By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

Let the debates begin.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its preseason high school football poll early Wednesday morning, and the Cherokee County Warriors begin the upcoming season where they finished the last two: as a runner-up.

The Warriors, who went 13-2 in 2023 and earned their second straight Class 4A state runner-up, come in at No. 2 behind Jackson (11-1). Ironically, Cherokee County’s first football state title came in 2009 against the Aggies.

Cherokee County was ranked second in last year’s poll for 11 out of 12 weeks last season. The Warriors dropped to fourth in the final poll following a 21-14 loss to Class 6A Fort Payne the week before the state playoffs began.

Now beginning his sixth season as head coach of the Warriors, Jacob Kelley has his biggest senior class at Cherokee County High School (18 seniors), including two-time ASWA Class 4A Lineman of the Year finalist Tae Diamond.

One of the key questions surrounding the Warriors this season is who will carry the load following the departure of Class 4A ASWA Back of the Year Jacob Cornejo. In just two seasons with the Warriors, Cornejo ran for a school-record 5,583 yards and 69 touchdowns, leading the Warriors to 25 victories and two state runner-ups. He signed with Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., back in April.

“Replacing Jacob and replacing some of the (offensive) linemen will be tough, but we build young guys too. A lot of those guys were ready last year,” Kelley said. “This is the best year we’ve had in weight room, and this is the strongest team I’ve had going into August.”

Cherokee County opens the 2024 football season on Aug. 23 at home against Highway 9 rival Piedmont.

Speaking of Piedmont, the Class 3A Bulldogs (5-7 in 2023) come in at No. 7. In Jonathan Miller’s first year as head coach, the Bulldogs began last season at 1-4 but rebounded to win three of their final five games to make the second round of the state playoffs.

Also in Class 3A, newcomer Collinsville (8-3 in 2023) is among those teams receiving consideration. The Panthers open the 2024 season at Cedar Bluff (5-6 in 2023) on Aug. 30.

Speaking of Cedar Bluff, the Tigers make the move up to 2A this season and are among the teams receiving votes. Cedar Bluff opens its 2024 season at Class 1A Valley Head (8-4 in 2023) on Aug. 23.

In Class 1A, the Spring Garden Panthers (8-3 in 2023) open the new season ranked at No. 9. The Panthers host Class 2A Sand Rock (2-8 in 2023) in their season opener on Aug. 23.

The complete ASWA preseason high school football rankings are listed below, with first-place votes in parenthesis, 2023 record, and total poll points.

CLASS 7A

2023 champion: Central-Phenix City

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts.

1. Central-Phenix City (12); 13-0; 207

2. Thompson (7); 11-2; 192

3. Enterprise; 9-3; 128

4. Auburn; 9-3; 126

5. Hoover; 5-7; 95

6. Dothan; 8-3; 90

7. Mary Montgomery; 12-1; 77

8. Hewitt-Trussville; 9-4; 66

9. Vestavia Hills; 9-3; 39

10. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa*; 12-1; 33

Others receiving votes: Austin (8-3) 17, Carver-Montgomery* (7-4) 11, James Clemens (7-4) 2.

*–Played in 6A last season.

CLASS 6A

2023 champion: Clay-Chalkville

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts.

1. Saraland (16); 14-1; 219

2. Parker (2); 12-2; 168

3. Clay-Chalkville (1); 14-0; 155

4. Gulf Shores**; 15-0; 118

5. Spain Park*; 7-3; 101

6. Oxford; 9-3; 80

7. Pike Road; 11-3; 74

8. Muscle Shoals; 11-1; 50

9. Gadsden City; 9-4; 36

10. Mountain Brook; 8-4; 31

Others receiving votes: Hartselle (9-3) 16, Helena (9-3) 12, Fort Payne (7-5) 8, Theodore (7-4) 8, Homewood (6-5) 6, Benjamin Russell (10-3) 1.

*–Played in 7A last season. **–Played in 5A last season.

CLASS 5A

2023 champion: Gulf Shores

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts.

1. Ramsay (10); 12-3; 191

2. Moody (7); 10-3; 177

3. Guntersville; 11-2; 149

4. Catholic-Montgomery** (2); 15-0; 133

5. Central-Clay Co.; 10-1; 129

6. Leeds; 9-3; 70

7. Briarwood*; 6-6; 53

8. Center Point*; 7-4; 39

9. Fairview; 9-2; 36

10. Demopolis; 10-3; 30

Others receiving votes: Andalusia** (10-2) 29, Eufaula (10-4) 26, Vigor$ (7-3) 13, Scottsboro (8-3) 4, Headland (10-3) 3, Boaz (6-6) 1.

