ASWA preseason polls feature several west Alabama teams

August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 WAW Admin Alabama, Alabama Sports Writers Association, ASWA, Demopolis, Linden, Marengo, Patrician Academy, Sweet Water

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Jacory Brown cuts through a gaping hole in the Pickens County defense during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Tornadoes.

Teams around west Alabama are on the radar of the Alabama Sports Writers Association as the preseason prep football polls have rolled out.

Demopolis opens the year at No. 5 in Class 5A, a season after they finished a two-point conversion shy of making the state championship game. The Tigers were 11-3 in 2017 and open play Friday, Aug. 24 at Tuscaloosa County.

Sitting atop the 5A poll is reigning state champ Briarwood Christian, which garnered all 31 first place votes. Etowah, Vigor, and Carroll-Ozark occupy slots 2-4. St. Clair County, Wenonah and Tallassee sit at 6-8. Danny Powell’s Jackson squad comes in at No. 9 after going 5-5 a season ago. Beauregard rounds out the Top 10.

12-7-17 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Sweet Water’s Chance Broussard (48), De’Shawnterion Blanks (52) and Kaleb Greene (13) take down Pickens County’s Ta’Darien McIntosh during the Bulldogs’ AHSAA Class 1A State Championship win over the Tornadoes.

The reigning Class 1A state champions of Sweet Water debut at No. 2 in their classification. The Bulldogs, who went 13-1 a season ago with the lone loss coming to then Class 4A Thomasville, received one of 31 first place votes in the ranking. The other 30 went to Lanett, which went 15-0 and won the Class 2A state championship a season ago but drops to 1A for the next two campaigns.

Joining Sweet Water in the Top 10 of the classification are county compatriots Linden High (No. 5) and Marengo (No. 10). Last year’s runner-up from Class 1A, Pickens County, is tied for third in the poll with St. Luke’s, which dropped to 1A after a 10-2 season at 2A in 2017. The ranking also includes Elba (No. 9), which dropped from 2A as well.

In the AISA, reigning Class A champion Patrician Academy comes in at No. 7, one spot ahead of their foe from that title game, Chambers Academy. The top of the AISA ranking is dominated by some of the association’s larger schools. Autauga Academy sits at No. 1 with 28 first place votes. Tuscaloosa Academy (No. 2) has two first place votes while Monroe Academy (No. 4) garnered one first place vote.

Other west Alabama squads featured prominently include Leroy at No. 1 in Class 2A with 18 of 31 first place votes, Thomasville at No. 7 in 3A and Clarke County at No. 9 in 4A. The polls appear below in their entirety.

(Photo by Johnny Autery)
Patriot Graderius Brown (5) leaps over Bulldog defender Shamar Lewis deep in Sweet Water territory.

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Hoover (27); 11-3; 358
Thompson (3); 12-1; 258
Central-Phenix City (1); 11-1; 241
McGill-Toolen; 13-1; 219
Hewitt-Trussville; 11-1; 214
Bob Jones; 7-4; 124
Auburn; 10-2; 123
Spain Park; 6-5; 60
Austin*; 12-1; 57
James Clemens; 3-7; 53

Others receiving votes: Lee-Montgomery (7-4) 27, Jeff Davis (5-6) 17, Sparkman (7-4) 6, Enterprise (2-8) 4, Fairhope (8-3) 2, Gadsden City (3-7) 2, Mountain Brook (8-4) 1, Theodore (6-5) 1.

*–Austin played in 6A last season.

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Pinson Valley (31); 15-0; 372
Wetumpka; 13-2; 246
Spanish Fort; 11-2; 224
Oxford; 12-1; 173
Clay-Chalkville; 11-3; 172
Opelika; 9-4; 104
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 10-4; 94
Saraland; 8-4; 71
Eufaula*; 9-3; 49
Homewood; 10-2; 48

Others receiving votes: Muscle Shoals (9-3) 46, St. Paul’s* (14-1) 46, Hueytown (5-6) 36, Daphne (8-3) 27, Park Crossing (10-2) 18, Calera* (7-5) 17, Jackson-Olin (6-4) 17, Pelham (5-6) 6, Benjamin Russell (7-4) 1.

*–Eufaula, St. Paul’s and Calera played in 5A last season.

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Briarwood (31); 14-1; 372
Etowah; 11-2; 256
Vigor; 9-4; 231
Carroll-Ozark; 11-1; 158
Demopolis; 11-3; 154
St. Clair Co.; 10-4; 152
Wenonah; 10-2; 138
Tallassee*; 10-2; 91
Jackson; 5-5; 48
Beauregard; 10-2; 41

Others receiving votes: Dora* (9-3) 39, Alexandria (8-3) 26, Madison Academy* (7-4) 26, Ramsay* (7-5) 16, Charles Henderson (6-5) 10, Munford* (9-2) 5, Bibb Co.* (11-2) 2, Central-Clay Co. (8-4) 2.

