Appling County takes top Class 3A spot
The Pirates defeated Toombs County to claim the number one ranking, with their final regular season game scheduled against Pierce County.
By Samantha Reed ·
A 11-7 victory over Toombs County on Friday placed Appling County at the top of the AJC Varsity Class 3A football rankings. The win displaced the previous No. 1 team, which had held the lead heading into the matchup. Appling County enters the final stretch of the season with a perfect 9-0 record. Toombs County, which had previously occupied the top position, remains in the rankings but dropped behind the Pirates.
The Pirates have now held the No. 1 spot for two separate weeks during their career. Their previous tenure at the top occurred in 2024. At that time, Appling County defeated No. 1 Pierce County in the second to last game of the regular season. The team lost its next contest to Fitzgerald County before the 2024 season concluded.
The Class 3A standings have seen other shifts this week. Lowndes and Jefferson both moved up in the rankings after defeating Top 10 opponents. Lithonia and Calhoun reentered the list following large wins. Specifically, Lowndes defeated Valdosta to move from No. 4 to No. 5. Jefferson beat North Oconee to improve its standing. Lithonia defeated Tucker, while Calhoun beat North Hall, allowing both teams to return to the list after being unranked.
Appling County has one remaining game this season. The Pirates will play No. 3 Pierce County. A victory in that contest would secure the Region 3-3A outright for Appling County. The team currently leads the region in the regular season standings.
In Class 4A, Sandy Creek, Peach County, Troup, and Monroe Area all maintain 9-0 records at the top of the list. Stephenson sits at No. 5 with an 8-1 record. In Class 2A, Heard County leads at 9-0, followed by Thomasville and Dublin, both 8-1. Class A is led by Johnson County, which is 9-0, and Lincoln County, which is 7-2.
The Class 5A rankings feature Cartersville and Blessed Trinity at No. 1 and No. 2, both 9-0. Marist is No. 3 with a 7-2 record. In Class 6A, Thomas County Central leads at 9-0. Class 7A is topped by Buford and Carrollton, both 9-0, with Newton at No. 3 on an 8-1 record. The private school division for Classes 4A-2A is led by Prince Avenue Christian, which holds an 8-0 record.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