*–Played in 6A last season. **–Played in 4A last season. $–Record includes one forfeit loss.

CLASS 4A

2023 champion: Catholic-Montgomery

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts.

1. Jackson (11); 11-1; 203

2. Cherokee Co. (6); 13-2; 183

3. Pleasant Grove* (1); 10-2; 152

4. Bibb Co.; 10-2; 108

5. Madison Aca.**; 14-1; 95

6. Mobile Chr.** (1); 15-0; 86

7. Handley; 10-2; 71

8. Dora; 8-3; 46

9. Anniston; 6-4; 43

10. St. James**; 11-3; 34

Others receiving votes: Deshler (8-4) 20, Brooks (8-5) 16, Oak Grove (6-5) 9, West Morgan (12-1) 6, Opp** (4-7) 4, Straughn (10-2) 2, Westminster-Huntsville (11-3) 2, American Chr. (8-3) 1, North Jackson (4-7) 1, St. Michael (6-5) 1.

*–Played in 5A last season. **–Played in 3A last season.

CLASS 3A

2023 champion: Mobile Chr.

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts.

1. Fyffe** (19); 14-1; 228

2. Trinity; 11-2; 131

3. T.R. Miller*; 8-4; 114

4. Gordo; 10-2; 109

5. Mars Hill Bible; 10-2; 85

6. Geraldine; 12-2; 76

7. Piedmont; 5-7; 75

8. Sylvania; 10-3; 70

9. Houston Aca.; 10-2; 55

10. Thomasville; 10-2; 54

Others receiving votes: Southside-Selma (7-4) 18, Bayside Aca.* (8-3) 14, Randolph Co. (10-2) 14, B.B. Comer (13-1) 11, Ohatchee (5-5) 9, Lauderdale Co. (12-1) 7, Walter Wellborn (7-4) 5, Collinsville** (8-3) 4, Westbrook Chr. (5-5) 3, Locust Fork (12-1) 1.

*–Played in 4A last season. **–Played in 2A last season.

CLASS 2A

2023 champion: Fyffe

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts

1. Pisgah (14); 12-2; 212

2. Coosa Chr.*$ (4); 8-6; 148

3. Highland Home; 10-2; 140

4. Tuscaloosa Aca.; 10-3; 133

5. Cottonwood; 10-2; 114

6. Clarke Co.; 7-6; 95

7. Decatur Heritage*; 9-2; 60

8. Vincent; 6-5; 56

9. Reeltown (1); 13-1; 45

10. Sulligent; 9-3; 44

Others receiving votes: Pleasant Valley (5-6) 30, Goshen (9-3) 3, Cedar Bluff* (5-6) 2, West End-Walnut Grove (5-6) 1.

*–Played in 1A last season. $–Record includes four forfeit losses.

CLASS 1A

2023 champion: Leroy

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts

1. Elba (12); 13-1; 204

2. Leroy (7); 14-0; 181

3. Wadley; 11-2; 122

4. Sweet Water; 9-2; 121

5. Hackleburg; 11-2; 115

6. Brantley; 8-5; 102

7. Georgiana; 9-3; 58

8. Maplesville; 8-5; 56

9. Spring Garden; 8-3; 42

10. Pickens Co.; 10-4; 40

Others receiving votes: Lynn (10-2) 30, Addison (8-3) 8, Florala (7-4) 4.

AISA (top 5)

2023 champions: Lee-Scott (AAA), Chambers Aca. (AA), Lowndes Aca. (A)

Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts

1. Chambers Aca. (17); 12-1; 222

2. Banks Aca. (2); 11-2; 176

3. Bessemer Aca.; 4-7; 148

4. Lowndes Aca.; 13-0; 134

5. Fort Dale Aca.; 9-3; 75

Others receiving votes: Wilcox Aca. (10-4) 18, Edgewood (4-7) 7, Clarke Prep (8-5) 6, Jackson Aca. (9-3) 6, Patrician (8-4) 6.

NOTE: The AISA’s 22 11-man teams are divided into two classifications this season.

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, Messenger

David Mundee, Dothan Eagle

Dennis Victory, AL.com

Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times

James Jones, Selma Times-Journal

Jason Bowen, Jackson Co. Sentinel

Joe Medley, EASportstoday

Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle

Kyle Parmley, Starnes Media

Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times

Shannon Fagan, WEIS Radio

Stacy Long, Florence TimesDaily

Thomas Ashworth, AL.com

Tripp Norris, Opp News