A one-point loss to an arch-rival cost Creekside its No. 1 ranking and elevated Northside-Warner Robins to the top of Class AAAAAA in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football rankings.
Creekside lost to Hughes 21-20 last week in a game between border schools in south Fulton County. That ended Creekside’s 16-game winning streak. Hughes is ranked No. 5 in AAAAAA. Creekside is now No. 5 in AAAAA.
Northside (1-0) did not play last week but defeated North Cobb 38-20 in its opener. North Cobb then upset the second-ranked team in AAAAAA, North Gwinnett, 36-29 last week, which served to enhance Northside’s resume and drop North Gwinnett to No. 10.
Creekside, which dropped to No. 4, was not the only 2013 champion that lost last week. Lovett, ranked No. 2 in AA, was beaten by Buckhead rival Westminster 13-10. Lovett fell to No. 4 while Westminster entered the AAA rankings at No. 9.
Other new teams in the rankings this week are Peachtree Ridge (AAAAAA), Grayson (AAAAAA), Valdosta (AAAAAA), Flowery Branch (AAAAA), Glynn Academy (AAAAA), Cairo (AAAA), B.E.S.T. Academy (AA) and Savannah Christian (A).
B.E.S.T. Academy upset previously third-ranked Callaway 14-7 and is ranked for the first time ever. The Atlanta school is playing only its third full varsity schedule.
Grayson, the 2011 state champion that slumped to 4-6 last season, is back in the rankings after a 39-0 victory over Gainesville, which had been No. 8 in AAAAA.
Out of the rankings this week are Tucker (AAAAAA), McEachern (AAAAAA), Archer (AAAAAA), Warner Robins (AAAAA), Gainesville (AAAAA), St. Pius (AAAA), Callaway (AAA), Dublin (AA) and Eagle’s Landing’s Christian (A).
A few teams that lost didn’t drop much. Thomas County Central and Carrollton in AAAA lost to larger schools and maintained good positions. But the best example was Stephenson, which went to No. 3 from No. 2 in AAAAA after a 21-20 defeat against Florida Class 6A champion Miami Central, which held several top-10 national rankings.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (2-0)
2. (3) Camden County (2-0)
3. (4) Norcross (2-0)
4. (7) Hughes (2-0)
5. (8) Lowndes (2-0)
6. (6) Lovejoy (1-0)
7. (NR) Peachtree Ridge (1-0)
8. (NR) Grayson (1-0)
9. (NR) Valdosta (2-0)
10. (2) North Gwinnett (1-1)
Class AAAAA
1. (4) Northside-Warner Robins (1-0)
2. (5) Ware County (2-0)
3. (2) Stephenson (1-1)
4. (1) Creekside (1-1)
5. (3) Coffee (2-0)
6. (6) Kell (2-0)
7. (9) Carver-Columbus (2-0)
8. (10) Allatoona (2-0)
9. (NR) Flowery Branch (1-0)
10. (NR) Glynn Academy (2-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (2-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (1-0)
3. (3) Griffin (1-0)
4. (4) Marist (1-0)
5. (9) Burke County (2-0)
6. (8) Woodward Academy (1-0)
7. (6) Thomas County Central (0-1)
8. (5) Carrollton (0-2)
9. (NR) Cairo (1-0)
10. (10) Whitewater (1-0)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (1-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (1-0)
3. (6) Blessed Trinity (1-0)
4. (4) Cedar Grove (1-0)
5. (5) Jefferson (2-0)
6. (9) Peach County (1-0)
7. (7) Elbert County (1-0)
8. (8) Ringgold (2-0)
9. (NR) Westminster (1-0)
10. (10) Westside-Macon (1-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (2-0)
2. (5) Washington-Wilkes (1-0)
3. (4) Benedictine (0-1)
4. (2) Lovett (1-1)
5. (7) Fitzgerald (2-0)
6. (6) Vidalia (2-0)
7. (8) Brooks County (1-1)
8. (NR) B.E.S.T. Academy (1-0)
9. (3) Heard County (0-1)
10. (9) Seminole County (0-0)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (2-0)
2. (2) Marion County (1-0)
3. (3) Calvary Day (1-0)
4. (4) Mount Paran Christian (2-0)
5. (6) Charlton County (1-0)
6. (5) Clinch County (1-1)
7. (7) Irwin County (1-0-1)
8. (8) Brookstone (1-0)
9. (9) Dooly County (1-0)
10. (NR) Savannah Christian (1-0)
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