Marist is the new No. 1 team in Class AAAA while Denmark, a 2-year-old school, is in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings for the first time ahead of its meeting with defending AAAA champion Blessed Trinity.

Marist got the promotion from No. 2 after beating Chestatee 56-13 to improve to 6-0.

Marist moved head of Cartersville, which also improved to 6-0 with a 17-14 victory over unranked Central of Carrollton, a 37-point underdog, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings.

Marist, ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2004, has won each of its games by 14 points or more. Cartersville has played two tight ones. Cartersville defeated Marist 17-14 in the 2018 semifinals.

Denmark, the newest Forsyth County school, is 5-0 after a 49-0 victory over West Hall. Denmark will play Friday at No. 5 Blessed Trinity (4-1), the two-time defending state champion in the class. Blessed Trinity’s 23-game winning streak was ended this season when beaten by current No. 3 Woodward Academy.

Class AAAAAAA

  1. (1) Lowndes (7-0)
  2. (2) McEachern (5-0)
  3. (3) Colquitt County (5-1)
  4. (4) Grayson (4-1)
  5. (5) Marietta (4-1)
  6. (6) Hillgrove (5-0)
  7. (8) North Gwinnett (5-1)
  8. (9) Mill Creek (5-1)
  9. (10) Archer (3-2)
  10. (7) Parkview (4-1)

Class AAAAAA

  1. (1) Dacula (6-0)
  2. (2) Valdosta (5-1)
  3. (3) Harrison (6-0)
  4. (5) Lee County (5-1)
  5. (6) Allatoona (4-1)
  6. (7) Lanier (6-0)
  7. (4) Coffee (5-1)
  8. (8) Dalton (5-1)
  9. (9) Houston County (4-2)
  10. (NR) South Paulding (4-1)

Out: No. 10 M.L. King

Class AAAAA 

  1. (1) Buford (6-0)
  2. (2) Carrollton (6-0)
  3. (4) Jones County (6-0)
  4. (5) Dutchtown (6-0)
  5. (6) Warner Robins (5-1)
  6. (7) Stockbridge (6-0)
  7. (8) Rome (4-2)
  8. (3) Bainbridge (5-1)
  9. (10) Kell (4-1)
  10. (NR) Wayne County (4-1)

Out: No. 9 Griffin

Class AAAA 

  1. (2) Marist (6-0)
  2. (1) Cartersville (6-0)
  3. (3) Woodward Academy (5-0)
  4. (5) Sandy Creek (5-0)
  5. (4) Blessed Trinity (4-1)
  6. (6) Cairo (5-1)
  7. (7) Flowery Branch (5-0)
  8. (8) Burke County (5-1)
  9. (10) North Oconee (6-0)
  10. (NR) Denmark (5-0)

Out: No. 9 Troup

Class AAA 

  1. (1) Peach County (5-1)
  2. (2) Cedar Grove (4-2)
  3. (3) Pierce County (5-0)
  4. (4) Greater Atlanta Christian (5-1)
  5. (5) Hart County (5-0)
  6. (6) Liberty County (3-0)
  7. (7) Appling County (4-1)
  8. (8) Crisp County (4-3)
  9. (9) Lovett (4-2)
  10. (10) Jefferson (4-1)

Class AA 

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

Out: No. 10 Douglass

Class A (private)

  1. (1) Athens Academy (5-0)
  2. (2) Holy Innocents (6-0)
  3. (3) Eagle's Landing Christian (5-1)
  4. (4) Darlington (6-0)
  5. (5) Fellowship Christian (5-0)
  6. (8) Aquinas (5-0)
  7. (6) Wesleyan (4-2)
  8. (7) Prince Avenue Christian (4-2)
  9. (9) North Cobb Christian (4-1)
  10. (10) Christian Heritage (4-1)

Class A (public)

  1. (1) Irwin County (5-0)
  2. (2) Clinch County (5-1)
  3. (3) Pelham (5-0)
  4. (4) Bowdon (5-0)
  5. (5) Mitchell County (4-1)
  6. (6) Commerce (4-1)
  7. (7) Wilcox County (5-1)
  8. (8) Manchester (4-1)
  9. (9) Lincoln County (4-2)
  10. (10) Turner County (5-1)

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC