Lynn takes over 1A top spot in ASWA football poll

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA 

After being a unanimous No. 1 for the last three weeks, Linden found itself looking up at another team this week as Lynn took over the top spot in Class 1A of the Alabama Sports Writers Association's high school football poll.

After taking over the top spot in Week 1 from preseason favorite Sweet Water, Linden held a firm lock - until this week when the Patriots dropped a 20-14 decision to Class 5A Gulf Shores.

Lynn, by virtue of its 14-7 win over South Lamar, stepped into the top spot from No. 2 by a 314-257 margin with 17 first-place votes to Linden's 10.

The leaders in the six other divisions remained the same in this week's poll of prep writers from around the state, but none is a unanimous choice - the first time that has happened since the first week of the 2010 season.

Class 6A Daphne, 5A Hueytown, and 4A Thomasville received 30 of a possible 31 votes. Class 3A Piedmont, 2A Elba and AISA leader Edgewood Academy all received at least 26 first-place votes.

Only the AISA has games between two teams in the top 10 this week, as No. 4 Bessemer Academy hosts No. 7 Autauga Academy and No. 5 Monroe Academy hosts No. 8 Lee-Scott.

CLASS 6A

1. Daphne (30) (7-0) 369

2. Hoover (1) (7-0)  279

3. Clay-Chalkville (7-0)  238

4. Mountain Brook (7-0)  217

5. Bob Jones (7-0)  172

6. McGill-Toolen (7-0)  131

7. Blount (7-0)  119

8. Prattville (5-2)  63

9. Northridge (7-0)  60

10. Central-Phenix City (6-1)  38

Others receiving votes: Auburn (5-1) 27, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (7-0) 22, Opelika (5-1) 15, Fairhope (6-1) 9, Oxford (5-2) 6, Austin (6-1) 1, Murphy (4-3) 1.

CLASS 5A

1. Hueytown (30) (7-0)  369

2. Hartselle (1) (7-0)  276

3. Briarwood Chr. (6-1)  248

4. St. Paul's (6-1)  217

5. Muscle Shoals (6-1)  167

6. Fort Payne (6-1)  123

7. Vigor (5-2)  96

8. Fairfield (6-1)  84

9. Eufaula (6-1)  71

10. Valley (6-1)  58

Others receiving votes: Center Point (6-1) 21, Cullman (6-1) 14, Greenville (6-1) 9, Spanish Fort (5-2) 7, Etowah (5-2) 5, McAdory (5-2) 2.

CLASS 4A

1. Thomasville (30) (7-0)  368

2. Jackson (1) (7-0)  267

3. Dadeville (7-0)  241

4. North Jackson (7-0)  206

5. Deshler (7-0)  192

6. Bibb Co. (7-0)  155

7. Andalusia (7-0)  145

8. Beauregard (7-0)  83  

9. Guntersville (6-1)  66

10. Dora (6-1)  27

Others receiving votes: Fayette Co. (6-1) 10, Oneonta (6-1) 5, Fairview (6-1) 2.

CLASS 3A

1. Piedmont (26) (7-0)  354

2. Hamilton (1) (7-0)  275

3. Handley (4) (7-0)  266
4. Leeds (6-1)  205

5. Bayside Acad. (7-0)  189

6. Clay Co. (6-1)  161

7. Sardis (7-0)  104

8. Hanceville (7-0)  100

9. Rogers (6-1)  31

10. Gordo (5-2)  28

Others receiving votes: T.R. Miller (5-2) 24, Trinity (5-2) 8, Saks (6-1) 5, Washington Co. (5-2) 4, Lauderdale Co. (6-1) 3, Madison Acad. (5-2) 3, Opp (5-2) 3, Glencoe (5-2) 2, Abbeville (6-1) 2.

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (28) (7-0)  360

2. Fyffe (1) (7-0)  269

3. Tanner (7-0)  247        

4. American Chr. (2) (6-1)  229

5. Red Bay (7-0)  184

6. N. Sand Mountain (6-1)  135

7. Vincent (6-1)  104

8. Flomaton (6-1)  50      

9. Leroy (4-3)  46

10. Reeltown (5-2)  44    

Others receiving votes: G.W. Long (6-1) 20, Lineville (5-2) 18, Oakman (5-2) 18, Randolph Co. (5-2) 16, Ider (6-1) 12, Colbert Hts. (5-2) 5, LaFayette (5-2) 5, Fultondale (5-2) 2, Mobile Chr. (4-3) 2, Zion Chapel (5-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Lynn (17) (7-0)  314

2. Linden (10) (6-1)  257

3. Brantley (1) (6-0)  233

4. Collinsville (1) (7-0)  231

5. Maplesville (2) (7-0)  220

6. Addison (7-0)  161

7. Ragland (6-0)  120

8. Sweet Water (4-3)  86

9. Marion Co. (7-0)  65

10. Pickens Co. (6-1)  45

Others receiving votes: Winterboro (7-0) 26, St. Jude (5-1) 4, Berry (6-1) 2, R.A. Hubbard (4-3) 2, McIntosh (5-2) 1.

AISA

1. Edgewood Acad. (26) (7-0)  357

2. Tuscaloosa Acad. (4) (7-0)  253

3. Crenshaw Chr. (7-0)  227

4. Bessemer Acad. (1) (7-1)  216

5. Monroe Acad. (7-1)  178

6. Springwood (6-1)  171

7. Autauga Acad. (8-0)  126

8. Lee-Scott (6-1)  107

9. Jackson Acad. (6-1)  60

10. Patrician (5-2)  40

Others receiving votes: Evangel Chr.-Montgomery (6-1) 12, Glenwood (5-3) 10, Fort Dale (4-3) 8, Clarke Prep (5-2) 2.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry, Chairman, Freelance (Birmingham); Josh Bean, Co-Chairman, Mobile Press-Register; Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Nick Birdsong, Anniston Star; Chandler Myers, Atmore Advance; Robert Ladnier, Baldwin Register; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Stan Veitch, Cullman Times; Jonathon Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Jason Bowen, Daily Sentinel; Cody Whitlock, Decatur Daily; Jeremy Smith, Demopolis Times; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Kim Craft, Gadsden Times; Mike Easterling, Huntsville Times; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Jonathan Deal, Moulton Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Jason Galloway, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home.Alex Scarborough, Tuscaloosa News; Griffin Pritchard, Wetumpka Herald.