Chris Mooneyham

This Week’s 680 The Fan Friday Night Football rankings…

AAAAAAA

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

Honorable Mention: Lassiter (3-0), South Forsyth (3-0), McEachern (0-2), Norcross (1-1), North Gwinnett (2-1)

Too many teams at 3-0. Too many to keep them down. Plain and simple. Usually, when you recognize that a team is, let’s say, 0-2 record wise and a less talented team on paper is 2-0 we can accept placing the lesser record team higher in the rankings. This week, we simply cannot do that with the 3-0’s. Too many of them have quality wins and/or have beaten the very teams that they are measuring against. Because of surprising starts by Archer, Walton, North Cobb, Tift County, and Lassiter, there is a host of teams who have been forced out of the honorable mention or even top twenty.  

AAAAAA

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

Honorable Mention: Douglas County (2-0), Winder Barrow (3-0), Lanier (1-1), Alpharetta (1-1), Valdosta (1-2)

How far does a state championship favorite fall after losing to another state championship contender? The number-one team in this class, Tucker, lost a close affair to Colquitt County from the highest classification. We end up with this question a couple of times each year. As a result, Lee County and Coffee move into the top two spots. Another Region 1 squad, Northside of Warner Robins, makes for three teams in the top five. Defending state champion Valdosta, also from Region 1, nearly fell out of the honorable mention after falling to Wayne County.

AAAAA

  1. Rome (2-0)
  2. Buford (2-0)
  3. Stockbridge (2-0)
  4. Carrollton (2-0)
  5. Warner Robins (3-0)
  6. Jones County (2-0)
  7. Griffin (2-0)
  8. Bainbridge (1-1)
  9. Villa Rica (2-0)
  10. Woodland (Stockbridge) (2-1)

Honorable Mention: Starr’s Mill (2-0), Carver-Atlanta (2-1), Arabia Mountain (3-0), Kell (0-2), Wayne County (2-0)

Not a whole lot of change in the AAAAA classification this week. Kell and Ware County both drop a few spots and everyone else moved up as a result. Having said that, both the Longhorns and Gators losses have come to quality opponents. There is a lot of buzz around Warner Robins. Enjoy it if you are a Demon fan. That is a rabid, educated, faithful fan base. They are not where they have been in the past, this isn’t national championship WR, but considering they had three wins all of 2016, this is a good place to be.

AAAA

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

Honorable Mention: Burke County (3-0), Stephens County (1-1), Oconee County (1-1), Cairo (1-1), Cedartown (3-0)

It is time once again for your Cartersville win streak update: now at 33 in a row, the Canes are two shy of top ten all-time streaks in state history; regardless of classification. The big win of the week belongs to Thomson, who rallied to defeat Jefferson in a battle of top five squads. Prior to last year, the two old legendary programs had not met since 1963. This was their third meeting in a calendar year and the Bulldogs have won all three. Heritage of Ringgold is just out of the honorable mention and Cedartown sneaks in. 

AAA

  1. Cedar Grove (2-0)
  2. Greater Atlanta Christian (2-0)
  3. Crisp County (3-0)
  4. Peach County (1-1)
  5. Dawson County (2-0)
  6. Morgan County (2-0)
  7. Jackson County (3-0)
  8. Jenkins (2-0)
  9. Liberty County (1-1)
  10. Pierce County (1-1)

Honorable Mention: Bremen (2-0), Adairsville (2-1), Calhoun (2-1), Monroe Area (2-0), Pace Academy (0-2)

Still, we might be the only outlet to have Cedar Grove over GAC for the top spot. It is the epitome of splitting hairs. Both teams are so talented, and so equal roster wise, it really will not be settled until playoff time. The Saints earn the tie-breaker by being the defending state champion. Peach County loses a close, exciting ballgame to a resurgent Warner Robins of AAAAA. Thereby falling only one spot in the poll. With a couple of key losses by certain teams, Dawson County, Morgan County and Jackson County climb up the rankings considerably. Calhoun tumbles like a pet rock after giving up 58-points to Cartersville.

AA

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

Honorable Mention: Dodge County (2-0), Heard County (2-1), Pepperell (1-1), Putnam County (3-0), Swainsboro (2-0)

At number seven, Fitzgerald seems out of place with a 1-2 record. Then you see the two losses are by a combined six-points and have been delivered from #6 Hapeville Charter and Camden County from the AAAAAAA classification. Pound for pound, considering their size, the Purple Hurricane plays one of the toughest schedules in the state. Still on their slate: Macon County (#7 in 1A Public), Tift County (top ten in 7A) and AA powers Brooks County and Thomasville.

A Public

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

Honorable Mention: Turner County (2-1), McIntosh County Academy (1-1), Lincoln County (1-1), Pelham (2-1), Trion (2-0)

Seven top ten or honorable mention teams lost last week in the combination of 1A Public and 1A Private. With each of the top two teams falling in the public ranks, Clinch County and Macon County, Manchester fills the void and becomes the new number one team. Are Charlton and Commerce for real? Good question? The biggest win of the week goes to Irwin County. The Indians beat the defending champions from Macon County and appear to be a real contender in 2017.

A Private

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

Honorable Mention: Mount Vernon Presbyterian (2-0), George Walton Academy (2-0), Aquinas (1-1), Mount Pisgah Christian (2-1), Hebron Christian (1-1)

We’ve talked about Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy and their separation from the rest of the class as the overwhelming championship favorites. We may also be seeing a bit of a separation between the next two spots and the rest of the pack. As of now, Wesleyan and Prince Avenue own the respective spots. Stratford Academy is underrated and neck and neck with Calvary Day. Meanwhile, after losses to quality opponents, both Mount Paran and Darlington only drop three spots.

 

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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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