There's a new team atop the GPB Football Rankings in Class 5A, but it's not a stranger. The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes, a state finalist two years ago, is the new No. 1 team. 

Cartersville defeated Cherokee 35-0 in its season opener and jumped over Warner Robins and Creekside, who both lost. 

"You can always count on Cartersville to be in the mix," GPB voter Sam Crenshaw said. "That program is consistently one of the best in the state."

The top-ranked teams in the other classifications remained the same: Buford in Class 7A, Hughes in 6A, Benedictine in 4A, Cedar Grove in 3A, Eagle's Landing Christian in 2A, Brooks County in Class A Division I and Schley County in Class A Division II. 

Moving into the rankings this week were: Mill Creek at No. 7 and Parkview at No. 9 in Class 7A, Douglas County at No. 10 in Class 6A, Kell at No. 9 and Clarke Central No. 10 in Class 5A, Troup at No. 10 in Class 4A, Stephens County at No. 10 in Class 3A, Columbia at No. 10 in Class 2A, and Charlton County at No. 9 in Class A Division II. 

This week's Football Fridays in Georgia broadcast will feature Class 3A No. 6 Crisp County at Westlake. 

GPB Football Rankings

Class 7A

  1. Buford
  2. Grayson
  3. North Cobb
  4. Collins Hill
  5. Colquitt County
  6. Brookwood
  7. Mill Creek
  8. Walton
  9. Parkview
  10. North Gwinnett

Class 6A

  1. Hughes
  2. Lee County
  3. Rome
  4. Woodward Academy
  5. Roswell
  6. Brunswick
  7. Blessed Trinity
  8. South Paulding
  9. Gainesville
  10. Douglas County

Class 5A

  1. Cartersville
  2. Jones County
  3. Warner Robins
  4. Creekside
  5. Ware County
  6. Coffee
  7. Calhoun
  8. Cambridge
  9. Kell
  10. Clarke Central 

Class 4A

  1. Benedictine
  2. North Oconee
  3. Cedartown
  4. Perry
  5. Starr’s Mill
  6. Bainbridge
  7. Pace Academy
  8. Whitewater
  9. Trinity Christian
  10. Troup

Class 3A

  1. Cedar Grove
  2. Carver – Columbus
  3. Calvary Day
  4. Peach County
  5. Sandy Creek
  6. Crisp County
  7. Dougherty
  8. Carver – Atlanta
  9. Oconee County
  10. Stephens County

Class 2A

  1. Eagle’s Landing Christian
  2. Fitzgerald
  3. Callaway
  4. Appling County
  5. South Atlanta
  6. Putnam County
  7. Thomson
  8. Northeast
  9. Pierce County
  10. Columbia

Class A – Div. I

  1. Brooks County
  2. Prince Avenue Christian
  3. Whitefield Academy
  4. Bleckley County
  5. Darlington
  6. Lamar County
  7. Swainsboro
  8. Rabun County
  9. Irwin County
  10. Metter

Class A – Div. II

  1. Schley County
  2. Washington-Wilkes
  3. Bowdon
  4. Wilcox County
  5. Macon County
  6. Georgia Military
  7. Lincoln County
  8. Emanuel Co. Institute
  9. Charlton County
  10. Montgomery County