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.

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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