The Piedmont Bulldogs (3-0, 3-0) are officially the top dogs in Class 3A, according to the week three ASWA high school poll released today. Former No. 1 Leeds fell five spots after suffering a 14-7 setback to new No. 4 Clay County Friday. The ascension to the top spot in the 3A rankings is the first for Piedmont head coach Steve Smith during his five-year tenure with the Bulldogs.  Piedmont will proudly wear the new distinction into homecoming Friday when they welcome J.B. Pennington to the Field of Champions.

Collinsville (3-0, 2-0) climbed one rung up the Class 1A ladder as the Panthers downed Gaston 24-14.  Cedar Bluff (1-2, 1-0) exited the top 10 after a loss to 3A Sardis but remained in 1A consideration with the ASWA sportswriters.  The Tigers take a road trip to Valley Head (1-2) this week, while Collinsville entertains Woodville (0-3).   Class 1A will see a shake up after this week as No. 1 Linden tackles No. 2 Sweet Water. The top-ranked Patriots will attempt to snap the nine-game losing streak to the Bulldogs dating  back to 2001.  

The Fyffe Red Devils (3-0,3-0) retained the No. 3 position in class 2A with a solid 48-7 win over Victory Christian. 

Class 4A has had no movement among the top eight teams since the pre-season poll was issued by the ASWA in August.  But this week’s schedule has the elite grouping sitting on a fault line that will result in a major shakeup when Friday night’s lights are finally extinguished.

Perennial powers Jackson (No. 2) and UMS-Wright (No. 8) hook up in a Region 1 rivalry that dates back to 1925. All eyes will be on North Jackson (No. 4) and Guntersville (No. 9) as they bring their high-octane offenses into Stevenson for a Region 7 shootout.  Jemison (3-0) will have upset on their mind when the undefeated Panthers roll into Bibb County (3-0) to face the sixth ranked Choctaws. 

In Class 5A, Fort Payne (2-1, 1-1) and Etowah (2-1, 1-1) are still on the ASWA radar at this point but still remain outside the top 10.  Fort Payne took a step forward with a 35-0 whitewashing of Arab, while Etowah took a step backward with a 32-28 loss to Madison County. The Blue Devils will need to rebound this week against Region 7 leader Albertville (3-0, 2-0). Albertville is quarterbacked by former Sand Rock Wildcat star Drew Norris. Fort Payne is away to meet Southside Gadsden (1-2, 1-1). 

Class 5A will receive national exposure when No. 2 Hueytown visits No. 9 McAdory in a televised game that will be part of the GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase. Hueytown QB James Winston is a verbal commitment to Florida State. Another 5A highlight will feature No. 1 Briarwood Christian at No. 5 Chelsea. 

Gadsden City (2-1, 1-1) still remains in consideration in class 6A after a convincing 49-0 victory over Shades Valley. The Titans look to secure back to back wins when they go to Huffman (1-2, 0-2).

Daphne, Hoover and Prattville have held the top three Class 6A spots since the pre-season. In 5A, Briarwood Christian and Hueytown have remained first and second, all season long. Leroy was the pre-season No. 1 in 2A but a first-game 14-7 loss by the Bears to 3A Washington County vaulted Elba to the top spot and dropped Leroy to their current runner-up seat.

Class 1A Sweet Water experienced the same woes as Leroy.  A first-game loss to Class 4A No. 1 Thomasville kicked the Bulldogs out of the pre-season No. 1 position and replaced them with the Linden Patriots.  Sweet Water, now No. 2, can earn it back if the knock off the Patriots Friday when the two teams meet at Marengo High School in Dixons Mills. 

Class 6A
1. Daphne (29) (3-0)                            366
2. Hoover (2) (3-0)                               280
3. Prattville (2-1)                                  230
4. Davidson (3-0)                                  216
5. Clay-Chalkville (3-0)                       183
6. Mountain Brook (3-0)                      156
7. Auburn (3-0)                                     125
8. Spain Park (2-1)                                  81
9. Bob Jones (3-0)                                   45
10. Oxford (2-1)                                       31

Others receiving votes: McGill-Toolen (3-0) 18, Northridge (3-0) 11, Gadsden City (2-1) 8, Central-Phenix City (2-1) 6, Florence (2-1) 5, Blount (3-0) 2, Dothan (2-1) 2, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (3-0) 1, Pell City (3-0) 1.

