This is an opinion piece.

Last week in this space, I tried to chronicle the top 10 championship football team I’ve covered during my career.

The team I ranked ahead of all others was Etowah High’s 1999 state title team that featured Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and was coached by Raymond Farmer. That team averaged 40 points a game and allowed just 13.

The season culminated with a 42-26 victory over Jamarcus Russell and Williamson in the 5A title game.

I also asked readers to respond with their best teams, and I received some great suggestions.

Here were some of the readers’ picks for the best teams they’ve seen:

UMS-Wright, 2017-2019: AL.com reader Seth Davis had a hard time narrowing down his favorite team from this dominant Bulldog three-year run. Terry Curtis’ teams went 41-2 during the stretch, winning three straight 4A titles. UMS won 34 straight games at one stretch before losing an OT game against Mobile Christian in 2020.

Central-Phenix City, 2018: Kevin Spivey nominated this Red Devil squad. Jamey DuBose’s team went 14-0, averaging 41.3 points a game and giving up just 7.7. The Red Devils rolled over Thompson 52-7 in the 7A title game. Kevin correctly pointed out that six of the team’s wins were by shutout, including two of the four playoff games.

Demopolis, 2004: The Tigers were 4A state champs after going 15-0. Doug Goodwin’s team shut out the first four opponents and five of the first six. They averaged a whopping 50.7 points a game while giving up just 6.1. Demopolis defeated Deshler 35-21 to win the title. The team included eight players who were either first-team All-State or honorable mention All-State.

Reeltown, 1987: Scott Meadows nominated the Rebels. The 2A state champs went 15-0 and allowed an average of just 2.9 points a game. Only one team (Flomaton in the second round of the playoffs) scored in double digits in a 26-14 Reeltown win. The team, coached by Duane Webster, recorded nine shutouts and defeated Winston County 9-7 in the championship game.

Thanks for all the suggestions and, most of all, for continuing to read our coverage.

Climbing the rankings

Reigning Class 7A champion Central-Phenix City was ranked No. 18 this week in the SCNext Top 25 high school football rankings.

The Red Devils opened last week with a 61-12 rout of Pinson Valley. They host Lutheran North, Mo., tonight. Bishop Gorman (Nev.) is ESPN’s No. 1 team.

Also in the rankings is Gainesville, Ga. Former Hoover coach Josh Niblett’s team is No. 23 overall. The Red Elephants came to Alabama last week and defeated Moody.

Starting up

Belgreen won its first varsity high school football game last week, beating Shoals Christian 20-6. The Bulldogs were originally classified in 2A, Region 8 but opted this year instead to play as a non-championship team, meaning they are not eligible for postseason play. The Russellville school plays at Sumiton Christian tonight and has a seven-game schedule.

Bayshore Christian will play its first official varsity game tonight at McIntosh. The Eagles are playoff eligible, competing in 2A, Region 1. Phil Lazenby’s team defeated Fruitdale last week in a jamboree game.

A new record

Saraland sophomore Danny Doerr set a new state cross country record last week, running a 5:03.12 in the mile at Langan Park.

Doerr, who transferred to Saraland this year, can only compete in junior varsity events as an out-of-district student.

Another difficult week

It was a week of difficult news for many across the state of Alabama.

Morgan Academy junior Caden Tellier, 16, died Saturday after suffering a brain injury during his team’s game Friday night in Selma. His teammate Patrick Johnson, who also was Tellier’s backup, gave a moving tribute on social media this week.

On Monday, Baldwin County teacher and coach Madeleine Petite, 28, lost her battle with cancer. However, she didn’t pass before giving birth to a premature, but healthy baby boy.

Tellier and Petite — two lives gone too soon — but two lives that honored God during their time here and clearly impacted everyone they knew in a positive way.

I didn’t know either of them. I wish I had.

Prayers to their families as they navigate this difficult journey.

And sincere thanks to Caden and Madeleine for leaving a legacy of faith in a challenging world.

Thought for the Day

“I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won.

No matter what comes my way, I will overcome.

Don’t know what You’re doing.

But I know what You’ve done.

And I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won.”

— “You’ve already won” by Shane and Shane

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected] . He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.