Elbert Co. breaks through vs. Rabun

Elbert County and Rabun County are just 75 miles apart in northeast Georgia, but they had never played each other in football until 2016.

The timing could not have been worse for Elbert. Rabun County was three years into what would become a 50-game winning streak in region play, and the dynasty would cost Elbert County at least four region titles.

But it’s over now. Elbert ended the state’s longest winning streak of its kind – and an 0-7 run against Rabun – with a 21-9 road victory last week. Elbert will play at home Friday against Commerce in a game likely to decide the Region 8-A Division I title.

Elbert County is GHSF Daily’s Team of the Week. The award, sponsored by BSN Sports and Titan Electric, will be presented to the team today at the school.

How 7 classes might look in 2024

The Georgia High School Association is waiting on Department of Education enrollment numbers before placing schools into classifications for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. During the most recent reclassification in 2021, that news broke the first week in November.

Below are what the classes might have looked like this season had the new reclassification format – Class 6A through A with a 3A-A private division – been in place. The teams are ranked by the computer Maxwell Ratings, with their current classifications in parentheses.

Keep in mind this is not a projection of the final classes that will start in 2024, as those will be based on enrollment statistics that will have changed significantly since 2021. Instead, these rankings are intended to provide some indication of what seven classes (instead of the current eight) and a 3A-A private division might look and feel like. For example, Class 6A, which will be the highest class starting in 2024, is projected to have 64 teams in it. Currently, Class 7A has 45 teams.

These hypothetical classes, based on 2020-21 enrollment and out-of-zone numbers, also reflect the fact that the GHSA granted several appeals for private schools to play up or down in 2022, when St. Pius and Woodward Academy got out of their assignment to the highest class and Pace Academy, Trinity Christian and Holy Innocents’ were allowed to move up into 4A.

Worth watching next month will be the movement of private schools again in response to the new 3A-A plan, which will have private schools below 4A playing for state championships separate from public schools. Larger private schools that fall into 3A or 2A, perhaps Calvary Day, Savannah Christian and Wesleyan, might appeal to play up into 4A to skirt the private division. Smaller private schools might be tempted to leave the GHSA for the GIAA, as did about a dozen schools in 2021.

Also yet to be seen is the impact of new GHSA rules defining out-of-zone students. The 3.0 multiplier is not expected to be as potent this time, meaning some city and private schools or others with high out-of-zone totals could slip back into lower classes.

GHSF Daily each week will rank the top five teams and their head coaches in each classification based on their improvement in the computer Maxwell Ratings from previous seasons, but with some exclusions. Only teams with winning records will be listed. In the end, each team and coach must also make the playoffs and improve playoff seeding or state playoff finish from the previous year to qualify. The objective is to recognize not only improvement but also the challenge of making a struggling program relevant on the state level or taking a good program to the next level. After the season, GHSF Daily will present an award, sponsored by Hudl, to the nine coaches who lead their classifications. The recognition will take place at the GACA Falcons Luncheon on Feb. 6 in Macon.

Class 7A

+23.62 - Peachtree Ridge (Matt Helmerich)

+21.92 - Newton (Josh Skelton)

+17.09 - Osborne (Luqman Salam)

+8.56 - Walton (Daniel Brunner)

+8.36 - Wheeler (Bryan Love)

Class 6A

+24.41 - Douglas County (Johnny White)

+14.57 - Thomas County Central (Justin Rogers)

+12.24 - East Paulding (Chris Hirschfield)

+11.09 - Dunwoody (Michael Nash)

+10.07 - North Atlanta (Jamie Aull)

Class 5A

+18.18 - Harris County (Tommy Watson)

+16.04 - Hiram (Pete Fominaya)

+10.56 - Greater Atlanta Christian (Tim Hardy)

+9.16 - Northgate (Mike McDonald)

+8.27 - Arabia Mountain (Julian Washington)

Class 4A

+20.95 - Spalding (Carl Kearney)

+12.88 – Johnson-Gainesville (William Harrell)

+10.37 - North Hall (Sean Pender)

+10.09 - East Forsyth (Brian Allison)

+9.72 - Stockbridge (Thomas Clark)

Class 3A

+18.38 - Lumpkin County (Heath Webb)

+17.18 - Mary Persons (Brian Nelson)

+11.13 - Morgan County (Clint Jenkins)

+7.74 - Calvary Day (Mark Stroud)

+5.95 - Stephens County (Wesley Tankersley)

Class 2A

+17.62 - Providence Christian (John Russ)

