Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
Listed is the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 2024 preseason high school football rankings with first-place votes, last year’s record and total poll points.
Class 7A
2023 state champion: Central-Phenix City
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 Class 6A last season.
Class 6A
2023 state champion: Clay-Chalkville
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 Class 7A last season. **Played in Class 5A last season.
Class 5A
2023 state champion: Gulf Shores
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 County 10-1 129
6. Leeds 9-3 70
7. Briarwood Christian* 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 Class 6A last season. **Played in Class 4A last season.
Class 4A
2023 state champion: Catholic-Montgomery
1. Jackson (11) 11-1 203
2. Cherokee County (6) 13-2 183
3. Pleasant Grove* (1) 10-2 152
4. Bibb County 10-2 108
5. Madison Academy** 14-1 95
6. Mobile Christian** (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 Christian (8-3) 1, North Jackson (4-7) 1, St. Michael Catholic (6-5) 1. *Played in Class 5A last season. **Played in Class 3A last season.
Class 3A
2023 state champion: Mobile Christian
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 Academy 10-2 55
10. Thomasville 10-2 54
Others receiving votes: Southside-Selma (7-4) 18, Bayside Academy* (8-3) 14, Randolph County (10-2) 14, B.B. Comer (13-1) 11, Ohatchee (5-5) 9, Lauderdale County (12-1) 7, Walter Wellborn (7-4) 5, Collinsville** (8-3) 4, Westbrook Christian (5-5) 3, Locust Fork (12-1) 1. *Played in Class 4A last season. **Played in Class 2A last season.
Class 2A
2023 state champion: Fyffe
1. Pisgah (14) 12-2 212
2. Coosa Christian *$ (4) 8-6 148
3. Highland Home 10-2 140
4. Tuscaloosa Academy 10-3 133
5. Cottonwood 10-2 114
6. Clarke County 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 (5-6) 1. *Played in Class 1A last season. $Record includes four forfeit losses.
Class 1A
2023 state champion: Leroy
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 County 10-4 40
Others receiving votes: Lynn (10-2) 30, Addison (8-3) 8, Florala (7-4) 4.
ASWA prep committee voting panel
Andrew Garner, Atmore Advance
Andrew Simonson, Shelby County Reporter
Anna Snyder, Tuscaloosa News
Ben Thomas, AL.com
Caleb Suggs, Decatur Daily
Chris McCarthy, The Messenger
David Mundee, Dothan Eagle
Dennis Victory, AL.com
Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times
James Jones, Selma Times-Journal
Jason Bowen, Jackson County 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