Close losses to larger schools marked the week as teams from Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.) and Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) both came up one point short.
Peach County lost 32-31 in overtime to Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.) while Chamiande-Madonna fell 14-13 to Carol City (Miami). Both teams remain in the rankings, however Peach County dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 and Chaminade-Madonna fell from No. 7 to No. 11.
Most impressive win: Shelby 51, Crest 21. Crest is four years removed from back-to-back state titles and it won nine games last year, but it was no match for crosstown rival Shelby, which got another 300-yard effort from quarterback Isaiah Bess.
Video: Julian Fleming highlights See the Ohio State commit in action for Southern Columbia Area.
Game of the Week: Houston County 32, Peach County 31. The No. 1 AAA school in Georgia nearly knocked off AAAAAA Houston County, but a two-point conversion in overtime gave Houston County the win.
Game to watch: Irwin County vs. Clinch County. Irwin County is ranked No. 6 in the national Small Schools rankings while Clinch County is No. 12. Clinch County is actually ranked No. 1 in the Georgia Class A Public by Georgia High School Football Daily while Irwin County is No. 2.
Best individual performance: Ty Keyes, Taylorsville (Miss.) continues to creep toward impressive milestones. After throwing for 373 yards and four touchdowns last week, he's four touchdowns away from 100 career TDs. He is also just over 400 yards away from 10,000 career passing yards.
Dropped Out: No. 10 Penns Grove (Carneys Point, N.J.), No. 19 Blair Oaks (Jefferson City, Mo.), No. 20 Athens Academy (Athens, Ga.), No. 23 Reidsville (N.C.), No. 25 Trinity Catholic (St. Louis)
The Small Schools Top 25 is open to schools that generally play in enrollment divisions with less than 1,000 students. Some California schools with under 1,000 students that play in competition-based playoff divisions that mostly include large enrollment schools (such as Sierra Canyon and Grace Brethren) are also included. Teams are ranked based on their MaxPreps computer ranking, which is listed along with their current record.
MaxPreps Small Schools Top 25 national high school football rankings
John Henderson, Grace Brethren
Photo by David Dewing
Results: Defeated Oak Hills (Hesperia, Calif.) 48-0.
Highlights: Julien Stokes had another big game, rushing for 163 yards on 13 carries with three touchdowns.
Mikey Zele also had a big game, throwing for 262 yards and three touchdowns.
Next Game: Sept. 27 vs. Westlake (Westlake Village)
2. (2) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 3-1, 51.8
Results: Defeated Valencia (Calif.) 28-10.
Highlights: Sophomore
Jason Jones rolled for 185 yards on 12 carries while
Drue Watts had 13 tackles and three sacks in the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. St. Paul (Santa Fe Springs)
3. (4) Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.), 2-2, 51.0
Results: Lost to McEachern (Powder Springs) 29-7
Highlights: The game took two days to complete due to weather.
Next Game: Sept. 27 vs. Lovett (Atlanta)
4. (6) Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis), 3-0, 50.7
Results: Defeated St. Dominic (O'Fallon) 53-14
Highlights: Luther Burden had three receiving touchdowns in the win.
Next Game: Saturday vs. Helias (Jefferson City, Mo.)
5. (5) Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.), 4-0, 48.0
Results: Defeated Shamokin Area (Coal Township) 62-0
Highlights: Julian Fleming and
Gaige Garcia each scored three touchdowns to give the Tigers their 76th straight regular season win. Southern Columbia Area has outscored opponents 222-0 this year.
Next Game: Friday vs. Central Columbia (Bloomsburg)
6. (9) Irwin County (Ocilla, Ga.), 2-0, 46.2
Results: Did not play.
Next Game: Friday vs. Clinch County (Homerville)
7. (3) Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), 2-1, 44.3
Results: Lost 32-31 to Houston County (Warner Robins)
Highlights: Houston County scored a two-point conversion in overtime to pull out the win over the top-rated Class AAA team in Georgia.
