Georgia News

[Sportsnut]

On 11/25/2023 at 11:20 AM, GardenStateBaller said:

All last night proves is that the top GA teams were way overrated. None of those teams that won deserve to be in the T25 as of today. Only Walton will be in our T25 next week. 

Who cares about your top 25. These kids are playing for a win in game 15.

Anything else is gravy. The main course has been served with a state crown.

[Sportsnut]

Just now, GardenStateBaller said:

Bottom line: GA went from four Top 25 teams to one. You won. But your state lost. 

You still miss the point.......or maybe you know the truth and are reluctant to admit it.

[GardenStateBaller]

4 minutes ago, Sportsnut said:

Who cares about your top 25. These kids are playing for a win in game 15.

Anything else is gravy. The main course has been served with a state crown.

Being the GA 7A Champ used to mean something in the world of hsfb. That crown is now on the brink of being tarnished. 

[Sportsnut]

6 minutes ago, GardenStateBaller said:

Being the GA 7A Champ used to mean something in the world of hsfb. That crown is now tarnished. 

For your info, 7A has only been around a few years. 7A is a school size, not football supremacy. My 6A school, soon to be 5A, has played and beat many 7A teams. Some of the top teams in the state have a lesser football reputation than those you espouse as being elite, even if you are referring to in state only. Your thoughts of Georgia being nothing more than 7A football are misguided.

Edited November 27, 2023 by Sportsnut

[GardenStateBaller]

21 minutes ago, Sportsnut said:

For your info, 7A has only been around a few years. 7A is a school size, not football supremacy. My 6A school, soon to be 5A, has played and beat many 7A teams. Some of the top teams in the state have a lesser football reputation than those you espouse as being elite, even if you are referring to in state only. Your thoughts of Georgia being nothing more than 7A football are misguided.

My thoughts and concerns evolve around the top 1% teams in the world of hsfb, the nationally-ranked elites. Hence, my passion for 7A. 

[Sportsnut]

26 minutes ago, GardenStateBaller said:

My thoughts and concerns evolve around the top 1% teams in the world of hsfb, the nationally-ranked elites. Hence, my passion for 7A. 

So next year, 6A will be your preferred polling place in Georgia and still the fact will remain that in Georgia, the best is not known until the games are played.

[GardenStateBaller]

Class 7A

Camden County at Walton

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Raider Valley, Marietta

Records, rankings: Camden County is 10-3, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-7A and unranked; Walton is 13-0, the No. 1 seed from 5-7A and No. 2.

Last meeting: Walton won 40-20 in the first round of the 2018 Class 7A playoffs.

Things to know: Walton, seeking its first state title, is the highest-ranked and lone undefeated team remaining in Class 7A. Camden County, with three state titles, none since 2009, is the lowest-seeded team remaining above Class A. Camden is the only semifinal team in any class that didn’t have a playoff berth clinched until its final regular-season game. The Wildcats’ victory at Lowndes was the first of four straight road wins that have them here. As a 16-point underdog, Camden beat No. 1 Mill Creek 39-20 in the semifinals. Camden rushed 47 times for 371 yards. Jaden Dailey carried 15 times for 148 yards, Antonio Laws ran 15 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns, and Ja’Marley Riddle (committed to East Carolina) ran nine times for 77 yards. Walton defeated Carrollton 56-35 in the quarterfinals. Jeremy Hecklinski (Wake Forest) was 22-of-24 passing for 366 yards and three touchdowns. Hecklinski’s 3,395 passing yards lead Class 7A. Cameran Loyd had 105 yards receiving. Jordan Bride had 100. Makari Bodiford (Memphis) rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Power 5-committed players in this game, in addition to Hecklinski, are OL Daniel Calhoun (Georgia), LB Wendell Gregory (South Carolina) and LB Ashton Woods (North Carolina) for Walton and TE Elyiss Williams (Georgia) for Camden County.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Walton 35, Camden County 19

[GardenStateBaller]

Milton at Grayson

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Grayson Community Stadium, Loganville

Records, rankings: Milton is 11-2, the No. 1 seed from Region 6-7A and No. 10; Grayson is 11-2, the No. 1 seed from 4-7A and No. 6.

