By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

For the third week in a row, the ASWA football top-10 polls are without a representative from Shelby County, although more votes were cast for Shelby County teams this week than in past weeks. Spain Park, Thompson, Chelsea and Montevallo all received votes in the Week 5 poll, which was released Sept. 23.

Spain Park was the top vote recipient in Week 5 with 24 votes, good enough for 11^th overall in 7A, but still 23 votes behind 10^th-place Gadsden City. The Jaguars have been nothing if not entertaining this season so far. With three of their five games being decided by three points or less, and two going to overtime, Spain Park has shown themselves capable of winning close games on its way to a 4-1 record. Thompson, with a 3-2 record and its only losses coming to Spain Park and statewide No. 1 Hoover, received one vote in the poll.

Chelsea, the statistical leader in points per game, margin of victory and points allowed per game in the county through Sept. 19, is 4-0 yet only received four votes in the poll in Week 5. Part of the problem for the Hornets so far has been a schedule void of any heavyweight competition, and another part of the problem being they were essentially off the radar of writers around the state to start the year. That problem will fix itself if the Hornets keep winning.

Calera, a week after receiving votes, received none in Week 5 even after making short work of Jemison. The Eagles’ main problem moving forward is no team left on their schedule is a top-10 caliber team, so they will need to win games big to get back in the statewide picture.

Montevallo, the only other undefeated team in the county, received a single vote at 5-0 this week.