2023 Georgia High School Football Rankings: Classes 1A-3A

Composite Top-25: Classes 1A, 2A, 3A

Updated 12/17/2023 – Final

Our final Top-25 rankings are set now that the 2023 Georgia high school football season has ended with the crowning of each classification’s state champion. The paths those champions took to win it all may not have been exactly what they expected, but nevertheless, four teams in Classes 1A-3A proved they indeed are the best and will be able to say that until they either defend their title or are eliminated by another team in 2024.

The Class 1A-DI game provided us with a repeat state champion in Prince Avenue Christian, and it also gave us a new Georgia high school career passing leader as Aaron Philo broke the record Trevor Lawrence set at Cartersville. The Wolverines quarterback broke the record by 20 yards, ending up with 13,922 for his career as PAC won 49-32 over Swainsboro. The 1A-DII winner was Bowdon, which won 28-27 after a penalty against Manchester forced the Blue Devils into a long field goal attempt they were unable to convert. The 2A final took three overtimes for Pierce County to outlast Rockmart 48-45 and clinch its second state title in four years. And in 3A, coach John Adams’ Cedar Grove team won its fifth state championship in the past eight seasons with a 49-28 win over Savannah Christian. See you guys next year!

1. Cedar Grove (3A) E
2. Pierce County (2A) E
3. Bowdon (1A-DII) E
4. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) E
5. Manchester (1A-DII) E
6. Swainsboro (1A-DI) E
7. Savannah Christian (3A) E
8. Rockmart (2A) E
9. Schley County (1A-DII) E
10. Calvary Day (3A) E
11. Cook (2A) E
12. Fitzgerald (2A) E
13. Brooks County (1A-DI) E
14. Telfair County (1A-DII) E
15. Bryan County (1A-DI) E
16. Carver (3A) E
17. Mary Persons (3A) E
18. Toombs County (2A) E
19. Macon County (1A-DII) E
20. Calloway (2A) E
21. Clinch County (1A-DII) E
22. Commerce (1A-D1) E
23. Lumpkin County (3A) E
24. Elbert County (1A-Dl) E
25. Irwin County (1A-DI) E

Updated 12/3/2023

The rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. In assessing some of the 1A-3A teams in our 2023 Georgia high school football rankings, it seems fitting to paraphrase the oft-used – and exaggerated – quote attributed to American playwright Mark Twain about the false news that he had passed away following a brief illness. Twain was very much alive at the time, and the quote has been widely used to describe a person or group that has been prematurely disregarded in some way. ’Tis the case with a few of the teams that were counted out of contention in region standings, playoff projections, and maybe even a certain Top-25 poll. Yeah. This one.

Our new No. 1, Cedar Grove, began the season with a close win over Dutchtown, 34-33, then lost to Monarch (FL) in the Broward County High School National Football Showcase, giving up half a hundred in a 50-42 loss. The Saints followed that with a loss to Westlake, again surrendering a lot of points in the 46-41 decision. They then lost three of the next four, giving up 50+ points in two of the three defeats. This didn’t look anything like the Cedar Grove teams – led by coach John Adams’ attacking defenses – that had been in four of the past seven GHSA state championship games. Now we can make that five of the last eight state title contests. Yep, the rumors of Cedar Grove’s demise have indeed been greatly exaggerated.

1. Cedar Grove (3A) +3
2. Pierce County (2A) +3
3. Bowdon (1A-Dll) E
4. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) +3
5. Manchester (1A-DII)+3
6. Swainsboro (A-DI) +3
7. Savannah Christian (3A) +3
8. Rockmart (2A) +5
9. Schley County (1A-DII) -8
10. Calvary Day (3A) -8
11. Cook (2A) -5
12. Fitzgerald (2A) -1
13. Brooks County (1A-DI) -1
14. Telfair County (1A-DII) E
15. Bryan County (1A-DI) E
16. Carver (3A) E
17. Mary Persons (3A) -E
18. Toombs County (2A) E
19. Macon County (1A-DII) E
20. Callaway (2A) E
21. Clinch County (1A-DII) E
22. Commerce (1A-D1) E
23. Lumpkin County (3A) E
24. Elbert County (1A-Dl) E
25. Irwin County (1A-D-I) E

Updated 11/26/2023

Our 2023 Georgia high school football Classes 1A-3A rankings weren’t quite as impacted by Friday night’s quarterfinal outcomes as the 4A-7A Top-25 was, but things were still pretty crazy. At least in this poll, our top three teams won (unlike in the bigger schools’ rankings). Schley County survived a scare from the Early County Bobcats, winning 28-24 to stay undefeated and hang onto the top spot.