Last meeting: Milton won 35-12 in the 2022 Class 7A quarterfinals.

Things to know: Since 2018, the season of Milton’s Class 7A championship, Grayson and Milton lead 7A in victories with 66, one ahead of Colquitt County, which Milton defeated 39-37 in the quarterfinals last week. Milton and Grayson have met only once, in the 2022 quarterfinals. Grayson led in total yards 307-249, but Milton had seven sacks, and Debron Gatling returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown and a 28-9 lead in the third quarter. Gatling also caught a TD pass from Luke Nickel. Those two were at it again last week. Gatling (committed to Texas A&M) had 10 receptions for 137 yards against Colquitt County. Nickel (Miami) was 20-of-32 passing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, though intercepted twice. Nickel has thrown for 3,275 yards this season. His receivers also include highly recruited junior C.J. Wiley (1,292 yards). Grayson beat Buford 19-14 in the quarters. Grayson trailed 14-13 with four minutes left and faced a fourth-and-8 from Buford’s 48. Jeff Davis hit consecutive passes to Alexander Sanchez, getting Grayson to the 3, and Amari Alson scored from there. Grayson sacked Buford’s Dylan Raiola six times and held Buford to negative rushing yards. Davis was 9-of-23 passing for 167 yards. Davis has thrown for 2,763 yards this season. This semifinal will have more Division I recruits than any other. Milton has six committed to Power 5 schools. They include Dylan Lewis and Tyler Redmond, cornerbacks pledged to Tennessee. Grayson’s top recruits include OL Walt Flynn and TE Kylan Fox (Central Florida) and CB Jaylen Bell (LSU).

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Grayson 26, Milton 22

[GardenStateBaller]

 

[Sportsnut]

3 hours ago, GardenStateBaller said:

 

Did you notice that 11 of the top 16 are below 7A?

This is Georgia.

[GardenStateBaller]

Just now, Sportsnut said:

Did you notice that 11 of the top 16 are below 7A?

This is Georgia.

I did. Very sad. Right now GA only has one T25 team in our rankings. This is a first. Parity is not good for national rankings. Just ask NJ!

[Sportsnut]

Just now, GardenStateBaller said:

I did. Very sad. Right now GA only has one T25 team in our rankings. This is a first. Parity is not good for national rankings. Just ask NJ!

Again ........who cares?

Game 15 in the Benz is what matters. You need to understand the truth. Georgia high school  football and it's prowess, are not measured by others. It is measured against itself, given it is the standard.

 

[GardenStateBaller]

2 minutes ago, Sportsnut said:

Again ........who cares?

Game 15 in the Benz is what matters. You need to understand the truth. Georgia high school  football and it's prowess, are not measured by others. It is measured against itself, given it is the standard.

 

Prowess is nowhere near defined as one (1) HSFB team ranked in America's Top 25. 

[Sportsnut]

7 minutes ago, GardenStateBaller said:

I did. Very sad. Right now GA only has one T25 team in our rankings. This is a first. Parity is not good for national rankings. Just ask NJ!

I did tell you that 7A is a school size designation, not the grading for football acumen.

[Sportsnut]

Just now, GardenStateBaller said:

Prowess is nowhere near defined as one (1) HSFB team ranked in America's Top 25. 

Number 1 in state means so much more.

Win a few and "prowess" is clearly defined.

[GardenStateBaller]

Camden County’s glory days return

    
There was a day when nobody doubted Camden County.

That day is back.

The Wildcats defeated No. 1-ranked Mill Creek 39-20 in the Class 7A quarterfinals last week while putting up 387 rushing yards against a defending state champion on a 20-game winning streak.

A decade ago, that wouldn’t be surprising for a program that still ranks third all-time this century in victories in the highest classification, but this latest win 333 miles from home put an unranked Camden team in the semifinals for the first time since 2012, Jeff Herron’s last season as coach until his return in 2021.

Camden’s 226 victories since 2000 are creeping up again on Lowndes’ 228 and Grayson’s 227 for century’s best in the high class.

[GardenStateBaller]

The best team in GA that nobody has ever heard of: 

John Milledge Academy will seek its fifth consecutive state championship when it takes on Valwood in the GIAA Class 3A final tonight at 8 at Mercer's Five Star Stadium in Macon.

John Milledge, of Milledgeville, comes into the game with a state-record and nation's best 62-game winning streak. The Trojans’ last loss came on Nov. 30, 2018, in the 3A championship game against Frederica Academy. John Milledge is 12-0 this season, and its closest game was a 27-22 victory against First Presbyterian, which will play in the Class 4A final on Friday.

The Trojans are led by running back Javian Butts, who has rushed for 2,180 yards and 27 touchdowns. Butts ran for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries in a 63-28 victory over Pinewood Christian last week.

Valwood of Valdosta is 10-1 this season, its only loss against North Florida Christian 35-21 on Sept. 22. The Valiants are seeking their first state title since 2017.

The other three GIAA championship games will be played Friday in Macon. Flint River Academy will take on Robert Toombs Christian in the Class A final at 2 p.m., followed by the Class 2A game between Edmund Burke Academy and Gatewood at 5 and the 4A game between First Presbyterian and Brookstone at 8.

John Milledge is the only defending champion in any GIAA classification that returned to the finals this season.

[GardenStateBaller]

Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week's rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week's rankings.

 

CalPreps

(Top 100)

12. (16) Walton

24. (10) Colquitt County

25. (30) Thomas County Central

36. (55) Grayson

38. (21) Carrollton

47. (79) Camden County

49. (64) Douglas County

51. (22) Mill Creek

62. (74) Coffee

66. (NR) Milton

67. (NR) Marist

68. (33) Rome

79. (42) Buford

87. (NR) Benedictine

96. (76) Valdosta

 

USA Today

(Top 25)

12. (15) Walton

 

MaxPreps

(Top 100)

8. (12) Walton

17. (43) Grayson

28. (NR) Milton

31. (11) Colquitt County

33. (17) Carrollton

35. (NR) Camden County

40. (8) Mill Creek

42. (16) Buford

51. (71) Thomas County Central

64. (NR) Douglas County

71. (40) Gainesville

73. (NR) Woodward Academy

80. (73) Rome

81. (NR) Marist

98. (96) Benedictine

 

Massey Ratings

(Top 100)

12. (18) Walton

23. (27) Thomas County Central

24. (10) Colquitt County

31. (25) Buford

34. (15) Mill Creek

37. (26) Carrollton

38. (61) Grayson

45. (56) Benedictine

47. (51) Coffee

52. (76) Douglas County

62. (39) Rome

73. (99) Milton

86. (NR) Marist

95. (87) Westlake

 

High School Football America

(Top 100)

14. (17) Walton

39. (8) Mill Creek

42. (10) Buford

45. (11) Colquitt County

49. (NR) Grayson

53. (NR) Milton

59. (40) Carrollton

70. (73) Benedictine

89. (54) Gainesville

91. (99) Creekside

94. (NR) Thomas County Central

96. (92) Rome

 

SBLive/Sports Illustrated

(Regular-season top 25)

8. Mill Creek

11. Colquitt County

12. Buford

21. Walton

 

NationalHSFB.com

(Top 25)

17. (19) Walton

 

Blue Star Media

(Top 25)

12. (15) Walton

20. (11) Buford

21. (13) Colquitt County

[GardenStateBaller]

 

[GardenStateBaller]

 

[Nolebull813]

7A Milton 

6A Woodward Academy 

5A Creekside 

3A Cedar Grove 

 

All made the finals. All lost OOS. Not smack taking just an observation. Florida has 3. STA, Lakeland and OTC. 

[GardenStateBaller]

6 minutes ago, Nolebull813 said:

7A Milton 

6A Woodward Academy 

5A Creekside 

3A Cedar Grove 

 

All made the finals. All lost OOS. Not smack taking just an observation. Florida has 3. STA, Lakeland and OTC. 

