Helena makes leap into top 5 for first time, others remain ranked
Published 11:56 am Wednesday, September 29, 2021
- The Helena Huskies reached their highest ranking in school history when they came in at No. 5 in the latest ASWA football poll released on Wednesday, Sept. 29. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)
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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor
There are now three teams ranked inside the top five of their respective classification after the latest ASWA high school football poll was released on Wednesday morning, Sept. 29.
Previously the No. 9 team in Class 6A, the Helena Huskies made a huge leap up four spots to No. 5 in the standings after taking down previous No. 6 McAdory in double overtime to remain undefeated on the season.
It marks Helena’s highest ranking in school history.
With that 41-35 win against the Yellow Jackets, the Huskies improved to 6-0 on the season and received 115 points in the voting, which was slightly ahead of No. 6 Mountain brook with 106 points.
Helena also joined another county team inside the top five of the 6A classifications, as the Briarwood Lions remained the No. 3 team in the standings after taking down Mortimer Jordan 38-22 to improve to 6-0 on the season.
The Lions have their difficult stretch still ahead with games against Shades Valley, Mountain Brook and Homewood to close out region play, but they have scored 41.2 points per game and are giving up just 19.5 points per game.
Those two give Shelby County two of the top five teams in the 6A classification heading into the second half of the season.
There also remained two top-10 teams in Class 7A.
The Thompson Warriors remained atop the standings at No. 1 in the classification after taking down current 6A No. 6 Mountain Brook 51-0 last week.
So far this season, the Warriors have yet to give up double digits in any game, have only given up one touchdown, have posted four shutouts in six games and have scored 51 or more in four of six games.
They are averaging 51.7 points per game and giving up just two points per game as one of the best teams in the country.
Thompson has won every game by at least 33 points and has scored 42 or more in every matchup so far. However, the Warriors are one of six undefeated teams left in the 7A classification.
Oak Mountain isn’t undefeated, but the Eagles’ lone loss this season came to No. 2 Hoover in their last outing. That loss was good enough to keep them in the standings, as they hold the No. 10 spot in the classification.
Oak Mountain has two key games against Spain Park and Tuscaloosa County that will likely determine their postseason fate before squaring off with top-10 teams Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson to end region play.
See the each classification’s rankings below:
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Thompson (22); 6-0; 264
- Hoover; 6-0; 195
- Auburn; 6-0; 176
- Central-Phenix City; 6-0; 154
- Theodore; 5-0; 126
- Hewitt-Trussville; 5-1; 111
- James Clemens; 6-0; 92
- Fairhope; 4-1; 55
- Enterprise; 5-1; 39
- Oak Mountain; 4-1; 36
Others receiving votes: Baker (4-1) 6.
CLASS 6A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Spanish Fort (19); 5-0; 255
- Clay-Chalkville (3); 5-0; 207
- Briarwood; 6-0; 171
- Hartselle; 6-0; 148
- Helena; 6-0; 115
- Mountain Brook; 5-1; 106
- Jackson-Olin; 5-0; 68
- Pinson Valley; 4-2; 67
- McAdory; 5-1; 56
- Hueytown; 5-1; 32
Others receiving votes: Opelika (3-3) 15, Homewood (4-1) 5, Muscle Shoals (5-0) 4, Northridge (6-0) 4, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (3-2) 1.
CLASS 5A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Pike Road (17); 5-0; 248
- Pleasant Grove (5); 4-1; 213
- Leeds; 6-0; 173
- Alexandria; 5-0; 153
- Guntersville; 5-1; 105
- Central-Clay Co.; 5-1; 104
- UMS-Wright; 4-1; 101
- Russellville; 5-1; 42
- Faith-Mobile; 3-2; 39
- Parker; 5-0; 37
Others receiving votes: Greenville (4-1) 12, Andalusia (4-2) 10, Ardmore (5-0) 9, St. Paul’s (2-3) 5, Boaz (5-1) 1, Center Point (4-2) 1, Fairview (4-1) 1.
CLASS 4A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Handley (19); 4-0; 251
- Madison Aca. (2); 4-1; 195
- Vigor; 5-0; 177
- American Chr. (1); 4-1; 164
- Williamson; 4-2; 101
- Northside; 4-1; 98
- West Limestone; 4-1; 70
- Central-Florence; 6-0; 64
- Gordo; 4-2; 62
- Brooks; 5-0; 26
Others receiving votes: St. James (4-1) 12, Cherokee Co. (4-1) 11, Randolph (6-0) 11, West Blocton (5-0) 5, Etowah (3-2) 2, St. Michael (4-1) 2, Bibb Co. (4-2) 1, Jackson (4-2) 1, Priceville (4-1) 1.
CLASS 3A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Fyffe (21); 4-0; 261
- Piedmont (1); 5-0; 195
- Catholic-Montgomery; 6-0; 182
- Flomaton; 4-0; 150
- Trinity; 5-0; 128
- Opp; 5-1; 94
- Winfield; 6-0; 73
- Plainview; 4-1; 63
- Lauderdale Co.; 6-0; 27
- Montgomery Aca.; 4-2; 25
Others receiving votes: Saks (5-1) 22, T.R. Miller (4-2) 16, Bayside Aca. (4-2) 10, Excel (4-1) 4, Wicksburg (5-1) 2, Geraldine (3-2) 1, Southside-Selma (4-1) 1.
CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Clarke Co. (10); 4-1; 220
- Lanett (8); 4-2; 204
- Mars Hill Bible (2); 3-2; 167
- Ariton (2); 6-0; 157
- Elba; 5-1; 147
- Falkville; 4-1; 100
- Spring Garden; 4-1; 84
- Cleveland; 4-1; 61
- Southeastern-Blount; 5-0; 28
- Colbert Co.; 5-1; 20
Others receiving votes: G.W. Long (3-1) 15, Leroy (4-1) 12, Geneva Co. (3-2) 11, Luverne (4-0) 9, Sand Rock (4-1) 6, Aliceville (4-2) 4, Midfield (4-1) 4, B.B. Comer (4-2) 3, Tanner (4-2) 2.
CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Brantley (15); 4-0; 241
- Sweet Water (7); 5-0; 218
- Maplesville; 6-0; 177
- Pickens Co.; 4-1; 124
- Notasulga; 5-0; 121
- Decatur Heritage; 4-2; 93
- Wadley; 6-0; 91
- Millry; 4-1; 79
- Loachapoka; 3-1; 42
- Keith; 5-1; 35
Others receiving votes: Marion Co. (5-1) 16, Samson (5-1) 13, Sumiton Chr. (4-1) 4.
AISA
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Escambia Aca. (21); 5-0; 261
- Autauga Aca. (1); 5-0; 199
- Pike Liberal Arts; 5-1; 178
- Chambers Aca.; 5-1; 128
- Glenwood; 3-2; 123
- Sparta; 5-0; 114
- Jackson Aca.; 5-0; 92
- Patrician; 3-2; 65
- Crenshaw Chr.; 4-1; 45
- Morgan Aca.; 3-2; 20
Others receiving votes: Lee-Scott (3-2) 14, Bessemer Aca. (1-3) 10, Tuscaloosa Aca. (2-3) 5.