Staff Reports

The Cherokee County Warriors and Piedmont Bulldogs will begin the 2023 high school football season where they finished the last: as runners-up.

Both teams are ranked at No. 2 in their respective classes in the first Alabama Sports Writers Association football poll of the season. The first rankings were released early Wednesday morning.

Class 4A Cherokee County went 12-3 last season, finishing runner-up to top-ranked Andalusia (14-1) in Auburn. The Bulldogs received 19 of 22 first-place votes. The Warriors received a first-place vote.

Cherokee County opens the 2023 season at home against Class 5A Alexandria (5-5) on Aug. 25.

Class 3A Piedmont also went 12-3 last season and finished runner-up to top-ranked St. James (13-2). The Trojans earned 20 of 22 first-place votes, while the Bulldogs received one first-place vote.

Piedmont – under the direction of new head coach Jonathan Miller – opens the 2023 season when it hosts Cherokee County on Sept. 1.

Speaking of new head coaches, Barrett Ragsdale begins his era at Spring Garden with the Panthers being ranked seventh in Class 1A. The Panthers went 10-2 in 2022 and will open the 2023 season Aug. 25 at Class 2A Sand Rock (4-6).

One other area team received votes in the first poll of the season: Class 2A Collinsville (8-3). The Panthers open the 2023 season on Sept. 1 at Class 1A Gaylesville (3-6).

The preseason ASWA high school football rankings are listed below, with first-place votes, last year’s win-loss record and total poll points.

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Thompson (21); 11-3; 261

2. Auburn (1); 12-2; 178

3. Hoover; 11-2; 172

4. Central-Phenix City; 10-3; 170

5. Hewitt-Trussville; 8-4; 132

6. Vestavia Hills; 7-5; 92

7. Enterprise; 8-4; 88

8. Dothan; 8-4; 68

9. Mary Montgomery; 6-5; 43

10. Prattville; 6-4; 11

Others receiving votes: Foley (7-4) 8, Opelika (5-5) 7, Spain Park (3-7) 7, Julian (NA) 3, Oak Mountain (3-7) 3, Austin (7-4) 2, Florence (8-3) 2, James Clemens (4-6) 2, JAG (NA) 2, Sparkman (5-5) 2, Fairhope (8-3) 1.

NOTE: Julian and JAG are first-year schools after Lee-Montgomery and Jeff Davis were renamed.

 

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Saraland (21); 14-1; 261

2. Clay-Chalkville (1); 8-2; 175

3. Hartselle; 12-1; 154

4. Mountain Brook; 12-3; 153

5. Theodore; 13-1; 134

6. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 11-1; 94

7. Parker; 7-5; 78

8. Muscle Shoals; 11-2; 61

9. Spanish Fort; 7-4; 32

10. Pelham; 6-6; 28

Others receiving votes: Homewood (10-3) 19, Gardendale (9-4) 13, Benjamin Russell (8-3) 10, Pike Road (7-5) 10, Gadsden City (7-5) 6, Hueytown (8-4) 6, Fort Payne (8-3) 5, Oxford (5-6) 5, Carver-Montgomery (8-2) 4, Pinson Valley (6-4) 2, St. Paul’s (7-6) 2, Helena (6-4) 1, McGill-Toolen (5-5) 1.

 

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Ramsay (18); 13-2; 237

2. Charles Henderson (2); 12-2; 198

3. UMS-Wright (1); 12-1; 165

4. Pleasant Grove (1); 11-2; 157

5. Faith-Mobile; 11-3; 120

6. Leeds; 11-1; 85

7. Moody; 10-2; 72

8. Beauregard; 10-2; 71

9. Gulf Shores; 11-2; 49

10. Demopolis; 10-2; 30

Others receiving votes: Central-Clay Co. (9-3) 27, Guntersville (9-3) 21, Scottsboro (7-5) 9, Arab (11-2) 8, Fairview (7-4) 2, Alexandria (5-5) 1, Selma (7-4) 1, Southside-Gadsden (5-6) 1.

 

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Andalusia (19); 14-1; 254

2. Cherokee Co. (1); 12-3; 180

3. Catholic-Montgomery; 13-1; 169

4. Jackson (1); 8-3; 121

5. Oneonta; 11-2; 91

6. Jacksonville; 8-4; 87

7. Anniston; 11-1; 65

8. Westminster-Huntsville; 6-5; 64

9. Handley; 11-2; 57

10. T.R. Miller; 10-2; 36

Others receiving votes: Etowah (8-4) 31, Deshler (12-1) 29, Dora (8-4) 24, Randolph (10-3) 16, Montgomery Academy (1 first-place) (5-6) 13, West Morgan (10-2) 10, Priceville (11-1) 4, Northside (8-3) 2, American Christian (9-3) 1.

