AJC's Super 11 High School Football Players for 2010

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Having lived in Atlanta for a couple of years, I was always excited by the way the Atlanta Journal Constitution covered high school football.

Things have changed with several top reporters forming Georgia High School Football Daily, but the quality of coverage hasn't, because of a nice cooperative between the two entities.

Below is a preview of players that are on the AJC and GHSF radar for the paper's Super 11 that has been a part of AJC tradition since 1985.

David Andrews, OL - Wesleyan
Isaiah Crowell, RB - Columbus Carver
Ray Drew, DE - Thomas County Central
A.J. Johnson, LB - Gainesville
Nick Marshall, QB - Wilcox County
Brian Randolph, DB - Kell
Chris Milton, QB - Charlton County
Jay Rome, TE - Valdosta
Damian Swann, DB - Grady
Gabe Wright, DT - Columbus Carver
Zack Walker, WR - Johnson County

Tragedy Strikes McEachern Football Star

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

A couple of weeks after signing a scholarship to play football at Vanderbilt, the Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that McEachern running back Rajaan Bennett is dead after an apparent murder-suicide at his family's home.

Bennett was the AJC's Class AAAAA player of the year.

Two Days Before Opener McNair Fires Head Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that McNair head coach Roderick Moore has been fired two days before its Saturday opener against Stephenson. Moore has been the Mustangs head coach for four years.

Super 11 Time

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

During my two years in Atlanta, I always enjoyed the Atlanta Journal Constitution's high school coverage. Aside from Dallas Morning News, it's hard for any other major metropolitan newspaper to top the AJC's high school football coverage. This year I especially like the photography of the AJC's Super 11.

Gainesville Red Elephant fans had to smile when the list came-out as quarterback Blake Sims and wide receiver Tai-ler John both made the team. Sims has verbally committed to Alabama, while Jones has chosen Stanford.

With both back, expect Gainesville to be in the hunt for a Region 7-AAA title. Last year the Red Elephants opened the season with 12 straight wins before losing in the state quarterfinals.

Here's the list:

QB/DB - B.J. Bostic, Jefferson County
QB - Blake Sims, Gainesville
RB - Mack Brown, M.L. King
WR - Da'Rick Rogers, Calhoun
WR - Tai-ler John - Gainesville
WR - Markeith Ambles, Henry County
OL - Kolton Houston, Buford
G/DT - Ed Christian, Lowndes
DE - T.J. Stripling, Southwest DeKalb
DT - Garrison Smith,Douglass
S - Alec Ogletree - Newnan

Use the AJC link to go to the great photographs everyone in the Georgia Super 11.

AJC High School Football Rankings

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

No changes at the top of this week's Atlanta Journal Constitution high school football rankings. Lowndes stays at #1 in Class AAAAA, Tucker is still the top dog in AAAA, Cairo, which is off this weekend, remains #1 in AAA, while Buford (AA) and ECI (A) hold steady in their respective classes.

The big game this week will occur in AAA where #2 Carver-Columbus, coming off a one-point loss to Northside, plays #3 Baldwin.

Rankings through September 15, 2008

1. Lowndes (3-0)
2. Camden County (3-0)
3. Northside-Warner Robins (3-0)
4. Newnan (3-0)
5. Grayson (3-0)
6. Walton (3-0)
7. Harrison (2-0)
8. Coffee (3-0)
9. North Gwinnett (2-1)
10. Norcross (2-1)

Class AAAA
1. Tucker (3-0)
2. Westside-Macon (3-0)
3. Bainbridge (2-0)
4. Mays (3-0)
5. Dalton (3-0)
6. Statesboro (3-0)
7. Sandy Creek (3-0)
8. Marist (2-1)
9. Chamblee (2-1)
10. Thomas County Central (1-1)

Class AAA
1. Cairo (2-0)
2. Carver-Columbus (2-1)
3. Baldwin (3-0)
4. St. Pius (3-0)
5. Dunwoody (3-0)
6. Washington County (3-0)
7. Monroe-Albany (3-0)
8. Gainesville (3-0)
9. LaGrange (2-1)
10. Cartersville (3-0)

Class AA
1. Buford (3-0)
2. Charlton County (3-0)
3. Westminster (2-0)
4. Fitzgerald (3-0)
5. Brooks County (2-0)
6. Jefferson County (3-0)
7. Pepperell (3-0)
8. Blessed Trinity (2-0)
9. Henry County (2-1)
10. Thomasville (0-3)

Class A
1. ECI (3-0)
2. Wilcox County (3-0)
3. Lincoln County (3-0)
4. Clinch County (2-1)
5. Athens Academy (3-0)
6. Savannah Christian (2-1)
7. Twiggs County (3-0)
8. Brookstone (2-0)
9. Washington-Wilkes (2-1)
10. Miller County (3-0)

Click here to go to The High School Football Huddle for news from around the nation.

Georgia High School Football Rankings

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has released its final regular season high school football poll, and after a topsy turvy year in Class AAAAA, North Cobb ends the regular season as the #1 team.

North Cobb will have a tough road to a state title since it will play defending 2006 co-champ Peachtree Ridge in the first round. If North Cobb, which finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1979, wins the opening game, it's second round opponent could be the other defending co-champ Roswell.

Nationally-ranked Northside-Warner Robins finishes the regular season as the top team in AAAA, Carver-Columbus is #1 in AAA, Buford finishes on top in AA and ECI is #1 in A.

Here's a look at the final rankings...

Class AAAAA
1. North Cobb (10-0)
2. M.L. King (10-0)
3. Lowndes (9-1)
4. Norcross (9-1)
5. North Gwinnett (9-1)
6. Walton (9-1)
7. Roswell (8-2)
8. Brookwood (8-2)
9. Harrison (8-2)
10. Camden County (9-1)

Class AAAA
1. Northside-Warner Robins (10-0)
2. Thomas County Central (10-0)
3. Tucker (10-0)
4. Baldwin (8-1)
5. Habersham Central (9-1)
6. Fayette County (10-0)
7. East Paulding (10-0)
8. Mays (8-2)
9. Marist (8-2)
10. Ware County (8-2)

Class AAA
1. Carver-Columbus (10-0)
2. North Hall (10-0)
3. Stephens County (10-0)
4. Shaw (9-1)
5. Cairo (9-1)
6. Carrollton (9-1)
7. LaGrange (8-2)
8. Carver-Atlanta (9-0)
9. Thomson (9-0-1)
10. Flowery Branch (9-1)

Class AA
1. Buford (10-0)
2. Charlton County (9-0)
3. Thomasville (8-2)
4. Fitzgerald (9-1)
5. Calhoun (9-1)
6. Savannah Christian (9-1)
7. Dublin (8-2)
8. Swainsboro (9-1)
9. Early County (8-2)
10. Dodge County (8-2)

Class A
1. ECI (10-0)
2. Wilcox County (9-1)
3. Clinch County (8-2)
4. Lincoln County (9-1)
5. Warren County (8-2)
6. Dooly County (9-1)
7. Brookstone (9-1)
8. Pacelli (9-1)
9. Fellowship Christian (9-1)
10. Athens Academy (9-1)