Jones County’s historic upset of Northside-Warner Robins on Friday night opened the door for Ware County to take the No. 1 ranking in Class AAAAA in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football rankings.
Ware is 4-0 under new head coach Franklin Stephens, who now has led three No. 1-ranked teams in four seasons. His 2013 Lamar County team was No. 1 entering the Class AA championship game, where it lost to Lovett. Stephens won state titles while at Tucker in 2008 and 2011.
But the more surprising news last week was Jones County’s 45-37 victory against then-No. 1 Northside, which had not surrendered that many points since 1993 (Tift County). Jones County, ranked No. 5, is in the AJC’s Top 10 for the first time since 2001 and 4-0 for the first time since 1999.
The Greyhounds, previously 0-5 against Northside, are coached by Justin Rogers, who was offensive coordinator for Griffin’s 2013 state-championship team. That Griffin team averaged 42.7 points per game. Against Northside, Jones County compiled 561 yards in total offense.
In AAAAAA, Dacula (4-0) is ranked for the first time since 2010 despite state quarterfinal finishes in 2011 and 2013. The Falcons are 4-0. Milton, previously No. 6, dropped out after losing to Roswell 33-31.
Four of the first five positions are held by teams from Region 1-AAAAAA. The region is 28-0 against non-region opponents. Region play starts Oct. 3, when No. 3 Lowndes plays at No. 1 Colquitt County and No. 5 Valdosta plays at No. 2 Camden County.
In AAAA, Eagle’s Landing is ranked for only the second time in its history, the first coming in 2012.
Also newly ranked this week are Darlington (replacing Dublin) in AA and Irwin County and Pacelli (for Emanuel County Institute and Brookstone) in Class A. Pacelli is ranked for the first time since 2007.
Only two games this week match ranked teams. No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian plays at No. 9 B.E.S.T. Academy in a Region 6-AA game. No. 8 Central-Carroll of AAA plays at Class A No. 8 Landmark Christian.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (5-0)
2. (2) Camden County (5-0)
3. (3) Lowndes (5-0)
4. (4) Grayson (4-0)
5. (7) Valdosta (5-0)
6. (8) Hughes (2-1)
7. (9) North Gwinnett (3-1)
8. (10) McEachern (2-2)
9. (NR) Dacula (4-0)
10. (5) Lovejoy (3-1)
Class AAAAA
1. (2) Ware County (4-0)
2. (4) Creekside (4-1)
3. (5) Kell (4-0)
4. (6) Coffee (3-1)
5. (NR) Jones County (4-0)
6. (1) Northside-Warner Robins (3-1)
7. (3) Stephenson (2-2)
8. (7) Carver-Columbus (3-1)
9. (8) Allatoona (4-0)
10. (10) Houston County (4-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (4-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (4-0)
3. (3) Griffin (4-0)
4. (4) Marist (4-0)
5. (6) Cartersville (2-1)
6. (7) Thomas County Central (2-1)
7. (8) Woodward Academy (3-1)
8. (9) Cairo (3-1)
9. (10) Whitewater (3-1)
10. (NR) Eagle’s Landing (4-0)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (4-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (4-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (4-0)
4. (4) Jefferson (4-0)
5. (5) Peach County (4-0)
6. (6) Westminster (4-0)
7. (7) Westside-Macon (4-0)
8. (8) Central, Carrollton (4-0)
9. (9) Hart County (4-0)
10. (10) Adairsville (3-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (4-0)
2. (2) Fitzgerald (4-0)
3. (3) Vidalia (4-0)
4. (4) Lovett (3-2)
5. (5) Benedictine (2-1)
6. (6) Brooks County (2-2)
7. (8) Jefferson County (2-2)
8. (9) Lamar County (2-1-1)
9. (7) B.E.S.T. Academy (2-2)
10. (NR) Darlington (3-1)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (4-0)
2. (2) Marion County (3-0)
3. (3) Calvary Day (3-0)
4. (4) Mount Paran Christian (4-0)
5. (5) Charlton County (4-0)
6. (8) Hawkinsville (4-0)
7. (7) Savannah Christian (4-0)
8. (9) Landmark Christian (4-0)
9. (NR) Irwin County (2-1-1)
10. (NR) Pacelli (4-0)
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