The Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason high school football rankings are out. Our top-ranked Alabama team, Hoover, ranked No. 6 in the High School Football America Preseason 100, is the No. 1 team in Class 7A.
Thompson, ranked No. 54 in our national rankings, is No. 2, followed by Central (Phenix City) at No. 3, McGill-Toolen at No. 4 and Hewitt-Trussville at No. 5. Hewitt-Trussville is No. 28 in our national rankings that are created with our proprietary algorithm, while Central is No. 39. McGill-Toolen received honorable mention in our preseason rankings.
Defending champ Pinson Valley is the top team in 6A. The Indians are On the Bubble in our national poll at No. 103. Hoover opens with Pinson Valley on August 25.
ASWA rankings with first-place votes, last year’s record, total poll points and position in last year’s final regular-season poll:
Alabama Sports Writers Association Rankings
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Hoover (27), 11-3, 358, 6
2. Thompson (3), 12-1, 258, 2
3. Central-Phenix City (1), 11-1, 241, 1
4. McGill-Toolen, 13-1, 219, 4
5. Hewitt-Trussville, 11-1, 214, 3
6. Bob Jones, 7-4, 124, 8
7. Auburn, 10-2, 123, 5
8. Spain Park, 6-5, 60, —
9. Austin*, 12-1, 57, —
10. James Clemens, 3-7, 53, —
Others receiving votes: Lee-Montgomery (7-4) 27, Jeff Davis (5-6) 17, Sparkman (7-4) 6, Enterprise (2-8) 4, Fairhope (8-3) 2, Gadsden City (3-7) 2, Mountain Brook (8-4) 1, Theodore (6-5) 1.
*—Austin played in 6A last season.
CLASS 6A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Pinson Valley (31), 15-0, 372, 3
2. Wetumpka, 13-2, 246, 6
3. Spanish Fort, 11-2, 224, 4
4. Oxford, 12-1, 173, 2
5. Clay-Chalkville, 11-3, 172, 9
6. Opelika, 9-4, 104, 8
7. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 10-4, 94, —
8. Saraland, 8-4, 71, —
9. Eufaula*, 9-3, 49, —
10. Homewood, 10-2, 48, 7
Others receiving votes: Muscle Shoals (9-3) 46, St. Paul’s* (14-1) 46, Hueytown (5-6) 36, Daphne (8-3) 27, Park Crossing (10-2) 18, Calera* (7-5) 17, Jackson-Olin (6-4) 17, Pelham (5-6) 6, Benjamin Russell (7-4) 1.
*—Eufaula, St. Paul’s and Calera played in 5A last season.
CLASS 5A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Briarwood (31), 14-1, 372, 1
2. Etowah, 11-2, 256, 5
3. Vigor, 9-4, 231, 9
4. Carroll-Ozark, 11-1, 158, 2
5. Demopolis, 11-3, 154, 10
6. St. Clair Co., 10-4, 152, —
7. Wenonah, 10-2, 138, 4
8. Tallassee*, 10-2, 91, —
9. Jackson, 5-5, 48, —
10. Beauregard, 10-2, 41, 3
Others receiving votes: Dora* (9-3) 39, Alexandria (8-3) 26, Madison Aca.* (7-4) 26, Ramsay* (7-5) 16, Charles Henderson (6-5) 10, Munford* (9-2) 5, Bibb Co.* (11-2) 2, Central-Clay Co. (8-4) 2.
*—Ramsay played in 6A last season. Tallassee, Dora, Madison Aca., Munford and Bibb Co. played in 4A.
CLASS 4A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. UMS-Wright (30), 13-2, 369, 5
2. Hillcrest-Evergreen* (1), 14-1, 246, —
3. Fayette Co., 12-3, 234, 8
4. Andalusia, 12-2, 197, 1
5. Hokes Bluff, 10-3, 155, 9
6. Catholic-Montgomery, 10-2, 125, 10
7. Brooks*, 8-3, 107, —
8. W.S. Neal, 6-6, 91, —
9. Clarke Co.*, 11-3, 61, —
10. Dale Co., 7-4, 56, —
Others receiving votes: Leeds (7-4) 52, Deshler (7-4) 36, Alabama Chr. (10-3) 13, North Jackson (2-8) 13, West Morgan* (10-2) 6, Williamson* (7-4) 3, Jacksonville (8-4) 2, Handley (2-8) 1.
