Ranked vs. Ranked when Oconee County soccer programs head to Jefferson Friday in key ranked matchups; a glance around Class 3A

The cream is rising to the top across the Class 3A Spring sports season and its worth glancing around at some of the action around the state to see where some of the best programs stand.

Oconee Countys (7-4, 2-0) boys soccer team is ranked No. 2 and will take on No. 8 Jefferson Friday on the road in a key Area 8 match. The Warriors are trying to right the ship after a 3-1 loss to Class 4A No. 5 St. Pius X Saturday. The Oconee County (7-4) girls are ranked No. 2 and will face No. 3 Jefferson for a chance to remain perfect (2-0) in Region 8. The Warriors lost to Class 1A-3A Private No. 6 Holy Innocents in a 4-2 shootout Monday after ending regulation tied at 0-0.

Top-ranked Northwest Whitfields boys soccer program extended its streak to nine victories after moving past Woodland-Cartersville (2-7) 3-0 Monday. The Bruins will play at Calhoun Thursday. Islands ranked No. 7 on the boys side is led by Evan Narvaez, who is leading the classification in points with 52 according to MaxPreps. He has 20 goals with 16 assists.

On the girls side of the 3A soccer season, top-ranked Dawson County (8-2, 4-1) plays at home against No. 3 Jefferson (7-2) in a key top-5 matchup. The Tigers are coming off a 2-0 victory against Pickens last Thursday. Harlem ranked No. 5 on the girls side is led by Kamryn Simmons, who has 24 goals o the season ahead of Bainbridges Addison Hill (22 goals) and Westside-Augustas Ama Darko (21 goals).

On the baseball field, No. 4 Peach County features Scout Willingham, who leads Class 3A according to MaxPreps in home runs with four. No. 10-ranked Cherokee Bluffs Bryce Fontenot, Sandy Creeks Grant Housley and Liberty Countys Glemon English each have three home runs. Housley leads the classification with 24 RBIs ahead of Peach Countys DJ Hudson (22 RBIs) and Sandy Creeks Noah Reid (18 RBIs). Stone Mountains Romando Craddock has a class-leading .636 batting average ahead of Monroes Jabraylen Mulkey (.625) and Spaldings Dashan Gilbert (.550).

An historic look back at a Class 3A championship feat In 1968-69, Athens Highs boys golf team scored a 310-stroke team total to win the Class 3A championship, the states highest class at the time. Athens beat out Baker (317), Dykes (319) and Jenkins (329). Jerry Blumberg led the Trojans with a 73 while John Brackett, Bill Coons and Jim McDonald each shot 79. Ronnie Busch from Baker led the individual scorers with an even-par 72. Athens won the Class 3A football championship during the 1969 season under head coach Weyman Sellers before consolidating into Clarke Central in 1970.

See the Class 3A Spring Sports rankings below.

Class 3A Boys Soccer Rankings

1. Northwest Whitfield

2. Oconee County

3. Whitewater

4. Chestatee

5. Johnson-Gainesville

6. West Laurens

7. Islands

8. Jefferson

9. LaGrange

10. Monroe Area

Class 3A Girls Soccer Rankings

1. Dawson County

2. Oconee County

3. Jefferson

4. Lumpkin County

5. Harlem

6. Richmond Academy

7. Sandy Creek

8. Southeast Bulloch

9. Long County

10. Northwest Whitfield

Class 3A Baseball Rankings

1. Harlem

2. Oconee County

3. LaGrange

4. Peach County

5. Pickens

6. North Hall

7. Troup

8. Dawson County

9. Whitewater

10. Cherokee Bluff