I think the AAA rankings shold be a little different. Basically the same teams in a different order with the exception of North Hall being thrown out and Washington County getting their appropriate recognition.
1. Peach County (15-0) ? Undefeated State Champions
2. St. Pius X (12-1) - Suffered only one loss this season against Peach County in overtime. The only team to face Peach County and not be defeated at the end of regulation play makes them #2 in the state.
3. Gainesville (14-1) ? Suffered only one loss this season against Peach County. Played an outstanding 14 win season. However, championship football teams need to be three dimensional having great offenses, defenses and special Teams. Gainesville proved to be a two dimensional team during the State Championship because they could not depend on Special Teams when needed.
4. Eastside (11-3) ? Suffered two losses early in the regular season. However, they re-grouped and went on a 10 game winning streak, which included a win against undefeated Jackson, before being defeated in the semi finals by Peach County.
5. Jackson (12-1) ? Played great in the regular season and early playoff rounds earning 12 consecutive wins before being defeated by Eastside in the quarter finals.
6. Flowerly Branch (10-4) - Played great in the playoffs however, suffered 3 losses in the regular season and one in the playoffs, totaling 4 losses on the season. Flowerly Branch never was able to win more than 3 games in a row this season. Being defeated 4 times this season clearly kills any hopes of them being among the top 5 teams in the state. However, the great playoff run and specifically the win against Carver keeps them among the top 10.
7. Carver (11-2) ? Suffered 2 losses this season. One to AAAAA finalist Northside and one to Flowerly Branch in the playoffs.
8. Washington County (10-2) ? Played well all season earning 10 wins. However, suffered two defeats, one from Baldwin and one from Peach County. The loss to Peach County in the playoffs cannot be held against them any more than the losses to Peach County is held against St. Pius X and Gainesville. If St. Pius X and Gainesville had met Peach County when Washington County did, their seasons would have been just as short as Washington County’s season. WASHINGTON COUNTY GETS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO FACE THE EVENTUAL STATE CHAMPIONS EARLY IN THE PLAYOFFS!
9. Cairo ? (9-4) Played the toughest schedule in AAA. Suffered 4 losses this season. Two losses came from two AAAA teams that earned a spot on the AAAA playoff bracket. And the other two losses came from the two AAA State Finalist.
10. Baldwin (9-3) ? Suffered 3 losses this season. All losses were to teams who earned a spot in the top 10.
Strong Regions produce State Champions. Region 1 AAA proves for the second straight year to be the strongest Region in AAA. The fact that Region 1 AAA produced the 2008 State Champions (Cairo) and 2009 AAA State Champions (Peach County) should clearly be an indication of its strength. Region 7 AAA has proven for the second straight year to be the SECOND STRONGEST Region in AAA. SECOND STRONGEST by losing the State Championship two years straight to Region 1 AAA teams (2008 Cairo defeated Flowerly Branch 28-14, 2009 Peach County defeated Gainesville 13-12).
North Hall doesn’t get the “benefit of the doubt” for being in Region 7 AAA. Actually, the fact that North Hall suffered a defeat from a AA team this season keeps them from being considered as one of the top AAA teams. If any team deserves the benefit of the doubt, that team would be Washington County. Washington County deserves to be in the top 10 for earning double digit wins this season with only two defeats.
Region 7 AAA received too much credit this year from this website. That credit more than likely had a lot to do with Gainesville being ranked as high as #47 on the Rivals High 100 while the 3 time State Champions Peach County were unranked. At that time both teams were undefeated in the same AAA division. Gainesville being nationally ranked while Peach County unranked proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Articles on this website should be selected and written more objectively, without the obvious bias.
1. Peach County (15-0) ? Undefeated State Champions
2. St. Pius X (12-1) - Suffered only one loss this season against Peach County in overtime. The only team to face Peach County and not be defeated at the end of regulation play makes them #2 in the state.
3. Gainesville (14-1) ? Suffered only one loss this season against Peach County. Played an outstanding 14 win season. However, championship football teams need to be three dimensional having great offenses, defenses and special Teams. Gainesville proved to be a two dimensional team during the State Championship because they could not depend on Special Teams when needed.
4. Eastside (11-3) ? Suffered two losses early in the regular season. However, they re-grouped and went on a 10 game winning streak, which included a win against undefeated Jackson, before being defeated in the semi finals by Peach County.
5. Jackson (12-1) ? Played great in the regular season and early playoff rounds earning 12 consecutive wins before being defeated by Eastside in the quarter finals.
6. Flowerly Branch (10-4) - Played great in the playoffs however, suffered 3 losses in the regular season and one in the playoffs, totaling 4 losses on the season. Flowerly Branch never was able to win more than 3 games in a row this season. Being defeated 4 times this season clearly kills any hopes of them being among the top 5 teams in the state. However, the great playoff run and specifically the win against Carver keeps them among the top 10.
7. Carver (11-2) ? Suffered 2 losses this season. One to AAAAA finalist Northside and one to Flowerly Branch in the playoffs.
8. Washington County (10-2) ? Played well all season earning 10 wins. However, suffered two defeats, one from Baldwin and one from Peach County. The loss to Peach County in the playoffs cannot be held against them any more than the losses to Peach County is held against St. Pius X and Gainesville. If St. Pius X and Gainesville had met Peach County when Washington County did, their seasons would have been just as short as Washington County’s season. WASHINGTON COUNTY GETS THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO FACE THE EVENTUAL STATE CHAMPIONS EARLY IN THE PLAYOFFS!
9. Cairo ? (9-4) Played the toughest schedule in AAA. Suffered 4 losses this season. Two losses came from two AAAA teams that earned a spot on the AAAA playoff bracket. And the other two losses came from the two AAA State Finalist.
10. Baldwin (9-3) ? Suffered 3 losses this season. All losses were to teams who earned a spot in the top 10.
Strong Regions produce State Champions. Region 1 AAA proves for the second straight year to be the strongest Region in AAA. The fact that Region 1 AAA produced the 2008 State Champions (Cairo) and 2009 AAA State Champions (Peach County) should clearly be an indication of its strength. Region 7 AAA has proven for the second straight year to be the SECOND STRONGEST Region in AAA. SECOND STRONGEST by losing the State Championship two years straight to Region 1 AAA teams (2008 Cairo defeated Flowerly Branch 28-14, 2009 Peach County defeated Gainesville 13-12).
North Hall doesn’t get the “benefit of the doubt” for being in Region 7 AAA. Actually, the fact that North Hall suffered a defeat from a AA team this season keeps them from being considered as one of the top AAA teams. If any team deserves the benefit of the doubt, that team would be Washington County. Washington County deserves to be in the top 10 for earning double digit wins this season with only two defeats.
Region 7 AAA received too much credit this year from this website. That credit more than likely had a lot to do with Gainesville being ranked as high as #47 on the Rivals High 100 while the 3 time State Champions Peach County were unranked. At that time both teams were undefeated in the same AAA division. Gainesville being nationally ranked while Peach County unranked proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Articles on this website should be selected and written more objectively, without the obvious bias.