Chris Mooneyham

The Fan 680/93.7FM Friday Night Football High School Rankings

AAAAAAA

  1. Grayson (0-0)
  2. Colquitt County (1-0)
  3. Lowndes (1-0)
  4. Parkview (1-0)
  5. Mill Creek (1-0)
  6. Archer (1-0)
  7. North Cobb (1-0)
  8. Tift County (1-0)
  9. Marietta (1-0)
  10. Lassiter (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Newton (1-0), South Forsyth (1-0), Brookwood (0-1), Norcross (0-1), McEachern (0-1)

Chaos; complete and udder ranking chaos. An example of this week’s quandary: Team A, #4 in the state, plays what will most likely be its worst game of the season. Team B, the 21st-ranked team, defeats the #4-ranked squad. What do you do? Should Team B, #21, climb all the way up, and over, the previously ranked #4? Especially when everyone recognizes that Team A has a superior roster and will have a better overall season and record? Do they meet in the middle? I’m not so sure. There were a handful of superior teams who laid eggs this week; while second tier teams collected what may end up as their biggest wins of the season. So, I say reward these teams for winning a tough first game of the year. Some of this week’s top ten will struggle to be in the top twenty in the next few weeks. But for today, let’s celebrate some huge victories.

 AAAAAA

  1. Tucker (1-0)
  2. Lee County (1-0)
  3. Harrison (1-0)
  4. Dalton (0-0)
  5. Mays (0-0)
  6. Coffee (1-0)
  7. Hughes (1-0)
  8. Valdosta (0-1)
  9. Northside, Warner Robins (0-1)
  10. Lanier (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Alpharetta (0-1), Northgate (1-0), Allatoona (0-1), Douglas County (0-0), Lovejoy (1-0)

Well it wasn’t pretty, but #1-ranked Tucker survived their first contest of the season. See below for a recap. Lee County put together a nice performance in defeating Mary Persons 21-17. They outplayed the Bulldogs throughout. The biggest surprise in this classification was at The Winnersville Classic where Valdosta lost to Lowndes 45-0; the largest margin of loss for the Wildcats in the game’s history. It is also interesting that three other top ten ranked programs lost in Week Zero. Lanier was the big climber by jumping up six spots.

AAAAA

  1. Rome (0-0)
  2. Buford (1-0)
  3. Stockbridge (0-0)
  4. Carrollton (1-0)
  5. Ware County (0-0)
  6. Bainbridge (0-0)
  7. Carver (Atlanta) (1-0)
  8. Kell (0-1)
  9. Warner Robins (1-0)
  10. Jones County (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Arabia Mountain (1-0), Woodland (Stockbridge) (1-0), Thomas County Central (1-0), Clarke Central (0-1), Griffin (0-0)

The big leap of the week belongs to Warner Robins. The legendary program’s opening week win over arch rival Northside-Warner Robins was the team’s biggest win since 2013; when it beat Northside-WR to win a region title. The heartbreak of the week belongs to Kell. They outplayed the number-one team in AAAAAA; there is no way around it. In overtime of their matchup with Tucker, the Longhorns scored to draw within a point, PAT forthcoming. At first, the Kell coaching staff sent out the two-point conversion unit to win the game. After a timeout, and after thinking twice about the decision, the Longhorns decided to try the PAT and keep playing. The subsequent point after attempt was blocked and Tucker survived.

AAAA

  1. Cartersville (1-0)
  2. Blessed Trinity (1-0)
  3. Jefferson (1-0)
  4. Woodward Academy (0-0)
  5. Thomson (1-0)
  6. Oconee County (0-0)
  7. Ridgeland (1-0)
  8. Sandy Creek (1-0)
  9. Mary Persons (0-1)
  10. Northwest Whitfield (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Marist (0-0), Stephens County (0-0), Burke County (1-0), West Laurens (0-0), Troup (1-0)

Each classification, on average, saw ten of its top fifteen teams play games in “Week Zero.” That was the exact number here in AAAA. One major change was the exodus of Cairo. Last week, the Syrupmakers were top ten, but after losing 37-8 to Thomasville of AA, they free fall off the board and past the honorable mention. Mary Persons lost and dropped far, but they will climb their way back up, without question. They just looked so shaky. The most impressive win in the class belongs to Sandy Creek. In its first contest since 2004 without Chip Walker as head coach, the Patriots laid it on traditional AAAAAA playoff contender Creekside, 38-0.

