Updated local high school football rankings and standings
Each of the three GHSA regions including local teams are moving into their final three weekends of the regular season with some interesting tests ahead for state playoff contenders. Standings provided by Georgia High School Association and rankings by Georgia High School Football Daily and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Region 7-AAAAA
Rome remains the No. 1 ranked team in Class AAAAA and is the leader in Region 7-AAAAA that includes local teams Woodland and Cass.
The Wolves, who won the state title in the classification last season, are trailed in the latest rankings by Buford at No. 2. Undefeated teams -- Stockbridge, Warner Robins, and Jones County hold down spots three through five with Region 7-AAAAA challenger Kell ranked sixth with a 4-3 season mark. Bainbridge is No. 7, with Starr's Mill and Wayne County coming in at No. 9 and No. 10.
Carrollton, also in Region 7-AAAAA, is out of the top ten this week for the first time this season and gets a chance to return after Friday night. The Trojans play at No. 6 Kell.
Meanwhile, top-ranked Rome travels to Villa Rica and playoff contender East Paulding faces a must-win game at Hiram.
In other region action Friday night, Cass looks for its initial win of the year at playoff contender Paulding County while Woodland is idle.
Region 5-AAAA
Cartersville continues its streak as the No. 1 team in Class AAAA following a 63-0 blanking of Sandy Creek.
The Canes scored touchdowns on all eight first half drives and rolled up over 400 yards of total offense. Trevor Lawrence was 15-of-19 for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the easy win.
The Canes seek their 39th consecutive win Friday night. The streak is in its third season for the two-time defending Class AAAA champs.
Lawrence is 118-of-161 passing (.733) this season for 2,360 yards and 30 touchdowns with one interception. He needs 106 yards and six touchdowns to break the Georgia career records of 13,077 yards and 155 TDs held by Deshaun Watson, the now Houston Texans quarterback by way of Clemson University and Gainesville High School.
Troup is the other ranked team from Region 5-AAAA.
The Tigers (7-0) are led by the state's passing yardage leader so far this season, Montez Crowe. Troup has a key region game Friday night at Cedartown. The other region game is LaGrange at Sandy Creek.
As for the remainder of Class AAAA in the polls, Thomson and Marist remain undefeated and are ranked second and third. Blessed Trinity and Jefferson are ranked fourth and fifth. Unbeatens Ridgeland, Burke County, and Troup hold the sixth through eighth spots with Woodward Academy and Mary Persons ranked ninth and tenth.
Region 6-AAA
Adairsville has been unranked all season, but has an opportunity Friday night to make some noise and reshuffle both their sub-region and Class AAA.
The Tigers (4-3, 1-1) host 7th-ranked and undefeated Bremen.
The Blue Devils (7-0) have a strong rushing attack offense averaging better than 225 yards per game. Tyran Dobb is Bremen's rushing leader and his twin brother Tyric is also a rushing threat. Wade Cartwright is the quarterback with top receiving targets Jalen Dallas and Ben Barrow.
Bremen's defense has also been stout. The Devils yield under 150 total yards per game and less than 100 on the ground. Junior linebackers Campbell Sweatt, Kade Berry, and Brant Ivey (who also doubles as a fullback on offense) have been instrumental. Senior corners Jarvis Buffington and Nate Daniels lead the secondary.
Also from Region 6-AAA South, Calhoun (6-1) is the No. 4 ranked team in the state. The Yellow Jackets only loss this season came at Cartersville. Calhoun hosts Sonoraville Friday night and plays Bremen next week.
The top four teams from each sub-region in 6-AAA will have a one-game playoff on November 3 to determine the four state playoff representatives. The first place teams play the opposite sub-region's fourth place teams while the second and third place teams also match up. All four games will be hosted by the North sub-region this season regardless of seeding. (Note: All the play-in games were hosted by the South sub-region last year.)
Cedar Grove (7-0) is the No. 1 team in Class AAA. The Saints are followed by No. 2 Peach County, No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian, No. 5 Jenkins, No. 6 Crisp County, No. 8 Lovett, No. 9 Westminster, and No. 10 Morgan County.
