Staff Reports

The Piedmont Bulldogs and Spring Garden Panthers have been the area’s two high school football teams consistently ranked in the Alabama Sports Writers Association top 10. That trend continued in the final poll of the season, which was released early Wednesday morning.

Class 3A Piedmont (8-2) fell two spots to No. 4 following its 25-20 loss to Class 5A, No. 3 Alexandria last Friday. The Bulldogs travel to Sylvania (8-2) to open the state playoffs on Friday.

Class 2A Spring Garden (10-0), which concluded its first undefeated regular season with a 21-19 win at Wadley last Friday, remains fifth. The Panthers host Hatton (5-5) to begin the postseason this Friday.

One other area team received consideration for the final rankings of the season: Class 1A Cedar Bluff (6-4). The Tigers, coming off a 47-13 loss to Sand Rock, host Woodland (3-7) in the state playoffs on Friday.

In all, six of the WEIS coverage area teams qualified for the postseason. The other three are Class 4A Cherokee County (6-3), which travels to Straughn (7-3) on Friday; Class 2A Sand Rock (7-3), which travels to fourth-ranked and defending state champion Mars Hill (7-3); and Class 1A Gaylesville (6-4), which travels to No. 8 Wadley (9-1).

It’s the first time Cherokee County has ever had all five of its football teams make the postseason in the same year.

This week’s final high school football rankings of the season are listed below, with first-place votes, win-loss record and total poll points.

CLASS 7A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Hoover (19); 10-0; 237
2. Thompson; 9-1; 179
3. Central-Phenix City (1); 10-0; 164
4. Auburn; 8-2; 119
5. James Clemens; 10-0; 118
6. Fairhope; 9-1; 110
7. Theodore; 9-1; 81
8. Hewitt-Trussville; 8-2; 69
9. Prattville; 7-3; 38
10. Baker; 7-3; 18
Others receiving votes: Oak Mountain (6-4) 4, Enterprise (7-3) 3.

CLASS 6A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Clay-Chalkville (19); 10-0; 237
2. Hartselle (1); 10-0; 180
3. Mountain Brook; 9-1; 161
4. Spanish Fort; 9-1; 128
5. Briarwood; 9-1; 112
6. Saraland; 8-2; 98
7. Hueytown; 9-1; 84
8. Helena; 9-1; 56
9. Pinson Valley; 7-3; 36
10. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 8-2; 25
Others receiving votes: Opelika (7-3) 13, Muscle Shoals (9-1) 7, Gardendale (8-2) 3.

CLASS 5A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Pike Road (16); 9-0; 228
2. Pleasant Grove (3); 8-1; 181
3. Alexandria (1); 10-0; 169
4. UMS-Wright; 9-1; 129
5. Guntersville; 9-1; 123
6. Leeds; 9-1; 87
7. Parker; 9-1; 77
8. Central-Clay Co.; 8-2; 55
9. Russellville; 8-2; 42
10. St. Paul's; 7-3; 28
Others receiving votes: Fairview (9-1) 11, Tallassee (7-2) 9, Sylacauga (7-3) 1.

CLASS 4A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Madison Aca. (19); 9-1; 237
2. American Chr. (1); 9-1; 182
3. Vigor; 9-1; 147
4. Northside; 9-1; 130
5. Brooks; 10-0; 115
6. Gordo; 8-2; 97
7. Handley; 7-2; 89
8. St. James; 9-1; 63
9. Jackson; 8-2; 40
10. Anniston; 5-4; 20
Others receiving votes: Bibb Co. (8-2) 7, Priceville (9-1) 7, Oneonta (9-1) 5, Randolph (9-1) 1.

CLASS 3A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Catholic-Montgomery (19); 10-0; 237
2. Fyffe; 8-1; 166
3. Winfield; 10-0; 152
4. Piedmont (1); 8-2; 143
5. Saks; 9-1; 118
6. T.R. Miller; 8-2; 91
7. Lauderdale Co.; 9-1; 82
8. Opp; 8-2; 43
9. Trinity; 8-2; 39
10. Bayside Aca.; 8-2; 35
Others receiving votes: Geraldine (7-3) 14, Ohatchee (8-2) 12, Montgomery Aca. (7-3) 3, Slocomb (7-3) 3, Hillcrest-Evergreen (5-5) 1, Southside-Selma (9-1) 1.

CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Lanett (18); 8-2; 234
2. Clarke Co. (2); 8-2; 165
3. Elba; 9-1; 156
4. Mars Hill Bible; 7-3; 134
5. Spring Garden; 10-0; 132
6. Ariton; 9-1; 100
7. Cleveland; 8-2; 80
8. G.W. Long; 8-1; 74
9. B.B. Comer; 8-2; 37
10. Luverne; 8-1; 8
Others receiving votes: Midfield (8-1) 6, Leroy (2-8) 5, Pisgah (7-3) 3, Orange Beach (9-1) 2, Aliceville (7-3) 1, Isabella (7-3) 1, LaFayette (7-3) 1, Tanner (7-3) 1.

CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Brantley (16); 9-0; 228
2. Sweet Water (4); 9-0; 191
3. Maplesville; 9-1; 143
4. Decatur Heritage; 8-2; 129
5. Pickens Co.; 8-2; 117
6. Notasulga; 8-1; 95
7. Keith; 8-1; 87
8. Wadley; 9-1; 86
9. Hubbertville; 7-2; 33
10. Kinston; 7-3; 11
Others receiving votes: Loachapoka (6-3) 8, Meek (7-3) 3, Winterboro (6-4) 3, Millry (7-3) 2, Ragland (8-2) 2, Cedar Bluff (6-4) 1, R.A. Hubbard (6-4) 1.

AISA
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts.
1. Autauga Aca. (20); 10-0; 240
2. Escambia Aca.; 9-1; 177
3. Pike Liberal Arts; 9-1; 163
4. Chambers Aca.; 9-1; 140
5. Patrician; 7-2; 114
6. Lee-Scott; 7-2; 95
7. Jackson Aca.; 8-1; 83
8. Sparta; 8-1; 57
9. Lowndes Aca.; 8-3; 36
10. Glenwood; 5-4; 19
Others receiving votes: Macon-East (7-4) 8, Tuscaloosa Aca. (5-4) 7, Crenshaw Chr. (6-3) 1.