AL.com Power 25: Hoover still No. 1, Hueytown makes big move
Hoover maintained the top spot in the AL.com Power 25 high school football rankings this week with the playoff set to begin Friday.
The Bucs received 99 of a possible 100 first-place votes. They finished the regular season on a nine-game win streak and will host Bob Jones in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs on Friday.
RELATED: First-round playoff pairings
There is a tight scramble behind Hoover, however. Class 7A Theodore and Central-Phenix City are tied with Class 6A Theodore for second place – each with 89 points. Class 6A Clay-Chalkville follows those three with 81 points. All will be in action Friday in the playoffs.
The biggest mover of the week was Hueytown. The Gophers went from unranked to No. 17 with a win over Gardendale.
There is only one matchup of ranked Power 25 teams this week. In Class 7A, No. 25 Fairhope travels to face No. 6 Auburn.
Each week through the Super 7 championships, AL.com ranks the top 25 high school football teams regardless of classification.
25. Fairhope (8-2)
Total points: 14
Highest ranking: 15
Last week’s ranking: 25
Last week: Defeated Briarwood Christian 44-22
This week: at No. 6 Auburn, Friday
24. Pleasant Grove (8-1)
Total points: 15
Highest ranking: 18
Last week’s ranking: NR
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Alexandria, Friday
23. Elba (10-0)
Total points: 18
Highest ranking: 15
Last week’s ranking: 21
Last week: Defeated McKenzie 31-0
This week: vs. Choctaw County, Friday
21. (TIE) Ramsay (8-2)
Total points: 22
Highest ranking: 12
Last week’s ranking: 24
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Southside-Gadsden, Friday
21. (TIE) Andalusia (9-1)
Total points: 22
Highest ranking: 12
Last week’s ranking: 20
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Jackson, Friday
20. Gulf Shores (9-1)
Total points: 23
Highest ranking: 13
Last week’s ranking: 22
Last week: Defeated B.C. Rain 56-27
This week: vs. Carroll, Friday
19. Deshler (10-0)
Total points: 28
Highest ranking:14
Last week’s ranking: 17
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Madison County, Friday
18. Hewitt-Trussville (7-3)
Total points: 30
Highest ranking: 5
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 14th
Last week: Idle
This week: at Florence, Friday
17. Hueytown (7-3)
Total points: 31
Highest ranking: 11
Last week’s ranking: NR
Last week: Defeated No. 12 Gardendale 35-21
This week: vs. Benjamin Russell, Friday
16. Leeds (9-0)
Total points: 32
Highest ranking: 16
Last week’s ranking: 18
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Fairfield, Friday
15. Fyffe (10-0)
Total points: 36
Highest ranking: 10
Last week’s ranking: 16
Last week: Defeated Sylvania 35-14
This week: vs. Red Bay, Friday
14. Anniston (9-0)
Total points: 37
Highest ranking: 14
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 14
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Sipsey Valley, Friday
12. (TIE) Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (10-0)
Total points: 46
Highest ranking: 7
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 8th
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Calera, Friday
12. (TIE) Gardendale (7-3)
Total points: 46
Highest ranking: 11
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last week: Lost to No. 17 Hueytown 35-21
This week: vs. Oxford, Friday
11. Hartselle (10-0)
Total points: 50
Highest ranking: 8
Last week’s ranking: 13
Last week: Defeated Bob Jones 38-31
This week: vs. Buckhorn, Friday
THE TOP 10
The Mountain Brook Spartans take the field during a prep football game, Thursday, October 27, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
10. Mountain Brook (8-2)
Total points: 54
Highest ranking: 9
Last week’s ranking: 11
Last week: Defeated Baker 41-7
This week: vs. Pinson Valley, Friday
UMS-Wright head coach Terry Curtis celebrates the 17-8 win over Williamson in a prep football game Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. The win was the 346th for Curtis, tying him for most AHSAA career wins with former Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson. Curtis can break the record next week in the first round of the playoffs against Headland. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
9. UMS-Wright (10-0)
Total points: 63
Highest ranking: 3
Last week’s ranking: 12
Last week: Defeated Williamson 17-8
This week: vs. Headland, Friday
Montgomery Catholic’s Jeremiah Cobb carries the ball against Montgomery Academy during a Class 3A semifinal playoff game at Catholic Field in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
8. Montgomery Catholic (10-0)
Total points: 71
Highest ranking: 4
Last week’s ranking: Tied for 8th
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Bayside Academy, Friday
Theodore’s Brayden Jenkins is tackled by a host of Spartans during a prep football game, Friday, October 21, 2022, in Theodore, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
7. Saraland (9-1)
Total points: 73
Highest ranking: 6
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week: Defeated McGill-Toolen 48-31
This week: vs. Wetumpka, Friday
Auburn High’s Clyde Pittman passes the ball against the Opelika High Bulldogs during a high school football game Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Auburn, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
6. Auburn (9-1)
Total points: 77
Highest ranking: 4
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week: Defeated Smiths Station 63-0
This week: vs. No. 25 Fairhope, Friday
Clay Chalkville’s Mario Craver (4) carries the ball against Thompson during a game at Warriror Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
5. Clay-Chalkville (8-1)
Total points: 81
Highest ranking: 3
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Parker, Friday
Theodore head coach Wayne Collier talks to his team during a timeout during the Theodore vs Fairhope football game, Friday, September 13, 2019, in Theodore, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | [email protected])Scott Donaldson/al.com
2. (TIE) Theodore (10-0)
Total points: 89
Highest ranking: 1
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week: Defeated St. Paul’s 16-3
This week: vs. Sidney Lanier, Friday
Central-Phenix City’s Jaylin Epps passes the ball against Hewitt-Trussville during an AHSAA football game Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett for AL.com)Julie Bennett for AL.com
2. (TIE) Central-Phenix City (8-2)
Total points: 89
Highest ranking: 2
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week: Defeated Prattville
This week: vs. Mary G. Montgomery, Friday
Thompson coach Mark Freeman directs his team against Hewitt-Trussville during a game at Thompson High School’s Warrior Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
2. (TIE) Thompson (7-3)
Total points: 89
Highest ranking: 2
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Huntsville, Friday
Hoover coach Wade Waldrop reacts after his team got a safety during a game at Thompson High School’s Warrior Stadium in Alabaster, Ala., Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
1. Hoover (9-1)
Total points: 99
Highest ranking: 1
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week: Idle
This week: vs. Bob Jones, Friday
Dropped out: Muscle Shoals, Center Point
Also receiving votes: Muscle Shoals (13), Vestavia Hills (9), Moody (6), Faith Academy (5), Mars Hill (5), Gordo (4), Center Point (4), Foley (4), Carver-Montgomery (4), Handley (3), Piedmont (3), Arab (2), Beauregard (1), Mary G. Montgomery (1), Patrician Academy (1).