By Paul Beaudry/For ASWA
In some seasons, the top spots in Alabama Sports Writers Association’s high school football poll are the definition of change.
With two weeks remaining in the 2012 regular season, that’s not the case. Four of the seven teams that started the season as the No. 1 team in their class – Hoover in 6A, Oneonta in 4A, Marion County in 1A and Edgewood Academy in the AISA – still own their spot in this week’s poll.
Two other classes have changed top teams just once. Class 5A started off with Hartselle at No. 1, but after a Week 5 loss to Class 6A Decatur, Muscle Shoals stepped up from the second spot.
In Class 3A, Leeds held serve through the first two weeks of the regular season, then flopped spots with Piedmont in Week Three despite being undefeated. The Bulldogs then stated their case in Week 5 with a 7-0 win over Leeds.
Class 2A has seen the most change this season as Elba came into the year as No. 1. After losing its opener to Opp, 21-20, Fultondale swept into the post position for the first time in school history – only to lose it two weeks later with a 25-24 loss to Woodland. Tanner, the preseason No. 3 team, has held the spot ever since.
Eight games among ranked teams will resolve region championships. Class 6A features No. 5 Vestavia Hills hosting No. 4 Mountain Brook for the Region 6 title. No. 1 Hoover is also in a showdown for the Region 5 title, playing at No. 9 Tuscaloosa County.
In Class 5A, No. 2 Jackson hosts No. 4 Demopolis for the Region 3 title and No. 7 Eufaula hosts No. 9 Benjamin Russell for the Region 2 crown. Class 4A sees No. 3 Dadeville at No. 2 Central of Clay County for the Region 3 title, No. 8 Tallassee is at No. 5 Beauregard for the Region 2 crown. Class 2A sees No. 9 Mobile Christian hosting No. 3 Sweet Water as a win would clinch the Region 1 title for the Bulldogs, while in 1A No. 6 Maplesville hosts No. 7 Keith for the Region 3 title.
The complete Oct. 24 poll is listed below with first place votes, current record and total points.
Class 6A
1. Hoover (32) (8-0) 384
2. McGill-Toolen (8-0) 285
3. Carver-Montgomery (7-1) 244
4. Mountain Brook (8-0) 210
5. Vestavia Hills (7-1) 172
6. Auburn (7-1) 150
7. Clay-Chalkville (7-1) 129
8. Spain Park (7-1) 100
9. Tuscaloosa Co. (7-1) 73
10. Austin (7-1) 36
Others receiving votes: Davidson (7-1) 30, Central-Phenix City (6-2) 5, Pell City (5-3) 2, Daphne (5-3) 1, Huntsville (5-3) 1, Opelika (6-2) 1, Oxford (6-2) 1.
Class 5A
1. Muscle Shoals (27) (8-0) 366
2. Jackson (4) (8-0) 298
3. Fort Payne (8-0) 215
4. Demopolis (1) (8-0) 197
5. Homewood (7-1) 186
6. Spanish Fort (7-1) 150
7. Eufaula (7-1) 78
8. Hartselle (6-2) 74
9. Benjamin Russell (8-0) 65
10. St. Paul’s (6-2) 58
Others receiving votes: Cullman (7-1) 54, Wenonah (8-0) 51, McAdory (8-0) 26, Vigor (6-2) 6.
Class 4A
1. Oneonta (27) (8-0) 368
2. Central-Clay Co. (4) (8-0) 295
3. Dadeville (1) (8-0) 264
4. UMS-Wright (7-1) 221
5. Beauregard (7-1) 183
6t. Madison Co. (7-1) 136
6t. Thomasville (6-2) 136
8. Tallassee (7-1) 80
9. Dora (7-1) 69
10. Brooks (7-1) 40
Others receiving votes: J.O. Johnson (7-1) 20, Calera (7-1) 9, Handley (5-3) 2, Munford (5-3) 1.
Class 3A
1. Piedmont (31) (8-0) 381
2. T.R. Miller (1) (8-0) 283
3. Leeds (7-1) 249
4. Hamilton (8-0) 213
5. Lauderdale Co. (7-1) 194
6. Madison Acad. (6-2) 145
7. Daleville (8-0) 142
8. Fayette Co. (7-1) 104
9. Geraldine (6-2) 38
10. Deshler (5-3) 27
Others receiving votes: Trinity (6-2) 18, Plainview (7-1) 9, Sylvania (6-2) 5, Gordo (6-2) 4, Saks (6-2) 3, Vinemont (6-2) 3, W.S. Neal (6-2) 3, Colbert County (6-2) 1, Hanceville (5-3) 1, Opp (5-3) 1.
Class 2A
1. Tanner (30) (8-0) 377
2. Fyffe (1) (8-0) 282
3. Sweet Water (1) (7-1) 265
4. Reeltown (7-1) 217
5. Washington Co. (7-1) 200
6. G.W. Long (7-1) 148
7. Lanett (7-1) 106
8. Woodland (6-2) 74
9. Mobile Chr. (7-1) 53
10. Oakman (7-1) 36
Others receiving votes: Horseshoe Bend (7-1) 19, N. Sand Mountain (6-2) 16, Fultondale (6-2) 14, Luverne (6-2) 9, Walter Wellborn (6-2) 7, Westbrook Chr. (6-2) 1.
Class 1A
1. Marion Co. (31) (8-0) 380
2. Linden (8-0) 286
3. Brantley (1) (8-0) 256
4. Ragland (7-0) 214
5. Cedar Bluff (7-0) 177
6. Maplesville (7-1) 172
7. Keith (8-0) 117
8. Pickens Co. (7-1) 87
9. Collinsville (7-1) 73
10. Hackleburg (7-1) 52
Others receiving votes: Spring Garden (7-1) 4, Notasulga (6-2) 3, Addison (6-2) 2, Falkville (6-1) 1.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry, Chairman, Alabama Media Group; Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Jonathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Erich Hilkert, Atmore Advance; Bran Strickland, Anniston Star; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Jonathon Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Newton Peters, Florala News; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Dennis Victory, Freelance (Birmingham); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Kim Craft, Gadsden Times; Davis Potter, Hamilton Journal Record; Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times; Josh Bean, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Jason Galloway, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Jason Bowen, Scottsboro Daily Sentinel; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Andrew Carroll, Tuscaloosa News; Griffin Pritchard, Wetumpka Herald.