+14.19 - Therrell (B.J. Jamison)

+11.91 - Toombs County (Buddy Martin)

+10.94 - ACE Charter (Keith Hatcher)

+9.92 - East Jackson (Cameron Pettus)

Class A Division I

+15.17 - Bryan County (Cherard Freeman)

+10.08 - Bacon County (Mark Wilson)

+2.35 - Mount Vernon (Wayne Dabbs)

+0.74 - Commerce (Mark Hollars)

+0.58 - Trion (Sean Patrick)

Class A Division II

+27.54 - Greene County (Terrance Banks)

+16.79 - Portal (Jacon McEachin)

+14.12 - Lake Oconee Academy (Patrick Stewart)

+8.72 - Telfair County (Matt Burleson)

+8.45 - Jenkins County (Charley Waters)

GIAA

+28.61 - Flint River Academy (Kirk Hoffman)

+9.86 - Bulloch Academy (Aaron Phillips)

+9.49 - Edmund Burke Academy (Andy Woodard)

+8.26 - Valwood (Brad Wells)

+0.98 - Strong Rock Christian (Myron Jackson)

Providence Christian RB Quinton Slaughter rushed for 389 yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries in a 55-35 victory over Union County. His name was incorrect in Tuesday's Top Performances.

GHSF Daily will select 10 games each week for the Predict the Winner contest, presented by Shuma Sports. Predictions must be submitted by 5 p.m. each Friday. Limit one entry per email address. Contest winners will be announced on Mondays at the start of each new contest and will receive an apparel prize from Shuma Sports. Click here to play.

100 Greatest

GHSA Finals

No. 38: Decatur 21, Tifton 19 (1949 Class A)

Points scored

Here are the top 10 teams in points scored per game, by classification:

Class 7A

51.3 - Walton

47.8 - Carrollton

45.0 - Colquitt County

43.7 - Westlake

40.3 - Mill Creek

39.3 - Wheeler

38.9 - Peachtree Ridge

38.1 - Parkview

38.1 - Grayson

37.1 - Newton

Class 6A

52.0 - Roswell

47.9 - Thomas County Central

46.9 - Rome

46.7 - Houston County

43.0 - Lee County

42.4 - North Atlanta

41.4 - Hughes

39.4 - Gainesville

38.7 - Douglas County

37.0 - Brunswick

Class 5A

43.0 - Hiram

43.0 - Kell

39.9 - Jones County

38.6 - Coffee

38.1 - Dalton

37.9 - Greater Atlanta Christian

37.3 - Tucker

36.7 - Jefferson

36.3 - Creekside

35.9 - Ola

Class 4A

44.4 - Stockbridge

44.3 - North Oconee

43.8 - Perry

40.4 - Troup

38.9 - Spalding

38.1 - Central (Carrollton)

37.7 - Madison County

37.0 - Bainbridge

36.9 - Cairo

35.3 - Benedictine

Class 3A

52.7 - Calvary Day

41.6 - Lumpkin County

39.9 - Stephens County

39.7 - Long County

37.6 - Harlem

36.3 - Morgan County

36.0 - Savannah Christian

35.1 - Cedar Grove

34.3 - Upson-Lee

34.0 - Adairsville

Class 2A

47.6 - ACE Charter

45.3 - Providence Christian

42.6 - Thomson

41.1 - Fellowship Christian

40.0 - Union County

39.9 - North Murray

38.9 - Pierce County

38.7 - Athens Academy

37.9 - Northeast

36.4 - East Jackson

Class A Division I

46.1 - Prince Avenue Christian

44.0 - Trion

38.0 - Dublin

37.3 - Swainsboro

36.1 - Bleckley County

33.6 - Mount Vernon

32.9 - Rabun County

31.9 - Elbert County

31.8 - Commerce

30.3 - Darlington

Class A Division II

45.1 - Schley County

41.7 - Jenkins County

41.4 - Bowdon

36.6 - Washington-Wilkes

34.3 - Greene County

34.3 - Clinch County

32.9 - Manchester

32.6 - Portal

32.5 - Telfair County

31.4 - Hawkinsville

GIAA

46.2 - Bulloch Academy

45.5 - Valwood

43.9 - Bethlehem Christian

43.3 - John Milledge Academy

38.0 - Southwest Georgia

36.6 - Flint River Academy

36.4 - St. Andrew's

35.9 - Brookwood

33.9 - Edmund Burke Academy

33.0 - Tattnall Square

Stanford QB Ashton Daniels passed for 396 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-43 overtime victory over Colorado last week. For what Georgia high school did Daniels throw four TD passes over multiple state championship appearances? (Answer Thursday)

Answer to Tuesday’s question: Dee Williams, the SEC’s co-special teams player of the week, played on three region-winning teams at Mary Persons (2016-18).