Calvary Day and Bowdon also flexed their muscles, as did Pierce County. And don’t look now, but here comes Cook. After it looked like the Hornets’ season was finished due to allegations of an ineligible player, the ruling was overturned on appeal, and Cook is now a win away from playing for a state title. But they’ll have to get by Rockmart in the semifinals first.

1. Schley County (1A-DII) E
2. Calvary Day (3A) E
3. Bowdon (1A-Dll) E
4. Cedar Grove (3A) +5
5. Pierce County (2A) E
6. Cook (2A) E
7. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-Dl) +1
8. Manchester (1A-Dll) +3
9. Swainsboro (1A-DI) +3
10. Savannah Christian (3A) +3
11. Fitzgerald (2A) +8
12. Brooks County (1A-DI) +8
13. Rockmart (2A) +9
14. Telfair County (1A-DII) NR
15. Bryan County (1A-DI) NR
16. Carver (3A) NR
17. Mary Persons (3A) -13
18. Toombs County (2A) -11
19. Macon County (1A-DII) -9
20. Callaway (2A) -6
21. Clinch County (1A-DII) -6
22. Commerce (1A-DI) -6
23. Lumpkin County (3A) -6
24. Elbert County (1A-Dl) -6
25. Irwin County (1A-DI) -4

Updated 11/19/2023

As has been the case all season long, teams in or near the No. 1 spot in our 2023 Georgia high school football rankings fell once again this week, and this was a shocker. Three of the top-6 teams lost, starting with Thomson. The No. 2 team entering last weekend’s games is out of the playoffs after our 23rd-ranked team, Toombs County, upset the Bulldogs 41-31.

Bleckley County lost to Irwin County by a 31-0 rout, and in what some would consider a mild upset, Cook defeated Appling by a 10-point margin. Other ranked teams falling were Trion, Morgan County, and Dublin. The Fighting Irish fell to Brooks County, and don’t look now, but here come the Trojans and Irwin County. Here’s our updated Top-25 with some new faces.

1. Schley County (1A-DII) E
2. Calvary Day (3A) +1
3. Bowden (1A-Dll) +2
4. Mary Persons (3A) +3
5. Pierce County (2A) +3
6. Cook (2A) +4
7. Toombs County (2A) +16
8. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-Dl) +1
9. Cedar Grove (3A) +2
10. Macon County (1A-Dll) +2
11. Manchester (1A-Dll) +2
12. Swainsboro (1A-DI) +2
13. Savannah Christian (3A) +2
14. Callaway (2A) +2
15. Clinch County (1A-DII) +3
16. Commerce (1A-DI) +3
17. Lumpkin County (3A) +3
18. Elbert County (1A-Dl) +4
19. Fitzgerald (2A) +6
20. Brooks County (1A-DI) NR
21. Irwin County (1A-DI) NR
22. Rockmart (2A) NR
23. Early County (2A) NR
24. Rabun County (1A-DI) NR
25. Fellowship Christian (2A) NR

Updated 11/12/2023

The majority of the teams in our 2023 Georgia high school football rankings won their first-round playoff games, with the exception being Northeast Macon, which lost 49-0 to Appling County. Top-ranked Schley County had a first-round bye and remains No. 1. Prince Avenue Christian won by forfeit when Athens Christian elected not to play the game. The rest of our ranked teams won fairly easily, although Savannah Christian was forced to outslug Marquise Westbrook’s Peach County Trojans in a crazy, 48-46, last-man-standing type of game. Those teams now move on and plan for their next playoff opponent in Round 2. With Northeast falling out of the Top-25, every lower-ranked team moves up one spot, while Fitzgerald makes its way back into the rankings at No. 25 after falling out earlier in the season.

1. Schley County (1A-DII) E
2. Thomson (2A) E
3. Calvary Day (3A) E
4. Bleckley County (1A-Dl) E
5. Bowdon (1A-Dll) E
6. Appling County (2A) E
7. Mary Persons (3A) E
8. Pierce County (2A) E
9. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-Dl) E
10. Cook (2A) E
11. Cedar Grove (3A) E
12. Macon County (1A-Dll) E
13. Manchester (1A-Dll) E
14. Swainsboro (1A-DI) E
15. Savannah Christian (3A) E
16. Callaway (2A) E
17. Trion (1A-D1) +1
18. Clinch County (1A-DII) +1
19. Commerce (1A-DI) +1
20. Lumpkin County (3A) +1
21. Morgan County (3A) +1
22. Elbert County (1A-Dl) +1
23. Toombs County (2A) +1
24. Dublin (1A-DI) +1
25. Fitzgerald (2A) NR

Updated 11/5/2023

The majority of the teams in our 2023 Georgia high school football rankings won last week, with the exception of four programs, which has opened the door for several previously unranked teams to climb into the Top-25. Swainsboro is the latest of those highly ranked teams to fall in what has become somewhat of a weekly pattern this season – a favored team loses to a lower-ranked or, as was the case this week, an unranked team. The Tigers remain in the Top-25, but they tumble nine spots, from No. 5 to No. 14. Dublin’s three-touchdown win over Swainsboro opened the door for the Irish to make their 2023 debut at No. 25.

The other ranked teams to fall were Stephens County, which lost big to Hebron Christian, by 31 points; Jenkins County (36-34 to Portal); and Telfair County (20-12 to Truetlen). That’s four ranked teams, including two top-10 schools, losing to previously unranked opponents. Break out the Crazy Train. That’s the way this 2023 season has gone so far. Joining Dublin in our poll from the unranked are Clinch County, Toombs, and Trion. Now, as we head into the first round of the state playoffs, hold on to your hat, for I’m sure we haven’t seen the end of the craziness. Here is our updated Classes 1A through Class 3A Top-25.

1. Schley County (1A-DII) E
2. Thomson (2A) E
3. Calvary Day (3A) E
4. Bleckley County (1A-DI) E
5. Bowdon (1A-DII) +1
6. Appling (2A) +1
7. Mary Persons (3A) +2
8. Pierce County (2A) +2
9. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) +2
10. Cook (2A) +2
11. Cedar Grove (3A) +2
12. Macon County (1A-DII) +2
13. Manchester (1A-DII) +2
14. Swainsboro (1A-DI) -9
15. Savannah Christian (3A) +1
16. Callaway (2A) +1
17. Northeast (Macon) (2A)  +1
18. Trion (1A-DI) NR
19. Clinch County (1A-DII) NR
20. Commerce (1A-DI) E
21. Lumpkin County (3A) E
22. Morgan County (3A)E
23. Elbert County (1A-DI) E
24. Toombs County (2A) NR
25. Dublin (1A-DI) NR

Updated 10/29/2023

2023 has become the regular season that just keeps on giving, providing us with upsets that no one saw coming. That was the case once again as the top-ranked team in our 2023 Georgia Classes 1A-3A high school football rankings falls to a lower-ranked school. Swainsboro becomes the latest of four No. 1 teams to be upset this season; the Tigers lost to Bleckley County by a score of 21-20.

1. Schley County (1A-DII) +1
2. Thomson (2A) +1
3. Calvary Day (3A) +1
4. Bleckley County (1A-DI) +8
5. Swainsboro (1A-DI) -4
6. Bowdon (1A-DII) E
7. Appling County (2A) E
8. Stephens County (3A) E
9. Mary Persons (3A) E
10. Pierce County (2A) E
11. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) E
12. Cook (2A) +4
13. Cedar Grove (3A) +2
14. Macon County (1A-DII) +4
15. Manchester (1A-DII) +2
16. Savannah Christian (3A) +3
17. Callaway (2A) +3
18. Northeast (Macon) (2A) +3
19. Jenkins County (1A-DII) NR
20. Commerce (1A-DI) +4
21. Lumpkin County (3A) NR
22. Morgan County (3A) NR
23. Elbert County (1A-DI) NR
24. Telfair County (1A-DII) NR
25. Sandy Creek (3A) E

Updated 10/22/2023

Our updated 2023 Georgia high school football rankings see little change this week, with a couple of exceptions. Northeast Macon suffered a 35-34 upset at the hands of Spencer, and in the ITG Next Game of the Week, Cedar Grove looked ready to kick in the afterburners following a big win over Sandy Creek in a rematch of last year’s Class 3A state championship game. Cedar Grove looked strong in all phases of the game, and with that, look for the Saints to keep their winning ways moving forward. Swainsboro remains the team atop the poll, with Schley County right on the Tigers’ heels at the No. 2 spot.

