Athens Christian must forfeit victories over Hebron Christian, Banks County and Social Circle, the GHSA ruled Tuesday.
Athens Christian running back Travis Wildgoose, who attended school in the Bahamas last academic year, did not meet the GHSA standards for eligibility regarding foreign exchange students, the GHSA said.
Athens Christian's record falls to 1-6 from 4-3. Only Social Circle, which got its first victory of the season because of the forfeit, was a region opponent. Athens Christian is now 1-2 in Region 8-A.
In the Social Circle game, Wildgoose rushed 14 times for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Wildgoose had played little football and was expected to be a key pickup on Athens Christian's basketball team.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Wildgoose had been living with the family of a basketball player. That is legal for an exchange student, which the GHSA ruled he was not. Transfer students typically must live in a school zone.
"I wouldn't say he's the most gifted athlete I've ever seen," Athens Christian coach Steve Brooks told the newspaper in September, "but he's as gifted as any player I've ever seen in the 44 short years I've done this."
POY Watch
Green, Whitehead move into top 10
J.J. Green of Camden County and Kenderius Whitehead of M.L. King join GHSF Daily's Player of the Year Watch for the first time this season.
Green, a running back and defensive back, and Whitehead, a defensive tackle, are coming off big games for top-10 teams in Class AAAAA.
Out this week are Harris County LB/DE Jordan Jenkins and Lowndes DB Josh Clemons, two of the state's top prospects. Their teams were beaten soundly last week.
Still in the lead is Hillgrove RB Kenyan Drake, although Stephenson RB Mike Davis is closing the gap.
Let us know if there are top candidates that should be considered.
1. RB Kenyan Drake, Hillgrove: Drake, who has committed to Alabama, rushed for 150 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 31-6 victory over North Cobb. On the season, Drake has rushed for 979 yards on 101 carries (9.7 yards per carry). He also has 12 receptions for 192 yards. Drake has scored 16 touchdowns - 11 rushing, four receiving and one returning a kickoff. He also has an interception. Hillgrove is 7-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAA.
2. RB Mike Davis, Stephenson: Davis, who has committed to Florida, rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in a 46-0 victory over Hughes. Davis has 1,148 yards and 13 touchdowns on 109 carries, an average of 10.5 yards per rush. Stephenson is 7-0 and ranked No. 4 in AAAAA.
3. RB Tyren Jones, Walton: Jones, a junior, rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts in a 38-3 victory over Cherokee. On the season, Jones has rushed for 1,164 yards and 16 touchdowns on 179 attempts (6.5 yards per carry) and is the leading rusher in Georgia's highest classification. He has six catches for 80 yards. Walton is 7-0 and ranked No. 8 in AAAAA.
4. DE Darius English, McEachern: English had six tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss and broke up a pass in a 52-14 victory over Pebblebrook. In seven games, English has 68 tackles, 14 sacks, 12 tackles for losses, three caused fumbles, two blocked punts, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown for a team that is 6-1 and ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAA. English has committed to South Carolina.
5. DT/RB Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson: Nkemdiche, a starter at noseguard and part-time running back, had seven tackles, one for a loss, and scored a touchdown in a 36-0 victory over Parkview, which was held to 101 yards rushing. For the season, he has 33 tackles, nine for losses, five sacks and 10 QB pressures for a team that is allowing 26.0 yards rushing per game. He has scored seven touchdowns. Nkemdiche is the top-rated junior prospect in Georgia. Grayson is 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAA and No. 6 by USA Today.
6. RB/LB Keyante Green, Eagle's Landing Christian: Green, a junior, rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown and had 15 tackles in a 35-14 victory over Landmark Christian. For the season, Green has 88 tackles (12 for losses and 4.5 sacks) on defense and has rushed for 723 yards on 80 carries (9.0 ypc). He has scored 14 touchdowns, one on a kickoff (95 yards), another on a fumble return (65). ELCA is 6-1 and ranked No. 2 in Class A.
7. RB/DB J.J. Green, Camden County: Green, a junior, rushed for 93 yards on five carries and scored three touchdowns, one on a 73-yard kick return, in a 59-6 victory over Groves. He also had a catch for 20 yards and broke up two passes on defense. On the season, Green has rushed for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns on 32 carries (15.1-yard avg.), has four catches for 93 yards (23.3) and has returned four punts for 117 yards (29.2) and three kickoffs for 175 yards (58.3). He has 13 touchdowns overall. On defense, he has 11 tackles and two interceptions. Camden County is ranked No. 1 in AAAAA and No. 8 nationally by USA Today.
8. DL Kenderius Whitehead, M.L. King: Whitehead, a senior, had 13 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for losses in a 26-10 victory over Newton. For the season, Whitehead has a team-leading 61 tackles, 13 sacks and 12 other tackles for losses, one for a safety. Whitehead has scholarship offers from Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. M.L. King is 7-0 and ranked No. 5 in AAAAA.
9. RB Miles Jones, Allatoona: Jones rushed for 82 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in a 28-23 victory over Cedartown. Jones has 1,056 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns on 149 carries (7.1 ypc) this season. His team is 7-0 and ranked No. 6 in AAA.
10. QB Kevin Ellison, Habersham Central: Ellison did not play last week. For the season, Ellison has rushed for 1,333 yards and 22 touchdowns on 135 carries (9.9 ypc). He is 37-of-85 passing for 625 yards and seven touchdowns. He has returned a punt for a touchdown. Habersham is 4-3.
National Rankings
Northside earns notice from CalPreps
Northside of Warner Robins got its first national ranking of the season in the CalPreps computer top 100, and Colquitt County jumped 48 spots to No. 33 in the RivalsHigh 100 this week.
