Eight ranked teams lost last week, but only five were bounced from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings after a week of critical games between region championship contenders.
Unranked Archer (6-3) pinned the first loss on then-No. 2 Dacula (8-1), forcing what likely will become a three-way tie at the top of Region 8-AAAAAA that also includes Grayson (9-1). Grayson moved up to No. 2, while Dacula dropped to No. 4. Grayson and Dacula are among just five teams in the highest class with one or fewer losses.
Dacula and Grayson, plus Archer, would be seeded for the state playoffs based on coin tosses if they finish with the same region record, as expected after this week’s final week of regular-season games.
In AAAAA, Mays is back in the rankings at No. 7 after finishing off Atlanta city rival Carver 35-14 in a game that was concluded last Monday. Carver is out of the rankings.
Pickens replaced Thomas County Central in AAAA, but Woodward Academy dropped only five spots to No. 8 after losing to unranked Whitewater. Woodward still can win Region 5 with a victory this week against Carrollton. Woodward has not won a region title since 1997.
Peach County (10-0) moved up one spot to No. 4 in AAA after beating then-No. 6 Westside-Macon 49-16. Westside fell to No. 10.
In AA, No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian clinched its first region title since 2001 with a 14-7 victory against defending AA champion Lovett. GAC had lost six straight to Lovett, which remained No. 3 despite three losses, two of them to ranked teams in higher classifications.
New in the AA rankings is Brooks County, which upset then-No. 5 Thomasville, which fell to No. 10. Out is Screven County, which was upset by unranked Dublin.
In A, Dooly County replaced Clinch County, which lost to No. 8 Charlton County.
Top games this week include No. 5 Valdosta at No. 3 Lee County in AAAAAA, No. 6 Creekside vs. No. 8 Stephenson in AAAAA, No. 10 Pickens at No. 3 Cartersville in AAAA, No. 5 Jefferson at No. 8 Hart County in AAA, No. 6 Lamar County at No. 8 Macon County in AA and No. 1 Aquinas vs. No. 7 Tattnall Square in A.
Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Colquitt County (9-0)
2. (3) Grayson (9-1)
3. (4) Lee County (7-1)
4. (2) Dacula (8-1)
5. (5) Valdosta (8-1)
6. (7) North Gwinnett (7-2)
7. (8) McEachern (7-2)
8. (6) Milton (8-1)
9. (9) Peachtree Ridge (7-2)
10. (10) Tucker (7-2)
Class AAAAA
1. (1) Ware County (9-0)
2. (2) Coffee (8-1)
3. (3) Kell (9-0)
4. (4) Allatoona (9-0)
5. (5) Lanier (9-0)
6. (7) Creekside (7-2)
7. (NR) Mays (7-2)
8. (8) Stephenson (7-2)
9. (9) Northside-Warner Robins (8-1)
10. (10) Harris County (7-2)
Class AAAA
1. (1) Buford (9-0)
2. (2) Griffin (9-0)
3. (4) Cartersville (8-1)
4. (5) Marist (8-1)
5. (6) Sandy Creek (8-1)
6. (7) St. Pius (7-2)
7. (8) Mary Persons (8-1)
8. (3) Woodward Academy (7-2)
9. (10) Cairo (7-2)
10. (NR) Pickens (8-1)
Class AAA
1. (1) Washington County (9-0)
2. (2) Calhoun (9-0)
3. (3) Blessed Trinity (9-0)
4. (5) Peach County (10-0)
5. (4) Jefferson (9-0)
6. (7) Westminster (8-1)
7. (8) Central-Carrollton (9-0)
8. (9) Hart County (9-0)
9. (10) Adairsville (8-1)
10. (6) Westside-Macon (8-1)
Class AA
1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (9-0)
2. (2) Vidalia (9-0)
3. (3) Lovett (7-3)
4. (4) Benedictine (7-2)
5. (6) Fitzgerald (8-1)
6. (7) Lamar County (7-1-1)
7. (8) Darlington (8-1)
8. (10) Macon County (7-2)
9. (NR) Brooks County (7-3)
10. (5) Thomasville (5-4)
Class A
1. (1) Aquinas (9-0)
2. (2) Marion County (9-0)
3. (3) Mount Paran Christian (9-0)
4. (4) Calvary Day (9-0)
5. (5) Hawkinsville (9-1)
6. (6) Irwin County (7-1-1)
7. (7) Tattnall Square (9-0)
8. (8) Charlton County (8-1)
9. (9) Savannah Christian (8-1)
10. (NR) Dooly County (6-3)
