MMQB in the afternoon is posted. See wha ha happened was ... Never mind.

Top 5

Division I (6A-5A-4A)

1. Warner Robins

          The Demons had a quality 24-pointish win staring them in the face, until a pick 6 and a fumble followed a play later by a touchdown. That turned it into a game in the final minutes against Locust Grove, but the Demons shut the door after that. Consistency will be a talking point during the off week.

2. Jones County

          This is so far a second-half team, Jones County coming back and holding on against a quality Howard team one week and pulling away from Baldwin the next, in front of a playoff crowd. Who said the Greyhounds lost key players?

3. Northside

          The Eagles were just a little off againt Peach County, but a little off in every phase and unit. That was just enough for a three-point loss against a team that played better than expected. Reminders of history followed by some brutal practices is what the week will hold for Eagle players.

4. Mary Persons

          They came, they saw, they hammered Jackson, moreso in the second half. The Bulldogs have 90 points in two games, but will have a little tougher test with Class 6A Morrow. May not crack 40. Jeez.

5. Veterans

          Granted, the Warhawks have two wins over smaller-classification teams that didn’t make the playoffs last year, Class 4A Upson-Lee and Class AA Bleckley County. But they’ve never scored this many points in consecutive games, the Knights and Royals are respectable, and the Huskies are doing the little things so far they haven’t done consistently in the past.

 

Division II (3A-2A-A-Other)

(Expanded to 10 teams for the rest of the season)

1. Peach County

          Chad Campbell was a little more demonstrative while talking about Saturday night’s win in general and his quarterback. For a team in transition, the Trojans sure looked an old-school Trojan team that didn’t lose anybody to power-5 programs.

2. Dublin

          The wing-T was rocking in Mercer’s Five Star Stadium, as was the defense and occasionally the special teams. The Irish extinguished Tattnall’s hope early and kept it extinguished, the sign of a team capable of making some serious noise. The Irish have some of everything.

3. Westside

          The Seminoles needed to clean things up, and a win on the road in overtime is a sign they made some of that week-1-to-week-2 progress. Westside has some balance, and hopes that works as they play up again at Class 4A Perry in a likely playoff atmosphere.

4. Dodge County

          The Indians didn’t drop two spots because they were off, they were simply passed by two teams who had big wins. A win this week at Class 4A West Laurens – this will be a visit to old-school, strap-it-up football – will jump them over somebody.

5. Washington County

          The Golden Hawks are another team bringing back some memories with physical play and doing what it takes. Now, week off before a visit from the Class 6A team that went 6-4 last year should make for one interesting night at the House of Pain next week. Might have to hold back alums on the sideline from racing out onto the field.

6. Dooly County

          The Bobcats entered the season ranked, and deserved it. They went 5-7 a year ago, lost four games by 13 points or less, and return key people like QB Bo Lawson. They’re in a slight coaching transition and opened with a road win, albeit one closer than it should’ve been. A visit by Fitzgerald should make for a wild Friday night in Vienna.

7. Stratford

          The Eagles got into an early hole on the road at Savannah Country Day, a 10-win team last year that was a little tired of losing to Stratford. The Eagles haven’t lost two straight since 48-21 to Wesleyan and 35-28 to Aquinas early in the 2015 season.

8. Mount de Sales

          Dexter Williams is off to a huge start for the Cavs, 2-0 for the first time since 2011 in the old GISA days. That was the last time they were 3-0, too, and now get a still-rebuilding Pinecrest team, 1-9 last year under then-new head coach Terance Mathis, also known as “former Atlanta Falcons receiver Terance Mathis). The Paladins have lost 10 straight -10 after going 8-4 in 2016.

9. Bleckley County

          The film session of Friday’s 49-21 loss at Class 5A Veterans was no doubt loaded with head-shaking and groans. Turning it over almost as much as you didn’t will do that. Take those away, and the Royals had a respectable night.

10. GMC

          The Bulldogs may have picked the right time to rejoin region play. They’re off to their first 2-0 start in six years and are averaging 35 points a game. They cracked 35 only twice last year. Still seeking a quality win, but two 35-7 wins are a nice start.