By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

So, you wonder about the who and why of the rankings.

Of the 12 teams in Division I, 7 have winning records:

Perry, 6-2; Houston County, 6-2; Warner Robins, 6-2

Jones County, 6-2; West Laurens, 6-1;

Upson-Lee, 5-3; Howard, 4-2.

The ranked teams have quality wins and quality losses. The unranked teams have some nice wins, and then maybe a loss worse than expected. Plus, those teams are on some level of building or re-building.

Of the 30-plus candidates in Division II,

GHSA: Dodge County, 8-0; Dublin, 8-0; Lamar County, 7-1; Jasper County, 6-1; Taylor County, 6-2; Northeast 5-2

ACE Charter 5-3; Hawkinsville, 5-3

GIAA: FPD 8-1; Tattnall, 7-1; Brentwood, 7-1; Westfield, 7-2; Stratford, 7-3; Piedmont, 5-3

Trinity Christian, 5-4

That’s 15 out of 33. Some don’t really have an overly challenging schedule, those few notable wins. Class A/Division I is down, although there might be a playoff run from somebody, maybe a .500 team not listed.

There are a number of even teams, and some games postponed or cancelled impact a team’s potential to be ranked.

Division I (5A, 4A, 3A) 12 teams

5. Jones County

The Greyhounds were off.

4. Peach County

The Trojans had little trouble with Bainbridge, another TCOB win. Peach County appears to be back to Peach County.

1. tie: Houston County, Perry, Warner Robins

The Demons had the week off, Houston County was shut out by Coffee – whose only other shutout this season was over Northside - and Perry handled Ware County. Yeah, somebody spilled something it the Maxwell computer and had Ware County as a 30-point favorite. Uh, no. Perry held Ware County to minus-21 yards on the ground. Big-boy football. Yessir, these teams are that even at this point.

Division II (2A, A, GIAA) 33 teams

Top 10

9. (tie) Stratford, Westside

Both are hard teams to figure. On any given Friday, they can look pretty good, and then not so much.

8. ACE Charter

Perhaps the Gryphons are back in early-season form, slowing down Southwest and putting up points. But two losable game remain. Washington County game could be for fourth place.

7. Tattnall

Back to being a little tough to figure. Granted, John Milledge might be better than the record, but JMA hadn’t led much in the first half all year against the top teams.

6. FPD

The most consistent team in GIAA had the week off, and now preps for a district title game.

5. Jasper County

Levels of history are being made in MonticelloThe Purple Hurricanes were off last week. To win a triple-overtime game on the road against another region contender is a sign of something special.

4. Lamar County

The Trojans keep on keeping on.

3. Northeast

So much for any post-Dublin hangover. The Dublin game was good prep for Dodge County this week, but the air attack will have to help some.

2. Dodge County

“Dang, the first team to give up points to Jefferson County allll season should sure drop, shouldn’t it?” Nah. That Jefferson County went scoreless this long is a fluke. And it’s not like that score came early. Dodge County might hear about it for a little bit, which only helps.

1. Dublin

Not to say that being challenged by Northeast wa any kind of wake-up call for the players, but Dublin came out swinging against Bleckley County and handled it.