1. Swainsboro (1A-DI) E
2. Schley County (1A-DII) E
3. Thomson (2A) E
4. Calvary Day (3A) E
5. Fitzgerald (2A) E
6. Bowdon (1A-DII) E
7. Appling County (2A) E
8. Stephens County (3A) E
9. Mary Persons (3A) E
10. Pierce County (2A) E
11. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) E
12. Bleckley County (1A-DI) E
13. Toombs County (2A) E
14. Clinch County (A-Dll) E
15. Cedar Grove (3A) +10
16. Cook (2A) E
17. Manchester (1A-DII) E
18. Macon County (1A-Dll) E
19. Savannah Christian (3A) E
20. Callaway (2A) E
21. Northeast (Macon) (2A) -6
22. Trion (1A-DI) E
23. Greene County (1A-Dll) E
24. Commerce (1A-Dl) E
25. Sandy Creek (3A) -3

Updated 10/15/2023

Our Week 9 Top-25 rankings of Georgia high school football teams in Classes 1A-3A has Swainsboro back in the top spot for a second consecutive week following the Tigers’ dominant performance against East Laurens in a 63-0 rout. Several teams enjoyed their final bye of the season, including No. 3 Thomson and No. 4 Calvary Day.

In fact, most of the Top-25 teams enjoyed either bye weeks or blowouts, with very few surprises. The exceptions included Toombs County, which previously was ranked No. 10, falling to Pierce County by a 17-14 score, and Early County losing to Irwin County, which may be heating up at the end of the regular season. If that’s the case, look out for the Indians of coach Casey Soliday.

1. Swainsboro (A-DI) E
2. Schley County (A-DII) E
3. Thomson (2A) E
4. Calvary Day (3A) E
5. Fitzgerald (2A) E
6. Bowdon (A-DII) E
7. Appling County (2A) E
8. Stephens County (3A) E
9. Mary Persons (3A) +1
10. Pierce County (2A) +3
11. Prince Avenue Christian (A-DI) E
12. Bleckley County (A-DI) E
13. Toombs County (2A) -3
14. Clinch County (A-Dll) E
15. Northeast Macon (2A) E
16. Cook (2A) E
17. Manchester (A-DII) E
18. Macon County (A-Dll) E
19. Savannah Christian (3A) E
20. Callaway (2A) E
21. Sandy Creek (3A) E
22. Trion (A-Dl) +1
23. Greene County (A-Dll) +1
24. Commerce (A-Dl) +1
25. Cedar Grove (3A) NR

Updated 10/8/2023

And the craziness continues – that is, the craziness that has been the 2023 GHSA regular season, as the No. 1 team falls for the second straight week. First it was Prince Avenue Christian tumbling from the top spot in our 2023 Georgia high school football Top-25 rankings; now it’s Appling County that has been knocked off its perch as the state’s top team in Classes 1A through 3A. Toombs County, previously unranked, came from nowhere to shock the Pirates. With the win, Toombs improves to 7-0 and makes its Top-25 debut at the No. 10 spot. Impressive.

The new team at No. 1 is Swainsboro, which defeated Jefferson County 54-7. Meanwhile Cedar Grove drops out of the rankings after losing to Carver of Montgomery 13-9. As much as I like and appreciate head coach John Adams and what he’s been able to accomplish in Ellenwood, the Saints’ 2-5 start to the season made it tough to keep them ranked as one of the best 25  teams in our composite rankings. Here’s the latest ITG Next Georgia Top-25 for Classes 1A through 3A:

1. Swainsboro (A-DI) +1
2. Schley County (A-DII) +1
3. Thomson (2A) +1
4. Calvary Day (3A) +1
5. Fitzgerald (2A) +1
6. Bowdon (A-DII) +1
7. Appling County (2A) -6
8. Stephens County (3A) +1
9. Mary Persons (3A) +1
10. Toombs County (2A) NR
11. Prince Avenue Christian (A-DII) E
12. Bleckley County (A-DI) +1
13. Pierce County (2A) -1
14. Clinch County (A-Dll) E
15. Northeast (Macon) (2A) E
16. Cook (2A) +3
17. Manchester (A-DII) E
18. Macon County (A-Dll) +2
19. Savannah Christian (3A) +2
20. Early County (A-Dll) E
21. Sandy Creek (3A) -3
22. Early County (A-DII) E
23. Trion (A-Dl) E
24. Greene County (A-Dll) E
25. Commerce (A-Dl) E

Updated 10/1/2023

I pointed out in last week’s edition of our 2023 Georgia high school football rankings that Prince Avenue Christian “continues to impress with their 20th consecutive win.” Unfortunately for the Wolverines and their fans, the win streak ended there as Mary Persons upset Greg Vandagriff’s team by a 45-28 score. That opens the door for a new No. 1 team, and that honor naturally falls to the next squad in the wings, which is Appling County. The Pirates are coming off an impressive 17-14 win over Pierce County, thanks to a late field goal.

