Power poll: Top three teams stay in place, but rankings do have movement

Week 3 of the 2018 high school football season has arrived, and it has been met with more changes to our Southeast Georgia High School Football Power Poll.

The top three teams in the power rankings remain the same as Wayne County, Glynn Academy and Liberty County all posted impressive victories this past Friday night.

However, several other teams that posted victories also rose at least a spot in the rankings while the teams that lost last week – Camden County, Frederica Academy and Brunswick – have fallen to the bottom of the rankings this time around.

The power poll now looks like this:

1. Wayne County (1-0, 0-0 Region 2-5A, ranked No. 7)

Last week: Won 49-0 at Long

This week: Home vs. Richmond Hill

The skinny: The Yellow Jackets made their season debut on the road and rolled to an easy win, playing the second half under a running clock per the 30-point mercy rule. This week, they figure to get more of a challenge from Richmond Hill

2. Glynn Academy (1-1, 0-0 Region 2-6A, ranked No. 9)

Last week: Won 42-6 vs. Washington (Atlanta)

This week: Home vs. Groves

The skinny: The Red Terrors fell behind 6-0 last Friday in the first quarter, but would score on four straight possessions before halftime against the Bulldogs to open up a comfortable lead. Glynn got touchdown runs from five different ball carriers.

3. Liberty County (1-0, 0-0 Region 2-3A, ranked No. 9)

Last week: Won 40-17 at Bradwell Institute.

This week: at Statesboro

The skinny: The Panthers avenged last year’s loss to the Tigers with a victory at Olvey Field. Liberty has now won six of the last seven meetings against Bradwell. The teams play every year for the Commissioner’s Cup.

4. Charlton County (2-0, 0-0 Region 2-A, ranked No. 4)

Last week: Won 43-0 vs. Brantley County

This week: at Appling County

The skinny: The Indians spoiled the head coaching debut of Brantley’s Geoff Cannon with the shutout win. Through their first two games, the Indians have allowed only one offensive touchdown. Two of Frederica Academy’s touchdowns against Charlton in the opening game came on kickoff returns.

5. Ware County(2-0, 0-0 Region 2-5A, ranked No. 8)

Last week: Won 25-24 (OT)

This week: Home vs. Coffee

The skinny: The Gators scored in the closing moments of regulation to force overtime, and then coverted a two-point play after scoring in overtime to get the victory. This week, Ware collides with rival Coffee.

6. Pierce County (2-0, 0-0 Region 2-3A)

Last week: Won 49-0 vs. Bacon County

This week: Home vs. Beach

The skinny: The Bears played at home for the first time this young season and gave the home folks a show as they had several big plays for touchdowns including a 95-yard TD jaunt by Dee Bethea.

7. Richmond Hill (1-0, 0-0 Region 2-5A, ranked No. 6)

Last week: Open date

This week: at Wayne County

The skinny: The Wildcats will have a chance to increase attention around their program if they can go into Jesup and knock off the power poll’s top-ranked team on their own field at Jaycee Stadium.

8. Camden County (1-1, 0-0 Region 1-7A)

Last week: Lost 25-14 vs. Wrens (S.C.)

This week: Home vs. Locust Grove

The skinny: The Wildcats tumble four spots in the poll this week with a disappointing neutral-site loss to their South Carolina counterpart in Macon. They’ll be back at home this week to play Locust Grove.

9. Frederica Academy (0-2, 0-0 GISA Region 2-3A, Ranked No.2)

Last week: Lost 7-6 (OT) vs. Valwood

This week: at Lanier County

The skinny: The Knights and Valiants were locked in a scoreless tie after regulation before Valwood won in overtime after Frederica scored and went for two points and the win but saw their conversion attempt fail. Valwood is the top-ranked team in GISA 3A ahead of Frederica.

10. Brunswick (0-2, 0-0 Region 2-6A)

Last week: Lost 35-12 at Bartram Trail (Fla.)

This week: at McIntosh Co. Academy

The skinny: The Pirates played a second straight tough opponent and again they struggled in the red zone, driving deep in Bartram territory four different times when they didn’t come away with any points.