The Alabama Sports Writers Association released week four of the AHSAA football poll this morning.   

The Piedmont Bulldogs (4-0, 4-0) had no trouble holding on to the top spot in Class 3A as they steamrolled J.B. Pennington 45-0. This week the Bulldogs will be tested when they travel to Glencoe to play the No. 9-ranked Yellow Jackets. Last season’s epic battle resulted in a 13-12 overtime win for the Bulldogs at the Field of Champions.   

Collinsville (4-0, 3-0) ascended to the No. 3 position in Class 1A with a 56-14 homecoming win over Woodville. The Panthers were aided in the climb with losses to former No. 2 Sweet Water and No. 3 R.A. Hubbard.  Sweet Water (2-2) fell to sixth with their loss to top-ranked Linden (4-0), while Hubbard (3-1) tumbled to No. 9 after falling to unranked Hackleburg, 12-7.  Sweet Water’s streak of 35 straight region wins came to an end with the loss. Cedar Bluff continued to receive consideration from 1A voters but remains outside the top 10. The Tigers will play Class 4A Douglas at L.D. Bruce Field Friday night. 

There was no movement among the top ten teams in Class 2A. The Fyffe Red Devils (4-0,4-0) retained their No. 3 ranking with a 48-0 drubbing of Section. North Sand Mountain (3-1) has begun to receive notice from voters after the Bison trounced Ider 31-21 and pushed Fyffe to the wire before falling 13-10. NSM travels to Sand Rock this week for the marquee match-up in Region 6.  

Clay County dropped from fourth to seventh in Class 3A after losing to No. 3 Handley, 20-14.  Handley (4-0) will play Sweet Water this week; the Clay County Panthers (3-1) host the Lineville Aggies (No. 7 in Class 2A).  It will be the last time the Panthers and Aggies meet on the gridiron. School consolidation between Clay County and Lineville will forever close out the historic Clay Bowl series, first played in 1922.     

Class 4A has had no movement among the top seven teams since the pre-season poll was issued in August.  Region 7 is represented by North Jackson (4-0) at No. 4, Fairview (4-0) at No. 8, and Guntersville among the others receiving consideration.  

In Class 5A, unranked Fort Payne (3-1, 2-1) and Etowah (3-1, 2-1) both won but remain on the ASWA radar. Fort Payne easily put down Southside 52-3, while Etowah captured a thriller over Albertville, 35-32. Fort Payne is on the road to play new No. 9 Cullman (4-0) this week.  

A 25-12 win over Huffman kept Gadsden City (3-1, 2-1) in consideration in Class 6A, but the Titans will have their hands full this week when they host No. 2 Hoover (4-0). No. 10 Oxford will be challenged when they meet No. 6 Auburn. Seventh-ranked Spain Park and No. 8 Bob Jones will also be a draw for 6A fans to follow this Friday. 

Others receiving votes: Blount (4-0) 30, McGill-Toolen (4-0) 17, Northridge (4-0) 12, Gadsden City (3-1) 9, Central-Phenix City (3-1) 4, Dothan (3-1) 3, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (4-0) 3, Benjamin Russell (4-0) 1, Pell City (3-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: McAdory (3-1) 12, Etowah (3-1) 5, Fort Payne (3-1) 5, Center Point (3-1) 2, Pinson Valley (3-1) 2, Demopolis (3-1) 1, Valley (3-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Guntersville (3-1) 25, UMS-Wright (2-2) 7, Dora (3-1) 2, Anniston (2-2) 1, Greene County (4-0) 1.

Others receiving votes: Sardis (4-0) 14, Slocomb (4-0) 14, Hanceville (4-0) 12, Sylvania (4-0) 6, Gordo (2-2) 5, Rogers (3-1) 2, Opp (3-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Fultondale (3-1) 6, Sulligent (1-3) 3, North Sand Mountain (3-1) 1, Oakman (3-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Hackleburg (3-1) 15, Marion County (4-0) 10, Parrish (2-2) 10, McIntosh (4-0) 9, Berry (3-1) 7, Cedar Bluff (2-2) 7, Notasulga (4-0) 7, Appalachian (3-1) 5, Winterboro (4-0) 5.