There was a little movement in the rankings as things begin to iron themselves out as each week progresses. Rabun, with a bye week, remains number one, while we did have a bit of a shuffle throughout the remainder of our local programs.
#1 RABUN COUNTY WILDCATS
RECORD: 5-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #1
REASON(S): The Cats, thanks to their 68-point outburst in Week 6 at Banks, are now the third-ranked offense in Class 2A at 42.5 points per game. Gunner Stockton continues to get better each quarter.
#2 JEFFERSON DRAGONS
RECORD: 6-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #3
REASON(S): The Dragons earned the jump here, because even without star QB Colby Clark (injured and out for a couple weeks at least), Jefferson pulled out a big win over Hart County in Week 7. The offense (36.8 pts) and defense (8.8 pts) rank sixth and fourth, respectively, coming into Week 7.
#3 DAWSON COUNTY TIGERS
RECORD: 6-1
PREVIOUS RANKING: #2
REASON(S): The much-anticipated matchup between #9 Dawson at #4 GAC ended with the Tigers’ first loss of 2018. Nevertheless, this team is still going to make a deep run in the 3A State Playoffs. They came into Week 7 with the top offense in 3A (45.5 pts) and sixth-best defense (11 pts).
#4 UNION COUNTY PANTHERS
RECORD: 6-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #4
REASON(S): Union is shaping up for one of its best seasons in school history. Not to get ahead of themselves though, because a 6-0 start like this has happened for them a few times in recent memory. But this time it feels a little different. The offense (41.8 pts) is fourth in 2A, while the defense ranks sixth (11.7) coming into Week 7, a bye week for the Panthers.
#5 COMMERCE TIGERS
RECORD: 6-0
PREVIOUS RANKING: #5
REASON(S): Commerce has the greatest shot of any team in our area to go unbeaten in regular season play. The Tigers’ offense (39.4 pts) is third best in 1A public, while the defense (9.4) is second best. The Tigers pounced on Lakeview for a big win in Week 7.
#6 STEPHENS COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 4-2
PREVIOUS RANKING: #6
REASON(S): Stephens is in the second week of back-to-back bye weeks – which we haven’t seen very often before.
#7 HABERSHAM CENTRAL RAIDERS
RECORD: 4-3
PREVIOUS RANKING: #7
REASON(S): Tre Luttrell showed out against his former Gainesville team to give the Raiders a HUGE boost in region play. That win puts Habersham in good shape to maybe get a shot at the playoffs.
#8 WHITE COUNTY WARRIORS
RECORD: 1-5
PREVIOUS RANKING: #9
REASON(S): A much-deserved bye week for White County, who probably has had one of the toughest schedules among our local programs. Not that we ignore the 1-5 record, but that we realize that this team is better than that.
#9 LUMPKIN COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 3-3
PREVIOUS RANKING: #10
REASON(S): Lumpkin got a momentum-building win over Cherokee Bluff and former Indians head coach Tommy Jones. That first region win gives the Indians a chance at the playoffs with four region games left. They’ll need to win two to get in more than likely, with the final two games against Fannin and East Hall proving to be the best chances there.
#10 BANKS COUNTY LEOPARDS
RECORD: 3-3
PREVIOUS RANKING: #8
REASON(S): The Leopards go down a couple pegs here, but with a bye week had the chance to regroup for Union. Things won’t be easy for the Leopards in this one.
#11 TOWNS COUNTY INDIANS
RECORD: 2-5
PREVIOUS RANKING: #11
REASON(S): The Indians dropped their fourth straight with a loss to Hebron Christian. Towns now gets a bye week to prep for the stretch run of the final three games, including Commerce, Lakeview and a Region Crossover.
