Oct. 14, 2010

Piedmont drops to No. 6 after OT loss to Gulf Shores

By Kurt Duryea

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Collinsville (7-0, 5-0) and Cedar Bluff (5-2, 4-1) received votes in this week’s ASWA Football Poll, but remain outside the select group.  A door may be opened this week as the seventh-ranked Hackleburg Panthers and No. 10 Addison scuffle. Collinsville receives a forfeit this week from Skyline and Cedar Bluff meets Gaston at Bruce Field.  

The Class 2A rankings remained unchanged this week, though No. 4 Westbrook Christian will scuffle with Section. Eighth-ranked Fyffe and No. 9 Ider will spice up the Region 6 landscape when they play Friday.  

In Class 3A, Piedmont (6-1, 6-0) goes back to work against Saks after losing to Class 5A Gulf Shores in overtime.  With the loss the Bulldogs dropped to sixth in the poll; Glencoe (6-1, 5-1) which lost to Piedmont earlier this season, elbowed its way into the No. 5 spot. The Yellow Jackets will try out the new rank on Hokes Bluff Friday night. The high school spotlight will shine on Region 5 when second-ranked Cordova collides with No. 4 Hamilton. 

Despite dropping out of the top ten, Cherokee County (4-3, 3-2) remains in the Class 4A vote count. The Warriors will load up the buses and travel to face the Douglas Eagles.  

The 4A classification will have a few games that fans will want to keep an eye on this week.  Top dog Jackson (7-0, 5-0) goes against a region newcomer Escambia, which was a class higher in 2008 and 2009.  Region 5 will see No. 8 Fayette County squaring off against undefeated Oak Grove. The tenth- ranked Anniston Bulldogs need to put distance between themselves and Region 6 contender Oneonta, but will have to face the Redskins on the road to do it.  

Fort Payne (7-0, 5-0) remains the only unbeaten team in 5A as they thumped Albertville 49-18.  The convincing win garnered two first place votes for the Wildcats and in turn provided a two-spot boost in the poll, to No. 6.  The Wildcats finish the season with three games on the road, beginning Friday night with Madison County.  

In Class 6A, Gadsden (5-2, 4-1) dropped out of the top ten after being upset by region rival Austin.  The Titans hope to get back on track at home against Pell City this week. Vestavia Hills skidded from the second spot to No. 8 with their loss to Spain Park, and will surely have upset on their minds when then face top-ranked Hoover in the Game of the Week.       

 

CLASS 6A

1. Hoover (36) (7-0) 432

2. Daphne (7-0) 313

3. Decatur (7-0) 245

4. Bob Jones (6-1) 230

5. Davidson (6-1) 205

6. Auburn (5-1) 168

7. Wetumpka (6-0) 138

8. Vestavia Hills (6-1) 118

9. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (7-0) 86

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

Others receiving votes: Mountain Brook (6-1) 28, Gadsden City (5-2) 18, Prattville (5-2) 11, Murphy (6-1) 9, Hewitt-Trussville (6-1) 7, Foley (5-2) 5, Smiths Station (6-1) 1.

 

CLASS 5A

1. Hartselle (25) (6-1) 391

2. Briarwood Chr. (5) (6-1) 317

3. Walker (3) (6-1) 278

4. Russellville (6-1) 209

5. Hueytown (6-1) 198

6. Fort Payne (2) (7-0) 174

7. Spanish Fort (1) (6-1) 172

8. Pleasant Grove (6-1) 167

9. Demopolis (5-2) 68

10. McAdory (5-2) 36

Others receiving votes: St. Paul’s (6-1) 30, Tallassee (6-1) 6, Cullman (5-2) 3, Valley (5-2) 2, Eufaula (5-2) 1.

 

CLASS 4A

1. Jackson (23) (7-0) 389

2. Thomasville (11) (7-0) 357

3. N. Jackson (7-0) 282

4. Bibb Co. (2) (7-0) 256

5. Deshler (6-1) 209

6. Dadeville (7-0) 176

7. Fairview (7-0) 125

8. Fayette Co. (6-1) 76

9. Straughn (6-1) 59

10. Anniston (6-1) 32

Others receiving votes: Andalusia (6-1) 22, Ashford (7-0) 22, Oak Grove (7-0) 19, UMS-Wright (4-3) 12, Central-Florence(6-1) 6, Beauregard (6-1) 5, Oneonta (6-1) 4, Cherokee Co. (4-3) 1.

 

CLASS 3A

1. Leeds (34) (7-0) 426

2. Cordova (2) (7-0) 324

3. Handley (7-0) 276

4. Hamilton (7-0) 257

5. Glencoe (6-1) 173

6. Piedmont (6-1) 163

7. Gordo (6-1) 144

8. Madison Acad. (6-1) 79

9. Trinity (6-1) 69

10. T.R. Miller (5-2) 51

Others receiving votes: Pike Co. (5-2) 26, Washington Co. (5-2) 24, Abbeville (6-1) 12, Daleville (6-1) 11, Lauderdale Co. (6-1) 7, Plainview (5-2) 3, Winfield (5-2) 3, Hale Co. (6-1) 2, Susan Moore (5-2) 2.

 

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (23) (7-0) 386

2. Leroy (9) (6-1) 344

3. Reeltown (2) (6-1) 279

4. Westbrook Chr. (1) (7-0) 237

5. Cottonwood (7-0) 223

6. Tanner (1) (6-0) 210

7. Lineville (6-1) 138

8. Fyffe (6-1) 105

9. Ider (6-1) 64

10. Goshen (6-1) 54

Others receiving votes: Colbert Hts.(6-1) 7, American Chr. (6-1) 4, Cleveland (6-1) 1.

 

CLASS 1A

1. Brantley (29) (7-0) 408

2. Maplesville (4) (7-0) 315

3. Sweet Water (3) (5-2) 297

4. Linden (6-1) 254

5. R.A. Hubbard (6-1) 197

6. McKenzie (7-0) 179

7. Hackleburg (6-1) 130

8. Lynn (7-0) 91

9. Addison (6-1) 88

10. Appalachian (7-0) 45

Others receiving votes: Collinsville (7-0) 25, Autaugaville (6-1) 9, St. Jude (6-1) 8, Cedar Bluff (5-2) 2, Pickens Co. (4-3) 2, Ragland (6-1) 2.