Top 10: Fitzgerald slides, Macon County returns

Fitzgerald - ranked No. 2 heading into last week's matchup against then-No. 10 Brooks County - falls out of the top 10, to No. 7 after the Trojans beat them.

However, Brooks County is still ranked behind the Purple Hurricanes at No. 8 despite beating them head-to-head. Fortunately for the Trojans, football is decided on the field and not in the rankings. However, it's understandable for the Trojans to still trail Fitzgerald in the rankings given they started the season 0-2 and were outscored 75-27 by non-Class AA programs Ware County and Clinch County.

With the Purple Hurricanes loss, previous week's No. 3-7 teams all move up a spot.

GAC moves into Fitzgerald's spot at No. 2 - a ranking the Spartans have earned seeing as how their only loss was in double-overtime to No. 1 Benedictine in the season opener at Savannah. Since then, no opponent has come within three scores of them and that includes Pace Academy, which moved up a spot to No. 6.

GAC's Region 8 foe Wesleyan remains right behind the Spartans, moving up to No. 3. The two will play each other in the regular season finale - a game that could very well determine the region champion.

Rabun County is up a spot to No. 4 after knocking then-No. 9 Union County out of the rankings with a convincing 49-3 win. The Wildcats are in line for their second straight region title.

Rounding out the top five is Darlington, the lowest ranked of the undefeated top 10 teams. The Tigers' next two opponents are a combined 2-13, but their finale is against Chattooga, a game that could decide the champion of Region 7.

Jefferson County moves back a spot to No. 9 after a bye week. Brooks County's big win merited the Warriors being leapfrogged in the eyes of the pollsters.

Macon County re-enters the rankings at No. 10. The Bulldogs began the season as the No. 6 team, but dropped two straight after beginning 2-0.

Below are the rankings listed. Previous week's ranking in parenthesis.

1. Benedictine (1)

2. GAC (3)

3. Wesleyan (4)

4. Rabun County (5)

5. Darlington (6)

6. Pace Academy (7)

7. Fitzgerald (2)

8. Brooks County (10)

9. Jefferson County (8)

10. Macon County (NR)