A new top 10 was released Monday, and it now could just as easily be dubbed "Region 6 and a couple other teams." All four playoff-eligible teams from the region - GAC, Wesleyan, Pace Academy and Lovett - are in the top 10, with the Lovett Lions rejoining the rankings after handing then-No. 3 ranked Wesleyan its first loss of the season.
The Lions, who began the season ranked No. 7, re-enter the poll at No. 8 despite starting 0-4. No other team in the rankings has more than two losses. The Lions' roller coaster season to date was discussed here over the weekend. Make no mistake, the Lions have earned their ranking by not only competing in one of the state's better regions, but by also challenging themselves with a very difficult out-of-region schedule.
Lovett's entrance into the rankings knocked out No. 10 Macon County. The Bulldogs are the first team this season to lose its spot in the rankings without losing the previous week's game. They edged winless Northeast (Macon) 35-29, so pollsters may have taken into consideration the Bulldogs' lackluster performance in addition to Lovett's strength of schedule. However, it's also entirely possible the Bulldogs would have exited the rankings had they instead won convincingly.
GAC remains at No. 2 and will host Lovett this week to determine the winner of Region 6. Pace Academy turned in a weak effort against the league's last-place team, Hapeville Charter, winning 17-16. As a result, the Knights slid three spots and cling to a No. 9 ranking. Speaking of barely hanging on, Wesleyan falls seven spots all the way to No. 10.
As for the rest of the state, top-ranked Benedictine maintains its No. 1 ranking, a title the Cadets will most likely hold until the playoffs. Rabun County moves up a spot into Wesleyan's No. 3 ranking, and Darlington moves up a spot to No. 4.
Fitzgerald, Brooks County and Jefferson County each move up two spots, taking over Nos. 5-7, respectively.
Below is a complete listing of the rankings, with each team's previous week's ranking in parenthesis.
1. (1) Benedictine
2. (2) Greater Atlanta Christian
3. (4) Rabun County
4. (5) Darlington
5. (7) Fitzgerald
6. (8) Brooks County
7. (9) Jefferson County
8. (NR) Lovett
9. (6) Pace Academy
10. (3) Wesleyan
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