Prep football: Buford, GHS, Branch 1, 2, 3 in final poll

Buford is No. 1, Gainesville No. 2 and Flowery Branch No. 3 in the final prep Associated Press prep football poll released today. Meanwhile, Jefferson, Apalachee and North Gwinnett also finished in the season-ending top 10.

The Wolves (14-1) completed their third straight Class AA championship last week by defeating Calhoun 13-10 (for the second straight season) in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The title was Buford's sixth of the decade (2001, '02, '03, '07, '08, '09).

In Class AAA, the Red Elephants (14-1) came achingly close to their program's first-ever state title, falling 13-12 in the Class AAA championship game to No. 1 Peach County. After trailing for much of the game, Gainesville scored with no time remaining and failed on the winning two-point conversion to seal the outcome.

Gainesville's comeback bid a week earlier over Flowery Branch kept the Falcons (10-4) from reaching their second straight championship game. Flowery Branch did win three straight road playoff games after finishing fourth in Region 7-AAA and are now 7-1 in true road playoff games the last two seasons.

Jefferson (11-1) won its second straight Region 8-AA title this season, falling in the second round of the playoffs for the second year in a row to finish eighth in Class AA. In their first year under hall of fame coach T McFerrin, the Dragons pushed Buford to the brink but lost out 30-22.

In Class AAAA, Apalachee (12-1) won its first-ever region championship and reached the quarterfinal round for the first time in history to finish fifth. The Wildcats lost out to third-ranked Griffin in the Elite Eight but produced Region 8-AAAA's co-offensive and defensive players of the year, as well as the coach of the year.

In Class AAAAA, North Gwinnett (12-1) won its first-ever region title, claiming 7-AAAAA, and also reached the quaterfinals to finish seventh. The Bulldogs season ended against eventual state champs Camden County.


The Associated Press' final 2009 high school football poll. The Top Ten teams of the 2009 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class A
1. Wilcox County (6) 13-2 60 9
2. Savannah Christian Prep. 14-1 54 2
3. Wesleyan 12-1 44 1
4. Clinch County 10-4 42
5. Lincoln County 11-2 35 3
6. Darlington 9-5 34
7. Holy Innocents' 11-2 20 7
8. Greenville 11-1 15 5
9. Bowdon 10-2 11 10
10. Twiggs County 11-2 10 6
Others receiving votes: Emanuel County Institute 3, Eagle's Landing 2.

Class AA
1. BUFORD (6) 14-1 60 3
2. Calhoun 14-1 54 1
3. Fitzgerald 13-1 45 2
4. Lovett 12-2 44 6
5. Jefferson County 12-1 34 4
6. Charlton County 11-1-1 33 5
7. Callaway 10-3 20
8. JEFFERSON 11-1 16 7
9. Westminster 8-4 8
10. Thomasville 8-4 5
Others receiving votes: Cook 4, Swainsboro 4, Brooks County 3.

Class AAA
1. Peach County (6) 15-0 60 2
2. GAINESVILLE 14-1 54 1
3. FLOWERY BRANCH 10-4 44
4. Eastside 11-3 40
5. St. Pius X 12-1 38 4
6. Carver-Columbus 11-2 32 3
7. Cairo 9-4 22
8. Jackson 12-1 18 5
9. Baldwin 9-3 9 6
10. Carrollton 10-2 6
Others receiving votes: NORTH HALL 4, Washington County 2, CREEKVIEW 1.

Class AAAA
1. Sandy Creek (6) 14-1 60 3
2. Clarke Central 12-3 53
3. Griffin 13-1 49 1
4. Rockdale County 10-4 35
5. APALACHEE 12-1 33 6
6. Thomas County Central 11-2 29 5
7. Southwest Dekalb 10-2 22 2
8. Westside-Macon 11-2 17 8
9. Tucker 9-3 11 10
10. Marist 9-3 10 7
Others receiving votes: North Clayton 5, Hiram 5, Lakeside-Evans 1.

Class AAAAA
1. Camden County (6) 13-2 60 9
2. Northside-Warner Robins 13-2 54 7
3. Newnan 13-1 43 4
4. Colquitt County 11-3 37
5. Grayson 12-1 34 1
5. Lowndes 10-2 34 3
7. NORTH GWINNETT 12-1 24 2
8. Peachtree Ridge 10-3 19
9. Lassiter 12-1 15 8
10. Stephenson 11-1 9 5
Others receiving votes: Woodstock 1.