There was little movement in the rankings, simply because everyone for the most part has kept winning.
#1 RABUN COUNTY WILDCATS
RECORD: 1-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #1
REASON(S): The Cats rebounded with a 52-point outburst in a huge win over North Murray. The final was 52-42, but it was 45-14 until three late “garbage time” TDs by the home team. Rabun’s next test is Stephens County (2-0) after a well-earned bye week.
#2 DAWSON COUNTY TIGERS
RECORD: 2-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #3
REASON(S): It’s the second week in a row that the Tigers jump a spot. They won 58-0 over Chestatee to go to 2-0 on the young season. We’ve said it many times, but this running game is ridiculously good!
#3 COMMERCE TIGERS
RECORD: 2-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #2
REASON(S): Commerce doesn’t move down due to anything they did or didn’t do, it’s simply that Dawson has been putting up video game numbers. Same can really be said for Commerce, who has now outscored opponents 73-19.
#4 JEFFERSON DRAGONS
RECORD: 0-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #4
REASON(S): Jefferson has had a lot of time to think about its season-opening nail-biting loss to a solid Oconee County team. This spells trouble for Dragons opponents. They’re itching to get back out there and take it out on the rest of the schedule.
#5 WHITE COUNTY WARRIORS
RECORD: 1-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #5
REASON(S): The Warriors got off to a slow start against Lumpkin, but went on a third quarter tear on the way to a blowout win. J Ben Haynes did very well, and Cooper Turner is turning out to be a legit go-to receiver. Cody Versluis, Michael Mintz, etc make for a great mix on this team.
#6 HABERSHAM CENTRAL RAIDERS
RECORD: 1-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #6
REASON(S): Habersham finally got on the right side of a heartbreaker against Madison County. The Raiders have momentum now and Tre Luttrell continues to dazzle. Donovan Curry also had his first showcase of the year (plenty more to come) with 170 yards on 7 catches and a TD. The defense has some work to do, but this team is ready to make some noise.
#7 UNION COUNTY PANTHERS
RECORD: 1-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #7
REASON(S): The Panthers won their 15th straight season-opener. Think about that for a minute….since 2004, Union County has always won its first game of the year. They did so in easy fashion with new QB Pierson Allison throwing for 232 yards.
#8 STEPHENS COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 2-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #8
REASON(S): Stephens knows how to grind out wins, with two low-scoring gritty wins over Franklin and now rivals Hart County. #3-ranked Athens Academy awaits in Week 2.
#9 TOWNS COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 1-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #9
REASON(S): A bye week gives Towns some time to prep for HUGE rivals Union County as they renew their rivalry in Week 2 after a three-year hiatus. All-time, the series is in the Panthers’ favor at 29-1 in 30 games. Towns last won in the early 2000s.
#10 LUMPKIN COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 1-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #10
REASON(S): The Indians played very well especially on defense for one half against White County. The Warriors just wore them down throughout the game, but there are some great signs here with Luke Smith continuing to come up with huge plays and the defense holding strong at times.
#11 BANKS COUNTY LEOPARDS
RECORD: 0-2
PREVIOUS RANKING: #11
REASON(S): Banks has lost both games and haven’t yet gotten on the scoreboard. It’s only a matter of time, and the Leopards get a bye week before taking on East Jackson in Week 3, a team we think they’ll do well against.
