Power Poll: Final regular-season rankings have Wayne, Pierce, Camden at top

The last week of the 2018 regular season brought a few changes to the Southeast Georgia High School Football Power poll.

The Wayne County Yellow Jackets and Pierce County Bears remained in the top two spots as they finished out 10-0 seasons with region championships.

However, Camden moved back into the third spot, trading places with Ware County after knocking off Tift County to earn a playoff berth in Class 7A.

Ware lost at Wayne County in a game that decided the Region 2-5A crown, and thus dropped a spot in the poll.

Glynn Academy and Charlton County stayed in the fifth and sixth spots with victories in their season finales. Frederica Academy moved up to seventh with its lop-sided win at Bulloch Academy and Appling moved to eighth by knocking off Tattnall to close its season schedule.

But, Liberty County and Richmond Hill both dropped in the power rankings after falling in their season finales.

Please note that this will be the final power poll until each of the area teams are eliminated from the state playoffs in their respective classifications. A final power poll for the 2018 season will be compiled and released at that time.

The final regular-season poll looks like this:

1. Wayne County (10-0, 4-0 final Region 2-5A, ranked No. 5)

Last week: Won 28-21 over Ware County

This week: Home vs. Jonesboro

The skinny: The Yellow Jackets completed their first unbeaten regular season since 1993 with Friday’s win over rival Ware County. They also won back-to-back region titles for the first time since 1975-76 with the win over the Gators. Wayne opens the state playoffs at home this week against Jonesboro.

2. Pierce County (10-0, 5-0 final Region 2-3A, ranked No. 9)

Last week: Won 29-26 over Liberty County

This week: Home vs. Windsor Forest

The skinny: The Bears came from behind to defeat Liberty and complete an unbeaten regular season while also claiming the outright region title. Pierce will be at home this week versus Windsor Forest in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

3. Camden County (7-3, 1-2 final Region 1-7A)

Last week: Won 28-24 over Tift County

This week: at Walton

The skinny: The Wildcats won their first region game in two seasons with Friday’s home victory over the Blue Devils. Camden also earned a state playoff berth with the win and will go on the road as a No. 3 seed this week to face Walton in a first-round game.

4. Ware County(7-3, 3-1 final Region 2-5A)

Last week: Lost 28-21 at Wayne County

This week: Home vs. Riverdale

The skinny: The Gators lost to the Yellow Jackets in a game that decided the region championship. Now, they enter the postseason as the league’s No. 2 seed and will open at home against Riverdale.

5. Glynn Academy (7-3, 4-0 final Region 2-6A)

Last week: Won 42-21 at Bradwell Institute

This week: Home vs. Evans

The skinny: The Red Terrors captured a fourth straight region title with their win at Bradwell on Friday. Glynn will be at home this week as it opens the Class 6A state playoffs against Evans.

6. Charlton County (7-3, 5-2 final Region 2-A, ranked No. 6)

Last week: Won 47-14 at Lanier County

This week: TBD

The skinny: The Indians finished out the regular season with a runaway win over Lanier. Their playoff seeding and opponent will be determined by the state power rankings.

7. Frederica Academy (7-3, 3-0 final GISA Region 2-3A, ranked No. 7)

Last week: Won 49-24 at Bulloch Academy

This week: Bye

The skinny: The Knights dominated their season finale at Bulloch as the win over the Gators earned them a third straight region title. Frederica has a bye in the first round of the GISA Class 3A playoffs and will play in the quarterfinals next week.

8. Appling County(6-4, 4-1 final Region 2-3A)

Last week: Won 34-8 at Tattnall County

This week: Home vs. Jenkins

The skinny: The Pirates rolled past Tattnall in their final regular-season game. They are the No. 2 seed from the region and will be at home in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs this week against Jenkins.

9. Liberty County (6-3, 3-2 final Region 2-3A)

Last week: Lost 29-26 at Pierce County

This week: at Southeast Bulloch

The skinny: The Panthers saw Pierce come back in the second half to take the region title from their grasp. Liberty will now be the No. 3 seed from the region and will be on the road Friday at Southeast Bulloch to open the state playoffs.

10. Richmond Hill (4-5, 2-2 final Region 2-6A)

Last week: Lost 12-0 vs. Effingham

This week: at Greenbrier

The skinny: The Wildcats were blanked at home by the Rebels last week in the season finale. The loss cost them the region’s No 2 seed and a home playoff game. Richmond Hill will now be on the road as the No. 3 seed from the region against Greenbrier in the first round.