Milton rode the wave of shutting out defending Class AAAAAA Norcross into its highest ranking since 1956 this week in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s high school football rankings.
Milton held Norcross to six first downs and 94 yards in total offense in the 26-0 victory on Friday. Linebacker Quarte Sapp, a four-star recruit whose reported leaders are Tennessee and Miami, had 10 tackles, intercepted two passed, returning one for a touchdown, and recorded a safety.
Another big mover this week is Grayson, which scored its second straight victory over a ranked opponent when the Rams defeated previous No. 4 Langston Hughes 26-16. Grayson went to No. 4 from No. 8. Grayson, rebounding from an uncharacteristic 4-6 season, plays defending Region 8 champion Archer on Friday.
Norcross dropped out of the rankings for the first time since a 1-2 start to the 2013 season. Norcross went 13-2 and won its second straight state title.
In other classes, Central-Carroll earned its first AJC ranking since 1997. Central was unranked last season despite a 10-3 record, the school’s first 10-win finish since 1987. The Lions beat Atlanta’s B.E.S.T. Academy, the No. 8 team in AA, 28-6 and entered at No. 10 in AAA.
Other teams entering the rankings this week are Houston County (AAAAA), Troup (AAA), Lamar County and Dublin (AA) and Hawkinsville (A). Moving out are Glynn Academy (AAAAA), Cedar Grove (AAAA), Carrollton (AAA), Heard County and Seminole County (AA) and Irwin County (A).
Some top games this week include No. 5 Coffee at No. 2 Ware in AAAAA, No. 5 Woodward Academy of AAAA at No. 6 Lovett of AA, No. 8 Westminster at No. 6 Elbert County in AA and No. 2 Marion County at No. 8 Dooly County in A.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (3-0)
2. (2) Camden County (3-0)
3. (5) Lowndes (3-0)
4. (8) Grayson (2-0)
5. (6) Lovejoy (2-0)
6. (NR) Milton (2-0)
7. (7) Peachtree Ridge (2-0)
8. (9) Valdosta (3-0)
9. (4) Hughes (2-1)
10. (10) North Gwinnett (2-1)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Northside-Warner Robins (2-0)
2. (2) Ware County (2-0)
3. (3) Stephenson (1-1)
4. (4) Creekside (2-1)
5. (5) Coffee (2-0)
6. (6) Kell (2-0)
7. (7) Carver-Columbus (2-1)
8. (8) Allatoona (3-0)
9. (9) Flowery Branch (1-0)
10. (NR) Houston County (2-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (3-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (3-0)
3. (3) Griffin (2-0)
4. (4) Marist (2-0)
5. (6) Woodward Academy (2-0)
6. (5) Burke County (2-1)
7. (7) Thomas County Central (1-1)
8. (9) Cairo (2-0)
9. (10) Whitewater (2-0)
10. (NR) Troup (2-0)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (2-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (2-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (2-0)
4. (5) Jefferson (3-0)
5. (6) Peach County (2-0)
6. (7) Elbert County (2-0)
7. (8) Ringgold (2-0)
8. (9) Westminster (2-0)
9. (10) Westside-Macon (2-0)
10. (NR) Central, Carrollton (2-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (2-0)
2. (2) Washington-Wilkes (2-0)
3. (5) Fitzgerald (3-0)
4. (6) Vidalia (3-0)
5. (3) Benedictine (0-1)
6. (4) Lovett (1-2)
7. (7) Brooks County (1-2)
8. (8) B.E.S.T. Academy (1-1)
9. (NR) Lamar County (1-0-1)
10. (NR) Dublin (1-1)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (2-0)
2. (2) Marion County (1-0)
3. (3) Calvary Day (2-0)
4. (4) Mount Paran Christian (3-0)
5. (5) Charlton County (2-0)
6. (6) Clinch County (1-1)
7. (8) Brookstone (2-0)
8. (9) Dooly County (2-0)
9. (10) Savannah Christian (2-0)
10. (NR) Hawkinsville (2-0)
