North Hall, North Gwinnett going opposite directions in rankings

North Gwinnett slid to No. 7, while North Hall climbed to No. 6 in the latest Georgia Sportswriters Association high school football poll, released Tuesday.

The area's three other ranked teams -- Buford, Gainesville and Jefferson -- held their previous positions in their respective top 10s.

In Class AAA, the Trojans bounded up two spots following their 35-21 defeat of West Hall on Friday. North Hall (7-1, 4-1 Region 7-AAA) will travel to face Banks County (0-8, 0-5) this week. Class AAA programs Hart County, formerly No. 6, and St. Pius, formerly No. 4, each lost last week -- though that made little difference to No. 1 Buford (8-0, 5-0), which stayed undefeated. The Wolves will play host to East Hall this week. Meanwhile, White County -- which received votes in the poll -- will also travel to take on West Hall this week.

Meanwhile, in Class AAAAA, Gainesville held at No. 4 through its bye week. The Red Elephants (7-1, 6-0 Region 8-AAAAA) return to the field this Friday against Loganville (4-4, 3-3). The Red Devils pulled off a huge upset of Gainesville last season at City Park.

In Class AA, Jefferson also continued as the No. 10 team after a 68-0 defeat of Social Circle. The Dragons (6-2, 4-1 Region 8-AA) will travel to Gainesville to take on Riverside Military (4-4, 2-3) this week.

And, in Class AAAAA, North Gwinnett slid to No. 7 after its first loss of the season last week. The Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 Region 7-AAAAAA) fell to Collins Hill 53-28 and will look to rebound this week at Mountain View. North Gwinnett will do so without starting quarterback Hayden Sphire, who will miss the game through a leg injury. John Urzua will start in Sphire's place.


Georgia Sportswriters Association Prep Football Poll, Oct. 29

The Top Ten teams in the Georgia Sportswriters Association high school football polls of the 2013 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class A
1. Eagle's Landing Christian (17) 7-0 170 1
2. Landmark Christian 8-0 145 2
3. Aquinas 8-0 141 3
4. Seminole County 8-0 115 4
5. Johnson County 8-0 92 6
6. Prince Avenue Christian 7-1 84 5
7. Marion County 8-0 72 7
8. Mt. Pisgah Christian 8-0 57 10
9. Darlington 7-1 34 9
10. Mount Paran Christian 6-2 10 8
Others receiving votes: Irwin County 9, Clinch County 4, Calvary Day 2.

Class AA
1. Lamar County (9) 8-0 160 2
2. Greater Atlanta Christian (6) 8-0 158 1
3. Lovett 7-1 128 3
4. Washington-Wilkes 8-0 120 4
5. Calhoun 7-1 97 5
6. Benedictine Military 8-0 94 6
7. Brooks County 8-1 67 7
8. Bowdon 9-0 52 8
9. Vidalia 7-1 32 9
10. Jefferson 6-2 21 10
Others receiving votes: Heard County 6.

Class AAA
1. Buford (16) 8-0 169 1
2. Cartersville (1) 8-0 150 2
3. Washington County 8-0 140 3
4. Carver-Columbus 7-1 118 5
5. Callaway 7-1 89 7
6. North Hall 7-1 66 8
7. Elbert County 6-2 41 NR
8. Hart County 7-1 33 6
9. Woodward Academy 7-2 32 NR
10. Appling County 7-2 31 9
Others receiving votes: St. Pius X 27, Ringgold 26, White County 5, Peach County 3, Pierce County 3, North Oconee 1, Cedar Grove 1.

Class AAAA
1. Sandy Creek (16) 7-0-1 169 1
2. Carrollton (1) 8-0 153 2
3. Griffin 8-0 135 3
4. Monroe Area 8-0 116 4
5. Statesboro 8-0 106 5
6. Mary Persons 8-0 80 6
7. Cedartown 8-0 60 7
8. Stockbridge 7-1 46 8
9. Marist 6-2 32 9
10. Burke County 5-2 22 10
Others receiving votes: Wayne County 15, Eagle's Landing 1.

Class AAAAA
1. Northside-Warner Robins (13) 8-0 166 1
2. Tucker (4) 8-0 157 2
3. Kell 8-0 131 3
4. Gainesville 7-1 110 4
5. Thomas County Central 8-1 102 5
6. Stephenson 7-1 92 6
7. Creekside 9-0 71 7
8. Ware County 7-1 50 8
9. North Paulding 7-1 26 9
10. Allatoona 7-1 10 10
Others receiving votes: South Paulding 8, Lee County 7, Warner Robins 3.

Class AAAAAA
1. Colquitt County (16) 7-1 168 2
2. Lovejoy (1) 8-1 141 3
3. Camden County 7-1 107 4
4. Norcross 7-2 105 6
5. Collins Hill 7-1 97 10
6. North Cobb 7-1 94 5
7. North Gwinnett 7-1 90 1
8. Archer 9-0 60 8
9. McEachern 7-1 46 7
10. Hillgrove 7-1 16 NR
Others receiving votes: Peachtree Ridge 5, Langston Hughes 4, Lowndes 2.
Dropped out: Peachtree Ridge (9).