A lot of really good teams are sitting behind Appling County, including PAC. Look out for Swainsboro, Schley County, Thomson, and Fitzgerald, as well as several other schools that certainly could make an argument for the top spot in 1A-3A, so what has been a crazy season still has many more surprises for us – I am certain of that! In the meantime, here’s the latest ITG Next Georgia Top-25 for those lower classifications.

1. Appling County (2A) +1
2. Swainsboro (1A-DI) +1
3. Schley County (1A-D-II) +1
4. Thomson (2A) +1
5. Calvary Day (3A) +1
6. Fitzgerald (2A) +1
7. Bowdon (1A-DII) +1
8. Cedar Grove (3A) +2
9. Stephens County (3A) +2
10. Mary Persons (3A) +11
11. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-Dl) -10
12. Pierce County (2A) -3
13. Bleckley County (1A-Dl) +2
14. Clinch County (1A-Dll) E
15. Northeast (Macon) (2A) +1
16. Callaway (2A) +2
17. Manchester (1A-D-ll) +2
18. Sandy Creek (3A) -6
19. Cook County (2A) +1
20. Macon County (1A-Dll)
21. Savannah Christian (3A) +2
22. Early County (1A-Dll) E
23. Trion (1A-Dl) +1
24. Greene County (1A-Dll) NR
25. Commerce (1A-Dl) NR

Updated 9/24/2023

In our latest 2023 rankings of the top 25 teams in Georgia high school football Classes 1A through 3A, there weren’t too many surprises. In fact, the highest-ranked team to lose was Cedar Grove, which fell to 7A powerhouse Colquitt County, and that certainly isn’t going to affect the Saints’ status among the lower classes this week.

Top-rated Prince Avenue Christian continued to impress with its 20th consecutive win, which came in a big way over the 43-ranked team in Florida, Pensacola Catholic. The Crusaders entered the game against the Wolverines undefeated with wins over Navarre, Escambia, and Fairhope (AL), and the game against PAC was close through three quarters. Coach Greg Vandagriff’s team turned things up a couple of notches in the final period to pull away and win by 36 points. Quarterback Aaron Philo had another big game as he attempts to stay on pace to break Trevor Lawrence’s all-time Georgia high school passing yards record.

Appling County and Swainsboro were off last week, and they remain locked in at Nos. 2 and 3 spots behind Prince Avenue Christian. Lanier County moves up three places to No. 13 as Macon County falls to Schley County.

1. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DII) E
2. Appling County (2A) E
3. Swainsboro (1A-DI) E
4. Schley County (1A-DII) E
5. Thomson (2A) E
6. Calvary Day (3A) E
7. Fitzgerald (2A) E
8. Bowdon (1A-DII) E
9. Pierce County (2A) E
10. Cedar Grove (3A) E
11. Stephens County (3A) E
12. Sandy Creek (3A) E
13. Lanier County (1A-DII) +3
14. Clinch County (1A-DII) E
15. Bleckley County (1A-DI) E
16. Northeast (Macon) (2A) +1
17. Macon County (1A-DII) -4
18. Callaway (2A) E
19. Manchester (1A-DII) E
20. Cook (2A) E
21. Mary Persons (3A) E
22. Early County (1A-DII) E
23. Savannah Christian (3A) E
24. Trion (1A-DI) +1
25. Irwin County (1A-DI) -1

Updated 9/17/2023

The 2023 Georgia high school football season is at the halfway point, and while our rankings for Classes 1A-3A teams doesn’t change a whole lot, one school makes a landmark debut in the Top-25. Lanier County made history last season by winning its first-ever playoff game, a first-round Class A win over Miller County. Now coach Kurt Williams has done it again. The Bulldogs knocked off traditional powerhouse McIntosh County Academy 10-0 last Friday night, and what made it so big was that it was the Lanier County’s first-ever win over a ranked team.

Williams is building the Bulldogs up brick by brick, and with just about every player back from last year, this season could continue to keep on giving. And consider this: Brooks County is unranked for the first time … ever. Crazy season.

1. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DII) E
2. Appling County (2A) E
3. Swainsboro (1A-DII) E
4. Schley County (1A-DII) E
5. Thomson (2A) E
6. Calvary Day (3A) E
7. Fitzgerald (2A) E
8. Bowdon (1A-DII) +1
9. Pierce County (2A) +1
10. Cedar Grove (3A) -2
11. Stephens County (3A) E
12. Sandy Creek (3A) E
13. Macon County (1A-DII) E
14. Clinch County (1A-DII) E
15. Bleckley County (1A-DI) E
16. Lanier County (1A-DII) NR
17. Northeast (Macon) (2A) +1
18. Callaway (2A) +1
19. Manchester (1A-DII) +3
20. Cook (2A) -4
21. Mary Persons (3A) +2
22. Early County (1A-DII) +3
23. Savannah Christian (3A) NR
24. Irwin County (1A-DII) -7
25. Trion (1A-DII) NR

Updated 9/11/2023

In our latest 2023 Georgia high school football rankings for Classes 1A-3A teams, it’s worth noting that Stephens County has made a giant leap from being unranked two weeks ago to a Top-25 debut at No. 16 last week to the No. 11 spot this week after another impressive showing, a 35-0 shoutout victory over Dawson County.

Clinch County also looked impressive in its 8-point victory over the Class 2A Cook Hornets, and as a result, the Panthers are one of our biggest movers of the week, climbing five spots to No. 14. They are right behind Macon County, who they lost to earlier in the season. Macon County reaped the benefit of being off while three teams ranked ahead of them lost.

Mary Persons has worked its way back into the rankings for the first time in a while. This long proud program has struggled in recent years but is off to a respectable 3-1 start, with a key win coming over Northeast Macon to start the season. Speaking of Northeast, the Raiders defeated Carver Columbus, dropping the Tigers seven spots.

1. Prince Avenue Christian (A-DI) E
2. Appling County (2A) +1
3. Swainsboro (1A-DI) +1
4. Schley County (1A-DII) +1
5. Thomson (2A) +1
6. Calvary Day (3A) +1
7. Fitzgerald (2A) -5
8. Cedar Grove (3A) +1
9. Bowdon (1A-DII)+1
10. Pierce County (2A) +2
11. Stephens County (3A) +5
12. Sandy Creek (3A) -4
13. Macon County (1A-DII) +5
14. Clinch County (1A-DII) +5
15. Bleckley County (1A-DI) -1
16. Cook (2A) -5
17. Irwin County (1A-DI) -2
18. Northeast (Macon) (2A) +5
19. Callaway (2A) +3
20. Aquinas (1A-DII) E
21. Carver (Columbus) (3A) -7
22. Manchester (1A-DII) -5
23. Mary Persons (3A) NR
24. McIntosh County Academy (1A-DII) E
25. Early County (1A-DII)

Updated 9/3/2023

In our 2023 Top-25 rankings for Georgia high school football Classes A through 3A, there’s much more movement than in our 4A-7A poll – but not at the top spot. No. 1 is occupied once again by Prince Avenue Christian. After that, things get pretty crazy, with major upsets costing two teams a spot in the rankings for the first time in a long time.

Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher was undefeated Dougherty losing to previously winless Stockbridge by a 54-0 final score. Dougherty star player Kam Davis left the game with what was believed to be a shoulder injury. His absence appeared to shock his teammates, because after Davis left the field, the Trojans, now 2-1, simply collapsed.

Other big upsets were Northeast Macon knocking off Fitzgerald and Thomasville losing to unranked Cairo 24-3. Both the Bulldogs and Dougherty fell out of the Top-25 for the first time over the past two seasons. However, that opened the door for newcomers Aquinas, Northeast Macon, and Stephens County. Here is our updated rankings for Week 3:

1. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) E
2. Fitzgerald (2A) E
3. Appling County (2A) E
4. Swainsboro (1A-DI) E
5. Schley County (1A-DII) +2
6. Thomson (2A) E
7. Calvary Day (3A) +2
8. Sandy Creek (3A) +2
9. Cedar Grove (3A) -4
10. Bowdon (1A-DII) +1
11. Cook (2A) +1
12. Pierce County (2A) +2
13. Carver (Columbus) (3A) E
14. Bleckley County (1A-DI) +2
15. Irwin County (1A-DI) E
16. Stephens County (3A) NR
17. Manchester (1A-DII) +6
18. Macon County (1A-DII) +4
19. Clinch County (1A-DII) +4
20. Aquinas (1A-DII) NR
21. Carver (Atlanta) (3A) -2
22. Callaway (2A) -5
23. Northeast (Macon) (2A) NR
24. McIntosh County Academy (1A-DII) E
25. Early County (1A-DII) -4

Updated 8/26/2023

Our second installment of the 2023 Georgia high school football rankings of teams in Classes 1A-3A looks quite different from the first poll, which was put together just before the start of Week 1 games. Now, with Week 2 in the books, we have a clearer picture of who some of the true contenders are, as well as some teams that have left us asking, “What happened?”

One example of the latter is ELCA, which seemingly overnight went from one of the state’s best smaller classification programs – one that was well-known as the “Giant Killer” – to an 0-2 team that has been outscored 101-3 through its first two games. Brooks County also is off to an 0-2 start, with losses to Wayne County and Thomasville. To be fair, both of the Trojans’ losses were to bigger schools in larger classifications, but like ELCA, they have proven that they can hang with just about anyone over the years. Then there’s previously top-ranked Cedar Grove, which has given up an average of 51 points in its first two games. But we also must remember: There’s still a lot of football left to be played. Here is our updated ranking of the teams, and you will notice some changes, starting with a new No. 1.

1. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI) +1
2. Fitzgerald (2A) +1
3. Appling County (2A) +5
4. Swainsboro (1A-DI) +3
5. Cedar Grove (3A) -4
6. Thomson (2A) +7
7. Schley County (1A-DII) -1
8. Thomasville (3A) -4
9. Calvary Day (3A) E
10. Sandy Creek (3A) E
11. Bowdon (1A-DII) -6
12. Cook (2A) -1
13. Carver (Columbus) (3A) +4
14. Pierce County (2A) +4
15. Irwin County (1A-DI) +4
16. Bleckley County (1A-DI) +4
17. Callaway (2A) +6
18. Dougherty (3A) NR
19. Carver (Atlanta) (3A) -4
20. Clinch County (1A-DII) -6
21. Early County (1A-DII) +4
22. Macon County (1A-DII) NR
23. Manchester (1A-DII) NR
24. McIntosh County Academy (1A-DII) -2
25. Brooks County (1A-DI) -1

Updated 8/20/2023

In our first Top-25 Georgia high school football rankings of the 2023 season, we like the Cedar Grove Saints as the top team in Classes 1A through 3A. Head coach John Adams has built a team that seems to challenge for a state title every season. Last year the Saints fell to eventual state champion Sandy Creek on a controversial goal line call. Despite losing several key members of that team, Cedar Grove returns several members of the secondary, a unit Adams calls “the most experienced group on our team.”

Overall, Adams says his 2023 team will be a combination of “experience mixed in with youth.” Quarterback EJ Colson returns as the catalyst for the offense, and the junior is one of the top-ranked signal callers in the 2025 class. Prince Avenue Christian and Calvary Day also possess two of the state’s top QBs, with Aaron Philo leading the Wolverines and Jake Merklinger guiding Calvary Day.

Ranking the Georgia high school 1A-3A teams for our first Top-25 of 2023 was an especially tough task. There are some really good teams that didn’t make the initial cut, but we remind everyone: It’s a long season, and we’re just getting started.

1. Cedar Grove (3A)
2. Prince Avenue Christian (1A-DI)
3. Fitzgerald (2A)
4. Thomasville (3A)
5. Bowdon (1A-DII)
6. Schley County (1A-DII)
7. Swainsboro (1A-DI)
8. Appling County (2A)
9. Calvary Day (3A)
10. Sandy Creek (3A)
11. Cook County (2A)
12. Burke County (2A)
13. Thomson (2A)
14. Clinch County (1A-DII)
15. Carver Atlanta (3A)
16. NE Macon (2A)
17. Carver Columbus (3A)
18. Pierce County (2A)
19. Irwin County (1A-DI)
20. Bleckley County (1A-DI)
21. Oconee County (3A)
22. McIntosh County Academy (1A-DII)
23. Callaway (2A)
24. Brooks County (1A-DI)
25. Early County (1A-DII)