The Alabama Sportswriters Association released its annual preseason football rankings on Wednesday. The Piedmont Bulldogs and the Cedar Bluff Tigers find themselves in familiar spots ranked among the state's best.
Class 3A Piedmont, which went 12-1 last season, comes in at No. 3. The Bulldogs received one first-place vote and trail top-ranked Leeds and No. 2 Deshler, which makes the move down from Class 4A.
Class 1A Cedar Bluff slides in at No. 8 following a 6-6 campaign in 2011.
Two other area teams received votes the poll: Class 2A Sand Rock (6-5 in 2011) and Class 1A Collinsville (11-2).
For Piedmont coach Steve Smith and Cedar Bluff coach Jonathan McWhorter, the preseason poll means nothing more to them than recognition for what their programs have done in the past, and something for high school football fans to debate.
"We always try to tell our kids you can't rest on your accomplishments from the past," said Smith, who guided the Bulldogs to a state championship in 2009. "It's a nice honor to be recognized on a statewide level as one of the top three teams in the state. The people who are ranked above us, Leeds and Deshler, are two programs who have proven themselves over the years, and there's some really good teams behind us."
One thing that left Smith scratching his head about the Class 3A poll was the Bulldogs were the only team from the new Region 5 to receive consideration for the poll. Piedmont won Region 6 last season over the likes of Glencoe (9-3), Weaver (7-4), Saks (7-4) and Susan Moore (5-5).
"I feel the region we play in is as top-heavy with five potential playoff teams as any region in the state," Smith said. "To see that poll and see that no other team in our region received a vote is really shocking. Our region won three out of four games in the first round (of the state playoffs) last year. Weaver was an extra-point conversion away from knocking off Madison Academy on the road, and Madison Academy wound up playing for the state championship and enters this year's poll at No. 4. I think there was some disrespect shown to teams in our region. Glencoe and Susan Moore are perennial playoff teams I feel like are quality teams, better than some teams that did receive votes in the poll."
Piedmont opens the 2012 season at home against Cherokee County on Aug. 31.
Like the Bulldogs, McWhorter's Tigers compete in a competitive Class 1A, Region 7. The Tigers have finished runner-up to Collinsville (11-2) the past two seasons.
For the next two seasons, the region swells to nine teams with the additions of Donoho (11-2 in 2011), Jacksonville Christian (4-6) and Coosa Christian (3-7). With the exception of Gaston (now in 2A), the Tigers' other traditional opponents remain Collinsville, Gaylesville (3-8), Spring Garden (2-8), Valley Head (3-7) and Woodville (1-9).
McWhorter also noted the North section of Alabama is loaded with tough teams when it comes to the playoffs.
"For the last 12 years, which is how many years I've been at Cedar Bluff, there's probably been 8-10 teams in 1A that legimately have a shot to make it to the state championship game and win it," he said. "It's always very competitive, and it's going to be no different this year. We've got Pickens County coming up to the North and already joining a strong group of teams. I would definitely throw us in that mix too."
This season, the Tigers feature one of their biggest senior classes in school history (16), which is why McWhorter feels "we have an opportunity to have a good team."
"For us with 16 seniors, we expect to do well. If we don't, it will be a disappointment," McWhorter said. "How good is always the question. We've had a couple of breakout years here and there. We've made it to the third round (in 2002, 2004 and 2005). We've made it to the championship game (in 2006). We've had region championships, but it's been five years since we've had some of those things. We're expecting to have a good team, just like we do every year. It's going to take a lot of hard work, but we've got some guys who are beginning to step up as leaders. With 16 seniors, you expect to have that leadership. Really and truly, that's the difference between an average team and a team who could possibly be great."
Cedar Bluff opens the 2012 season on Aug. 30 against Gaylesville.
The complete poll, including all schools receiving votes and the panel of voters, is listed below with first-place votes and 2011 records in parentheses.
Class 6A
1. Hoover (31) (13-2) 372
2. Clay-Chalkville-& (1-9) 247
3. Auburn (8-2) 189
4. McGill-Toolen (11-2) 181
5. Spain Park (5-6) 155
6. Daphne (10-2) 102
7. Oxford (12-2) 82
8. Carver-Montgomery (7-4) 80
9t. Vestavia Hills (7-5) 77
9t. Northridge (10-2) 77
Others receiving votes: Prattville (12-2) 47, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (12-1) 41, Gadsden City (6-5) 33, Hueytown-* (13-1) 24, Mountain Brook (12-1) 21, Austin (7-4) 15, Fairhope (10-3) 8, Bob Jones (10-2) 7, Davidson (7-4) 4, Central-Phenix City (11-3) 2, Huntsville (8-4) 2, Florence (7-3) 1.
*-Class 5A in 2011; &-Forfeited nine games in 2011 due to an ineligible player.
Class 5A
1. Hartselle (19) (15-0) 316
2. Muscle Shoals (5) (11-2) 262
3. Pinson Valley (3) (9-3) 245
4. St. Paul’s (2) (11-2) 217
5. Homewood-* (1) (5-5) 194
6. Jackson-** (15-0) 188
7. Vigor (1) (12-3) 70
8. Eufaula (10-2) 60
9. Briarwood Chr. (12-2) 46
10. Center Point (11-2) 44
Others receiving votes: Cullman (8-4) 34, Spanish Fort (9-4) 24, Fort Payne (10-2) 24, Demopolis (6-5) 16, Etowah (10-2) 9, Valley (9-3) 7, Athens (4-7) 6, Walker (6-5) 3, Greenville (11-1) 1, Russellville (5-6) 1.
