The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Columbia, Wheeler County hit top 10 for first time this century
Columbia and Wheeler County are in the top 10 for the first time this century, and two-time defending Class 5A champion Warner Robins is no longer No. 1 after the first weekend of high school football.
Columbia, a Class 2A school in Dekalb County, defeated Camden County, 13-10, on the road Friday night in one of the state’s biggest upsets. The computer Maxwell Ratings had Camden, a Class 7A school, a 34-point favorite.
Columbia had a breakthrough season last year, finishing 8-4, but was never ranked. The Eagles’ last top10 ranking came in 1997, when they made the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Wheeler County, a Class A Division II school about 90 miles west of Savannah, is ranked for the first time since 1998 after beating previous No. 9 GMC Prep 42-14. The Bulldogs were 5-5 last season after three consecutive 1-9 finishes.
Columbia and Wheeler County each are under thirdyear head coaches who have made great strides at previously struggling programs — Columbia’s Greg Barnett and Wheeler County’s Thomas Smith.
In Class 5A, Warner Robins is out of the top spot but not likely too concerned. The Demons, who lost to Class 6A No. 2 Lee County 26-10 on Friday, have won six state titles and have never been ranked No. 1 from wire to wire.
Cartersville is the new No. 1 team in 5A. Cartersville lost only once last season, to Warner Robins 24-17 in the second round of the playoffs, when Cartersville entered as the No. 1 team. Warner Robins dropped to No. 2.
Gainesville, under new coach Josh Niblett, is ranked for the first time since 2015 after beating previous No. 6 Marist 34-23. It was Gainesville’s first victory over a top-10 team from the same class or higher since 2017 (Winder-barrow). Gainesville is now No. 7.
Twenty-three top-10 teams lost in the opening week of the season, though 16 were against other top-10 teams or out-of-state opponents.