Hoover returns to the top spot in ASWA's Class 7A high school football poll

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA

      After its second-straight loss to open the season - all against out-of-state opponents - Hoover's football team found itself in a place it hadn't been in two seasons: anywhere but first in the Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football poll.

      But three-straight wins by the Bucs against Class 7A, Region 3 opponents coupled with a convincing loss to Gadsden City by top-ranked Bob Jones on Friday has allowed Hoover to return to the No. 1 spot in this week's poll.

      The Bucs, who are idle this week before facing rival Spain Park on Oct. 3, lead three unbeaten teams in the Class 7A poll - No. 2 Fairhope, which picked up eight first-place votes, No. 3 Gadsden City and No. 4 Central-Phenix City. Both the Titans and Red Devils had one first-place vote from the state's sports writers in this week's poll, as did Bob Jones, which fell to fifth.

      In the rest of the classes, Class 4A Leeds and Class 5A St. Paul's remain unanimous selections at No. 1, while the AISA's Edgewood Academy has 30 of 31 votes.

      The closest race comes in Class 2A where No.1 Fyffe has a 332-297 lead over No. 2 Washington County. Hoover has the second-tightest margin with 327-285 over Fairhope, and Class 1A Brantley holds a 348-303 lead over No. 2 Maplesville. Spanish Fort holds a 74-point lead over Clay-Chalkville in Class 6A.

      In games involving two ranked teams, every AHSAA matchup involves teams playing out of class -- Including three No. 1 teams.

      Class 7A No. 4 Central-Phenix City hosts Class 6A No. 4 Opelika, Class 7A No. 5 Bob Jones hosts Class 6A No. 10 Florence, No. 7 Prattville hosts Class 6A No. 5 Carver-Montgomery, Class 6A No. 8 Saraland at Class 4A No. 4 Thomasville, Class 5A No.1 St. Paul's at Class 1A No. 8 Linden, Class 5A No. 10 at Class 4A No. 6 Straughn, Class 4A No. 1 Leeds at Class 3A No. 6 Piedmont, Class 3A No. 10 Aliceville at Class 2A No. 6 Pickens County, Class 2A No. 2 Washington County at Class 1A No. 9 Millry, Class 2A No. 3 Tanner at Class 1A No. 2 Maplesville, AISA No. 2 Bessemer Academy at No. 5 Restoration, and No. 3 Monroe Academy hosts No. 8 Autauga Academy.

Class 7A
1. Hoover (20) (3-2)     327
2. Fairhope (8) (5-0)     285
3. Gadsden City (1) (5-0)     252
4. Central-Phenix City (1) (5-0)     243
5. Bob Jones (1) (3-1)     182
6. Foley (4-1)     163
7. Prattville (3-1)     89
8. Oak Mountain (3-1)     66
9. Smiths Station (4-1)     30
10. Spain Park (3-2)     21
Others receiving votes: Baker (4-1) 19, Murphy (3-1) 19, James Clemens (3-1) 17, Tuscaloosa Co. (3-1) 12, Hewitt-Trussville (2-2) 11, Huntsville (3-1) 10, Buckhorn (3-1) 7, Mountain Brook (2-2) 7, Vestavia Hills (2-2) 4, Enterprise (2-2) 3.

Class 6A
1. Spanish Fort (27) (5-0)     358
2. Clay-Chalkville (3) (5-0)     284
3. Shades Valley (1) (5-0)     248
4. Opelika (4-0)     219
5. Carver-Montgomery (4-0)     193
6. Daphne (3-1)     147
7. Blount (3-1)     101
8. Saraland (3-1)     61
9. Decatur (4-1)     51
10. Florence (2-2)     39
Others receiving votes: McAdory (4-0) 22, Chelsea (4-0) 16, Dothan (3-1) 10, Benjamin Russell (4-1) 7, Fort Payne (4-0) 5, Muscle Shoals (2-2) 3, Hartselle (3-1) 2, Gardendale (3-1) 1.

Class 5A
1. St. Paul's (31) (5-0)     372
2. Guntersville (4-0)     262
3. Jackson (3-1)     234
4. Mortimer Jordan (4-0)     208
5. Russellville (4-0)     191
6. Ramsay (4-0)     120
7. Vigor (2-2)     115
8. Parker (4-0)     98
9. East Limestone (4-0)     73
10. Beauregard (3-0)     32
Others receiving votes:  Tallassee (4-1) 28, West Point (4-0) 14, Demopolis (3-1) 9, Calera (3-1) 4, Central-Clay Co. (2-3) 2, Fairfield (3-1) 2, Lincoln (3-1) 2, Greenville (2-2) 1.