*-Class 6A in 2011; **-Class 4A in 2011
Class 4A
1. Oneonta (20) (12-3) 327
2. Handley-** (5) (15-0) 250
3. Dadeville (2) (12-1) 234
4. UMS-Wright (1) (9-5) 184
5. N. Jackson (1) (11-1) 174
6. Thomasville (2) (10-2) 173
7. Bibb Co. (12-1) 84
8. Central-Clay Co.-*** 74
9. Anniston (9-5) 73
10. Beauregard (10-2) 42
Others receiving votes: Andalusia (10-1) 33, Sardis-** (9-2) 24, Brooks (8-3) 20, Rogers-** (11-3) 16, Fairview (7-4) 10, Madison Co.-* (4-6) 10, Charles Henderson-* (6-6) 9, Calera (4-6) 8, Tallassee-* (4-7) 6, Guntersville (8-3) 5, J.O. Johnson-&* (0-10) 5, Hillcrest-Evergreen (5-5) 4, St. James (8-3) 2.
*-Class 5A in 2011; **-Class 3A in 2011; ***-New school; &-Forfeited five games in 2011 due to ineligible player.
Class 3A
1. Leeds-& (11) (0-13) 297
2. Deshler-* (13) (11-2) 293
3. Piedmont (1) (12-1) 242
4. Madison Acad. (6) (12-3) 233
5. Bayside Acad. (11-1) 129
6. Abbeville (9-2) 121
7. Midfield-* (6-5) 112
8. Lauderdale Co. (11-2) 105
9. T.R. Miller (9-3) 78
10. Hamilton (8-3) 37
Others receiving votes: Fayette Co.-* (9-4) 25, Gordo (9-3) 25, Hanceville (10-1) 23, American Chr.-** (12-2) 16, Elkmont (7-5) 8, Straughn-* (6-5) 7, Trinity (6-5) 5, Excel (3-7) 3, Greene Co.-* (7-4) 3, Geraldine (5-6) 2, Montevallo (4-6) 2, Opp (6-5) 1.
*-Class 4A in 2011; **-Class 2A in 2011; &-Forfeited 10 wins after the 2011 season due to ineligible player.
Class 2A
1. Elba (22) (15-0) 339
2. Fultondale (4) (10-3) 272
3. Tanner (1) (14-1) 252
4. Sweet Water-** (2) (10-4) 196
5. Washington Co.-* (2) (9-3) 188
6. Reeltown (8-4) 123
7. Fyffe (11-1) 105
8. Vincent (9-3) 56
9. Sheffield-* (9-3) 55
10. G.W. Long (9-2) 48
Others receiving votes: Oakman (8-4) 39, N. Sand Mountain (9-2) 32, Flomaton (11-2) 18, Woodland (8-5) 13, Wellborn-* (9-3) 9, LaFayette (7-4) 6, Sand Rock (6-5) 6, Leroy (8-5) 4, Montgomery Acad.-* (3-7) 3, Southern Choctaw (8-3) 2, Luverne-* (7-4) 1.
*-Class 3A in 2011; **-Class 1A in 2011.
Class 1A
1. Marion Co. (19) (14-1) 297
2. Linden (6) (13-2) 285
3. Maplesville (2) (12-1) 219
4. Ragland (1) (13-1) 213
5. Brantley (1) (10-2) 192
6. Pickens Co. (11-2) 179
7. R.A. Hubbard (2) (7-4) 121
8. Cedar Bluff (6-6) 106
9. Lynn (9-3) 38
10. Berry (10-2) 28
Others receiving votes: Addison (9-2) 27, Collinsville (11-2) 17, Geneva Co. (6-6) 15, St. Jude (9-2) 7, Pleasant Home (8-4) 6, Winterboro (10-2) 6, Parrish (4-6) 5, Hackleburg (7-4) 3, McKenzie (6-4) 3.
AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (24) (13-0) 351
2. Bessemer Acad. (6) (12-1) 249
3. Glenwood Acad. (8-6) 194
4. Autauga Acad. (12-2) 165
5. Jackson Acad. (12-1) 142
6. Fort Dale Acad. (4-7) 127
7. Pike Liberal (6-4) 105
8. Monroe Acad. (1) (11-2) 102
9. Lee-Scott (7-4) 98
10. Sumter Acad. (9-4) 73
Others receiving votes: Tuscaloosa Acad. (9-2) 59, Springwood (9-2) 29, Clarke Prep (7-4) 19, Restoration (3-7) 16, Crenshaw Chr. (11-1) 15, Coosa Valley (3-7) 8, Patrician Acad. (10-3) 7, Sparta Acad. (4-7) 5, Escambia Acad. (8-5) 2, Morgan Acad. (8-4) 1.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry, Chairman, Alabama Media Group; Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Johnathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Nick Birdsong, Anniston Star; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Jonathon Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Jason Bowen, Daily Sentinel; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Newton Peters, Florala News; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Dennis Victory, Freelance (Birmingham); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Kim Craft, Gadsden Times; Davis Potter, Hamilton Record; Mike Easterling, Huntsville Times; Josh Bean, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Jason Galloway, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Andrew Carroll, Tuscaloosa News; Griffin Pritchard, Wetumpka Herald.
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