Monday Morning QB, Wednesday edition: Central Georgia's first polls of the season
In this Year from the Devil, 2020, we know what we don’t know about Central Georgia teams so far.
We know that there are a lot of “should be” teams, as in “they should be” a win better because they gave one or two away.
And we don’t know a lot about a lot of teams because COVID-related game cancellations and postponements.
The Sports Report rankings are again with divisions, because, well, it’s just common sense. Waiting a few weeks until about everybody got a few games was logical, too.
This area has two 6A teams, three 5A teams, and six 4A teams, for 11 teams, so the larger division will again have only five ranked teams.
It’s just absurd and unfair – and polls are polls, they’re not official in any form and don’t dictate anything, but are an objective look at the teams and their strengths – to put everybody together.
This year, note that some schools are playing up, and there was notable shuffling.
It’s pretty rugged so far, with the scheduling upheaval, and will stay that way for a bit. Here’s hoping the upheaval stays put.
But Division II is going to be interesting all year long. The past few years, it was pretty weak, and often didn’t deserve to have 10 “ranked” teams.
There will probably be more movement each week than in past years, thanks to slow starts, scheduling changes, and, well, slow starts – because of about everything – and scheduling changes.
And next week, Loughdmouthings and assorted observations.
The Polls
Division I (6A, 5A, 4A)
1. Warner Robins
The Groundhog Day Demons: same results, different year. They head the list of area teams that let a win get away, that Valdosta game. But goodness, what they did to Archer and Northside is extraordinarily impressive.
2. Veterans
Is this the best defense in Central Georgia? Well, that top-ranked team may have that title, but the Warhawks are mighty close. They still haven’t played an above-average offense yet, frankly, but giving up 13 points in three games against two programs that went deep in the playoffs last year is pretty good.
3. Houston County
Not sexy, not head-turning, not dazzling. But the Bears are 3-1, could be 4-0. Houston County may be one of those teams that can find a way to grind out a win with a quality night from any of the three phases, and you’ll rarely be able to predict which one on a given night.
4. Northside, Howard (tie)
One meeting doesn’t mean somebody is forever ahead of or behind somebody. Howard is probably better than it showed against Northside, and now, after the whipping by Warner Robins, Northside is back in the “who are they?” file. We’ll know more soon.
Honorable Mention: None.
Division II (3A, AA, A, GISA)
1. Peach County, 1-1
The Trojans are still something of a question mark, with two very different games, and then a week off. Well, the question mark is their place statewide, not in this group around here.
2. Macon County, 3-0
All of a sudden, the team that’s been so up and down the past few years is way, way up. The hazing of Marion County was a serious eye-opener.
3. John Milledge 2-0
The Trojans took the whoopin’ can to the coast and hammered Class 3A Savannah Christian by nearly 40 points, and did so without their ACC-bound running back. Their calls about more crossover games are unlikely to be returned for awhile.
4. Upson-Lee, 2-1
A team that keeps finding ways to lose close games or fail to put teams away should be 3-0. The Knights need to better take care of details on Friday nights.
5. Bleckley County, 3-1
The Royals are a balanced team, a little more run-oriented than the last few years, in part because they lack the superb speed of the past few years.
6. Dodge County, 1-1
Sure would be interesting to see what the Indians would look like had COVID not hit them and erased games. They’re back in action this Saturday after COVID sidelining.
7. Mary Persons, 1-1
No doubt the Bulldogs will move up soon enough – albeit probably not after this week – but the thorough thrashing by Newnan, despite the difference in classification, was a bit of a surprise.
8. Taylor County, 2-0
A 19-point win over the No. 4 team in A/Public after a solid romp over Crawford County is a good sign. They’ll be 3-0 heading to Manchester, maybe 4-0 when Macon County comes to town.
9. Dublin
The Irish have been COVID sidelined, and are finally back this week. Dublin lost a boatload of talent and is a question mark until further notice.
10. Washington County
Having split with Swainsboro, the Golden Hawks are about where they should be, considering, and are likely to start getting a little momentum.
Honorable Mention: FPD, Gatewood, Hawkinsville, Lamar County, Mount de Sales, Putnam County, Tattnall.