Hughes is a top-three team in the AJC football rankings for the first time after a 31-24 rivalry victory over previous No. 3 Westlake last week.

Hughes also has defeated a top-three team for the first time. Hughes took a 24-0 lead, then held on with a fourth-and-goal stop in the final seconds.

Two No. 1-ranked teams solidified their places with big wins.

Rabun County of 2A defeated defending Class 3A champion Pierce County 28-21.

Trinity Christian beat No. 2 Eagle’s Landing Christian, a six-time former Class A Private champion. Trinity had been 0-4 against ELCA.

Rabun and Trinity are seeking their first state titles.

Class 7A

1. (1) Collins Hill (7-0)

2. (2) Mill Creek (6-0)

3. (3) North Cobb (4-1)

4. (4) Milton (5-1)

5. (5) Colquitt County (5-1)

6. (6) Walton (3-1)

7. (9) Lowndes (4-2)

8. (8) Roswell (5-1)

9. (10) Grayson (5-2)

10. (NR) East Coweta (5-1)

Out: No. 7 West Forsyth

Class 6A

1. (1) Buford (5-1)

2. (2) Lee County (6-1)

3. (7) Hughes (5-1)

4. (5) Kennesaw Mountain (6-0)

5. (6) Brunswick (6-0)

6. (3) Westlake (4-2)

7. (8) Douglas County (6-0)

8. (9) Rome (4-2)

9. (10) Carrollton (5-1)

10. (NR) Cambridge (4-0)

Out: No. 4 River Ridge

Class 5A

1. (1) Warner Robins (6-0)

2. (2) Cartersville (5-0)

3. (3) Creekside (5-1)

4. (4) Coffee (6-0)

5. (5) Woodward Academy (6-0)

6. (6) Ware County (4-1)

7. (7) Calhoun (5-1)

8. (8) St. Pius (4-2)

9. (9) Blessed Trinity (4-2)

10. (10) Decatur (6-0)

Class 4A

1. (1) Jefferson (6-0)

2. (2) Marist (3-1)

3. (4) Benedictine (4-2)

4. (5) Carver-Columbus (5-1)

5. (6) Cedartown (4-1)

6. (7) Flowery Branch (3-2)

7. (8) Stephenson (5-0)

8. (10) Dougherty (5-0)

9. (NR) Spalding (5-1)

10. (3) Perry (4-1)

Out: No. 9 LaGrange

Class 3A

1. (1) Cedar Grove (4-1)

2. (2) Oconee County (6-0)

3. (4) Sandy Creek (6-0)

4. (6) Appling County (6-0)

5. (3) Pierce County (4-2)

6. (5) Peach County (3-2)

7. (7) Thomson (5-0)

8. (8) Monroe Area (6-0)

9. (9) Hart County (6-0)

10. (NR) Rockmart (4-1)

Out: No. 10 Burke County

Class 2A

1. (1) Rabun County (5-1)

2. (2) Fitzgerald (5-1)

3. (3) Thomasville (5-1)

4. (4) Bleckley County (6-0)

5. (5) Callaway (4-1)

6. (6) Jeff Davis (6-0)

7. (9) Northeast (4-1)

8. (7) Dodge County (3-2)

9. (10) Putnam County (6-0)

10. (8) Washington County (3-1)

Class A Public

1. (1) Irwin County (4-2)

2. (2) Brooks County (3-2)

3. (3) Macon County (5-0)

4. (4) Metter (6-0)

5. (5) Schley County (5-0)

6. (7) Bowdon (5-1)

7. (8) Emanuel County Institute (5-1)

8. (NR) Wilcox County (4-2)

9. (NR) Chattahoochee County (5-0)

10. (6) Charlton County (5-1)

Class A Private

1. (1) Trinity Christian (6-0)

2. (3) Calvary Day (7-0)

3. (4) Prince Avenue Christian (5-1)

4. (6) Fellowship Christian (5-1)

5. (2) Eagle’s Landing Christian (1-4)

6. (8) Wesleyan (4-2)

7. (7) Tattnall Square (5-0)

8. (5) Athens Academy (4-2)

9. (9) Holy Innocents’ (5-1)

10. (NR) Pacelli (5-0)

Out: No. 10 Stratford Academy

About the Author

Featured

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP