Three No. 1 teams lost their openers last week. Had they done their homework, it could’ve been avoided.
Three tips for preseason No. 1 teams that want to start 1-0: Avoid out-of-state teams, larger schools, ineligible players, the Corky Kell Classic and Trevor Lawrence. Every preseason No. 1 team since 2002 that has followed these fundamental rules has won its opener.
It’s as if these No. 1 teams are intentionally scheduling tough customers. What’s up with that?
On Friday, stubborn Rabun County, Brooks County and Eagle’s Landing Christian fought the law, and the law won. Bigger schools Jefferson, Thomasville and Woodward Academy beat them. Of the 24 preseason No. 1 teams that have lost openers this century, half were undone by bigger schools, according to GHSFHA founder Loren Maxwell’s deft research.
Here are the 24 teams since 2000 that were ranked No. 1 in preseason but lost their openers:
2021: *Woodward Academy d. Class A ELCA 17-14
2021: *Jefferson d. Class 2A Rabun County 22-13
2021: *Thomasville d. Class A Brooks County 42-34
2020: Warner Robins d. Class 6A Valdosta, forfeit
2020: Milton d. Class 3A Cedar Grove, forfeit
2020: *Fitzgerald d. Class A Irwin County 21-6
2019: Opelika (Ala.) d. Class 2A Callaway 10-7
2016: IMG Academy (Fla.) d. Class 7A Grayson 26-7
2016: *Roswell d. Class 5A Buford 24-7
2016: *Woodward Academy d. Class 2A Westminster 36-17
2016: Cartersville d. Class 6A Allatoona 30-14
2014: North Gwinnett d. Class 6A McEachern 52-49
2013: B.T. Washington (Miami) d. Class 6A Norcross 55-0
2012: *Jenkins d. Class A Savannah Christian 21-20
2011: Lassiter d. Class 5A Brookwood 14-6
2011: Briarwood Christian (Ala.) d. Class A ELCA 21-18
2009: *M.L. King d. Class 4A Southwest DeKalb 13-9
2008: *Coffee d. Class 4A Ware County 24-0
2005: *Washington County d. Class A Hawkinsville 28-7
2002: Clay County (Ala.) d. Class A Bowdon 14-0
2002: Screven County d. Class 4A Statesboro 13-0
2001: *North Springs d. Class 2A Washington-Wilkes 23-20
2000: Warner Robins d. Class 5A Lowndes 48-25
2000: *Pebblebrook d. Class 2AA Cedartown 13-12
*Larger school.
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