Following a 40-19 loss to Buford last week, Gainesville has dropped out of the Class AAA rankings in the Associated Press Georgia High School Football Poll, released Monday.

The Red Elephants, who are breaking in a slew of new starters after finishing last season as the state runner-up, were ranked at No. 7 in last week’s poll.

Meanwhile, North Hall slid up one spot to No. 9. The Trojans were off last week and will open their season Friday playing host to Jefferson, which edged Commerce 17-14 last week.

Buford remained at the top of the Class AA poll following the win over Gainesville. The Wolves will travel to Columbus to face No. 2 Carver on Friday.

Elsewhere around the state, the top teams held their ground in Class AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and A.

The closest race is in AAA, where Sandy Creek holds a one-point advantage over Peach County. Sandy Creek, which won the Class AAAA state title last season, opened with a 20-14 win over Whitewater, while Peach County defeated Warner Robins, 20-0.

Georgia Prep Football Poll

The Top Ten teams in the Associated Press Georgia high school football polls of the 2010 season with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

Class AAAAA

Record Pts Prv
1. Camden County (8) 1-0 98 1
2. Lowndes (2) 2-0 91 2
3. North Gwinnett 2-0 80 3
4. Newnan 1-0 65 4
5. Peachtree Ridge 1-0 63 5
6. Stephenson 1-0 43 6
7. Valdosta 1-0 33 7
8. McEachern 0-1 19 8
9. Collins Hill 1-0 15
10. Brookwood 1-0 13
Others receiving votes: Etowah 11, Woodstock 8, South Gwinnett 5, MLK Jr. 3, Grayson 1, Alpharetta 1, Roswell 1.

Class AAAA

Record Pts Prv
1. Northside-Warner Robins (99 1-0 99 1
2. Griffin 1-0 87 2
3. Clarke Central (1) 1-0 77 3
4. Tucker 1-0 67 4
5. Thomas County Central 1-0 59 5
6. Marist 1-0 50 6
7. Kell 1-0 44 9
8. Apalachee 1-0 19 10
9. Rockdale County 1-0 18 7
10. Hiram 1-0 15
Others receiving votes: Lakeside-Evans 4, Loganville 2, North Clayton 2, Creekview 2, Flowery Branch 2, Warner Robins 1, Statesboro 1, Pope 1.

Class AAA

Record Pts Prv
1. Sandy Creek (6) 1-0 95 1
2. Peach County (4) 1-0 94 2
3. Cairo 1-0 79 3
4. Westside-Macon 1-0 70 5
5. Baldwin 1-0 47 8
6. Washington County 1-0 42 4
7. Carrollton 1-0 36
8. Eastside 1-0 29 9
9. North Hall 0-0 26 10
10. Grady 1-0 10
Others receiving votes: Ridgeland 9, St. Pius X 5, Worth County 2, LaGrange 2, Butler 2, Cartersville 1, Gainesville 1.

Class AA

Record Pts Prv
1. Buford (8) 1-0 98 1
2. Carver-Columbus (2) 1-0 91 2
3. Calhoun 1-0 75 4
4. Cook 1-0 60 7
5. Westminster 1-0 59 8
6. Dublin 1-0 56 6
7. Thomasville 1-1 28 5
8. Fitzgerald 1-1 25 3
9. Jefferson County 0-1 18
10. Callaway 1-0 15
Others receiving votes: Swainsboro 9, Lovett 6, Jefferson 4, Hart County 3, Elbert County 2, Vidalia 1.

Class A

Record Pts Prv
1. Wilcox County (6) 1-0 96 1
2. Charlton County (4) 1-0 92 2
3. Wesleyan 1-0 79 3
4. Clinch County 1-0 67 5
5. Savannah Christian Prep. 1-0 59 6
6. Lincoln County 0-1 37 4
7. Darlington 1-0 23
8. Eagle's Landing 1-0 22 9
9. Twiggs County 1-1 18 8
10. Johnson County 1-0 14
Others receiving votes: Holy Innocents' 12, Emanuel County Institute 12, Bremen 7, Warren County 5, George Walton 4, Aquinas 2, Wilkinson County 1.

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All Associated Press members in Georgia are eligible to participate in the high school football poll. Those who voted for this week's poll are: Augusta Chronicle, Augusta; Brunswick News, Brunswick; Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus; Daily Citizen, Dalton; Times, Gainesville; Gwinnett Daily Post, Lawrenceville; Marietta Daily Journal, Marietta; Telegraph, Macon; Rome News-Tribune, Rome; Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta.