Northside ranked No. 1 in preseason poll
As the Northside Eagles look to repeat as GHSA Class AAAAA champions this season, they likely will have a tough road ... in their own region.
The Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the Georgia Sports Writers Association preseason poll that was released Wednesday morning. But the other three Middle Georgia teams in Region 2-AAAAA along with Northside are also in the poll.
Houston County is ranked third, while Jones County is tied for sixth. Warner Robins isn't ranked, but the Demons received three votes. All four of those Middle Georgia teams reached the Class AAAAA playoffs last year.
Northside finished 14-1 last year and beat Mays for its third state championship. Houston County and Jones County both finished 10-3, while Warner Robins was 6-5.
Mary Persons was the first team outside of the Class AAAA top 10 with 12 votes, while Veterans received two. In Class AAA, Peach County is seventh. In Class A, FPD (5), Stratford (1) and Tattnall Square (1) each received votes.
In Class AAAA, West Laurens is tied for 10th. In Class AAA, Washington County is sixth, while Dodge County received votes. In Class AA, Fitzgerald is third, Lamar County fourth, Vidalia sixth and Macon County eighth. In Class A, Hawkinsville is seventh.
Class AAAAAA
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Archer (6) 120
2. Colquitt (5) 112
3. McEachern (2) 111
4. Grayson 76
5. Peachtree Ridge 61
6. North Gwinnett 35
7. Hillgrove 34
8. Etowah 28
9. Roswell 27
t10. Milton 24
t10. Tucker 24
Others receiving votes: Mill Creek 17, Valdosta 12, Lee Co. 8, Walton 8, Dacula 7, Camden 5, Lowndes 5, Norcross 3, Westlake 3, Newton 1.
Class AAAAA
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Northside (8) 111
2. Allatoona (1) 93
3. Houston Co. (2) 91
4. Ware Co. 72
5. Kell 70
t6. Jones Co. (1) 55
t6. Stockbridge 55
8. Mays 54
9. Lanier 35
10. Gainesville 27
Others receiving votes: Glynn Academy 20, Carver-Columbus 6, Coffee Co. 5, Creekside 4, Drew 4, Dalton 3, Sprayberry 3, Warner Robins 3, Brunswick 2, South Paulding 1, Stephenson 1.
Class AAAA
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Buford (13) 130
2. St. Pius X 96
3. Woodward Academy 93
4. Cartersville 92
5. Sandy Creek 85
6. Marist 69
7. Griffin 38
8. Carrollton 27
9. Cairo 17
t10. North Oconee 14
t10. West Laurens 14
Others receiving votes: Mary Persons 12, Whitewater 6, Worth County 6, Jonesboro 4, Wayne County 3, Veterans 2, Stephens County 2, Upson-Lee 2..
Class AAA
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Calhoun (12) 129
2. Blessed Trinity (1) 112
3. Westminster 96
4. Jefferson 73
5. Elbert County 66
6. Washington County 55
7. Peach County 35
8. Cedar Grove 34
9. Hart County 29
10. Pierce County 27
Others receiving votes: Central-Carrollton 22, West Hall 12, Cook 8, Jackson 5, Oconee County 5, Dodge County 4, Adairsville 2, Sonoraville 1.
Class AA
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Benedictine (9) 110
2. Greater Atlanta Christian (3) 105
3. Fitzgerald (1) 101
4. Lamar County 78
5. Brooks County 74
6. Vidalia 68
7. Lovet 61
8. Macon County 32
9. Pace Academy 27
10. Wesleyan 19
Others receiving votes: Heard County 11, Screven County 8, Rabun County 7, Washington-Wilkes 5, Thomasville 4, Model 2, Union County 1, Jefferson County 1, Darlington 1.
Class A
School Points
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Mt. Paran Christian (10) 126
2. Aquinas (1) 93
3. Eagle’s Landing Christian (2) 89
4. Marion County 80
5. Irwin County 66
6. Calvary Day 63
7. Hawkinsville 51
8. Charlton County 35
9. Savannah Christian 29
10. Landmark Christian 25
Others receiving votes: Prince Avenue Christian 21, Commerce 20, FPD 5, Pacelli 5, Clinch County 2, Mt. Pisgah 2, Christian Heritage 1, Stratford 1, Tattnall Square 1.
This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 6:56 AM with the headline "Northside ranked No. 1 in preseason poll."