The formula for long-term success. It's what I've been saying since 2015! #ironsharpensiron 

[GardenStateBaller]

Class 7A

Walton vs. Milton

    
When, where: 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Walton is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-7A and No. 2; Milton is 12-2, the No. 1 seed from 6-7A and No. 10.

Last meeting: Milton won 52-17 in the 2021 Class 7A semifinals.

Things to know: This will be the first championship in the highest classification without a Gwinnett County or South Georgia team since 1985 (Warner Robins vs. Clarke Central). Walton is from Cobb County. Milton is from Fulton. Walton can win its first state title in history. Milton can win its second, first since 2018. Walton is on pace to set a state record for points scored by a team in the highest classification. Mill Creek set the record with 712 last season. Walton has scored 695. Walton can become the second team in state history, behind 2022 Hughes, to score at least 35 in every game. Jeremy Hecklinski, a senior committed to Wake Forest, has thrown for 3,711 yards and 48 touchdowns with three interceptions. Walton has two 1,000-yard rushers (Austin Williams, Makari Bodiford) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Cameran Loyd). Milton’s Luke Nickel, a junior committed to Miami, has thrown for 3,709 yards and 38 touchdowns with four interceptions. C.J. Wiley leads 7A in receiving yards with 1,428. Milton is less balanced, as the Eagles rush for only 119.1 yards per game. Both teams are rich with college prospects. Walton’s include Hecklinski, Bodiford (Memphis), TE Hunter Teal (Miami-Ohio), OL Daniel Calhoun (Georgia), LB Wendell Gregory (South Carolina), LB Ashton Woods (North Carolina) and WR/DB Jordan Bride (Navy), all seniors. Milton has Nickel, Wiley (20+ offers), WR Debron Gatling (Texas A&M), TE Ryan Ghea (Auburn), LB Jacorey Stewart (Kansas), DB Dylan Lewis (Tennessee) and DB Tyler Redmond (Tennessee). Most are juniors. Walton leads the series with Milton 14-6. They’ve been in the same region 16 times. They have one common opponent this season. North Cobb beat Milton 42-27 and lost to Walton 35-27 in Walton’s only game decided by less than 16 points.

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Walton 35, Milton 27

[GardenStateBaller]

Class 5A

Creekside vs. Coffee

When, where: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Creekside is 13-1, the No. 1 seed from Region 5-5A and No. 2; Coffee is 14-0, the No. 1 seed from 1-5A and No. 1.

Last meeting: Creekside won 28-18 in the first round of the 2021 Class 5A playoffs.

Things to know: This is the only championship game this year between No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams and the 29th since 1982, when the AJC rankings began (merging the Journal and Constitution polls). The No. 1 team is 16-11-1 in those games. Coffee, ranked No. 1 this season for the first time, can win its first state championship. The Trojans have reached the quarterfinals or better seven of the past eight seasons. The one failure came at the hands of Creekside in the 2021 first round in the final game under former coach Robby Pruitt. Mike Coe, who won five state titles in Florida, took over in 2022. Coffee hangs its hat on defense and ball control. No opponent has scored more than two touchdowns, and five have been shut out, two in the playoffs. Fred Brown is a 2,300-yard rusher who has topped 200 twice in the playoffs (vs. Jones County and Cartersville) and has not been held under 100 this season. Creekside won its lone championship in 2013 and has claimed five region titles since. Creekside suffered its only loss 62-0 against the consensus No. 1 team in the country, Mater Dei, on a California road trip. Creekside is the more balanced team offensively. Roderick McCrary, a two-way starter, has rushed for 1,959 yards. Vinson Berry has thrown for 2,412 yards. Creekside has more top prospects. They include OL Caleb Holmes (Pitt), DL Michai Boireau (Florida) and DB Kevon Gray (Virginia).

Maxwell Ratings’ projected score: Coffee 24, Creekside 18

[GardenStateBaller]