GHSA

Thursday's games

Adairsville at Gordon Lee

Armuchee at Darlington

Cartersville at Woodland, Cartersville

Clarke Central at Eastside (SH)

Cross Keys at Seckinger

Fayette Co. at Troup (C)

Griffin at Howard (ED)

Hardaway at Shaw (K)

Johnson, Savannah at Groves (IH)

Kendrick at Southwest (TH)

LaFayette at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe

Marist at North Atlanta (HA)

Milton at West Forsyth

Monroe at Carver, Columbus (OS)

Roswell at Sprayberry

South Atlanta at B.E.S.T. Acad. (L)

South Forsyth at Forsyth Central

SE Whitfield at Central, Carrollton

Tucker at M.L. King (GO)

Friday's games

Alcovy at Forest Park (T)

Alexander at South Paulding

Appling Co. at Vidalia

Aquinas at Washington-Wilkes

Arabia Mountain at Chamblee (ND)

Archer at South Gwinnett

Asheville Christ., N.C. at Christ. Heritage

Athens Academy at Banks Co.

Baconton at Terrell Co.

Banneker at Chapel Hill

Benedictine at Wayne Co.

Bleckley Co. at East Laurens

Brantley Co. at Tattnall Co.

Brooks Co. at Irwin Co.

Buford at Dacula

Butler at Washington Co.

Cairo at Westover (M)

Calhoun at Dalton

Callaway at Eagle's Landing Christ.

Calvary Day at Savannah Country Day

Camden Co. at Valdosta

Campbell at Pebblebrook

Carver, Atlanta at Douglass (L)

Cass at Hiram

Cedar Shoals at Chestatee

Central Gwinnett at Mountain View

Central, Talbotton at SW Georgia STEM

Chattooga at Dade Co.

Clarkston at Midtown (HA)

Claxton at Metter

Clinch Co. at Atkinson Co.

Coahulla Creek at Bremen

Colquitt Co. at Lowndes

Commerce at Elbert Co.

Cook at Dodge Co.

Creekview at Woodstock

Crisp Co. at Columbus (OS)

Dawson Co. at Gilmer

Discovery at Peachtree Ridge

Dooly Co. at Wilcox Co.

Dougherty at Thomasville

Drew at Northside, Columbus (K)

Dublin at Jefferson Co.

Duluth at Berkmar

Dunwoody at South Cobb

Dutchtown at Locust Grove

East Hall at Cherokee Bluff

East Paulding at Douglas Co.

Etowah at Allatoona

Franklin Co. at Hebron Christian

Glenn Hills at Thomson

Glynn Academy at Evans

GMC Prep at Glascock Co.

Grayson at Brookwood

Greater Atl. Christian at Kell

Grovetown at Lakeside, Evans

Hampton at McDonough

Hancock Central at Twiggs Co.

Harrison at Hillgrove

Hawkinsville at Treutlen

Hughes at Newnan

Islands at New Hampstead (P)

Jackson Co. at Lanier

Jasper Co. at Social Circle

Jeff Davis at Worth Co.

Jefferson at Loganville

Jenkins at Coffee

Jenkins Co. at Montgomery Co.

Johns Creek at Alpharetta

Johnson, Gaines. at Druid Hills (AV)

Kennesaw Mountain at North Cobb

Lambert at Denmark

Lanier Christian at King's Ridge

Lanier Co. at Turner Co.

Lee Co. at Northside, W.R. (MT)

Lincoln Co. at Greene Co.

Lithonia at Decatur

Long Co. at Liberty Co.

Lovejoy at Morrow

Luella at Pace Academy

Macon Co. at Chattahoochee Co.

Manchester at Schley Co.

Marion Co. at Taylor Co.

McEachern at North Paulding

McIntosh Co. Acad. at Emanuel Co. Inst.

Mill Creek at Collins Hill

Mitchell Co. at Miller Co.

Model at North Murray

Monroe Area at Oconee Co.

Mt. Pisgah Christian at Mount Vernon

Mt. Zion, Carroll at Heard Co.

Mt. Zion, Jonesboro at Lovett

Murray Co. at Fannin Co.

Norcross at Meadowcreek

North Clayton at Whitewater

North Cobb Christian at Mt. Paran Christ.

