Six of the past 10 state champions in the highest classification have played their opening games in the Corky Kell Classic. That includes Colquitt County in 2014.
Odds appear good that it will happen again after watching the top three teams in the Class AAAAAA rankings dismantle their opponents decisively last weekend.
No. 1 Archer beat North Paulding 49-21 on Friday at McEachern. Jamyest Williams rushed for 172 yards, and his five touchdowns came in the first three quarters.
On Saturday in the Georgia Dome, No. 2 McEachern led 48-7 at halftime against No. 9 Tucker and won 50-14 in a rematch of a 2014 quarterfinal that McEachern won 62-36. McEachern running back Sam Jackson, who is committed to Georgia Southern, rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
No. 3 Colquitt County beat No. 7 North Gwinnett 45-14. Chase Parrish, a returning starter at quarterback, was 16-of-28 passing for 191 yards and a touchdown to Kiel Pollard, who had seven catches for 124 yards.
North Gwinnett, Tucker and Peachtree Ridge (beaten by Christ Prebyterian of Tennessee) fell out of the AAAAAA rankings. They were replaced by Mill Creek, Dacula and Norcross.
Norcross and Mill Creek also played and won in the Corky Kell last week, meaning the event had five current Top 10 teams in AAAAAA, plus No. 4 Kell in AAAAA and No. 4 Sandy Creek in AAAA.
Only two other teams fell out of the rankings this week. Allatoona, beaten 17-10 by East Paulding, was replaced by Coffee in AAAAA. Carrollton, beaten by Kell 35-0, was replaced by Burke County in AAAA.
Five ranked teams from AA lost but remained in the Top 10. Each played a higher-ranked or larger-class team. That included No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian, which lost 47-44 in two overtimes to No. 1 Benedictine in a rematch of the 2014 AA title game, won by Benedictine 45-21.
Pace Academy jumped five places to No. 5 – its highest football ranking in history – after a 24-0 victory over Lovett, which dropped two places to No. 9.
This week, five games will match ranked opponents. They are No. 1 Eagle’s Landing Christian (A) at No. 3 Stockbridge (AAAAA), No. 6 St. Pius (AAAA) at No. 2 Blessed Trinity (AAA), No. 3 Westminster (AAA) at No. 9 Lovett (AA), No. 6 Vidalia (AA) at No. 8 West Laurens (AAAA) and No. 7 Prince Avenue Christian (A) at No. 6 Aquinas (A).
In the highest classification, Archer will try to avenge a 2014 loss to Peachtree Ridge, which was ranked No. 6 in preseason, and Colquitt County plays Florida state power Plant of Tampa.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Archer (1-0)
2. (2) McEachern (1-0)
3. (3) Colquitt County (1-0)
4. (4) Grayson (0-0)
5. (5) Roswell (1-0)
6. (8) Lee County (1-0)
7. (10) Etowah (1-0)
8. (NR) Mill Creek (1-0)
9. (NR) Dacula (1-0)
10. (NR) Norcross (1-0)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Northside, Warner Robins (1-0)
2. (2) Houston County (0-0)
3. (3) Stockbridge (1-0)
4. (4) Kell (1-0)
5. (5) Jones County (0-0)
6. (6) Mays (1-0)
7. (8) Gainesville (0-0)
8. (9) Ware County (1-0)
9. (10) Carver, Columbus (1-0)
10. (NR) Coffee (1-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (1-0)
2. (2) Cartersville (0-0)
3. (3) Woodward Academy (0-0)
4. (4) Sandy Creek (1-0)
5. (5) Marist (0-0)
6. (6) St. Pius (0-0)
7. (7) Griffin (0-0)
8. (9) West Laurens (1-0)
9. (10) Mary Persons (0-0)
10. (NR) Burke County (1-0)
Class AAA
1. (1) Calhoun (0-0)
2. (2) Blessed Trinity (0-0)
3. (3) Westminster (0-0)
4. (4) Elbert County (0-0)
5. (5) Jefferson (1-0)
6. (6) Cedar Grove (1-0)
7. (7) Peach County (0-0)
8. (8) Washington County (0-0)
9. (9) Hart County (0-0)
10. (10) Pierce County (0-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Benedictine (1-0)
2. (2) Fitzgerald (1-0)
3. (3) Greater Atlanta Christian (0-1)
4. (6) Macon County (0-0)
5. (10) Pace Academy (1-0)
6. (9) Vidalia (1-0)
7. (4) Lamar County (0-1)
8. (5) Brooks County (0-1)
9. (7) Lovett (0-1)
10. (8) Rabun County (0-1)
Class A
1. (1) Eagle's Landing Christian (1-0)
2. (2) Marion County (0-0)
3. (4) Landmark Christian (1-0)
4. (3) Irwin County (0-0-1)
5. (5) Charlton County (0-0)
6. (6) Aquinas (1-0)
7. (7) Prince Avenue Christian (0-0)
8. (8) Mount Paran Christian (1-0)
9. (9) Hawkinsville (0-0)
10. (10) Calvary Day (1-0)
