Class 2A blog: In brief — Northeast earns signature win
With their shocking 37-34 upset win of the No. 4 Bleckley County Royals in a Region 3 showdown, the Northeast Raiders have catapulted into the rankings to debut at No. 8, with the Royals dropping to No. 9.
For the Week 9 Friday night recap, go here.
This marks the second time in program history that the Raiders have been ranked, withe first coming 2002, when they also climbed as high as No. 8. That’s also the last season they won a playoff game, advancing to the second round — the furthest they’ve been in a program history that dates back to 1970.
The Raiders have already matched last year’s win total since and they’re looking for their first winning season since 2017, when they finished 5-4 in Ashley Harden’s last season before current coach Jeremy Wiggins took over. Coincidentally, they will also only play a nine-game regular season this year.
One interesting note about the Raiders' schedule this season: They’ve yet to play outside of Macon, with all of their games being played at either Henderson Stadium or Thompson Stadium. They only have to leave their home city twice before the postseason to play at Dodge County (Eastman) on Friday and at Lamar County (Barnesville) for their regular season finale on Nov. 20.
While the rankings’ top three remain intact, the Royals' slide opened the door for shuffling after No. 3. The Haralson County Rebels — who escaped by the skin of their teeth with a come-from-behind win over emerging an Temple team — jump a spot to No. 4, which is the highest the program, founded in 1968, has ever been ranked. Thomasville also climbs one spot to No. 5, Lovett moves up three spots to No. 6 and Putnam County moves to No. 7.
Cook is hanging by a thread at No. 10, dropping two spots after losing 42-6 to Thomasville, and Toombs County drops out of the polls from No. 7 after losing 35-13 to Jeff Davis.
Here’s a full look at the rankings, with last week’s ranking and current record in parenthesis:
1. (1) Callaway (5-0)
2. (2) Fitzgerald (8-0)
3. (3) Rabun County (6-1)
4. (5) Haralson County (6-0)
5. (6) Thomasville (5-3)
6. (9) Lovett (5-2)
7. (10) Putnam County (7-0)
8. (NR) Northeast (5-1)
9. (4) Bleckley County (6-2)
10. (8) Cook (5-3)
Out: No. 7 Toombs County
Coming out later this week is Episode 9 of The Class 2A Blogcast. Topics include a rundown of 2A, the Falcons' steadfast, laser-focused mission to remain perpetually mediocre or worse and a look at my upcoming weekly feature on the different ways recruits are announcing their college decision, with insight in how recruiting analysts track the recruiting of top prospects, based on my experience working for Rivals.com.
You can listen and subscribe to The Class 2A Blogcast on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio among other platforms. Thanks for listening!
In brief:
- In a game moved to Saturday because of power outages, the No. 3-ranked Rabun County Wildcats beat Banks County 71-0 in their Region 8 opener, improving to 7-1. Blitz has highlights of Gunner Stockton, who accounted for six touchdowns. According to Blitz, the victory margin is a program record for the Wildcats.
- The Vidalia Indians (4-2, 2-0 in Region 2) are riding a four-game win streak in which they’re averaging 39.5 points and now they’re ready for a inter-county rivalry against the Toombs County Bulldogs (5-2, 1-1), who are coming off a loss to Jeff Davis. They’re hyping up the matchup with “Rivalry Week”, in which they’ll go dog hunting on Monday, and mourn the dogs on Thursday. That’s a lot of confidence, but the Indians seem to have turned a corner with first-year coach Jason Cameron after an 0-2, COVID-19-riddled start to the season.
- Speaking of the Vidalia-Toombs County rivalry, this is a real cool picture, though I’m not sure from when.
- Northeast Raiders coach Jeremy Wiggins was recently featured in GHSF Daily’s “4 questions with...”.
- Northeast receiver-defensive back Brandon Watkins was named the Macon Touchdown Club’s back of the week for his eight receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' win over Bleckley County.
- WMGT’s Montezz Allen profiled Northeast ahead of the Bleckley County game. He also named a Brandon Watkins’ stiff arm as one of the two best of the week.
- Recruit Georgia has nominated a number of 2A players for its top plays: Toombs County’s DJ Mincey, Callaway’s Jalin Shepherd, Hardaway’s JQ Hardaway and Dade County’s Makinley Everett.
- WRBL highlighted Jalin Shephard’s 70-yard touchdown reception.
- WDEF spotlighted the play of Dade County quarterback Makinley Everett, who led the Wolverines (2-5, 1-2 in Region 7) to a 19-14 win over Chattooga — they were 0-6 against the Indians dating back to 2013 and Chattooga was an 18-point favorite. Everett rushed 18 times for 103 yards and a touchdown and was 5-for-10 passing for 60 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
- Here’s two former Callaway teammates playing for Auburn at the next level. Here’s another making plays for Ole Miss.
- Current Callaway star Demetrius Coleman and Jalin Shephard are big reasons why the Cavs are a title contender despite the loss of Tank Bigsby. Coleman, list by recruiting services as a 3-star athlete, holds offers five Power 5 offers including Alabama and Tennessee. Shephard is considered a 3-star cornerback and holds six Power 5 offers including Auburn and Nebraska.
- Fannin County’s Region 7 game at Chattooga has been pushed to 5 p.m. Saturday. Fannin County is 6-0, 3-0; Chattooga is 2-4, 1-1.
- Here’s Jeff Davis' win over Toombs County in its entirety, as shown on the Facebook page for 105.9 The Sting.
- The Early County Bobcats beat Berrien 70-20 — the most points they’ve scored since beating Terrell County 77-0 in 1975. The once-ranked Bobcats are 4-2, 1-2 in Region 1; Berrien is 2-6, 0-3.
- WCTV recently profiled the Thomasville Bulldogs' heartwarming story involving a player with cerebral palsy.
- Here’s Bremen kicker Brody Derringer nailing a 50-yard field goal against Callaway.
- Swainsboro players of the week are Fredrick Seabrough and Demellow Jones. The Tigers beat Bacon County 10-9 in Region 2 action to improve to 4-3, 2-0. Seabrough is a ’21 3-star tight end committed to N.C. State along with his twin brother, ’21 3-star tight end Cedric Seabrough.
- This week’s GHSF Daily top performances from 2A are Northeast receiver/defensive back Brandon Watkins (eight receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns, four tackles, a pass breakup and forced a fumble); Berrien receiver Lane Stephens (10 receptions for 296 yards and three touchdowns); Callaway quarterback Demetrius Coleman (191 yards and four touchdowns, 93 rushing yards); Dade County quarterback-defensive back Makinley Everett (103 rushing yards and a touchdown, 60 passing yards and a touchdown, five solo tackles); Early County running back-safety Ladarious Cesar (98 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, a 64-yard reception and an 80-yard kickoff return); Haralson County quarterback Clay Hyatt (211 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries); Lovett linebacker Stevie Bracey (four tackles for 25 yards in losses, forced two fumbles and returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown); Thomasville linebacker Ty Anderson (10 tackles and three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two recovered fumbles; Vidalia running back Jaedyn Stanley (184 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries); Washington County defensive back-receiver Warren Coneway (75-yard interception return for a touchdown, two pass breakups, a forced a fumble and six tackles, one for a loss); Worth County quarterback Chip Cooper (20-of-38 passing for 290 yards)
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