The Wolves, Red Elephants and Dragons all claimed championships on the field last weekend at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The trio were also joined by North Hall, North Gwinnett and Mill Creek in the final rankings.
The Trojans (12-2) put together their best season since 2007 and matched their furthest postseason march by storming into the Class AAA semifinals. North Hall finished fourth in the Class AAA top 10 after opening the season unranked. (Editor's note: To see the 2012 preseason AP rankings, click on the link at the bottom of the page.)
In Class AAAAAA, The Bulldogs (11-2) finished the season at No. 6, while the Hawks (9-4) came in at No. 7. Both teams reached the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Gainesville clinched the top spot in Class AAAAA by winning its first ever state title in convincing fashion. The Red Elephants finished the campaign 12-3 and smacked Ware County 49-13 in the finale. Gainesville was a preseason No. 9 pick.
Jefferson added a similar flourish to its first title, sinking 2011 champ Calhoun 31-14 to clinch Class AA. The Dragons (14-1) opened the 2012 season unranked, though they did receive some votes.
Buford opened 2012 as No. 2 in Class AAA, but the Wolves ended the year -- like they have so many times before -- at No. 1. Buford (12-3) outfought St. Pius 10-3 in the title game to earn its eighth crown in 12 years and ninth overall.
Associated Press Final Prep Football Poll of 2012
The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Georgia high school football polls of the 2012 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:
Class AAAAAA
1. Norcross (10) 15-0 100 2
2. Lovejoy 13-2 90 7
3. Colquitt County 10-4 75 10
4. North Cobb 11-3 68 -
5. Camden County 11-2 59 4
6. North Gwinnett 11-2 42 5
7. Mill Creek 9-4 32 -
8. Grayson 10-2 30 3
9. Parkview 9-4 28 -
10. Lassiter 10-1 7 1
Others receiving votes: West Forsyth 6, South Gwinnett 5, Lowndes 2, Marietta 2, Newnan 2, Hughes 1, McEachern 1.
Class AAAAA
1. Gainesville (10) 12-3 100 -
2. Ware County 13-2 89 6
3. Northside-Warner Robins 13-1 77 1
4. Whitewater 12-2 74 -
5. Tucker 10-3 54 5
6. Allatoona 11-2 46 7
7. Stephenson 9-3 40 10
8. Kell 10-2 23 4
9. MLK Jr. 11-1 22 2
10. Harris County 8-5 13 -
Others receiving votes: East Paulding 7, Glynn Academy 3, Union Grove 1, North Paulding 1.
Class AAAA
1. Sandy Creek (10) 15-0 100 1
2. Ridgeland 13-2 88 10
3. Marist 12-2 77 2
4. Burke County 11-2 69 3
5. Monroe Area 12-2 65 9
6. Stockbridge 11-2 51 4
7. Mary Persons 10-3 32 -
8. Carrollton 8-4 25 -
9. South Effingham 8-5 23 -
10. Cairo 9-3 8 8
Others receiving votes: Grady 5, Griffin 5, Jonesboro 1, LaGrange 1.
Class AAA
1. Buford (10) 12-3 100 3
2. St. Pius X 12-3 90 7
3. Cartersville 13-1 80 5
4. North Hall 11-3 64 -
5. Thomson 12-1 59 1
6. Washington County 11-2 52 6
7. Carver-Columbus 11-2 41 2
8. Peach County 11-2 33 4
9. Blessed Trinity 9-3 14 -
10. North Oconee 10-2 13 8
Others receiving votes: Pierce County 3, Morgan County 1.
Class AA
1. Jefferson (10) 14-1 100 7
2. Calhoun 14-1 90 1
3. Lamar County 12-1-1 79 4
4. Fitzgerald 10-3 63 5
5. Greater Atlanta Christian 10-4 59 10
6. Brooks County 12-1 45 2
7. Lovett 8-5 43 9
8. Early County 9-4 29 -
9. Vidalia 11-1 19 3
10. Heard County 11-1 7 6
Others receiving votes: Benedictine Military 6, Washington-Wilkes 5, Screven County 3, McIntosh County Academy 2.
Class A
1. Eagle's Landing Christian (9) 13-1 99 1
2. Emanuel County Institute (1) 13-1 89 4
3. Prince Avenue Christian 11-3 76 9
4. Wilcox County 10-3 56 6
5. Dooly County 11-3 55 -
6. Lincoln County 11-2 48 3
7. George Walton 9-4 43 -
8. Landmark Christian 9-4 30 -
9. Athens Academy 11-1 25 2
10. Wilkinson County 8-4 13 8
Others receiving votes: Walker 7, Seminole County 5, Marion County 2, Savannah Christian Prep. 1, First Presbyterian Day 1.
Buford football celebrates the Class AAA championship on Friday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. / photo: Lily McGregor
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