Thursday March 28th, 2024 8:27AM

Buford No. 1, North Hall finishes fourth in final AP Poll

By Staff reports
ATLANTA -- Buford left little doubt as to who was No. 1 in Class AA last weekend, but several other local schools also earned a spot in the final Associated Press top 10, which was released today.

The Wolves (15-0), which pounded Lovett 50-0 on Saturday to win their fifth state title, top the Class AA rankings, while North Hall -- the only other area school to reach the semifinals at the Georgia Dome -- finished fourth in Class AAA.

The Trojans (13-1) made history this season with their first-ever semifinal berth before falling to Cairo 42-21. Carver, Columbus, which edged the Syrupmakers for the Class AAA title, finished at No. 1.

In Class AAAA, Habersham Central (11-2) finished in seventh place. The Raiders made their second straight trip to the quarterfinals this season, falling to eventual Class AAAA finalist Ware County. Yet the Gators lost the title game to defending champion Northside-Warner Robins, which was the only team to be ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll and also finish No. 1.

Class AAAAA crowned Lowndes the champion after the Wildcats hammered No. 2 North Gwinnett in the final. Mysteriously, North Cobb went from No. 1 in the final regular season poll to unranked at the end. Norcross, Brookwood and Harrison all exited and No. 7 Newnan, No. 8 Grayson and No. 9 Peachtree Ridge closed out the season ranked.

In Class A, No. 1 Emanuel County Institute enjoyed a convincing 41-21 win over No. 2 Wilcox County enabling both teams to end the year one notch up. Lincoln County finished at No. 3 after going into postseason on top. Pacelli faded from the ranks, helping Bremen to claim the No. 10 position.

The final 2007 Associated Press Georgia high school football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points, and record.

Class AAAAA

1. Lowndes (6) 60 (14-1)
2. North Gwinnett 50 (13-2)
3. Camden County 49 (12-2)
4. Walton 36 (12-2)
5. Roswell 32 (10-3)
6. M.L. King 26 (12-1)
7. Newnan 24 (11-2)
8. Grayson 15 (10-3)
9. Peachtree Ridge 14 (8-4)
10. Valdosta 6 (9-3)
Others receiving votes: Coffee, Norcross, North Cobb, Brookwood, Douglass, Tift County.

Class AAAA

1. Northside-Warner Robins (6) 60 (14-0)
2. Ware County 54 (12-3)
3. Tucker 46 (13-1)
4. Thomas County Central 44 (13-1)
5. East Paulding 28 (12-1)
6. Bainbridge 26 (9-4)
7. Habersham Central 24 (11-2)
8. Rome 21 (10-2-1)
9. Fayette County 13 (11-1)
10. Northwest Whitfield 3 (9-3)
Others receiving votes: Baldwin, Cherokee, Evans, St. Pius X, Whitewater, Banneker.

Class AAA

1. Carver-Columbus (6) 60 (15-0)
2. Cairo 54 (13-2)
3. Chamblee 47 (12-2)
4. North Hall 43 (13-1)
5. Carrollton 27 (11-3)
tie Perry 27 (9-4)
7. Stephens County 21 (11-1)
8. Carver-Atlanta 20 (11-1)
9. Westover 16 (8-5)
10. Shaw 12 (10-2)
Others receiving votes: Worth County, Westminster, Sandy Creek.

Class AA

1. Buford (6) 60 (15-0)
2. Lovett 51 (13-2)
3. Charlton County 47 (11-1)
4. Dublin 41 (11-3)
5. Cook 32 (10-4)
6. Thomasville 28 (10-3)
7. Greater Atlanta Christian 19 (9-4)
8. Pepperell 16 (9-4)
9. Fitzgerald 13 (10-2)
10. Savannah Christian 12 (10-2)
Others receiving votes: Darlington, Jefferson County, Calhoun, Holy Innocents'.

Class A

1. Emanuel County Institute (6) 60 (15-0)
2. Wilcox County 54 (13-2)
3. Clinch County 46 (11-3)
4. Athens Academy 41 (12-2)
5. Lincoln County 34 (11-2)
6. Warren County 30 (10-3)
7. Brookstone 25 (11-2)
8. Fellowship Christian 16 (11-2)
9. Dooly County 8 (10-2)
10. Bremen 6 (9-3)
Others receiving votes: Jefferson, Pacelli, Savannah Country Day, Schley County, Gordon Lee, Irwin County.
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