HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Two area teams ranked in preseason poll

By Tom Peavy

Published: August 5, 2008

When the 2008 high school football season opens up, only two area schools will find themselves ranked in the Top 10.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its 2008 preseason poll Tuesday and Loachapoka and Glenwood came away as the only area schools to be ranked in the Top 10 of their respective classifications.

Loachapoka enters the year ranked No. 8 in Class 1A. The Indians finished 9-2 a year ago in Class 2A and will make the move back down to 1A for 2008.

Loachapoka, coached by Jerome Tate, lost a good bit of talent last season, but still returns a solid group of athletes.

Glenwood cracked the polls in the No. 10 spot in AISA.

The Gators finished 9-1 last season, but have a new coach in Chris Holmes, who replaces Tripp Henderson. Henderson left Glenwood to become the head coach at B.B. Comer.

Glenwood, while also losing some core talent, returns a strong group. Among them is receiver Arthur Williams, who already has offers from
Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss.

While Loachapoka and Glenwood are the only local schools ranked for the preseason, several others enter the year just outside the Top 10.

In Class 6A, Opelika received 38 votes, the highest of any non-Top 10 team. Central-Phenix City also received 10 votes in 6A.

In Class 2A, Lanett used the strength of a terrific 2007 season to secure 16 votes.

And in AISA, Lee-Scott received eight votes, while Chambers Academy received six.

Around the state, Prattville is an overwhelming favorite to win the 6A state title. The defending champion Lions received 26 votes. Hoover and Tuscaloosa County received one first-place vote each.

In Class 5A Eufaula got the nod as the top pick. Deshler received all but one first-place vote to take the top spot in Class 4A, while Cordova is a unanimous pick in the top spot for Class 3A.

Leroy received all but one first-place vote in Class 2A, Sweet Water was a unanimous pick in Class 1A and Bessemer was the pick in AISA.

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Here’s the entire ASWA Preseason poll:
ASWA Preseason High School Football Poll

Class 6A
Rank School 2007.  Pts.
1. Prattville (26) (15-0) 330
2. Hoover (1) (6-6) 236
3. Tuscaloosa Co. (1)(11-1) 232
4. McGill-Toolen (13-2) 167
5. Gadsden City (10-2) 150
6. Daphne (10-2) 132
7. Oxford (3-7) 69
8. Florence (8-3) 57
9. Vestavia Hills (12-2) 53
10. Hueytown (12-2) 46
Others receiving votes: Opelika 38; Pelham 28; Mountain Brook 16; Austin 12; Central-Phenix City 10; Spain Park 9; Wetumpka 6; Foley 5; Jess Lanier 4; Decatur 3.

Class 5A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Eufaula (15) (9-3) 285
2. Briarwood Chr.(4) (14-1) 236
3. Cullman (13-1) 181
4. Russellville (2) (10-2) 178
5. McAdory (10-1) 153
6. St. Paul’s (14-1) 115
7. Wenonah (5) (8-2) 88
8. Henderson-Troy (12-1) 68
9. Chelsea (8-4) 62
10. Central-Tusc.(1) (15-0) 61
Others receiving votes: Demopolis 53; Erwin (1) 52; J.O. Johnson 43; Vigor 24; Carver-Montgomery 10..

Class 4A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Deshler (27) (12-3) 333
2. Thomasville (1) (11-3) 238
3. North Jackson (11-1) 209
4. UMS-Wright (6-7) 163
5. Brooks (12-2) 150
6. Handley (11-2) 127
7. Clarke Co. (12-1) 80
8. Lincoln (9-4) 73
9. Andalusia (11-3) 72
10. Elmore Co. (9-3) 46
Others receiving votes: Guntersville 43; Fairview 24; Fayette Co. 14; Calera 10; Cleburne Co. 8; Bibb Co. 3; Hokes Bluff 2; Cherokee Co. 1; Oak Grove 1; Hillcrest-Evergreen 1

Class 3A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Cordova (28) (15-0) 336
2. Colbert Co. (12-2) 249
3. Trinity (8-4) 168
4. T.R. Miller (5-6) 156
5. Pike Co. (12-1) 147
6. West Morgan (6-5) 146
7. Leeds (8-5) 123
8. Good Hope (7-4) 71
9. Sardis (8-4) 68
tie Winfield (10-2) 68
Others receiving votes: Slocomb 21; Geneva 15; Wicksburg 10; Elkmont 9; Piedmont 9; Tarrant 8; Colbert Heights 1; Gordo 1.

Class 2A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Leroy (27) (14-1) 333
2. Clay Co. (1) (14-1) 254
3. Addison (8-3) 191
4. Red Bay (13-1) 187
5. Fyffe (14-1) 145
6. Houston Acad. (7-3) 106
7. Houston Co. (7-4) 94
8. American Chr. (11-3) 70
9. Fultondale (7-4) 55
10. West End-Walnut Grove (7-4) 54
Others receiving votes: Pickens Co. 46; Tanner 20; Cottonwood 18; Lanett 16; Sulligent 6; St. Jude 2; Southern Choctaw 1; Sand Rock 1; Excel 1.

Class 1A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Sweet Water (28) (14-0) 336
2. Talladega Co.-Central (14-1) 223
3. Brantley (10-2) 200
4. Gaston (8-4) 198
5. Hazlewood (12-1) 157
6. Ariton (6-5) 101
7. Wadley (11-2) 90
8. Loachapoka (9-2) 73
9. Shoals Chr. (7-6) 60
10. Providence Chr. (7-4) 49
tie Maplesville (12-1) 49
Others receiving votes: Ragland 18; Speake 12; Linden 12; Cedar Bluff 7; R.A. Hubbard 3; Appalachian 1, J.U. Blacksher 1.

AISA
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Bessemer Acad. (24)(13-0) 323
2. Fort Dale Acad. (2) (8-3) 249
3. Southern Acad. (2) (11-1) 209
4. Morgan Acad. (3-7) 200
5. Macon-East Acad. (8-3) 159
6. Edgewood Acad. (3-7) 130
7. South Choctaw Acad (13-0) 115
8. Pike Liberal Arts (4-6) 88
9. Crenshaw Chr. (10-1) 74
10. Glenwood School(9-1) 32
Others receiving votes: Lee-Scott Acad. 8; Shelby Acad. 6; Chambers Acad. 6; Patrician Acad. 2; Meadowview Chr. 1; Sparta Acad. 1.