Next Game: Friday vs. Mary Persons (Forsyth)
8. (14) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 3-0, 43.2
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta)
9. (NR) Wahoo (Neb.), 3-0, 43.0
Results: Defeated Aurora 28-6
Highlights: Trevin Luben had a 66-yard touchdown run in the Wahoo win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Platteview (Springfield)
10. (12) Taylorsville (Miss.), 4-0, 42.2
Results: Defeated Seminary 40-6
Highlights: Ty Keyes threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns for Taylorsville. Keyes is just four touchdown passes away from 100 for his career.
Next Game: Friday at Collins (Miss.)
11. (7) Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 3-1, 42.1
Results: Lost to Carol City (Miami) 14-13
Highlights: Thaddius Franklin had 83 yards rushing and one touchdown in the loss to Carol City.
Next Game: Friday vs. Atlantic (Delray Beach)
12. (16) Clinch County (Homerville, Ga.), 3-0, 41.6
Results: Defeated Dooly County (Vienna) 47-12
Highlights: Clinch County takes on No. 6 Irwin County in a battle of Georgia small school titans.
Next Game: Friday vs. Irwin County (Ocilla)
13. (12) Shelby (N.C.), 3-0, 41.2
Results: Defeated Crest (Shelby) 51-21
Highlights: Isaiah Bess threw for 331 yards while
Ja'hari Mitchell had 116 yards receiving and
Diavonni Daley had 123.
Next Game: Friday vs. Kings Mountain
14. (11) Lutheran North (St. Louis), 1-1, 40.4
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Saturday vs. Westminster Christian (St. Louis)
15. (tie) (8) Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), 1-3, 38.2
Results: Lost 31-17 to American Heritage (Plantation)
Highlights: Kyjuan Herndon rushed for 225 yards in the loss for the Conquerors.
Next Game: Friday vs. Carol City (Miami)
15. (tie) (17) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City), 2-0, 38.2
Results: Defeated Clinton 34-7
Highlights: Jackson Jobe threw three touchdown passes for Heritage Hall.
Next Game: Friday vs. Davis
17. (21) Newton (Texas), 3-0, 37.7
Results: Defeated West Orange-Stark, 20-14
Highlights: Newton picked up its 33rd straight win in the game against West Orange-Stark.
Next Game: Sept. 27 vs. Gilmer
18. (17) Hapeville Charter (Atlanta), 1-1, 37.6
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Therrell (Atlanta)
19. (NR) McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.), 3-0, 37.0
Results: Defeated Campolindo (Moraga) 41-21
Highlights: Trailing 21-13, McClymonds scored 28 unanswered points for the win.
Next Game: Friday vs. Downey (Modesto)
20. (15) Orrville (Ohio), 3-0, 36.9
Results: Defeated West Holmes (Millersburg) 40-10
Highlights: Marquael Parks rushed for 85 yards on nine carries, caught three passes for 74 yards and also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Next Game: Friday vs. Fairless (Navarre)
21. (tie) (NR) Pierce (Neb.), 3-0, 36.4
Results: Defeated Ord 28-14
Highlights: Brett Tinker had 225 yards on 25 carries with a score while
Carson Oestreich rushed for 160 yards on 21 carries.
Next Game: Friday vs. Scotus (Columbus)
21. (tie) (NR) Coldwater (Ohio), 3-0, 36.4
Results: Defeated Versailles, 42-7
Highlights: Jake Hemmelgarn ran for 143 yards and a touchdown for Coldwater.
Next Game: Friday vs. Minster
23. (tie) (22) Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 3-0, 36.2
Results: Defeated Hearne 51-7
Next Game: Friday vs. Bishop Dunne (Dallas)
23. (tie) (NR) Wall (Texas), 3-0, 36.2
Results: Defeated Midland Christian (Midland), 20-14
Highlights: Chase Rios led Wall with 138 yards on 13 carries.
Next Game: Friday vs. Sonora
23. (tie) (24) Dublin (Ga.), 3-0, 36.2
Results: Did not play
Next Game: Friday vs. Brooks County (Quitman)
