ASWA releases preseason football poll

The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its preseason football poll yesterday (Wednesday) and a number of teams from southwest Alabama were mentioned in the first poll for the new season.

Teams from southwest Alabama ranked in the top 10 in their respective classes include Daphne, Davidson, Spanish Fort, Vigor, Thomasville, Jackson, Andalusia, UMS-Wright, Escambia County, Washington Co., T.R. Miller, Bayside Academy, Leroy, Millry, Sweet Water, Linden, Brantley, Monroe Academy, Fort Dale Academy and Clarke Prep.

The complete preseason poll is below with the number of first place votes received in parentheses.

Class 6A
1. Daphne (24)
2. Hoover (2)
3. Prattville (7)
4. Spain Park
5. Davidson
6. Clay-Chalkville
7. Mountain Brook
8. Auburn
9. Oxford
10. Central-Phenix City

Others receiving votes: Gadsden City, Stanhope Elmore, Tuscaloosa Co., Wetumpka, Foley, Vestavia Hills, Decatur, Florence, Fairhope, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.

Class 5A
1. Briarwood Chr. (17)
2. Hueytown (13)
3. Spanish Fort (3)
4. Hartselle
5. Vigor
6. Eufaula
7. Chelsea
8. Walker
9. Muscle Shoals
10. St. Paul’s

Others receiving votes: Fort Payne, Russellville, Pinson Valley, McAdory, Demopolis, Fairfield, Etowah, Greenville, Tallassee.

Class 4A
1. Thomasville (33)
2. Jackson
3. Dadeville
4. North Jackson
5. Deshler
6. Bibb Co.
7. Andalusia
8. UMS-Wright
9. Anniston
10. Escambia Co.

Others receiving votes: Oneonta, Cleburne Co., Straughn, Fairview, Guntersville, Cherokee Co., Fayette Co., Dora, Hillcrest-Evergreen.

Class 3A
1. Leeds (33)
2. Piedmont
3. Hamilton
4. Handley
5. Gordo
6. Washington Co.
7. T.R. Miller
8. Madison Ac.
9. Plainview
10. Bayside Ac.

Others receiving votes: Daleville, Lauderdale Co., Trinity, Clay Co., Glencoe, Sardis, Cordova, Hanceville.

Class 2A
1. Leroy (16)
2. American Chr. (17)
3. Elba
4. Reeltown
5. Millry
6. Cottonwood
7. Fyffe
8. Tanner
9. Lineville
10. Sulligent

Others receiving votes: Houston Ac., Colbert Hts., Fultondale, Westminster Chr., Red Bay, Southern Choctaw, Woodland, Westbrook Chr..

Class 1A
1. Sweet Water (32)
2. Linden (1)
3. R.A. Hubbard
4. Parrish
5. Cedar Bluff
6. Lynn
7. Collinsville
8. Brantley
9. Maplesville
10. Ragland

Others receiving votes: Addison, Appalachian, Hackleburg, Pickens Co., McKenzie, Winterboro, Gaston, St. Jude.

AISA
1. Monroe Ac. (29)
2. Pike Liberal
3. Fort Dale Acad. (2)
4. Edgewood Acad.
5. Bessemer Acad. (1)
6. Glenwood
7. Patrician
8. Lowndes Ac.
9. Springwood (1)
10. Clarke Prep

Others receiving votes: Restoration Ac., Macon-East, Coosa Valley Ac., Autauga Ac., Southern Ac., Sumter Acad.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are Paul Beaudry, Chairman, Freelance (Birmingham); 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; Scot Beard, Franklin County Times; Wesley Lyle, Freelance (Montgomery); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Kim Craft, Gadsden Times; Mike Easterling, Huntsville Times; Josh Bean, Mobile Press-Register; 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.