Class 4A
1. Leeds (31) (5-0)     372
2. UMS-Wright (4-0)     279
3. Saks (4-0)     241
4. Thomasville (5-0)     223
5. Jacksonville (5-0)     164
6. Straughn (3-1)     125
7. Fayette Co. (4-1)     118
8. St. James (4-0)     84
9. Oneonta (3-1)     72
10. Haleyville (4-1)     28
Others receiving votes: Wilson (5-0) 21, Deshler (3-1) 16, Ashford (5-0) 14, Munford (3-2) 5, Dadeville (2-2) 3, West Blocton (4-0) 2.

Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (24) (4-1)     349
2. T.R. Miller (7) (5-0)     300
3. Dale Co. (5-0)     233
4. Glencoe (4-0)     231
5. Gordo (4-0)     165
6. Piedmont (3-1)     139
7. Lauderdale Co. (4-1)     131
8. Montgomery Acad. (4-0)     74
9. Pike Co. (2-1)     68
10. Aliceville (5-0)     28
Others receiving votes: Oakman (4-0) 18, Colbert Co. (2-2) 17, Geraldine (3-1) 5, Fultondale (4-1) 4, Opp (3-1) 2, Walter Wellborn (2-2) 2, Winfield (4-1) 1.

Class 2A
1. Fyffe (19) (4-0)     332
2. Washington Co. (7) (4-0)     297
3. Tanner (5) (4-1)     268
4. G.W. Long (4-0)     212
5. Reeltown (4-0)     185
6. Pickens Co. (3-1)     134
7. Geneva Co. (4-0)     116
8. Ranburne (4-0)     94
9. Leroy (4-0)     47
10. Sweet Water (2-2)     40
Others receiving votes: Elba (4-0) 15, Addison (3-2) 12, Red Bay (4-1) 4, Woodland (3-1) 4, Lanett (2-3) 3, Cleveland (3-1) 2, Hatton (3-1) 1, Vincent (2-2) 1.

Class 1A
1. Brantley (23) (4-0)     348
2. Maplesville (8) (4-0)     303
3. Hubbertville (4-0)     244
4. Ragland (4-0)     207
5. Donoho (4-0)     149
6. A.L. Johnson (3-1)     144
7. McKenzie (4-0)     122
8. Linden (1-2)     96
9. Millry (4-0)     64
10. Berry (3-1)     20
Others receiving votes: Georgiana (3-2) 14, Isabella (3-0) 12, J.U. Blacksher (4-0) 11, Hackleburg (3-1) 9, R.A. Hubbard (3-2) 7, Wadley (3-1) 5, Phillips (4-1) 4, Spring Garden (3-1) 4, Ellwood Chr. (3-1) 2, Florala (3-1) 1, Kinston (2-2) 1.

AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (30) (4-0)     369
2. Bessemer Acad. (4-0)     268
3. Monroe Acad. (1) (5-0)     262
4. Escambia Acad. (3-0)     196
5. Restoration (3-1)     179
6. Marengo Acad. (2-1)     168
7. Wilcox Acad. (3-1)     109
8. Autauga Acad. (3-1)     86
9. Abbeville Chr.(5-0)     67
10. S. Choctaw Acad. (3-1)     24
Others receiving votes: Tuscaloosa Acad. (3-1) 14, Clarke Prep (2-1) 10, Sparta Acad. (4-0) 8, Lakeside (3-1) 5, Pike Liberal (4-1) 2.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry (Chairman), Alabama Media Group; Ed Bailey, Alexander City Outlook; Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Jonathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Brandon Miller, Anniston Star; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Newton Peters, Florala News; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Jeremy Smith, Freelance (Demopolis); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; J.J. Hicks, Gadsden Times; Brent Maze, Hartselle Enquirer; Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times; Ben Thomas, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Tom Green, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Jason Bowen, Scottsboro Daily Sentinel; Daniel Evans, Selma Times-Journal; Griffin Pritchard, Tallassee Tribune; Joey Chandler, Tuscaloosa News.  Not voting: Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Cory Diaz, Wetumpka Herald.