 

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. St. James (20); 13-2; 256

2. Piedmont (1); 12-3; 159

3. Gordo (1); 11-2; 153

4. Mars Hill Bible; 10-2; 142

5. Mobile Christian; 6-8; 113

6. Madison Academy; 9-3; 81

7. Houston Academy; 10-1; 77

8. Sylvania; 10-4; 73

9. Pike Co.; 8-4; 65

10. Hillcrest-Evergreen; 4-6; 42

Others receiving votes: Geraldine (9-4) 24, Excel (9-2) 18, Opp (8-3) 14, Trinity (9-3) 11, Straughn (7-4) 9, Thomasville (9-4) 7, Flomaton (3-7) 3, Southside-Selma (6-5) 2, W.S. Neal (7-5) 2, Westbrook Christian (5-5) 2, Alabama Christian (8-4) 1.

 

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Fyffe (22); 15-0; 264

2. B.B. Comer; 12-3; 173

3. Pisgah; 11-3; 166

4. Highland Home; 12-2; 157

5. Tuscaloosa Academy; 10-3; 110

6. Ariton; 10-2; 106

7. Reeltown; 10-2; 101

8. Vincent; 10-2; 58

9. Goshen; 6-4; 33

10. Aliceville; 11-2; 25

Others receiving votes: Collinsville (8-3) 21, G.W. Long (8-4) 18, Lanett (5-6) 15, Lexington (9-3) 4, Clarke Co. (7-6) 3.

 

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Leroy (14); 13-1; 233

2. Elba (4); 11-1; 175

3. Pickens Co. (1); 11-4; 167

4. Brantley (1); 10-3; 140

5. Meek (1); 11-1; 129

6. Sweet Water (1); 8-3; 95

7. Spring Garden; 10-2; 67

8. Lynn; 11-2; 66

9. Coosa Christian; 9-5; 63

10. Millry; 12-2; 56

Others receiving votes: Addison (9-3) 21, Maplesville (8-4) 11, Florala (7-4) 9, Georgiana (7-4) 7, Linden (9-2) 7, Valley Head (10-2) 3, Autaugaville (6-5) 2, Keith (5-6) 1, Loachapoka (9-2) 1, Southern Choctaw (3-7) 1.

 

AISA

Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts.

1. Glenwood (10); 8-4; 213

2. Patrician (10); 13-0; 209

3. Lee-Scott; 12-0; 171

4. Lowndes Academy (2); 11-2; 150

5. Chambers Academy; 8-4; 138

6. Clarke Prep; 9-4; 109

7. Jackson Academy; 12-1; 85

8. Autauga Academy; 3-7; 40

9. Southern Academy; 5-6; 28

10. Banks Academy; 6-5; 25

Others receiving votes: Crenshaw Christian (8-4) 21, Fort Dale Academy (4-6) 10, Lakeside (3-8) 7, Valiant Cross (4-7) 7, Wilcox Academy (4-7) 7, Bessemer Academy (2-8) 6, Sparta (0-10) 6, South Choctaw Academy (4-7) 5, Edgewood (6-6) 4, Macon-East (7-4) 4, Abbeville Christian (4-7) 3, Coosa Valley (2-8) 3, Snook (1-10) 2, Morgan Academy (7-5) 1.

 

VOTING PANEL

Andrew Garner, Atmore Advance

Andrew Simonson, Shelby Co. Reporter

Anna Snyder, Tuscaloosa News

Ben Thomas, AL.com

Caleb Suggs, Decatur Daily

Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger

David Mundee, Dothan Eagle

Dennis Victory, AL.com

Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times

James Jones, Selma Times-Journal

Jason Bowen, Jackson Co. Sentinel

Jerry Humphrey III, Montgomery Advertiser

Joe Medley, East Alabama Sports Today

Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle

Josh Boutwell, Troy Messenger

Kyle Parmley, Starnes Media

Letti Hasberry, Selma Sun

Marcus Gates, Washington Co. News

Pacey Strickland, Valley Times-News

Shannon Fagan, WEIS Radio

Stacy Long, Florence TimesDaily

Tripp Norris, Opp News