Houston County is back in the Class AAAAAA football rankings after a 45-35 victory over No. 2 Northside-Warner Robins last week. Houston County spent seven weeks at No. 1 before consecutive losses this month dropped the Bears out. They are back at No. 9.

Still, Houston County (7-2, 1-2) must beat No. 1 Valdosta (8-1, 3-0) this week just to make the state playoffs. Houston County is playing in five-team Region 1-AAAAAA and won’t make it with a 1-3 region record.

Other contenders are No. 5 Northside (7-2, 2-1), No. 8 Lee County (8-2, 1-2) and unranked Coffee (5-4, 1-2). Lee County and Coffee have beaten Houston County.

Houston County quarterback Jake Fromm passed for 530 yards and five touchdowns in the season-saving Northside victory.

In other rankings news, several ranked teams lost, but usually to higher-ranked opponents. Ranked teams that beat other ranked teams last week were Colquitt County (over Lowndes), Norcross (over Brookwood), Mays (over Alexander), Buford (over Loganville), Thomson (over Burke County), Jefferson (over Stephens County), Lovett (over Pace Academy), Calvary Day (over McIntosh County Academy) and Commerce (over Athens Academy).

Class AAAAAAA

1. (1) Roswell (9-0)

2. (3) Grayson (8-1)

3. (2) Mill Creek (9-0)

4. (4) McEachern (8-1)

5. (5) Norcross (9-0)

6. (7) Colquitt County (6-4)

7. (6) Lowndes (8-2)

8. (8) North Cobb (7-2)

9. (9) Brookwood (6-3)

10. (10) Parkview (6-3)

Class AAAAAA

1. (1) Valdosta (8-1)

2. (3) Dalton (9-0)

3. (4) Mays (8-1)

4. (6) Tucker (8-1)

5. (2) Northside, Warner Robins (8-2)

6. (5) Alexander (8-1)

7. (7) Harrison (8-1)

8. (8) Lee County (6-2)

9. (NR) Houston County (7-2)

10. (9) Glynn Academy (8-1)

Out: No. 10 Coffee (5-4)

Class AAAAA

1. (1) Buford (8-1)

2. (2) Stockbridge (9-0)

3. (3) Carrollton (8-1)

4. (4) Rome (7-2)

5. (5) Kell (7-2)

6. (6) Ware County (5-3)

7. (7) Grady (8-1)

8. (8) Arabia Mountain (8-1)

9. (9) Woodland, Stockbridge (7-2)

10. (10) Loganville (7-2)

Class AAAA

1. (1) Cartersville (9-0)

2. (2) Thomson (9-0)

3. (3) Woodward Academy (9-1)

4. (4) Jefferson (8-1)

5. (5) Cairo (8-1)

6. (6) Blessed Trinity (7-2)

7. (7) Mary Persons (7-2)

8. (8) Burke County (7-2)

9. (10) Marist (6-3)

10. (NR) Troup (8-1)

Out: Stephens County (7-2)

Class AAA

1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (8-1)

2. (2) Peach County (8-1)

3. (3) Westminster (7-2)

4. (4) Calhoun (7-2)

5. (5) Crisp County (9-0)

6. (6) Cedar Grove (7-2)

7. (7) Liberty County (8-1)

8. (8) Lovett (6-3)

9. (10) Pierce County (7-2)

10. (NR) Dawson County (7-1)

Out: No. 9 Pace Academy (5-4)

Class AA

1. (1) Benedictine (9-0)

2. (2) Fitzgerald (8-1)

3. (3) Jefferson County (9-0)

4. (4) Callaway (9-0)

5. (5) Rabun County (8-0)

6. (7) Vidalia (7-2)

7. (8) Screven County (8-1)

8. (9) Pepperell (7-1)

9. (NR) Washington County (8-1)

10. (NR) Thomasville (5-3)

Out: No. 6 Brooks County (6-3), No. 10 Heard County (6-3)

Class A (private)

1. (1) Eagle's Landing Christian (9-0)

2. (2) Landmark Christian (9-0)

3. (3) Prince Avenue Christian (9-0)

4. (4) Wesleyan (7-2)

5. (5) Calvary Day (8-0)

6. (6) Fellowship Christian (9-0)

7. (8) Tattnall Square (9-0)

8. (9) Mount Paran Christian (8-1)

9. (10) Darlington (7-2)

10. (7) Athens Academy (8-1)

Class A (public)

1. (1) Clinch County (8-1)

2. (2) Macon County (7-2)

3. (3) Emanuel County Institute (8-0)

4. (4) Manchester (9-0)

5. (5) Mount Zion (9-0)

6. (6) Twiggs County (7-2)

7. (7) McIntosh County Academy (6-2)

8. (8) Bowdon (6-3)

9. (9) Commerce (7-2)

10. (10) Taylor County (8-1)

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Former Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Norman Arey died Oct. 11, 2025 at the age of 84. In addition to sports writing, Arey also co-wrote the popular "Peach Buzz" society column. (Courtesy of the Arey family)

Credit: Courtesy of the Arey family

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Credit: Hyosub Shin