-3)
6. Rabun County (11-2)
7. Brooks County (10-3)
8. Wesleyan (9-3)
9. Lovett (6-6)
10. Macon County (10-3)
Class A
1. Eagle’s Landing Christian (11-3)
2. Clinch County (13-1)
3. Prince Avenue Christian (12-1)
4. Aquinas (12-2)
5. Irwin County (10-3-1)
6. Stratford Academy (9-4)
7. Emanuel County Institute (11-2)
8. Pinecrest Academy (10-2)
9. Mount Paran Christian (10-2)
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