The three results out of Class A Division I this past week that were most notable were the victories by Thomasville, Athens Academy and Dublin. Thomasville and Dublin will be public schools competing for this year’s Class A Division I title, while Athens Academy will be classed into the A-3A Private division. In the Bulldogs’ 35-12 win over Brooks County, Cam Hill iced the game with a 52-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left and the Bulldogs celebrated their first road win in the “War on 84″ since the 2017 season. Ant Anderson’s 66-yard touchdown run gave the Bulldogs a 28-12 lead midway through the final frame immediately after Brooks County cut the deficit to 21-12. The victory sent Thomasville all the way from No. 6 to No. 2 in the most recent poll.

Athens Academy’s 45-22 win over Aquinas allowed the Spartans to earn No. 7 in the latest Class A-3A poll. Aquinas jumped to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter when Jim Franklin threw a touchdown pass to Jack Rhodes. But Athens Academy answered with a 67-yard touchdown play to tie the game, and the Spartans never looked back. Athens Academy led 25-14 at halftime and scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 38-14 lead. Hampton Johnson was 11-of-14 passing for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Keyon Standifer had six receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Dublin earned a 41-21 win over two-time state finalist Swainsboro. The victory moved the Irish up from No. 7 to No. 3 in the latest poll. Dublin churned out 327 rushing yards and was 9-of-11 on third- and fourth-down situations. Micah O’Neal rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and was 3-of-4 passing for 39 yards and a touchdown. RB/LB Xavier Bostic rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns and intercepted a pass.

WEEK 1 RESULTS

REGION 1

Bacon County at Clinch County: Clinch County 36, Bacon County 21

Berrien vs. Cook: Cook 45, Berrien 13

Brantley County at Charlton County: Charlton County 61, Brantley County 13

Fitzgerald vs. Irwin County: Irwin County 19, Fitzgerald 13

Jeff Davis at Washington County: Jeff Davis 22, Washington County 6

Thomasville at Brooks County: Thomasville 35, Brooks County 12

Worth County at Turner County: Worth County 44, Turner County 6

REGION 2

Central-Macon vs. Dougherty: Dougherty 44, Central-Macon 0

Dublin at Swainsboro: Dublin 41, Swainsboro 21

East Laurens vs. Johnson County: East Laurens 13, Johnson County 8

Jefferson County at Screven County: Screven County 6, Jefferson County 0

Northeast vs. Peach County: Peach County 40, Northeast 21

Southwest vs. Macon County: Macon County 26, Southwest 19

Washington County vs. Jeff Davis: Jeff Davis 22, Washington County 6

Bleckley County 31, Rutland 0

BYE: ACE CHARTER, Dodge County

REGION 3

Savannah Christian vs. Whitefield Academy: Savannah Christian 35, Whitefield Academy 7

Savannah Country Day at Charlotte Country Day (NC): Charlotte Country Day 22, Savannah Country Day 21

Swainsboro vs. Dublin: Dublin 41, Swainsboro 21

Vidalia at Long County: Long County 20, Vidalia 10

BYE: Toombs County

REGION 4

Jasper County at Taylor County: Taylor County 21, Jasper County 7

Lamar County at Telfair County: Lamar County 24, Telfair County 8

McNair at Temple: Temple 23, McNair 6

Putnam County at Greene County: Greene County 28, Putnam County 20

Social Circle at Oglethorpe County: Social Circle 48, Oglethorpe County 41

Towers at Heritage-Newnan: Towers 54, Heritage-Newnan 7

Utopian Academy vs. B.E.S.T. Academy: B.E.S.T. Academy 49, Utopian Academy 0

REGION 5

B.E.S.T. Academy at Utopian Academy: B.E.S.T. Academy 49, Utopian Academy 0

Fellowship Christian at Bowdon: Fellowship Christian 36, Bowdon 35

King’s Ridge Christian vs. King’s Academy: King’s Ridge 23, King’s Academy 0

Landmark Christian vs. KIPP Atlanta: KIPP Atlanta 14, Landmark Christian 2

Mt. Paran at Lake Oconee Academy: Lake Oconee Academy 16, Mt. Paran 0

Mt. Pisgah at Haralson County: Haralson County 14, Mt. Pisgah Christian 10

Mount Vernon at Darlington: 46, Darlington 27

St. Francis at George Walton Academy: George Walton 42, St. Francis 7

Walker vs. Kendrick: Kendrick 38, Wesleyan 21

Wesleyan at Commerce: Wesleyan 42, Commerce 21

Whitefield Academy vs. Savannah Christian: Savannah Christian 35, Whitefield Academy 7

REGION 6

Darlington vs. Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon 46, Darlington 27

Haralason County vs. Mt. Pisgah: Haralson County 14, Mt. Pisgah 10

Heard County vs. Clarkston: Heard County 62, Clarkston 0

Model vs. Sonoraville: Model 21, Sonoraville 14

Pepperell at Pickens: Pickens 31, Pepperell 28

Temple vs. McNair: Temple 23, McNair 6

BYE: Bremen

REGION 7

Dade County vs. Ringgold: Ringgold 23, Dade County 13

Chattooga vs. LaFayette: Chattooga 30, LaFayette 0

Christian Heritage at Heritage-Ringgold: Heritage-Ringgold 42, Christian Heritage 17

Fannin County at Gilmer: Fannin County 42, Gilmer 28

Gordon Central at Southeast Whitfield: Gordon Central 62, Southeast Whitfield 0

Gordon Lee at Trion: Trion 30, Gordon Lee 6

BYE: Armuchee, Coosa

REGION 8

Athens Academy vs. Aquinas: Athens Academy 45, Aquinas 22

Banks County at East Hall: Banks County 14, East Hall 10

Commerce vs. Wesleyan: Wesleyan 42, Commerce 21

Elbert County vs. Hart County: Hart County 17, Elbert County 7

Oglethorpe County vs. Social Circle: Social Circle 48, Oglethorpe County 41

Providence Christian at North Cobb Christian: North Cobb Christian 14, Providence Christian 0

Rabun County at White County: Rabun County 40, White County 27

About the Author

Featured

Gov. Brian Kemp enteres the Senate at the Capitol in Atlanta on Sine Die, Friday, April 4, 2025, the final day of the legislative session. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com