Photo: NyNy Davis, head coach Ryan Locke, Trent Davis (pictured, from left) and the Etowah High School football team were ranked fourth in Class 4A in the Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason rankings for the 2020 season. (submitted photo)
Courtesy of al.com
The state’s reclassification last fall had a huge impact on the first Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings for the 2020 season.
Five reigning champions will start the season at No. 1 in their respective classifications. However, there are new No. 1 teams in Classes 1A, 2A and 4A where all the reigning champs (Lanett, Fyffe and UMS-Wright) moved up a class this year.
Defending champs Thompson (7A), Oxford (6A), Central-Clay County (5A), Piedmont (3A) and Autauga Academy (AISA) are all No. 1 in this year’s preseason poll, which was released late Sunday night.
The other top squads are American Christian (4A), Leroy (2A) and Brantley (1A). Piedmont in 3A was the only unanimous top choice.
Locally, Etowah is ranked fourth in Class 4A. While competing in 5A last season, the Blue Devils went 9-2, finished the regular season as the state’s fifth-ranked team, won a second straight region title and qualified for the state playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Westbrook Christian received five votes in the Class 2A poll. The 2019 Warriors went 8-4 and
earned the program’s first postseason victory in nine years.
UMS-Wright, which won the last three 4A champs, debuts in 5A at No. 5. Fyffe, which won three of the last four 2A titles, is No. 2 in 3A behind Piedmont. Reigning 1A champ Lanett is No. 2 in Class 2A.
Listed is the Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason high school football rankings with first-place votes, last year’s record and total poll points (*team played in a different classification last season):
Class 7A
1. Thompson (23) 12-1 285
2. Central-Phenix City (1) 12-2 203
3. Hewitt-Trussville 6-4 186
4. Hoover 10-3 178
5. Auburn 9-4 144
6. Fairhope 6-5 106
7. James Clemens 9-3 59
8. Dothan* 8-3 55
9. Theodore 8-3 41
10. Prattville 9-3 27
Others receiving votes: Austin (7-4) 23, Daphne* (5-5) 20, Spain Park (4-6) 18, Sparkman (8-3) 8, Florence (7-5) 6, Oak Mountain (4-6) 4, Vestavia Hills (7-4) 3, Enterprise (5-6) 2.
Class 6A
1. Oxford (18) 14-1 267
2. Mountain Brook*( 5); 8-3 222
3. Pinson Valley 10-3 160
4. Blount 8-3 151
5. McGill-Toolen Catholic* (1) 11-1 146
6. Opelika 11-2 141
7. Eufaula 9-3 54
8. Clay-Chalkville 10-3 47
9. Spanish Fort 9-5 38
10. Gardendale 8-4 37
Others receiving votes: Saraland (10-1) 33, Lee-Montgomery* (7-3) 22, Muscle Shoals (12-1) 19, Stanhope Elmore (9-3) 15, Briarwood Christian* (12-2) 8, Park Crossing (5-8) 8.
Class 5A
1. Central-Clay County (12) 13-2 244
2. Pleasant Grove (8) 13-2 238
3. St. Paul’s Episcopal* (3) 8-4 199
4. Ramsay 10-3 177
5. UMS-Wright* (1) 14-0 126
6. Guntersville 8-3 81
7. Andalusia* 10-4 76
8. Faith-Mobile 11-1 75
9 (tie). Alexandria 8-3 45
9 (tie). Fairview* 9-3 45
Others receiving votes: Tallassee (5-4) 23, Center Point (9-4) 16, Fairfield (3-7) 7, Pike Road* (11-1) 7, Carroll-Ozark (3-6) 4, Demopolis (7-4) 4, Sylacauga (8-3) 1.
Class 4A
1. American Christian (8) 11-2 206
2. Bibb County* (9) 12-1 205
3. Vigor* (4) 4-7 188
4. Etowah* 9-2 153
5. Jacksonville (3) 12-3 119
6. Deshler 9-4 116
7. Gordo* 12-1 73
8. Madison County* 10-3 66
9. Madison Academy* 5-6 65
10. Anniston 9-5 61
Others receiving votes: Williamson (7-4) 50, Good Hope (8-3) 28, Geneva* (8-3) 20, Cherokee County (6-4) 6, Priceville (8-4) 6, Mobile Christian* (9-5) 4, St. James* (10-2) 2.
Class 3A
1. Piedmont (24) 14-1 288
2. Fyffe* 15-0 215
3. Hillcrest-Evergreen* 7-5 173
4. Catholic-Montgomery* 12-1 163
5. T.R. Miller 9-5 136
6. Providence Christian 10-2 130
7. Pike County 10-1 66
8. Walter Wellborn 12-2 53
9. Reeltown* 13-2 50
10. Flomaton 11-2 42
Others receiving votes: Ohatchee* (10-1) 31, Opp (4-7) 14, New Brockton* (5-6) 4, Collinsville* (12-2) 2, Excel (3-7) 1.
Class 2A
1. Leroy (18) 11-3 269
2. Lanett* (4) 14-0 217
3. Mars Hill Bible* 14-1 176
4. Randolph County* (2) 11-2 169
5. Red Bay 12-1 141
6. Ariton 10-3 103
7. G.W. Long 10-3 86
8. Luverne 11-1 53
9. Addison 8-3 39
10. Spring Garden* 11-2 39
Others receiving votes: Clarke County* (2-8) 33, Elba* (8-4) 15, North Sand Mountain (9-4) 14, Falkville* (7-5) 5, Westbrook Christian (8-4) 5, Highland Home (3-7) 3, J.U. Blacksher (9-3) 1.
Class 1A
1. Brantley (16) 11-2 261
2. Sweet Water (7) 11-2 227
3. Pickens County 11-3 182
4. Maplesville (1) 9-3 175
5. Linden 6-5 128
6. Decatur Heritage 12-1 123
7. Cedar Bluff* 7-4 110
8. Notasulga 6-5 79
9. Southern Choctaw* 4-6 30
10. Marengo 6-5 21
Others receiving votes: Fruitdale (5-6) 20, South Lamar (10-2) 10, Donoho (9-2) 2.
Chris McCarthy contributed to this article