Region showdowns abound among ranked teams 

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA

 If the adage about saving the best for last is true, the last full week of Alabama High School Athletic Association region play fits the bill.

 Seven games between ranked teams in this week's Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football poll can determine region champions and three more feature at least one ranked team squaring off against an opponent without a region loss - or undefeated on the season.

 Every top-ranked team held their spot as voted on by the panel of high school writers from around the state, setting Class 4A features three key matchups, highlighted by No. 1 Thomasville at No. 2 Jackson to decide the Region 1 title. But the two aren't the only undefeated teams as No. 3 Dadeville is at No. 8 Beauregard to claim the Region 3 title, while No. 4 North Jackson (8-0, 6-0) is at No. 10 Fairview (7-1, 5-1) to decide the Region 7 crown. 

Class 6A also features two games between unbeaten teams to decide region titles - No. 2 Hoover at No. 4 Mountain Brook in Region 6 and No. 1 Daphne at No. 6 McGill-Toolen in Region 2. In addition, Region 5 features a title game between unbeaten Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa hosting No. 8 Northridge. 

Class 3A features No. 8 Hanceville at No. 2 Hamilton as the two teams will decide the Region 5 title, while No. 3 Handley needs a win over No. 4 and once-beaten Leeds to clinch the Region 3 title. In Class 2A, No. 7 Vincent is at No. 4 American Christian to determine the Region 4 title. 

Two other games feature undefeated and ranked teams playing for a region title: Class 5A No. 2 Hartselle is at Cullman for the Region 6 title and Class 1A No. 1 Lynn is at Marion County for a chance at an outright Region 5 crown.

CLASS 6A

1. Daphne (29) (8-0) 366

2. Hoover (1) (8-0)  277

3. Clay-Chalkville (1) (8-0)  245

4. Mountain Brook (8-0)  214

5. Bob Jones (8-0)  175

6. McGill-Toolen (8-0)  143

7. Blount (8-0)  125

8. Northridge (8-0)  69

9. Prattville (6-2)  67

10. Central-Phenix City (7-1)  38

Others receiving votes: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (8-0) 17, Opelika (6-1) 13, Auburn (6-1) 12, Oxford (6-2) 6.

CLASS 5A

1. Hueytown (30) (8-0)  369

2. Hartselle (1) (8-0)  276

3. Briarwood Chr. (7-1)  247

4. St. Paul's (7-1)  216

5. Muscle Shoals (7-1)  165

6. Fort Payne (7-1)  133

7. Vigor (6-2)  109

8. Fairfield (7-1)  80

9. Eufaula (7-1)  68

10. Valley (7-1)  53

Others receiving votes: Center Point (7-1) 25, Cullman (7-1) 14, Etowah (6-2) 5, Greenville (7-1) 5, McAdory (6-2) 2.

CLASS 4A

1. Thomasville (30) (8-0)  369

2. Jackson (1) (8-0)  268

3. Dadeville (8-0)  239

4. North Jackson (8-0)  213

5. Deshler (8-0)  190

6. Bibb Co. (8-0)  158

7. Andalusia (8-0)  140

8. Beauregard (8-0)  87  

9. Guntersville (7-1)  72

10. Fairview (7-1)  22

Others receiving votes: Greene Co. (6-2) 3, Midfield (5-3) 3, Anniston (5-3) 1, Fayette Co. (6-2) 1, UMS-Wright (5-3) 1.

CLASS 3A

1. Piedmont (27) (8-0)  357

2. Hamilton (1) (8-0)  276

3. Handley (3) (8-0)  263
4. Leeds (7-1)  204

5. Bayside Acad. (8-0)  188

6. Clay Co. (7-1)  159

7. Sardis (8-0)  106

8. Hanceville (8-0)  104

9. Gordo (6-2)  53

10. T.R. Miller (6-2)  29

Others receiving votes: Lauderdale Co. (7-1) 16, Opp (6-2) 5, Madison Acad. (6-2) 3, Glencoe (6-2) 1, Saks (6-2) 1, Sheffield (6-2) 1, Washington Co. (6-2) 1.

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (29) (8-0)  363

2. Fyffe (1) (8-0)  271

3. Tanner (8-0)  249        

4. American Chr. (1) (7-1)  227

5. Red Bay (8-0)  188

6. N. Sand Mountain (7-1)  136

7. Vincent (7-1)  117

8. Flomaton (7-1)  75      

9. Leroy (5-3)  59

10. Reeltown (6-2)  35    

Others receiving votes: G.W. Long (7-1) 16, Lineville (6-2) 12, Randolph Co. (6-2) 9, Oakman (6-2) 5, Colbert Hts. (6-2) 3, Fultondale (6-2) 1, Zion Chapel (6-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Lynn (17) (8-0)  315

2. Linden (11) (7-1)  307

3. Brantley (1) (7-0)  240

4. Collinsville (1) (8-0)  212

5. Maplesville (1) (8-0)  200

6. Addison (8-0)  156

7. Ragland (7-0)  120

8. Sweet Water (5-3)  96

9. Pickens Co. (7-1)  58

10. Winterboro (8-0)  36

Others receiving votes: Berry (7-1) 11, Marion Co. (7-1) 9, R.A. Hubbard (5-3) 3, St. Jude (6-1) 2, Donoho (5-2) 1, Shoals Chr. (6-2) 1.

AISA

1. Edgewood Acad. (24) (8-0)  351

2. Tuscaloosa Acad. (6) (8-0)  286

3. Bessemer Acad. (1) (8-1)  230

4. Crenshaw Chr. (8-0)  219

5. Monroe Acad. (8-1)  187

6. Springwood (7-1)  167

7. Jackson Acad. (7-1)  115

8t. Patrician (6-2)  77

8t. Autauga Acad. (8-1)  77

10. Lee-Scott (6-2)  25

Others receiving votes: Glenwood (6-3) 15, Clarke Prep (6-2) 12, Fort Dale (4-4) 4, Evangel Chr.-Montgomery (6-2) 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.