National Rankings: Carrollton, Buford move to No. 1; Grayson falls after quarterfinal loss
Carrollton and Buford gained No. 1 national football rankings this week after Carrollton's 34-14 victory over previous No. 1 Grayson in the Class 6A quarterfinals sent the Rams tumbling in the polls.
Carrollton moved to No. 1 in the MaxPreps poll from its previous No. 11 spot. Grayson, which had been elevated to No. 1 by MaxPreps last week, dropped to No. 12.
Buford rose to No. 1 in the USA Today rankings from its previous No. 3 spot after defeating Douglas County 30-15 last week in the other Class 6A semifinal. Carrollton moved up seven spots to No. 4, and Grayson fell to 8. Grayson had been No. 1 in the USA Today rankings for two weeks.
The new No. 1 team in the High School Football America 300, which had Grayson at No. 1 for four weeks, is St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida. Buford is No. 8, Carrollton is No. 14 and Grayson fell to No. 20 in that poll.
The ascension of both Buford and Carrollton to No. 1 increases the chances of Georgia having its first national champion since Colquitt County finished No. 1 in the High School Football America and Prep Force rankings in 2015. Buford and Carrollton are double-digit favorites in this week’s semifinals, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings, and victories by both likely would set up a state final matching undefeated, No. 1-ranked teams.
Milton was named the No. 1 public-school team in America last season by High School Football America but finished No. 2 overall.
Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week's rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week's rankings.
(Top 100)
1. (11) Carrollton
7. (7) Buford
12. (1) Grayson
29. (33) Hughes
33. (35) Thomas County Central
36. (38) Creekside
44. (43) Roswell
46. (45) Gainesville
59. (59) North Gwinnett
72. (74) Valdosta
84. (87) Lowndes
87. (89) Colquitt County
91. (97) Rome
(Top 25)
1. (3) Buford
4. (11) Carrollton
8. (1) Grayson
(Top 25)
4. (5) Buford
15. (NR) Carrollton
16. (2) Grayson
(Top 100)
8. (9) Buford
14. (36) Carrollton
20. (1) Grayson
28. (28) Hughes
42. (42) North Gwinnett
47. (47) Creekside
51. (52) Roswell
56. (58) Thomas County Central
58. (49) Douglas County
61. (61) Gainesville
66. (66) Valdosta
80. (81) Colquitt County
(Top 100)
4. (9) Carrollton
7. (7) Buford
13. (16) Thomas County Central
20. (18) Creekside
23. (10) Grayson
34. (35) Hughes
38. (41) North Gwinnett
57. (65) Rome
64. (64) Valdosta
83. (91) Cartersville
84. (99) Roswell
91. (86) Douglas County
96. (98) Gainesville
100. (89) Lowndes
(Top 25)
2. (3) Buford
4. (11) Carrollton
18. (NR) Thomas County Central
22. (2) Grayson
(Top 25)
6. (9) Buford
7. (18) Carrollton
15. (16) Creekside
16. (17) Hughes
17. (2) Grayson
(Top 25)
4. (6) Buford
5. (11) Carrollton
16. (3) Grayson