McEachern, the preseason No. 1 team in Class AAAAAA, is back in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football rankings after winning its first game Friday, a 35-21 victory over seventh-ranked Peachtree Ridge.
McEachern, now No. 10, had lost its first two games to No. 9 North Gwinnett of AAAAAA and No. 1 Buford of AAAA. McEachern replaced Peachtree Ridge in the rankings.
Other newly ranked teams are Lanier for Flowery Branch in AAAAA, Cartersville for Troup in AAAA, Hart County and Adairsville for Ringgold and Elbert County in AAA, Jefferson County for Washington-Wilkes in AA and Landmark Christian and Emanuel County Institute for Clinch County and Dooly County in A.
The most change came in AAA, where five ranked teams lost, but to larger schools in most cases.
Burke County actually moved up a spot to No. 5 despite its second loss of the season, 25-22 to North Augusta, the fourth-ranked team in South Carolina’s highest classification. Burke County, which also has a loss to No. 3 Griffin, plays Washington County, the No. 1 team in AAA, this week.
Woodward Academy, which dropped three spots to No. 8, lost to Lovett 21-20 after Woodward declined a two-point try in the final seconds. Lovett blocked Woodward’s extra point.
Meanwhile, Cairo lost to West Florida of Pensacola, and Whitewater lost to East Coweta of AAAAAA. Troup dropped out after losing to AAAAA Harris County.
Another tough-luck loser was Lamar County, which remained ranked No. 9 in AA. Lamar lost to Mary Persons 29-27 in a game stopped by lightning with 1:53 left in the third quarter, just as Lamar was lining up for a two-point try that could’ve tied the game. GHSA rules say non-region games are considered complete if they are stopped for good in the second half.
That was one of several games canceled or interrupted because of weather. Thomas County Central, the No. 7 team in AAAA, is leading Americus-Sumter 20-12 at halftime in a game scheduled for resumption on Sept. 25
Games to watch this week include No. 3 Stephenson at No. 4 Creekside in AAAAA, No. 7 BEST Academy at No. 4 Lovett in AA and No. 6 Brookstone at No. 8 Hawkinsville in A.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (4-0)
2. (2) Camden County (4-0)
3. (3) Lowndes (4-0)
4. (4) Grayson (3-0)
5. (5) Lovejoy (3-0)
6. (6) Milton (2-0)
7. (8) Valdosta (4-0)
8. (9) Hughes (2-1)
9. (10) North Gwinnett (2-1)
10. (NR) McEachern (1-2)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Northside-Warner Robins (3-0)
2. (2) Ware County (3-0)
3. (3) Stephenson (2-1)
4. (4) Creekside (3-1)
5. (6) Kell (3-0)
6. (5) Coffee (2-1)
7. (7) Carver-Columbus (2-1)
8. (8) Allatoona (4-0)
9. (NR) Lanier (3-0)
10. (10) Houston County (3-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (3-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (4-0)
3. (3) Griffin (3-0)
4. (4) Marist (3-0)
5. (6) Burke County (2-2)
6. (NR) Cartersville (2-1)
7. (7) Thomas County Central (1-1)
8. (5) Woodward Academy (2-1)
9. (8) Cairo (2-1)
10. (9) Whitewater (2-1)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (3-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (3-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (3-0)
4. (4) Jefferson (4-0)
5. (5) Peach County (3-0)
6. (8) Westminster (2-0)
7. (9) Westside-Macon (2-0)
8. (10) Central, Carrollton (2-0)
9. (NR) Hart County (3-0)
10. (NR) Adairsville (3-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (3-0)
2. (3) Fitzgerald (3-0)
3. (4) Vidalia (3-0)
4. (6) Lovett (2-2)
5. (5) Benedictine (1-1)
6. (7) Brooks County (1-2)
7. (8) B.E.S.T. Academy (2-1)
8. Jefferson County (1-2)
9. (9) Lamar County (1-1-1)
10. (10) Dublin (2-1)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (3-0)
2. (2) Marion County (2-0)
3. (3) Calvary Day (2-0)
4. (4) Mount Paran Christian (3-0)
5. (5) Charlton County (3-0)
6. (7) Brookstone (2-0)
7. (9) Savannah Christian (3-0)
8. (10) Hawkinsville (3-0)
9. (NR) Landmark Christian (3-0)
10. (NR) Emanuel County Institute (3-0)
