Georgia
Top teams dig in for a playoff run
With only three weeks left in the regular season, the GPB Rankings have reached a point of stability. The top teams remain unchanged and there are only a few newcomers in the top 10. It sets up an interesting stretch run to determine the top seeds when the state playoffs begin in November.
“This stretch run is going to be interesting,” said GPB’s Jon Nelson. “You’re going to see some region shakeups and some surprises before it’s all over.”
One such change occurred last week on GPB’s Football Fridays in Georgia, where Gainesville defeated two-time defending state champion Milton 28-16. The win jumped Gainesville up to No. 4 in Class 5A and dropped Milton to No. 6.
Another big showdown came in Class 2A, where No. 1 Carver-Columbus defeated previously unbeaten Sumter County 8-7. Sumter dropped two notches to No. 7.
In Class A Division 1, Fitzgerald knocked off Thomasville 24-21 and entered the rankings at No. 10. Thomasville fell three spots to No. 8. In one of the most surprising games of the week, Oglethorpe County beat No. 5 Rabun County 28-19 and knocked the Wildcats out of the rankings.
The No. 1 teams all remained the same: Grayson in 6A, Thomas County Central in 5A, North Oconee in 4A, Sandy Creek in 3A, Carver in 2A, Worth County in Class A Div. 1, Lincoln County in Class A Div. 2 and Hebron Christian in Private.
Class 6A
- Grayson
- Buford
- Carrollton
- North Gwinnett
- McEachern
- Lowndes
- Douglas County
- Colquitt County
- Valdosta
- Hillgrove
Also receiving consideration: West Forsyth, Mill Creek, Harrison
Class 5A
- Thomas County Central
- Hughes
- Gainesville
- Houston County
- Roswell
- Milton
- Rome
- Lee County
- Northgate
- Sequoyah
Also receiving consideration: Woodward Academy, Lovejoy, New Manchester, River Ridge, Statesboro
Class 4A
- North Oconee
- Cartersville
- Creekside
- Central Carroll
- Marist
- Benedictine
- Ware County
- Cambridge
- Kell
- Blessed Trinity
Also receiving consideration: Southwest DeKalb, Lithonia, Jones County, Locust Grove
Class 3A
- Sandy Creek
- Peach County
- North Hall
- Calhoun
- LaGrange
- Troup County
- Jefferson
- Jenkins
- West Laurens
- North Clayton
Also receiving consideration: Oconee County, Liberty County, Westside-Augusta, Harlem, Stephenson, Pickens
Class 2A
- Carver-Columbus
- Pierce County
- Morgan County
- Carver-Atlanta
- Callaway
- Rockmart
- Sumter County
- North Murray
- Hapeville Charter
- (tie) Frankin County, Thomson, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Also receiving consideration: Columbia
Class A-Division 1
- Worth County
- Toombs County
- Heard County
- Bleckley County
- Swainsboro
- Lamar
- Northeast
- Thomasville
- Dodge County
- Fitzgerald
Also receiving consideration: Jeff Davis, Jasper County, Elbert County
Class A-Division II
- Lincoln County
- Clinch County
- Johnson County
- Bowdon
- Screven County
- Early County
- Treutlen
- Wheeler County
- ECI
- Wilcox County
Also receiving consideration: Seminole County, Taylor County, Atkinson County
Class 3-1A Private
- Hebron Christian
- Fellowship Christian
- Calvary Day
- Athens Academy
- Prince Avenue Christian
- Savannah Christian
- Greater Atlanta Christian
- Aquinas
- Holy Innocents’
- Wesleyan
Also receiving consideration: Lovett, Landmark Christian, Whitefield Academy
Gulfstream recently announced a $5 million investment in Georgia education, welcoming students and leaders to its Savannah headquarters.
ATHENS, Ga. – Designated hitter Daniel Jackson and centerfielder Rylan Lujo combined for nine RBI Sunday, leading fifth-ranked Georgia to a 12-1 win over LSU at Foley Field.
Georgia improved to 41-11 overall, 21-6 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 29-24 overall and 9-18 in conference play.
The Tigers return to action at 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday when they play host to Florida in Game 1 of a three-game SEC series in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and streamed on SEC Network +.
“Georgia won the moments in this series,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “They’re going to score, so you’ve got to capitalize against them when you have scoring opportunities on offense.”
Georgia starting pitcher Caden Aoki (8-0) was the winner, limiting LSU to one run on four hits in 5.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU right-hander Casan Evans (2-3), making his first appearance since April 17 versus Texas A&M, started the game Sunday and was charged with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“I thought Casan’s stuff looked great, and that’s good for him from a health standpoint,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that the more he pitches, the better he is, so there might have been a little bit of rust, but I thought he competed fine.”
Georgia struck for four runs in the bottom of the second inning in an outburst highlighted by Jackson’s two-out, two-run single and an RBI single by second baseman Ryan Black.
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 4-1 in the third when designated hitter Omar Serna Jr. delivered an RBI single.
Georgia extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth as Jackson launched a two-run homer and centerfielder Lujo lined a run-scoring single.
Lujo unloaded a grand slam in the fifth, giving the Bulldogs an 11-1 advantage.
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