Northside beat Thomas County Central 44-7, while Colquitt beat Lowndes 34-7.
Not much change elsewhere among Georgia teams in national polls.
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Teams that have improved their victory totals the most from this date a year ago:
Five
Appling County (7-0 from 2-5)
Bryan County (5-2 from 0-7)
River Ridge (6-1 from 1-6)
Warner Robins (5-2 from 0-7)
Four
Alcovy (5-3 from 1-7)
Central, Carrollton (4-3 from 0-7)
Jonesboro (6-1 from 2-5)
Oglethorpe County (4-4 from 0-8)
Three
Adairsville (6-1 from 3-4)
Bacon County (6-1 from 3-4)
Bainbridge (6-1 from 3-4)
Cedartown (5-2 from 2-5)
Johns Creek (6-1 from 3-4)
Lakeview-FO (3-4 from 0-7)
Pierce County (5-2 from 2-5)
Portal (4-3 from 1-6)
Schley County (4-4 from 1-7)
Walton (7-0 from 4-3)
Trivia
Which 2010 team improved its victory total by 11 from the previous season? (Answer Thursday)
Answer to Tuesday's question: The three teams that scored 80 or more points in a game during a season in which they won state titles were 1969 Savannah Country Day (92-6 over Wheeler County), 1976 Warner Robins (90-0 over Jordan) and 1983 Mitchell-Baker (80-0 over Sparta).
View photo galleries from Georgia games
More than 30 photo galleries from high school football games involving Georgia teams are available at the MaxPreps Web site (click here), and more are being added each week. Photos also may be purchased through the Web site.
Round 2 begins in
Friday Night Feats
contest
The second round of competition has begun in the State Farm Friday Night Feats video contest. Lovejoy High School won $2,500 for this video and now has a chance to win $17,500. To enter a video, click here. Videos must be submitted by Nov. 28. State Farm will be giving away $160,000 before this season is over!
Region Standings: Class AAA
Region 1-AAA
Team
Reg.
All
Last week
This week*
Cairo
3-0
5-2
d. Worth Co. 33-27
at Westover (M)
Americus-Sumter
3-1
5-3
d. Dougherty 41-6
Does not play
Crisp County
2-1
4-3
l. to Westover 20-6
vs. Monroe
Westover
2-1
4-3
d. Crisp Co. 20-6
vs. Cairo (M)
Monroe
1-2
3-4
Did not play
at Crisp Co.
Worth County
1-3
3-5
l. to Cairo 33-27
at Dougherty (Thu., M)
Dougherty
0-4
1-7
l. to Amer.-Sumter 41-6
vs. Worth Co. (Thu., M)
GHSF Daily's projected playoff teams: 1. Cairo, 2. Crisp County, 3. Americus-Sumter, 4. Monroe
Region 2-AAA
Team
Reg.
All
Last week
This week
Baldwin
6-0
6-1
d. Howard 42-0
vs. Veterans
Peach County
5-1
6-1
d. Mary Persons 18-3
at Perry
Mary Persons
4-2
5-2
l. to Peach Co. 18-3
vs. Central, Macon
Perry
4-2
5-2
d. Rutland 38-7
vs. Peach Co.
West Laurens
4-2
5-2
d. Central, Macon 26-20
vs. Westside, Macon
Westside (Macon)
4-2
4-3
d. Veterans 48-21
at West Laurens
Veterans
2-4
2-5
l. to Westside 48-21
at Baldwin
Rutland
1-5
1-6
l. to Perry 38-7
at Howard (Thu., H)
Central (Macon)
0-6
1-6
l. to West Laurens 26-20
at Mary Persons
Howard
0-6
0-7
l. to Baldwin 42-0
vs. Rutland (Thu., H)
Projected playoff teams: 1. Baldwin, 2. Peach County, 3. Mary Persons, 4. Westside (Macon)
Region 3-AAA
North
Team
Reg.
All
Last week
This week
Thomson
3-0
7-0
d. Westside, Aug. 63-6
at Josey (WRS)
Grovetown
3-0
6-1
d. Josey 42-14
vs. Richmond Academy
Richmond Academy
2-1
3-4
d. Harlem 34-14
at Grovetown
Westside (Augusta)
1-2
3-4
l. to Thomson 63-6
vs. Harlem
Josey
0-3
1-6
l. to Grovetown 42-14
vs. Thomson (WRS)
Harlem
0-3
0-7
l. to Richmond Ac. 34-14
at Westside, Augusta
South
Team
Reg.
All
Last week
This week
Burke County
3-0
6-1
d. Cross Creek 84-7
vs. Washington Co.
Washington County
3-0
5-2
d. Glenn Hills 53-0
at Burke Co.
Butler
2-1
6-1
d. Hephzibah 26-6
at Glenn Hills
Cross Creek
1-2
3-4
l. to Burke Co. 84-7
vs. Hephzibah
Glenn Hills
0-3
0-7
l. to Washington Co. 53-0
vs. Butler
Hephzibah
0-3
0-7
l. to Butler 26-6
at Cross Creek
Projected playoff teams: 1. Burke County, 2. Thomson, 3. Washington County, 4. Butler
Projected playoff teams: 1. Gainesville, 2. Stephens County, 3. Monroe Area, 4. North Hall
Note: All scores are courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, Score Atlanta and other media outlets. If a score is not accurate, it was reported incorrectly.
* All of this week's games are Friday unless noted.
Stadium key: A - Adams; AV - Avondale; C - Callaway; G - Grady; H - Henderson; HS - Hallford; M - Mills; PV - Panthersville; SC - Southern Crescent; WRS - White Road
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Georgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 25-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.
