Piedmont (6-0, 6-0) pitched its fourth shutout in six games to remain atop Class 3A for the fourth week in a row. The Bulldogs are currently surrendering an AHSAA Class 3A low of 5.2 points per game on defense. Piedmont will have to call on their stout “D” this week as they invite their first non-region opponent of the year to the Field of Champions. The Bulldogs will have to contend with Greesnsboro (5-1) and talented quarterback Quante Brown, who was 22-of-45 passing for 330 yards and two touchdowns, and a pair of rushing touchdowns, in a 31-14 win over Hale last week. 

Collinsville capitalized on a fourth quarter interception to pull off a 26-20 region win over Cedar Bluff last week but slipped into a tie for third among the elite teams in Class 1A.  It was the Panthers’ DeShawn Moore who picked off the and returned it 87 yards in a game that was knotted at 20-20. (Jesse Chandler punched in the game-winning touchdown on the next play.) Collinsville (6-0, 4-0) travels to Gaylesville Friday.

There were no other changes among 1A teams, but there will be after Friday, as No. 6 Pickens County (6-0) tangles with No. 5 Maplesville (6-0).

The Class 4A top seven teams have not budged a bit since the pre-season rankings were released.  However, Guntersville delivered a 35-19 beating to Fairview last week that drove the Aggies out of the top ten.  Guntersville landed at No. 9 and previously unranked Dora (No. 10 this week) entered the rankings for the first time all season. Dora was 3-8 in 2010. 

Previous No. 3 Eufala (5-1), No. 4 Vigor (4-2), and No. 6 Chelsea (4-2) have started the musical chairs game that ruled the Class 5A rankings last year.   Fort Payne took advantage of the misfortune of others to grab a seat at No. 7 for this week.  The Wildcats are at Albertville Friday night.   

Gadsden City and Oxford received consideration in Class 6A but remained outside the top ten. The Titans host the unheralded Austin Black Bears this week, a team that is 5-1 for the first time since 2001. Oxford is also at home against the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies (4-2) in a Region 7 tussle.

The complete poll is as follows:

CLASS 6A

1. Daphne (30) (6-0) 360

2. Hoover (6-0) 268

3. Clay-Chalkville (6-0) 233

4. Mountain Brook (6-0) 201

5. Auburn (5-0) 183

6. Bob Jones (6-0) 132

7. McGill-Toolen (6-0) 103

8. Blount (6-0) 96

9. Prattville (4-2) 49

10. Northridge (6-0) 47

Others receiving votes: Opelika (4-1) 11, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (6-0) 7, Central-Phenix City (5-1) 6, Oxford (4-2) 5, Gadsden City (3-3) 4, Fairhope (5-1) 3, Spain Park (3-3) 2.

CLASS 5A

1. Hueytown (29) (6-0) 357

2. Hartselle (6-0) 264

3. Briarwood Chr. (1) (5-1) 231

4. Fairfield (6-0) 197

5. St. Paul’s (5-1) 158

6. Muscle Shoals (5-1) 140

7. Fort Payne (5-1) 91

8. Vigor (4-2) 77

9. Eufaula (5-1) 74

10. Valley (5-1) 35 

Others receiving votes: Center Point (5-1) 23, Pinson Valley (5-1) 23, Chelsea (4-2) 16, McAdory (4-2) 9, Cullman (5-1) 7, Greenville (5-1) 4, Spanish Fort (4-2) 4.

CLASS 4A

1. Thomasville (30) (6-0) 360

2. Jackson (6-0) 256

3. Dadeville (6-0) 228

4. North Jackson (6-0) 206

5. Deshler (6-0) 184

6. Bibb Co. (6-0) 158

7. Andalusia (6-0) 134

8. Beauregard (6-0) 80

9. Guntersville (5-1) 65

10. Dora (5-1) 15

Others receiving votes: Fairview (5-1) 10, Fayette Co. (5-1) 7, Oneonta (5-1) 3, Greene Co. (5-1) 2, Ashford (5-1) 1, UMS-Wright (4-2) 1.

CLASS 3A

1. Piedmont (26) (6-0) 345

2. Hamilton (1) (6-0) 267

3. Handley (3) (6-0) 253

4. Leeds (5-1) 190

5. Bayside Acad. (6-0) 187

6. Clay Co. (5-1) 146

7t. Trinity (5-1) 79

7t. Washington Co. (5-1) 79

9. Sardis (6-0) 62

10. Hanceville (6-0) 54 

Others receiving votes: Gordo (4-2) 17, Saks (6-0) 15, Sylvania (5-1) 6, Rogers (5-1) 5, T.R. Miller (4-2) 5.

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (28) (6-0) 350

2. Fyffe (1) (6-0) 254

3. Tanner (6-0) 235

4. American Chr. (1) (5-1) 219

5. Reeltown (5-1) 187

6. Red Bay (6-0) 139

7. Flomaton (6-0) 127

8. Lineville (5-1) 99

9. N. Sand Mountain (5-1) 52

10. Vincent (5-1) 16

Others receiving votes: Leroy (3-3) 14, Oakman (4-2) 8, Colbert Hts. (4-2) 2, G.W. Long (5-1) 2, Zion Chapel (5-1) 2, Fultondale (4-2) 1, Ider (5-1) 1, Mobile Chr. (3-3) 1, Westminster Chr. (4-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Linden (30) (6-0) 360

2. Lynn (6-0) 250

3t. Collinsville (6-0) 211

3t. Brantley (6-0) 211

5. Maplesville (6-0) 185

6. Pickens Co. (6-0) 149

7. Addison (6-0) 124

8. Ragland (5-0) 92

9. Sweet Water (3-3) 61

10. Marion Co. (6-0) 38 

Others receiving votes: Hackleburg (5-1) 13, Winterboro (6-0) 10, Berry (5-1) 3, R.A. Hubbard (3-3) 2, St. Jude (4-1) 1.