Class 1A spotlight shines on Spring Garden vs. No. 5 Cedar Bluff

By KURT DURYEA

An off week didn’t hurt Cedar Bluff (7-0). The Tigers are the new No. 5 team in Class 1A. Cedar Bluff took advantage of former No. 5 Pickens County’s loss to defending state champion and current No. 1 Marion County. The 1A prep spotlight will shine on the “Garden” this Friday night as Cedar Bluff travels cross county to tangle with Spring Garden (7-1). Collinsville (7-1) remained at No. 9 in this week’s poll. The Panthers are at Valley Head (5-3). Meanwhile, Gaylesville (3-5) faces a must-win at Donoho (4-4) to keep the Trojans’ slim post-season aspirations alive.

Fyffe (8-0) defeated North Sand Mountain (6-2) and retained the No. 2 spot in Class 2A behind defending state champion Tanner. The loss pushed the Bison out of the Top 10. However, they are still receiving votes along with 2A, Region 7 rival Westbrook Christian (6-2). North Sand Mountain and Westbrook Christian meet in Rainbow City on Friday with a first-round home playoff game at stake. Sand Rock (4-4) is at home against Ider. A win gives the Wildcats post season possibilities.

 No. 1 is a familiar spot for the Piedmont Bulldogs. In 2011, the Alabama Sportswriters Association put the Bulldogs at the 3A pinnacle on Sept. 14.  Piedmont retained that ranking through the final poll on Nov. 2. The Bulldogs began the 2012 season at No. 3, behind Leeds and Deshler. It took the Bulldogs just three weeks to duplicate their 2011 accomplishment. Since achieving this season’s No. 1 ranking Piedmont has reeled off three straight shutouts and gave up only a touchdown apiece to Susan Moore and Saks. The Bulldogs’ (8-0) final regular season home game is Friday against Weaver (4-4).  Piedmont will meet 4A Lincoln (5-3) in a non-region contest the following week.

Fort Payne (8-0) was boosted to the third spot in Class 5A when St. Paul’s vacated that spot. The Saints were upset by Vigor, 20-17.  Fort Payne is at Scottsboro this week. 

Hoover once again garnered all 32 first place votes in Class 6A. Clay-Chalkville (7-1) dropped five spots to No. 7 after a 21-20 loss to Huntsville. Huntsville (5-3) will be in Gadsden City (5-3) on Friday in one of two critical Region 7 contests. In the other, Oxford (6-2) is at Pell City (5-3).   

In other area games this week Cherokee County (0-8) hosts Hokes Bluff (1-7) and Gaston (0-8) is at West End (0-8).  

The complete poll is listed below:

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 Christian (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.