*–Ramsay played in 6A last season. Tallassee, Dora, Madison Academy, Munford and Bibb Co. played in 4A.

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

UMS-Wright (30); 13-2; 369
Hillcrest-Evergreen* (1); 14-1; 246
Fayette Co.; 12-3; 234
Andalusia; 12-2; 197
Hokes Bluff; 10-3; 155
Catholic-Montgomery; 10-2; 125
Brooks*; 8-3; 107
W.S. Neal; 6-6; 91
Clarke Co.*; 11-3; 61
Dale Co.; 7-4; 56

Others receiving votes: Leeds (7-4) 52, Deshler (7-4) 36, Alabama Christian (10-3) 13, North Jackson (2-8) 13, West Morgan* (10-2) 6, Williamson* (7-4) 3, Jacksonville (8-4) 2, Handley (2-8) 1.

*–Brooks and Williamson played in 5A last season. Hillcrest-Evergreen, Clarke Co. and West Morgan played in 3A.

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Randolph Co. (15); 13-2; 295
Mobile Christian (10); 9-4; 289
Gordo (2); 10-2; 214
Fultondale (3); 11-1; 194
Piedmont; 12-2; 171
Saks* (1); 13-1; 155
Thomasville*; 7-4; 134
Pike Co.; 8-3; 87
Wicksburg; 10-2; 57
St. James*; 8-4; 52

Others receiving votes: Oakman (8-4) 51, Sylvania (11-2) 21, T.R. Miller (5-5) 20, Lauderdale Co. (6-5) 8, Westminster-Huntsville* (6-5) 8, Weaver (7-5) 7, Prattville Christian (3-8) 3, Plainview (9-2) 1.

*–Saks, Thomasville, St. James and Westminster-Huntsville played in 4A last season.

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Leroy (18); 12-3; 333
Fyffe (13); 12-1; 313
Luverne; 10-3; 220
Ariton; 10-2; 148
LaFayette; 9-3; 126
Reeltown; 7-5; 125
Ohatchee*; 8-3; 119
Goshen; 12-2; 118
Sulligent; 12-2; 60
Aliceville; 7-5; 48

Others receiving votes: Thorsby (8-3) 33, Abbeville (9-3) 26, Addison* (10-3) 23, North Sand Mountain* (8-3) 21, Cedar Bluff* (8-4) 18, Daleville* (6-5) 11, Vincent (5-5) 10, New Brockton (5-6) 6, Collinsville (4-6) 4, Houston Co.* (8-3) 4, J.U. Blacksher (6-5) 1.

*–Ohatchee, North Sand Mountain and Daleville played in 3A last season. Addison, Cedar Bluff and Houston Co. played in 1A.

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Lanett* (30); 15-0; 369
Sweet Water (1); 13-1; 260

3 (tie). Pickens Co.; 12-3; 199

3 (tie). St. Luke’s*; 10-2; 199

Linden; 7-4; 140
Maplesville; 11-1; 135
Brantley; 8-4; 118
South Lamar; 10-4; 95
Elba*; 8-3; 75
Marengo; 9-4; 47

Others receiving votes: Millry (5-6) 24, Falkville* (7-4) 18, Hackleburg (10-2) 16, Lynn (11-1) 16, Mars Hill Bible* (7-4) 15, Isabella (10-2) 12, Spring Garden (8-4) 11, Georgiana (11-1) 8, Decatur Heritage (8-3) 4, Florala (3-6) 4, Wadley (12-1) 2.

*–Lanett, St. Luke’s, Elba, Falkville and Mars Hill Bible played in 2A last season.

AISA

Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts

Autauga Academy (28); 12-1; 362
Tuscaloosa Academy (2); 8-2; 281
Escambia Academy; 12-1; 244
Monroe Academy (1); 13-0; 213
Bessemer Academy; 8-6; 184
Glenwood; 7-5; 152
Patrician; 9-4; 99
Chambers Academy; 12-1; 96
Pike Liberal Arts; 7-5; 82
Lakeside; 7-4; 29

Others receiving votes: Cornerstone-Columbiana (6-5) 10, Coosa Valley (3-8) 8, Pickens Academy (6-4) 4, Abbeville Christian (5-8) 2, Success Unlimited (new team) 1.

VOTING PANEL

Alec Etheredge, Shelby Co. Reporter

Andrew Garner, Atmore Advance

Ben Thomas, AL.com Mobile

Caleb Turrentine, Wetumpka Herald

Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger

Cody Dowler, Fort Payne Times-Journal

Craig Thomas, Florence TimesDaily

Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times

David Elwell, Decatur Daily

David Mundee, Dothan Eagle

J.J. Hicks, Gadsden Times