LIST

Seven No. 1-ranked teams lead their classes in fewest points allowed

Good defense is the key.

Buford's Justin Thomas (55) recovers a fumble against Gainesville during the first half of a high school football game between Buford and Gainesville, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Buford, Ga. (Erik S. Lesser for the AJC)

Todd Holcomb

By Todd Holcomb

1 hour ago

It’s said that defense wins championships. It certainly leads to high rankings. Seven of the eight No. 1 teams in the AJC Varsity rankings lead their classifications in points allowed per game. They are Buford (5.3), Cartersville (5.5), Sandy Creek (5.7), Appling County (6.7), Heard County (9.1), Johnson County (8.7) and Prince Avenue Christian (8.4). The exception is Thomas County Central (10.4), which ranks fifth in Class 6A.

Class 7A

5.3 - Buford
9.6 - Lowndes
12.2 - North Paulding
12.7 - McEachern
14.0 - Brookwood
14.1 - Carrollton
17.5 - Grayson
18.6 - North Cobb
18.8 - Harrison
18.8 - Newton
18.9 - North Gwinnett
18.9 - Valdosta

Class 6A

8.9 - Heritage (Conyers)
9.9 - Hughes
10.0 - Creekside
10.1 - Sequoyah
10.4 - Thomas County Central
11.6 - Coffee
13.0 - New Manchester
13.1 - Clarke Central
13.2 - Shiloh
13.5 - East Paulding
14.8 - Jackson County
15.4 - Woodward Academy

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North Oconee guard Justin Wise (2) attempts a three point shot during the second half against Pace Academy in the GHSA Boys 4A State Championship at the Macon Centreplex, Thursday, March, 6, 2025, in Macon, Ga. North Oconee won 60-51. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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November 11, 2026

Class 5A

5.5 - Cartersville
9.5 - Marist
9.6 - Jefferson
10.3 - Ola
10.4 - Ware County
10.5 - Tucker
12.2 - North Oconee
13.0 - Mays
13.1 - LaGrange
13.4 - Blessed Trinity
15.3 - Southwest DeKalb
16.5 - Stockbridge

Class 4A

5.7 - Sandy Creek
10.9 - Stephenson
12.7 - Cairo
13.4 - Westover
13.7 - Monroe Area
14.8 - Dougherty
14.9 - Adairsville
15.5 - West Laurens
15.9 - Cherokee Bluff
17.4 - Troup
18.0 - Hampton
19.1 - Northwest Whitfield

Class 3A

6.7 - Appling County
8.3 - Toombs County
11.0 - KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
12.5 - Lamar County
13.3 - Northeast
14.3 - Columbia
14.5 - Pierce County
15.6 - Rockmart
15.7 - Burke County
16.3 - Miller Grove
17.6 - Hephzibah
18.4 - South Atlanta

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North Paulding and quarterback Braden Stark (right) — pictured looking to pass against North Cobb in October — wil lhost Richmond Hill in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Score projections, history, schedule strengths for every 7A first-round game

November 11, 2026

Class 2A

9.1 - Heard County
9.6 - Jeff Davis
11.3 - Bremen
11.7 - Commerce
12.7 - Screven County
12.8 - Fitzgerald
14.3 - Bleckley County
15.0 - Social Circle
15.6 - Model
17.5 - Dublin
17.8 - Putnam County
18.0 - Laney

Class A

8.7 - Johnson County
10.7 - Macon County
12.0 - Clinch County
12.3 - Randolph-Clay
12.8 - Treutlen
13.2 - Washington-Wilkes
13.6 - Baconton Charter
13.7 - Taylor County
13.9 - Charlton County
15.9 - Trion
16.8 - Bowdon
16.8 - Schley County

Class 4A-2A Private

8.4 - Prince Avenue Christian
8.9 - Holy Innocents’
9.4 - Calvary Day
14.4 - Lovett
17.3 - Mount Vernon
19.3 - North Cobb Christian
19.5 - Aquinas
19.7 - Mt. Bethel Christian
19.9 - Christian Heritage
20.0 - King’s Ridge Christian
21.4 - Providence Christian
22.3 - Greater Atlanta Christian

GIAA

9.1 - John Milledge Academy
11.1 - Bulloch Academy
11.5 - Windsor Academy
12.1 - Stratford Academy
12.5 - Athens Christian
13.0 - Briarwood Academy
14.5 - Valwood
15.2 - First Presbyterian
16.8 - Edmund Burke Academy
17.9 - Thomas Jefferson
18.6 - Brentwood
18.6 - Westfield