Lowndes’ victory over arch-rival Valdosta keeps getting sweeter for the Vikings. The 24-0 win not only propelled Lowndes to No. 1 in the Class AAAAAAA rankings but moved crosstown foe Valdosta out of the top spot in AAAAAA.

Taking Valdosta’s place is Dacula, which is No. 1 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings for the first time in history. Dacula (5-0) has spent 29 polling weeks at No. 2, including six weeks this season. Dacula defeated Valdosta 56-21 in the 2018 quarterfinals.

Valdosta fell to No. 2 ahead of Harrison (6-0) and Coffee (5-0), two other teams that have spent several weeks at No. 2 over the years but never been No. 1. Valdosta’s resume is fortified by a victory earlier this month over Colquitt County, the No. 3 team in AAAAAAA.

Colquitt helped out Lowndes on Friday with a 31-7 victory over previous AAAAAAA No. 1 Grayson, which fell to No. 4.

Losses by Grayson and Valdosta represent just the fourth time since 1982, first since 2013, that the No. 1 teams from the two highest classifications have been beaten in the same week.

No. 1 Buford of AAAAA narrowly escaped joining them when the Wolves converted a two-point conversion and defeated No. 10 Archer of AAAAAAA 29-28.

Class AAAAAAA

  1. (2) Lowndes (6-0)
  2. (3) McEachern (4-0)
  3. (5) Colquitt County (4-1)
  4. (1) Grayson (4-1)
  5. (4) Marietta (3-1)
  6. (6) Hillgrove (5-0)
  7. (8) Parkview (3-1)
  8. (9) North Gwinnett (4-1)
  9. (NR) Mill Creek (4-1)
  10. (10) Archer (3-2)

Out: No. 7 Milton

Class AAAAAA

  1. (2) Dacula (5-0)
  2. (1) Valdosta (5-1)
  3. (4) Harrison (6-0)
  4. (3) Coffee (5-0)
  5. (5) Lee County (4-1)
  6. (6) Allatoona (3-1)
  7. (8) Lanier (5-0)
  8. (7) Dalton (4-1)
  9. (10) Houston County (4-1)
  10. (NR) M.L. King (4-0)

Out: No. 9 Glynn Academy

Class AAAAA

  1. (1) Buford (5-0)
  2. (2) Carrollton (5-0)
  3. (3) Bainbridge (5-0)
  4. (4) Jones County (5-0)
  5. (5) Dutchtown (5-0)
  6. (6) Warner Robins (4-1)
  7. (7) Stockbridge (5-0)
  8. (8) Rome (3-2)
  9. (9) Griffin (5-0)
  10. (10) Kell (3-1)

Class AAAA

  1. (1) Cartersville (5-0)
  2. (2) Marist (5-0)
  3. (3) Woodward Academy (4-0)
  4. (4) Blessed Trinity (4-1)
  5. (5) Sandy Creek (4-0)
  6. (6) Cairo (4-1)
  7. (7) Flowery Branch (4-0)
  8. (8) Burke County (4-1)
  9. (9) Troup (4-1)
  10. (10) North Oconee (6-0)

Class AAA

  1. (1) Peach County (4-1)
  2. (2) Cedar Grove (3-2)
  3. (3) Pierce County (5-0)
  4. (4) Greater Atlanta Christian (4-1)
  5. (5) Hart County (5-0)
  6. (9) Liberty County (3-0)
  7. (6) Appling County (4-1)
  8. (7) Crisp County (3-3)
  9. (8) Lovett (3-2)
  10. (10) Jefferson (3-1)

Class AA

  1. (1) Rockmart (5-0)
  2. (2) Hapeville Charter (3-1)
  3. (3) Callaway (4-1)
  4. (4) Dublin (4-0)
  5. (5) Rabun County (5-0)
  6. (6) Swainsboro (3-1)
  7. (7) Fitzgerald (4-1)
  8. (8) Brooks County (2-3)
  9. (9) Washington County (3-1)
  10. (10) Douglass (5-0)

Class A (Public)

  1. (1) Irwin County (4-0)
  2. (2) Clinch County (4-1)
  3. (3) Pelham (5-0)
  4. (7) Bowdon (4-0)
  5. (4) Mitchell County (4-1)
  6. (6) Commerce (4-1)
  7. (8) Wilcox County (4-1)
  8. (NR) Manchester (3-1)
  9. (10) Lincoln County (3-2)
  10. (NR) Turner County (4-1)

Out: No. 5 Marion County, No. 9 Trion

Class A (Private)

  1. (1) Athens Academy (4-0)
  2. (2) Holy Innocents' (5-0)
  3. (3) Eagle's Landing Christian (4-1)
  4. (4) Darlington (5-0)
  5. (8) Fellowship Christian (5-0)
  6. (5) Wesleyan (4-1)
  7. (6) Prince Avenue Christian (4-1)
  8. (7) Aquinas (4-0)
  9. (NR) Christian Heritage (4-0)
  10. (9) North Cobb Christian (4-1)

Out: No. 10 Calvary Day

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Stacey Abrams speaks at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris at Georgia State University’s convocation center in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Abrams is at the center of speculation over whether she will mount a third campaign for governor. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

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