Lee County is a South Georgia high school that is often prideful in October for being the alma mater of World Series star Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants.
This year, the football team is celebrating a fall classic of its own - the 42-30 victory over fourth-ranked Lowndes that has launched the Trojans into the Top 10 of Class AAAAAA at No. 6 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football poll.
This is only the fifth season that the Trojans have been ranked since starting varsity football in 1971, and the first time in the highest classification. The highest Lee County has been ranked in any class is No. 5 for one week in 1999.
Lee County was 10-2 last season and won 1-AAAAA but was not taken seriously as a region or state contender after moving up in classification to one of the state’s toughest regions. The Trojans had played in the highest class only one other time (2000-03), and their record then was 7-33.
This season, Lee County (6-1 overall, 2-1 in Region 1) has lost only to No. 1-ranked Colquitt County, which defeated third-ranked Valdosta 48-20 in a game that bolsters Colquitt’s bid for a national title. The Packers entered the Valdosta game ranked No. 3 by the High School Football 100 and No. 5 by USA Today. Lowndes dropped out of the AAAAAA rankings.
The only other new team in the rankings is Macon County, which replaced Brooks County in AA.
Cairo moved up three places to No. 5 for beating former No. 5 Thomas County Central 36-13. Thomas Central is now No. 10. Benedictine remained at No 4 in AA despite a 35-28 loss to No. 2 Vidalia, and Hawkinsville remained at No. 5 in A despite a 13-7 loss to No. 2 Marion Counnty.
There are two games this week between ranked teams.
No. 2 Grayson plays at No 3 Dacula in Region 8-AAAAAA. No. 2 Sandy Creek is at home against No. 6 Woodward Academy in 5-AAAA.
Others big games to watch include Westlake at No 4 Hughes (2-AAAAAA), No. 7 Carver-Atlanta at Mays (6-AAAAA) and No. 5 Norcross at Peachtree Ridge (7-AAAAA).
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (8-0)
2. (2) Grayson (8-0)
3. (5) Dacula (7-0)
4. (6) Hughes (6-1)
5. (8) Norcross (6-1)
6. (NR) Lee County (6-1)
7. (3) Valdosta (7-1)
8. (7) Milton (6-1)
9. (9) McEachern (5-2)
10. (10) North Gwinnett (5-2)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Ware County (7-0)
2. (2) Coffee (7-1)
3. (3) Kell (7-0)
4. (4) Allatoona (8-0)
5. (5) Carver-Columbus (6-1)
6. (6) Lanier (7-0)
7. (7) Carver-Atlanta (6-1)
8. (8) Creekside (6-2)
9. (9) Stephenson (5-2)
10. (10) Northside-Warner Robins (6-1)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (7-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (7-0)
3. (3) Griffin (7-0)
4. (4) Cartersville (6-1)
5. (8) Cairo (6-1)
6. (6) Woodward Academy (6-1)
7. (7) Marist (7-1)
8. (9) St. Pius (5-2)
9. (10) Mary Persons (6-1)
10. (5) Thomas County Central (5-2)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (7-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (7-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (7-0)
4. (4) Jefferson (8-0)
5. (5) Peach County (8-0)
6. (6) Westminster (6-1)
7. (7) Westside-Macon (7-0)
8. (8) Central-Carrollton (7-0)
9. (9) Hart County (7-0)
10. (10) Dodge County (7-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (7-0)
2. (2) Vidalia (7-0)
3. (3) Lovett (6-2)
4. (4) Benedictine (5-2)
5. (6) Thomasville (5-3)
6. (7) Fitzgerald (6-1)
7. (8) Lamar County (5-1-1)
8. (9) Darlington (6-1)
9. (10) Screven County (8-0)
10. (NR) Macon County (5-2)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (7-0)
2. (2) Marion County (7-0)
3. (3) Mount Paran Christian (7-0)
4. (4) Calvary Day (7-0)
5. (5) Hawkinsville (7-1)
6. (6) Irwin County (5-1-1)
7. (7) Landmark Christian (6-1)
8. (8) Tattnall Square (7-0)
9. (9) Charlton County (6-1)
10. (10) Savannah Christian (6-1)
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