‘Cats leap Briarwood in poll

Published 12:16 pm Wednesday, October 1, 2008

It’s been three weeks since Shelby County stunned Briarwood, 26-3. That win gained respect for the Wildcats in Class 5A, and three wins later, Shelby County leaps the Lions to take the No. 6 spot in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll. Briarwood remains No. 7 after beating Spain Park, 20-10, Friday. Shelby County moves up two spots from No. 8.

Other county teams receiving votes are Montevallo in Class 3A and Shelby Academy in the AISA.

Alabama Sports Writers Association prep football rankings with record and first-place votes in parentheses:

CLASS 6A

1. Prattville (4-1) (23) 380

2. Tuscaloosa Co. (5-0) (12) 351

3. Oxford (5-0) 273

4. Mountain Brook (5-0) 221

5. Hoover (4-1) 174

6. Davidson (5-0) 172

7. McGill-Toolen (4-1) 116

8. Murphy (5-0) 115

9. Opelika (4-1) 61

10. Auburn (5-0) 51

Also receiving votes: Minor (5-0) 40, Vestavia Hills (3-2) 18, Gadsden City (3-2) 13, Smiths Station (5-0) 9, Florence (3-2) 1.

CLASS 5A

1. Cullman (5-0) (28) 396

2. Central-Tuscaloosa (4-0) (2) 297

3. Hartselle (5-0) (4) 278

4. Vigor (5-0) (1) 246

5. Russellville (4-1) 191

6. Shelby Co. (5-0) 154

7. Briarwood Chr. (4-1) 149

8. Carver-Montgomery (5-0) 108

9. Fort Payne (5-0) 58

10. Spanish Fort (5-0) 31

Also receiving votes: Eufaula (3-2) 24, Tallassee (4-1) 15, Walker (4-1) 14, Madison Co. (5-0) 12, Charles Henderson (3-2) 7, McAdory (3-1) 4, Valley (4-1) 2, Fairfield (4-1) 1.

CLASS 4A

1. Deshler (4-1) (19) 346

2. Lincoln (5-0) (11) 338

3. Brooks (5-0) (4) 293

4. UMS-Wright (4-1) 229

5. North Jackson (4-1) (1) 200

6. Fairview (5-0) 172

7. Handley (3-1) 137

8. Midfield (5-0) 117

9. Cherokee Co. (5-0) 63

10. Thomasville (3-2) 52

Also receiving votes: Fayette Co. (4-1) 17, Elmore Co. (4-1) 8, Alexandria (4-1) 7, Jackson (4-1) 4, Plainview (4-1) 3, Bibb Co. (4-1) 2, Greensboro (5-0) 2.

CLASS 3A

1. T.R. Miller (5-0)(20) 366

2. Leeds (5-0) (4) 313

3. Cordova (4-1) (10) 273

4. Elkmont (5-0) 251

5. Straughn (5-0) 205

6. West Morgan (4-1) 163

7. Hamilton (5-0)(1) 136

8. Dadeville (5-0) 102

9. Colbert Co. (3-2) 95

10. Sheffield (5-0) 44

Also receiving votes: Sardis (4-1) 13, Daleville (4-1) 8, Montgomery Acad. (4-1) 7, Trinity (3-2) 7, Piedmont (4-1) 5, Slocomb (4-1) 4, Montevallo (4-1) 2, Susan Moore (4-1) 1.

CLASS 2A

1. Leroy (5-0) (34) 417

2. Clay County (5-0) 314

3. American Chr. (5-0) (1) 279

4. Tanner (5-0) 229

5. Fyffe (4-1) 181

6. Sand Rock (5-0) 177

7. Winston Co. (5-0) 122

8. Houston Acad. (4-1) 74

9. Lanett (4-1) 49

10. Red Bay (3-2) 39

Also receiving votes: Geraldine (4-1) 30, Keith (5-0) 29, Elba (4-1) 23, Pickens Co. (4-1) 17, Sulligent (4-1) 10, Reeltown (4-1) 5, Fultondale (3-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Sweet Water (5-0) (35) 420

2. Brantley (5-0) 302

3. Hazlewood (5-0) 274

4. Maplesville (4-0) 236

5. Linden (5-0) 170

6. Talladega Co.-Central (4-1) 159

7. Wadley (4-1) 134

8. McKenzie (5-0) 115

9. Lynn (5-0) 58

10. Loachapoka (4-1) 54

Also receiving votes: R.A. Hubbard (4-1) 24, Cedar Bluff (4-1) 18, Gaston (3-2) 15, Berry (5-0) 8, J.U. Blacksher (4-1) 6, Speake (4-1) 2.

AISA

1. Bessemer Acad. (5-0) (34) 417

2. Southern Acad. (5-0) (1) 309

3. Edgewood Acad. (5-0) 277

4. Pike Liberal Arts (5-0) 255

5. S. Choctaw Acad. (5-1) 203

6. Fort Dale Acad. (4-1) 164

7. Monroe Acad. (5-0) 130

8. Patrician Acad. (5-0) 102

9. Glenwood School (3-2) 51

10. Lee-Scott Acad. (4-1) 46

Also receiving votes: Tuscaloosa Acad. (5-1) 26, Lowndes Acad. (5-1) 7, Crenshaw Chr. (4-1) 3, Shelby Acad. (3-2) 1.