Neal, EA ranked in ASWA preseason poll
Published 11:00 pm Sunday, August 5, 2018
Two Escambia County area football teams made the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason prep football poll, which was released today.
In Class 4A, W.S. Neal, who finished 6-6 in 2017, is ranked No. 8.
In AISA, defending Class 2A state champion Escambia Academy is at No. 3 in the top 10.
The full poll is below, including first place votes and how the teams faired in 2017:
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place); 2017 W-L; Pts
1. Hoover (27); 11-3; 358
2. Thompson (3); 12-1; 258
3. Central-Phenix City (1); 11-1; 241
4. McGill-Toolen; 13-1; 219
5. Hewitt-Trussville; 11-1; 214
6. Bob Jones; 7-4; 124
7. Auburn; 10-2; 123
8. Spain Park; 6-5; 60
9. Austin*; 12-1; 57
10. 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
1. Pinson Valley (31); 15-0; 372
2. Wetumpka; 13-2; 246
3. Spanish Fort; 11-2; 224
4. Oxford; 12-1; 173
5. Clay-Chalkville; 11-3; 172
6. Opelika; 9-4; 104
7. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 10-4; 94
8. Saraland; 8-4; 71
9. Eufaula*; 9-3; 49
10. 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
1. Briarwood (31); 14-1; 372
2. Etowah; 11-2; 256
3. Vigor; 9-4; 231
4. Carroll-Ozark; 11-1; 158
5. Demopolis; 11-3; 154
6. St. Clair Co.; 10-4; 152
7. Wenonah; 10-2; 138
8. Tallassee*; 10-2; 91
9. Jackson; 5-5; 48
10. 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
1. UMS-Wright (30); 13-2; 369
2. Hillcrest-Evergreen* (1); 14-1; 246
3. Fayette Co.; 12-3; 234
4. Andalusia; 12-2; 197
5. Hokes Bluff; 10-3; 155
6. Catholic-Montgomery; 10-2; 125
7. Brooks*; 8-3; 107
8. W.S. Neal; 6-6; 91
9. Clarke Co.*; 11-3; 61
10. 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
1. Randolph Co. (15); 13-2; 295
2. Mobile Christian (10); 9-4; 289
3. Gordo (2); 10-2; 214
4. Fultondale (3); 11-1; 194
5. Piedmont; 12-2; 171
6. Saks* (1); 13-1; 155
7. Thomasville*; 7-4; 134
8. Pike Co.; 8-3; 87
9. Wicksburg; 10-2; 57
10. 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
1. Leroy (18); 12-3; 333
2. Fyffe (13); 12-1; 313
3. Luverne; 10-3; 220
4. Ariton; 10-2; 148
5. LaFayette; 9-3; 126
6. Reeltown; 7-5; 125
7. Ohatchee*; 8-3; 119
8. Goshen; 12-2; 118
9. Sulligent; 12-2; 60
10. 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
1. Lanett* (30); 15-0; 369
2. Sweet Water (1); 13-1; 260
3 (tie). Pickens Co.; 12-3; 199
3 (tie). St. Luke’s*; 10-2; 199
5. Linden; 7-4; 140
6. Maplesville; 11-1; 135
7. Brantley; 8-4; 118
8. South Lamar; 10-4; 95
9. Elba*; 8-3; 75
10. 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
1. Autauga Academy (28); 12-1; 362
2. Tuscaloosa Academy (2); 8-2; 281
3. Escambia Academy; 12-1; 244
4. Monroe Academy (1); 13-0; 213
5. Bessemer Academy; 8-6; 184
6. Glenwood; 7-5; 152
7. Patrician; 9-4; 99
8. Chambers Academy; 12-1; 96
9. Pike Liberal Arts; 7-5; 82
10. 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
Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times
Jason Bowen, Jackson Co. Sentinel
Jeremy Smith, Freelance (Demopolis)
Joe Medley, Anniston Star
Joey Chandler, Tuscaloosa News
Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle
Josh Bean, AL.com
Josh Boutwell, Southeast Sun
Josh Dutton, Andalusia Star-News
Kyle Parmley, Starnes Publishing
LaVonte Young, Daily Home
Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant
Lizi Arbogast, Alexander City Outlook
Matthew Puckett, Journal Record
Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat
Scott Fields, Opelika-Auburn News
Shannon J. Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter
Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Co. Herald
Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser
Thomas Scott, Selma Times-Journal