Newly ranked Mays will play its Region 6-AAAAA opener Friday against defending state champion Creekside, but excuse the Raiders for taking a moment to savor one of their biggest victories in recent years.
Mays, ranked No. 6 in this week’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution high school football rankings, defeated Lovejoy, previously ranked No. 10 in AAAAAA, 40-35 Saturday at Lakewood Stadium.
“It helped our kids see that they can play with the big boys,’’ Mays coach Corey Jarvis said. “Lovejoy is coming from two state finals (2011 and 2012) and made the quarterfinals last year. Our kids know now they can play with programs that are considered top-notch.’’
Lovejoy took a 14-0 lead, but the game turned on an interception by Ferlando Jordan, who returned it to the Lovejoy 3-yard line, setting up the first of six Mays touchdowns. Mays senior Asahnia Aderhold, back from an injury, threw five touchdown passes, three to Julius Whitehead and two to Tyshawn Brown.
Mays’ No. 6 ranking is the Atlanta school’s highest since the Raiders rose to No. 2 after a 6-0 start in 2008. Jarvis said he wasn’t concerned about a letdown.
“You have letdowns when playing teams not as good,’’ Jarvis said. “When you’re talking about kids, they usually play up when they play back-to-back big games. They like it when it’s like that.’’
Other new teams in the rankings after a week of few notable upsets are North Cobb in Class AAAAAA, Mary Persons in AAAA, Screven County and Model in AA and Dooly County in A.
Out are Lovejoy in AAAAAA, Houston County in AAAAA, Eagle’s Landing in AAAA, B.E.S.T. Academy and Jefferson County in AA and Pacelli in A.
Many of this week’s biggest games will be in South Georgia. In Region 1-AAAAAA, No 3 Lowndes plays at No. 1 Colquitt County and No. 5 Valdosta plays at No. 2 Camden County. All four teams are 5-0.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (5-0)
2. (2) Camden County (5-0)
3. (3) Lowndes (5-0)
4. (4) Grayson (5-0)
5. (5) Valdosta (5-0)
6. (6) Hughes (3-1)
7. (7) North Gwinnett (4-1)
8. (9) Dacula (5-0)
9. (8) McEachern (2-2)
10. (NR) North Cobb (4-1)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Ware County (5-0)
2. (2) Creekside (4-1)
3. (4) Coffee (4-1)
4. (5) Jones County (5-0)
5. (3) Kell (5-0)
6. (NR) Mays (4-1)
7. (6) Northside-Warner Robins (4-1)
8. (7) Stephenson (2-2)
9. (8) Carver-Columbus (3-1)
10. (9) Allatoona (4-0)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (4-0)
2. (2) Sandy Creek (5-0)
3. (3) Griffin (4-0)
4. (4) Marist (5-0)
5. (5) Cartersville (3-1)
6. (6) Thomas County Central (3-1)
7. (7) Woodward Academy (4-1)
8. (8) Cairo (4-1)
9. (9) Whitewater (3-1)
10. (NR) Mary Persons (4-1)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (5-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (5-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (4-0)
4. (4) Jefferson (5-0)
5. (5) Peach County (5-0)
6. (6) Westminster (5-0)
7. (7) Westside-Macon (4-0)
8. (8) Central-Carrollton (4-0)
9. (9) Hart County (5-0)
10. (10) Adairsville (4-0)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (5-0)
2. (2) Fitzgerald (4-0)
3. (3) Vidalia (5-0)
4. (4) Lovett (4-2)
5. (5) Benedictine (3-1)
6. (6) Brooks County (3-2)
7. (8) Lamar County (3-1-1)
8. (10) Darlington (4-1)
9. (NR) Screven County (5-0)
10. (NR) Model (5-0)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (5-0)
2. (2) Marion County (4-0)
3. (4) Mount Paran Christian (5-0)
4. (3) Calvary Day (4-0)
5. (5) Charlton County (5-0)
6. (6) Hawkinsville (5-0)
7. (7) Savannah Christian (5-0)
8. (8) Landmark Christian (4-1)
9. (9) Irwin County (3-1-1)
10. (NR) Dooly County (4-1)
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