Chris Mooneyham

This week and the Georgia High School football rankings…

Coming up this week on Life University’s 680 The Fan Friday Night Football…

The Tift County Blue Devils (4-0 record/ #6-ranked team in AAAAAAA) visit the Parkview Panthers (2-1 record/ Honorable Mention in AAAAAAA).

This Friday night will be a special one in Lilburn. This year marks the twenty-year anniversary of a very memorable season in GHSA football history. The 1997 season ended with Parkview winning its first state title with a victory over Tift County in the state championship game. The two title game participants featured 11 all-state performers; four of whom received at least an invite to an NFL camp. Plus, it was a playoff season filled with dramatic, last snap victories and historic matchups. By the way, Colquitt County and Brookwood were the other semifinalists.

This edition of Tift County is part of an underrated few that have a chance to make some real noise as the season rolls on and into the postseason; and their 4-0 start is an example of just that. Head Coach Ashley Anders (15-10 in three seasons at the helm) played a slew of young players when he inherited the team from current Rome head man John Reid. Now, the Blue Devils field a group of six to eight all-state caliber players with multi-year starting experience.

The combination of senior quarterback Griffin Collier and senior wide receiver Rashod Bateman is one of the best in the state. In fact, Collier has been so productive throughout his time in Tifton, just two weeks ago he became the school’s all-time passing leader in a victory over Cook. Coincidentally, he broke the record which was held by Worth Bowers, who was the quarterback of the 1997 state runner-up.

Defensively, senior outside linebacker Andrew Johnson has become one of the most disruptive forces we will cover this season on the station. Johnson just committed to Oregon last month.

Meanwhile, each time Parkview takes the field in 2017, they will sport one of the best offenses in the state. Through three games, the high fliers from the Big Orange Jungle are averaging over 52-points per game. The addition of senior quarterback Fred Payton, a transfer from Peachtree Ridge, has taken the offense to a new level. He joined a group which returned four of its top six weapons from 2016. Two weeks ago, Malik Washington set a school record for receptions in a game with his 16-catch, 195-yard performance.

On the downside, head coach Eric Godfree (20-16 record in four seasons) and his squad have a few questions on defense. They graduated a few key defenders from 2016 and were absolutely gashed versus Lowndes two weeks ago. In fact, the Panthers allowed the most points in a single game in program history as the Vikings scored 43-points by halftime and defeated the men from Lilburn 64-38.

Ever since this game was added to the schedule it has been a running joke on the program that the final score will be 50-49! Surely, we will not reach that point, but this contest does have all the makings of a wild, shoot-out type affair.

Make sure to join us live beginning at 7pm on THE FAN 2, 1230 AND 106-3 FM, AND THE FAN 3, 1340 AND 103-7 FM.

 

AAAAAAA

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

Honorable Mention: McEachern (1-2), Parkview (2-1), North Gwinnett (3-1), Newton (3-0), Lassiter (3-0)

Archer has a slew of “second-guessers” all throughout the state. Although, when you check the schedule of wins so far, that list shrinks considerably. Their latest victim was Mill Creek and the Hawks 28-game regular season winning streak. The Tigers haven’t been pretty, but they are winning. And as we all know, that’s all that matters. After that, it is hair splitting time from North Cobb all the way down to Lassiter.

AAAAAA

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

Honorable Mention: Alpharetta (2-1), Allatoona (1-2), Alexander (2-1), Heritage-Conyers (3-0), Lanier (1-2)

Thank goodness, we are on the verge of, or beginning, of region play this week. It will serve as a bit of a separator for some of these teams that appear to be pretty even. Not just in this classification, but all throughout the state. The big story at the top of the rankings continues to be the representation of Region 1 as Lee County, Coffee and Northside-WR all occupy a spot in the top four.

 

 

AAAAA

  1. Rome (3-0)
  2. Buford (2-0)
  3. Stockbridge (3-0)
  4. Carrollton (2-0)
  5. Warner Robins (3-0)
  6. Jones County (3-0)
  7. Griffin (3-0)
  8. Bainbridge (2-1)
  9. Starr’s Mill (3-0)
  10. Carver-Atlanta (2-1)

Honorable Mention: Woodland (Stockbridge) (3-1), Arabia Mountain (3-1), Flowery Branch (3-0), Wayne County (2-0), Kell (0-3)

Is it time to take off the moniker of “the big two and everyone else”? Let’s see a bit more of Stockbridge, Carrollton and Warner Robins, but we are getting close. Rome stepped up in another big ballgame with its victory over Kell. Speaking of the Longhorns, 0-3 hurts, but when it comes versus Tucker, Lassiter and Rome, you still get a spot in the honorable mention. Behind WR comes a big group of eight to ten teams that have a case for being moved up or down a few spots.

AAAA

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

Honorable Mention: Burke County (4-0), Oconee County (2-1), Stephens County (1-2), Cedartown (4-0), Northwest Whitfield (3-1)

No major changes in the top ten this week as nearly every squad either came away with a win or was idle. Your weekly Cartersville win streak update: 34-straight victories after dispatching with Westlake from the AAAAAAA classification. The Canes are now one win away from the top ten and Northside-Warner Robins from 2006-08. Troup looks like a team that can win a couple of playoff games, as we predicted. Marist looks better than 2016 and here comes Cedartown.

 

 

3A

  1. Cedar Grove (3-0)
  2. Peach County (2-1)
  3. Crisp County (3-0)
  4. Greater Atlanta Christian (2-1)
  5. Dawson County (2-0)
  6. Calhoun (2-1)
  7. Adairsville (2-1)
  8. Monroe Area (3-0)
  9. Union County (3-0)
  10. Jenkins (3-0)

Honorable Mention: Bremen (3-0), Sonoraville (2-1), Morgan County (2-1), Jackson County (3-1), Liberty County (1-2)

Despite Greater Atlanta Christian suffering its first loss of the season they only fall two spots. We will know a lot more about Dawson County this time next week after they take on a good West Hall club from AAAA. Monroe Area is turning things around under new head coach Kevin Reach. Jenkins won a wild affair over Liberty County. The Warriors scored the go-ahead touchdown late, recovered a bad snap on the extra-point and turned it into a two-point conversion for a 43-35 lead. LC then returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but was unable to convert their own two-point try.

AA

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

Honorable Mention: Heard County (3-1), Putnam County (3-0), Swainsboro (3-0), Toombs County (3-0), Fitzgerald (1-3)

The state continues to marvel at Hapeville Charter. They defeated Wesleyan last Friday 35-0. They held a very good Wolves offense to right around a hundred yards of total offense. Plus, the Hornets are closing in on the number two spot in the rankings. Screven pops up one spot and Rabun County solidified its place in the rankings. Jefferson County came away with a nice victory over Washington-Wilkes.

1A Public

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

Honorable Mention: Turner County (2-1), McIntosh County Academy (1-1), Pelham (2-1), Trion (2-1), Johnson County (3-0)

After last week’s upheaval and glut of losses, things settled down this week. In fact, we had literally no movement in the top ten ranks. There was some shuffling in the HM and below and we are finding teams outside of each that are knocking on the door. More on this thought in the 1A Private recap….

1A Private

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

Honorable Mention: Mount Vernon Presbyterian (3-0), George Walton Academy (3-0), Darlington (1-2), Aquinas (1-1), Hebron Christian (2-1)

…Remember that in 2016, both the Private and Public side of the Single A classification had an incredible level of depth as far as really good teams. They ranked within inches of each other from roughly the seventh spot to about sixteen or seventeen. We expect something similar this season, but with so many questions, the quality of the depth is still up in the air. They are all still even, but how good are they.

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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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