Mobile Christian, UMS-Wright take over as No. 1 in ASWA high school football poll

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA 

For the last five weeks of the high school football season, turnover at the top of the Alabama Sports Writers Association's weekly poll has been few and far between.

Not only did that change in this week's poll with two new teams taking over the No. 1 spot in their respective classes, but the upcoming schedule offers the possibility of more shakeups at the upper levels.

UMS-Wright and Mobile Christian moved into the top spot in Class 4A and 2A respectively in this week's poll. UMS took over at No. 1 thanks to a one-point loss by Calera at No. 4 Bibb County; Mobile Christian moved up with Washington County's 35-32 loss to No. 9 Sweet Water.

Class 6A Hoover joined Class 3A Madison Academy as the poll's unanimous No. 1 teams, as both earned all 31 first-place votes from this week's panel. Class 5A Spanish Fort, 1A Pickens County and AISA's Edgewood Academy held on to their spots at the top as well.

The turnover might not be finished yet, as three top teams - including the newly minted ones - play ranked opponents. UMS is at No. 6 Andalusia, while Mobile Christian hosts No. 6 Washington County. The third pairing is Class 1A No. 1 Pickens County playing at No. 5 Marion County.

Other matchups involving ranked teams include Class 6A No. 4 Vestavia Hills hosting No. 5 Shades Valley, Class 3A No. 2 Piedmont is at No. 7 Saks and No. 5 Straughn at No. 3 T.R. Miller, Class 1A No. 4 Addison at No. 6 Falkville, and AISA No. 5 Bessemer Academy at No. 6 Fort Dale Academy.

ASWA High School Football Poll
Week 7

(First place votes and record in parentheses).

Others receiving votes: Blount (6-1) 35, Tuscaloosa Co. (6-1) 12, Oxford (5-2) 5, Murphy (6-1) 3, Daphne (5-2) 1, Fairhope (6-1) 1, Florence (5-2) 1, Gadsden City (3-4) 1, Prattville (4-2) 1.

Others receiving votes: St. Paul's (5-2) 23, Etowah (6-1) 13, Pleasant Grove (6-1) 9, Briarwood Chr. (5-2) 2, Hartselle (5-2) 2, Vigor (5-2) 2, Walker (5-2) 1.

Others receiving votes: Munford (6-1) 12, Guntersville (6-1) 7, Beauregard (5-2) 4, Central-Florence (6-1) 3, Jemison (6-1) 2, Haleyville (6-1) 1, Hillcrest-Evergreen (4-3) 1.

Others receiving votes: Hamilton (6-1) 10, Lauderdale Co. (5-2) 3, Hanceville (6-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: G.W. Long (6-1) 36, Houston Acad. (6-1) 9, Lexington (6-1) 7, Lamar Co. (6-1) 5, Reeltown (4-3) 4, Aliceville (5-2) 2, Isabella (6-1) 2, Red Bay (5-2) 2, Montgomery Acad. (6-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Ragland (5-1) 8, Berry (4-3) 5, R.A. Hubbard (5-2) 4, Collinsville (6-1) 3, Fayetteville (5-2) 3, Autaugaville (5-2) 2, Geneva Co. (5-2) 1.

Others receiving votes: Patrician (6-2) 13, Escambia Acad. (6-2) 11, Wilcox Acad. (5-2) 7, Macon-East (3-4) 5, Abbeville Chr. (6-2) 1, Clarke Prep (4-3) 1.