North Forsyth at Habersham Central

North Springs at Centennial

Northgate at Harris Co.

Northview at Cambridge

Northwest Whitfield at Heritage, Ringgold

Parkview at Newton (SH)

Pataula Charter at Cottondale, Fla.

Paulding Co. at New Manchester

Peach Co. at Upson-Lee

Pelham at Bacon Co.

Pepperell at Trion

Pierce Co. at Windsor Forest (SM)

Pike Co. at Jackson

Pope at Lassiter

Prince Ave. Christian at Oglethorpe Co.

Providence Christ. at Fellowship Christ.

Rabun Co. at Athens Christian

Randolph-Clay at Seminole Co.

Redan at Columbia (GO)

Ridgeland at Ringgold

River Ridge at Rome

Riverdale at Starr's Mill

Rockdale Co. at Mundy's Mill (TO)

Rockmart at Gordon Central

Rutland at ACE Charter

Sandy Creek at Cedar Grove (HS)

Savannah at Screven Co.

Savannah Christian at Beach (SV)

Shiloh at Gainesville

Sonoraville at Cedartown

South Effingham at Brunswick (GL)

Spalding at Westside, Macon (ED)

Spencer at Northeast (TH)

St. Pius at Riverwood

Statesboro at Bradwell Institute

Stephens Co. at Hart Co.

Stockbridge at Woodland, Stockbridge

Stone Mountain at Lakeside, Atlanta (A)

Sumter Co. at Fitzgerald

Telfair Co. at Wheeler Co.

Thomson at Putnam Co.

Tift Co. at Veterans (FF)

Towers at Landmark Christian

Towns Co. at Warren Co.

Tri-Cities at Mays (L)

Trinity Christian at LaGrange (C)

Union Co. at East Jackson

Union Grove at Ola

Villa Rica at Creekside

Walker at Cherokee Christian

Walnut Grove at North Oconee

Walton at Cherokee

Ware Co. at Greenbrier

Warner Robins at Eagle's Landing

Washington at KIPP Atlanta (L)

West Hall at Pickens

West Laurens at Baldwin

Westlake at Carrollton

Wheeler at Osborne

White Co. at Lumpkin Co.

Whitefield Academy at St. Francis

Wilkinson Co. at Johnson Co.

Winder-Barrow at Heritage, Conyers

Woodward Academy at Jonesboro (SC)

Saturday's games

Central, Macon at Jordan (OS)

Josey at Therrell (L)

Thomas Co. Central at Houston Co. (FF)

Westside, Augusta at Laney

GIAA/GAPPS

Thursday’s games

Briarwood Academy at Augusta Prep

Bulloch Academy at Frederica Academy

Friday’s games

Bethlehem Christian at Loganville Christ.

Brookwood School at Tiftarea Academy

Creekside Christian at Skipstone Acad.

Central Fellowship at Terrell Academy

Edmund Burke at Gatewood

Fullington Academy at Flint River Acad.

Grace Christian at Georgia Christian

Heritage, Newnan at Strong Rock Christ.

John Milledge at First Presbyterian

King’s Academy at Pinecrest Academy

Lakeview Academy at Riverside Military

Lanier Christian at King’s Ridge

Memorial Day at Thomas Jefferson

Piedmont Academy at Brentwood

Pinewood Christian at St. Andrew’s

Southland Academy at Valwood

Stratford Academy at Mount de Sales

Walker at Cherokee Christian

Westfield at Brookstone

Stadium abbreviations: (A) Adams; (AV) Avondale; (C) Callaway; (ED) Ed Defore; (FF) Freedom Field; (GL) Glynn County; (GO) Godfrey; (HA) Henderson, Atlanta; (HS) Hallford; (IH) Islands High School; (K) Kinnett; (L) Lakewood; (M) Mills; (MT) McConnell-Talbert; (ND) North DeKalb; (OS) Odis Spencer; (P) Pooler; (SC) Southern Crescent; (SH) Sharp; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (SV) Savannah High School; (T) Tara; (TH) Thompson; (TO) Twelve Oaks

Join the GFCA today! The GACA/GFCA has new membership options for your school for the 2023-2024 school year. You can now join all coaches/all sports in your high school and middle school for one discounted price depending on your school’s classification: GISA, A, 2A and 3A for $1,000; 4A for $1,250; 5A for $1,500; 6A for $2,000; and 7A for $2,500. For more information call or text 770-578-6366 or email Craig Davis by clicking here.