Piedmont (7-0, 6-0) blasted Greensboro last week, 46-18, to remain unbeaten and No. 1 in Class 3A. The Bulldogs now reload for a road trip to Saks (6-1, 6-0).  The winner of Friday’s game claims the 3A Region 6 title. The last time Saks defeated Piedmont was 1997 under first-year coach Glenn Toney. Toney took over that year for the legendary high school head coach Bobby Joe Johnson.  Johnson, who coached Piedmont head coach Steve Smith at Cherokee County, retired the year before after taking the Wildcats to the 5A championship game at Legion Field. Saks and Piedmont did not play between 1997-2010.     

Collinsville (7-0, 5-0) cruised to a 28-7 win over region rival Gaylesville last week but lost two sports writer votes. As a result, the Panthers slipped from a tie for third to sole possession of the No. 4 spot in Class 1A. The Panthers were guided by quarterback Nathan Coker, who celebrated his birthday Friday by completing 7-of-12 passes for 180 yards including two touchdowns.  He also ran 19 times for 112 yards and another score. The win gave the Panthers their second consecutive Region 7 championship. Collinsville travels to  Decatur Heritage Christian (2-5) Friday, for the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

The Fyffe Red Devils held steady at No. 2 again this week in Class 2A, after Lineville, Flomation and Reeltown all went down to defeat. Their losses were North Sand Mountain’s gain. The Bison jumped to No. 6 after beginning the year unranked and unnoticed. Lineville was replaced by Leroy in the top 10.  

Class 4A went ten-for-ten as none of the top teams suffered upsets. North Jackson (No. 4), Guntersville (No. 9) and Fairview (just outside the Top 10) all represent 4A Region 7.  Top-ranked Thomasville survived a scare from UMS-Wright.  Thomasville rallied from a 17-7 deficit in the final eight minutes to eek out a 28-24 victory. ASWA player of the week Tyler Hayes batted down a UMS-Wright pass as time ran out to preserve the win for the Tigers.

Fort Payne (6-1, 4-1) took advantage of a Fairfield loss and grabbed the No. 6 seat in Class 5A.  The Wildcats close with three home games, beginning Friday against Madison County.

Gadsden City (3-4, 2-3) lost their homecoming game to Austin and are no longer receiving votes in Class 6A. The Titans are at Pell City this week.  Oxford (5-2, 4-1) is also on the road to Huffman. 

The complete poll is as follows:

CLASS 6A

1. Daphne (30) (7-0) 369

2. Hoover (1) (7-0) 279

3. Clay-Chalkville (7-0) 238

4. Mountain Brook (7-0) 217

5. Bob Jones (7-0) 172

6. McGill-Toolen (7-0) 131

7. Blount (7-0) 119

8. Prattville (5-2) 63

9. Northridge (7-0) 60

10. Central-Phenix City (6-1) 38

Others receiving votes: Auburn (5-1) 27, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (7-0) 22, Opelika (5-1) 15, Fairhope (6-1) 9, Oxford (5-2) 6, Austin (6-1) 1, Murphy (4-3) 1.

CLASS 5A

1. Hueytown (30) (7-0) 369

2. Hartselle (1) (7-0) 276

3. Briarwood Chr. (6-1) 248

4. St. Paul’s (6-1) 217

5. Muscle Shoals (6-1) 167

6. Fort Payne (6-1) 123

7. Vigor (5-2) 96

8. Fairfield (6-1) 84

9. Eufaula (6-1) 71

10. Valley (6-1) 58

Others receiving votes: Center Point (6-1) 21, Cullman (6-1) 14, Greenville (6-1) 9, Spanish Fort (5-2) 7, Etowah (5-2) 5, McAdory (5-2) 2.

CLASS 4A

1. Thomasville (30) (7-0) 368

2. Jackson (1) (7-0) 267

3. Dadeville (7-0) 241

4. North Jackson (7-0) 206

5. Deshler (7-0) 192

6. Bibb Co. (7-0) 155

7. Andalusia (7-0) 145

8. Beauregard (7-0) 83

9. Guntersville (6-1) 66

10. Dora (6-1) 27

Others receiving votes: Fayette Co. (6-1) 10, Oneonta (6-1) 5, Fairview (6-1) 2.

CLASS 3A

1. Piedmont (26) (7-0) 354

2. Hamilton (1) (7-0) 275

3. Handley (4) (7-0) 266

4. Leeds (6-1) 205

5. Bayside Acad. (7-0) 189

6. Clay Co. (6-1) 161

7. Sardis (7-0) 104

8. Hanceville (7-0) 100

9. Rogers (6-1) 31

10. Gordo (5-2) 28

Others receiving votes: T.R. Miller (5-2) 24, Trinity (5-2) 8, Saks (6-1) 5, Washington Co. (5-2) 4, Lauderdale Co. (6-1) 3, Madison Acad. (5-2) 3, Opp (5-2) 3, Glencoe (5-2) 2, Abbeville (6-1) 2.

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (28) (7-0) 360

2. Fyffe (1) (7-0) 269

3. Tanner (7-0) 247

4. American Chr. (2) (6-1) 229

5. Red Bay (7-0) 184

6. N. Sand Mountain (6-1) 135

7. Vincent (6-1) 104

8. Flomaton (6-1) 50

9. Leroy (4-3) 46

10. Reeltown (5-2) 44

Others receiving votes: G.W. Long (6-1) 20, Lineville (5-2) 18, Oakman (5-2) 18, Randolph Co. (5-2) 16, Ider (6-1) 12, Colbert Hts. (5-2) 5, LaFayette (5-2) 5, Fultondale (5-2) 2, Mobile Chr. (4-3) 2, Zion Chapel (5-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Lynn (17) (7-0) 314

2. Linden (10) (6-1) 257

3. Brantley (1) (6-0) 233

4. Collinsville (1) (7-0) 231

5. Maplesville (2) (7-0) 220

6. Addison (7-0) 161

7. Ragland (6-0) 120

8. Sweet Water (4-3) 86

9. Marion Co. (7-0) 65

10. Pickens Co. (6-1) 45

Others receiving votes: Winterboro (7-0) 26, St. Jude (5-1) 4, Berry (6-1) 2, R.A. Hubbard (4-3) 2, McIntosh (5-2) 1.