AAA

  1. Cedar Grove (1-0)
  2. Greater Atlanta Christian (1-0)
  3. Peach County (0-0)
  4. Calhoun (1-0)
  5. Pace Academy (0-0)
  6. Crisp County (1-0)
  7. Westminster (Atlanta) (0-1)
  8. Liberty County (0-0)
  9. Lovett (0-1)
  10. Pierce County (0-0)

Honorable Mention: Westside (Macon) (1-0), Dawson County (0-0), Jackson County (1-0), Morgan County (0-0), Jenkins (1-0)

Both Cedar Grove and Greater Atlanta Christian come away with impressive blowout victories. The Saints drilled Stephenson, a perennial power from the AAAAAA classification, 34-13.  The Spartans rolled over the now ninth-ranked Lovett Lions by a score of 46-14. Many in the business are anxious to see Peach County get going. They will be tested early by meeting Houston County (AAAAAA), Warner Robins (AAAAA) and Mary Persons (AAAA) over the next four weeks. Westminster suffered a “quality loss” to Blessed Trinity. Things don’t get any easier as they take on #2-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian this week on our game of the week broadcast.

AA

  1. Benedictine (1-0)
  2. Callaway (1-0)
  3. Hapeville Charter (1-0)
  4. Screven County
  5. Jefferson County (1-0)
  6. Fitzgerald (0-1)
  7. Rabun County (0-0)
  8. Pepperell (0-0)
  9. Thomasville (1-0)
  10. Heard County (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Brooks County (1-0), Elbert County (1-0), Model (0-0), Washington County (0-0), Chattooga (0-0)

Hapeville Charter will be one of the biggest storylines of the 2017 GHSA football season. The young program is going from unknown doormat for ninety-five percent of the state, to state championship contender two seasons later. Their matchup with now #6-ranked Fitzgerald was truly the most underrated big-time game around the state last week. After the Hornets 25-22 victory, I guess it’s time to welcome the last five percent to the party. And by the way, this top ten has the chance to be really strong in a month.

A Public

  1. Clinch County (1-0)
  2. Macon County (0-0)
  3. Emanuel County Institute (1-0)
  4. Manchester (1-0)
  5. Taylor County (1-0)
  6. Commerce (0-0)
  7. Charlton County (0-0)
  8. McIntosh County Academy (1-0)
  9. Irwin County (1-0)
  10. Marion County (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Mt Zion (Carroll) (0-0), Lincoln County (0-0), Turner County (1-0), Pelham (0-1), Claxton (0-0)

Because of tough early season scheduling by the top teams in 1A Public, it is conceivable for us to have two, three or maybe even four teams reach the top spot in the rankings through the season. For instance, after its win over Bleckley, top ranked Clinch County has #8-ranked MCA next, followed by Brooks County, the #10-ranked team in AA. Meanwhile, in the back of the rankings, there is parity. From Charlton County at number seven, to the honorable mention ranks, a three-game win streak will serve as a major separator through the first few weeks.

A Private

  1. Eagles Landing Christian Academy (1-0)
  2. Wesleyan (1-0)
  3. Prince Avenue Christian (1-0)
  4. Mount Paran Christian (1-0)
  5. Darlington (0-0)
  6. Stratford Academy (0-0)
  7. Fellowship Christian (1-0)
  8. Tattnall Square (0-0)
  9. Calvary Day (1-0)
  10. Athens Academy (1-0)

Honorable Mention: Mount Pisgah Christian (1-0), Landmark Christian (0-1), Aquinas (0-1), Savannah Christian (0-1), Pinecrest Academy (0-0)

It is always tough to get a good beat on teams after Week Zero. Some teams go out of class, play cupcakes, play out of state, etc. It is interesting that Prince Ave met Aquinas in a matchup of Top Ten teams in this classification. With the easy victory, the Wolverines stayed steady at number three while the Irish dropped into the honorable mention. Clearly the most surprising result was Landmark’s 53-7 loss to B.E.S.T. Academy out of the AA classification. Neither team is what they have been the last few years. LC is a down a bit and BA should expect to be a bit better. Still, 53-7?

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Published by Chris Mooneyham

Chris Mooneyham is a twenty-year broadcast veteran employed or freelancing for multiple companies across America. Currently he is a co-host, play-by-play person and guest anchor for Atlanta’s sports leader, The Fan 680AM/ 93.7FM; and its sister stations on The Sports X. In the Fall, Chris serves as the Sideline Reporter for Kennesaw State University football. He also works as studio host, play-by-play announcer and content producer for The Fan’s coverage of Georgia High School football. Come the Wintertime, the focus shifts to the National Lacrosse League 2017 World Champions, the Georgia Swarm (play-by-play). When Spring rolls around, the Atlanta native delivers the play-by-play for the Emory University baseball team, a two-time national finalist. All throughout the year, Mooneyham is a lead play-by-play person for the NFHS Network’s high school sports coverage and over the last decade was honored to call state championships in nearly every sport. A Kennesaw State graduate, Chris holds a Communication degree in Media Studies and a Minor degree in Film Studies. He is also a two-time graduate of broadcasting school (Connecticut School of Broadcasting-1998/ Atlanta Broadcast Institute-2008).

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