Class 5A
1. Briarwood Chr. (26) (3-0)                357
2. Hueytown (5) (3-0)                           294
3. Hartselle (3-0)                                   242
4. Eufaula (3-0)                                      189
5. Chelsea (3-0)                                      162
6. Muscle Shoals (3-0)                    145
7. Vigor (2-1)                                           118
8. St. Paul’s (3-0)                                    117
9. McAdory (3-0)                                     64
10. Pinson Valley (3-0)                            33

Others receiving votes: Cullman (3-0) 21, Russellville (2-1) 7, Citronelle (1-2) 4, Fairfield (3-0) 4, Spanish Fort (1-2) 4, Albertville (3-0) 3, Fort Payne (2-1) 2, Etowah (2-1) 1.

Class 4A
1. Thomasville (31) (3-0)                       372
2. Jackson (3-0)                                      259
3. Dadeville (3-0)                                    238
4. North Jackson (3-0)                           212
5. Deshler (3-0)                                   191
6. Bibb Co. (3-0)                                      164
7. Andalusia (3-0)                                    137
8. UMS-Wright (2-1)                                62
9. Guntersville (3-0)                                 48
10. Fairview (3-0)                                     42

Others receiving votes: Beauregard (3-0) 18, Fayette Co. (3-0) 13, Anniston (2-1) 5, Headland (3-0) 5, Jemison (3-0) 1.

Class 3A
1. Piedmont (26) (3-0)                            350
2. Hamilton (1) (3-0)                        269
3. Handley (3) (3-0)                                242
4. Clay Co. (1) (3-0)                                 217
5. Washington Co. (3-0)                          199
6. Leeds (2-1)                                           159
7. Bayside Acad. (3-0)                             132
8. T.R. Miller (2-1)                                     77
9. Glencoe (3-0)                                         43
10. Trinity (2-1)                                         21

Others receiving votes: Sardis (3-0) 15, Slocomb (3-0) 13, Hanceville (3-0) 9, Sylvania (3-0) 6, Gordo (1-2) 4, Rogers (2-1) 4, Walter Wellborn (3-0) 4, Opp (2-1) 3.

Class 2A
1. Elba (29) (3-0)                                     359
2. Leroy (2-1)                                           263
3. Fyffe (1) (3-0)                                      240
4. Tanner (3-0)                                        203
5. American Chr. (1) (2-1)                      200
6. Reeltown (2-1)                                      147
7. Lineville (3-0)                                       137
8. Red Bay (3-0)                                     93
9. Flomaton (3-0)                                       63
10. Colbert Hts. (2-1)                           16

Others receiving votes: Lamar Co. (3-0) 15, Fultondale (2-1) 10, G.W. Long (3-0) 7, Woodland (1-2) 5, Sulligent (1-2) 3, Highland Home (3-0) 2, Ider (3-0) 1, Lanett (2-1) 1, Mobile Chr. (2-1) 1, Vincent (2-1) 1.

Class 1A
1. Linden (22) (3-0)                                 344
2. Sweet Water (8) (2-1)                         300
3. R.A. Hubbard (1) (3-0)                 246
4. Lynn (3-0)                                             194
5. Collinsville (3-0)                                   159
6. Brantley (3-0)                                       155
7. Maplesville (3-0)                                  112
8. Pickens Co. (3-0)                                    74
9. Parrish (2-1)                                           52
10. Addison (3-0)                                       40

Others receiving votes: Ragland (3-0) 38, Berry (2-1) 13, Appalachian (3-0) 12, Cedar Bluff (1-2) 10, McIntosh (3-0) 9, St. Jude (3-0) 3, Winterboro (3-0) 3, Notasulga (3-0) 2, Marion Co. (3-0) 1.