*—Brooks and Williamson played in 5A last season. Hillcrest-Evergreen, Clarke Co. and West Morgan played in 3A.
CLASS 3A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Randolph Co. (15), 13-2, 295, 3
2. Mobile Chr. (10), 9-4, 289, —
3. Gordo (2), 10-2, 214, 2
4. Fultondale (3), 11-1, 194, 4
5. Piedmont, 12-2, 171, 1
6. Saks* (1), 13-1, 155, —
7. Thomasville*, 7-4, 134, —
8. Pike Co., 8-3, 87, —
9. Wicksburg, 10-2, 57, 9
10. St. James*, 8-4, 52, —
Others receiving votes: Oakman (8-4) 51, Sylvania (11-2) 21, T.R. Miller (5-5) 20, Lauderdale Co. (6-5) 8, Westminster-Huntsville* (6-5) 8, Weaver (7-5) 7, Prattville Chr. (3-8) 3, Plainview (9-2) 1.
*—Saks, Thomasville, St. James and Westminster-Huntsville played in 4A last season.
CLASS 2A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Leroy (18), 12-3, 333, 7
2. Fyffe (13), 12-1, 313, 1
3. Luverne, 10-3, 220, 9
4. Ariton, 10-2, 148, 10
5. LaFayette, 9-3, 126, 6
6. Reeltown, 7-5, 125, —
7. Ohatchee*, 8-3, 119, —
8. Goshen, 12-2, 118, 3
9. Sulligent, 12-2, 60, 5
10. Aliceville, 7-5, 48, —
Others receiving votes: Thorsby (8-3) 33, Abbeville (9-3) 26, Addison* (10-3) 23, North Sand Mountain* (8-3) 21, Cedar Bluff* (8-4) 18, Daleville* (6-5) 11, Vincent (5-5) 10, New Brockton (5-6) 6, Collinsville (4-6) 4, Houston Co.* (8-3) 4, J.U. Blacksher (6-5) 1.
*—Ohatchee, North Sand Mountain and Daleville played in 3A last season. Addison, Cedar Bluff and Houston Co. played in 1A.
CLASS 1A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Lanett* (30), 15-0, 369, —
2. Sweet Water (1), 13-1, 260, 3
3 (tie). Pickens Co., 12-3, 199, T6
3 (tie). St. Luke’s*, 10-2, 199, —
5. Linden, 7-4, 140, —
6. Maplesville, 11-1, 135, 1
7. Brantley, 8-4, 118, 9
8. South Lamar, 10-4, 95, —
9. Elba*, 8-3, 75, —
10. Marengo, 9-4, 47, —
Others receiving votes: Millry (5-6) 24, Falkville* (7-4) 18, Hackleburg (10-2) 16, Lynn (11-1) 16, Mars Hill Bible* (7-4) 15, Isabella (10-2) 12, Spring Garden (8-4) 11, Georgiana (11-1) 8, Decatur Heritage (8-3) 4, Florala (3-6) 4, Wadley (12-1) 2.
*—Lanett, St. Luke’s, Elba, Falkville and Mars Hill Bible played in 2A last season.
AISA
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts, Pvs
1. Autauga Aca. (28), 12-1, 362, 1
2. Tuscaloosa Aca. (2), 8-2, 281, 5
3. Escambia Aca., 12-1, 244, 4
4. Monroe Aca. (1), 13-0, 213, 2
5. Bessemer Aca., 8-6, 184, —
6. Glenwood, 7-5, 152, 9
7. Patrician, 9-4, 99, —
8. Chambers Aca., 12-1, 96, 3
9. Pike Liberal Arts, 7-5, 82, —
10. Lakeside, 7-4, 29, 10
Others receiving votes: Cornerstone-Columbiana (6-5) 10, Coosa Valley (3-8) 8, Pickens Aca. (6-4) 4, Abbeville Chr. (5-8) 2, Success Unlimited (new team) 1.
