ASWA rankings: Reigning champs headline 1st 2023 football poll
All seven reigning AHSAA state champions will start the season at No. 1 in their respective classifications.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its preseason 2023 rankings this morning.
As expected, reigning four-time champ Thompson starts at the top of the Class 7A poll followed by last year’ runner-up, Auburn, and the other two semifinalists, Hoover and Central-Phenix City.
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Champions Saraland (6A), Ramsay (5A), Andalusia (4A), St. James (3A), Fyffe (2A) and Leroy (1A) also top their classifications. Glenwood is No. 1 in the first AISA poll.
Fyffe was the only unanimous No. 1. The closest vote came in the AISA where Glenwood and No. 2 Patrician were separated by just four votes. Both received 10 first-place votes.
ASWA PRESEASON STATE RANKINGS
The preseason Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football rankings with first-place votes, last year’s win-loss record and total poll points:
Thompson players react for the trophy after the victory over Auburn for the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Thompson (21); 11-3; 261
2. Auburn (1); 12-2; 178
3. Hoover; 11-2; 172
4. Central-Phenix City; 10-3; 170
5. Hewitt-Trussville; 8-4; 132
6. Vestavia Hills; 7-5; 92
7. Enterprise; 8-4; 88
8. Dothan; 8-4; 68
9. Mary Montgomery; 6-5; 43
10. Prattville; 6-4; 11
Others receiving votes: Foley (7-4) 8, Opelika (5-5) 7, Spain Park (3-7) 7, Julian (NA) 3, Oak Mountain (3-7) 3, Austin (7-4) 2, Florence (8-3) 2, James Clemens (4-6) 2, JAG (NA) 2, Sparkman (5-5) 2, Fairhope (8-3) 1.
NOTE: Julian and JAG are first-year schools after Lee-Montgomery and Jeff Davis were renamed.
Saraland coach Jeff Kelly gets the traditional victory cooler dunk after the win over Mountain Brook during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 6A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
CLASS 6A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Saraland (21); 14-1; 261
2. Clay-Chalkville (1); 8-2; 175
3. Hartselle; 12-1; 154
4. Mountain Brook; 12-3; 153
5. Theodore; 13-1; 134
6. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 11-1; 94
7. Parker; 7-5; 78
8. Muscle Shoals; 11-2; 61
9. Spanish Fort; 7-4; 32
10. Pelham; 6-6; 28
Others receiving votes: Homewood (10-3) 19, Gardendale (9-4) 13, Benjamin Russell (8-3) 10, Pike Road (7-5) 10, Gadsden City (7-5) 6, Hueytown (8-4) 6, Fort Payne (8-3) 5, Oxford (5-6) 5, Carver-Montgomery (8-2) 4, Pinson Valley (6-4) 2, St. Paul’s (7-6) 2, Helena (6-4) 1, McGill-Toolen (5-5) 1.
Ramsay coach Ronnie Jackson gets the traditional victory bath after the win over Charles Henderson during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 5A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
CLASS 5A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Ramsay (18); 13-2; 237
2. Charles Henderson (2); 12-2; 198
3. UMS-Wright (1); 12-1; 165
4. Pleasant Grove (1); 11-2; 157
5. Faith Academy; 11-3; 120
6. Leeds; 11-1; 85
7. Moody; 10-2; 72
8. Beauregard; 10-2; 71
9. Gulf Shores; 11-2; 49
10. Demopolis; 10-2; 30
Others receiving votes: Central-Clay County (9-3) 27, Guntersville (9-3) 21, Scottsboro (7-5) 9, Arab (11-2) 8, Fairview (7-4) 2, Alexandria (5-5) 1, Selma (7-4) 1, Southside-Gadsden (5-6) 1.
Andalusia’s Cameron Johnson (20) and teammates celebrate the victory over Cherokee County in the AHSAA Super 7 Class 4A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
CLASS 4A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Andalusia (19); 14-1; 254
2. Cherokee County (1); 12-3; 180
3. Montgomery Catholic; 13-1; 169
4. Jackson (1); 8-3; 121
5. Oneonta; 11-2; 91
6. Jacksonville; 8-4; 87
7. Anniston; 11-1; 65
8. Westminster Christian; 6-5; 64
9. Handley; 11-2; 57
10. T.R. Miller; 10-2; 36
Others receiving votes: Etowah (8-4) 31, Deshler (12-1) 29, Dora (8-4) 24, Randolph (10-3) 16, Montgomery Academy (1 first-place) (5-6) 13, West Morgan (10-2) 10, Priceville (11-1) 4, Northside (8-3) 2, American Christian (9-3) 1.
St. James celebrates the victory over Piedmont during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
CLASS 3A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. St. James (20); 13-2; 256
2. Piedmont (1); 12-3; 159
3. Gordo (1); 11-2; 153
4. Mars Hill Bible; 10-2; 142
5. Mobile Christian; 6-8; 113
6. Madison Academy; 9-3; 81
7. Houston Academy; 10-1; 77
8. Sylvania; 10-4; 73
9. Pike County; 8-4; 65
10. Hillcrest-Evergreen; 4-6; 42
Others receiving votes: Geraldine (9-4) 24, Excel (9-2) 18, Opp (8-3) 14, Trinity (9-3) 11, Straughn (7-4) 9, Thomasville (9-4) 7, Flomaton (3-7) 3, Southside-Selma (6-5) 2, W.S. Neal (7-5) 2, Westbrook Christian (5-5) 2, Alabama Christian (8-4) 1.
Fyffe’s Ryder Gipson, bottom, Simon Hicks, Will Arnold and Brodie Hicks stop B.B. Comer’s Kamore Harris during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 2A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Fyffe (22); 15-0; 264
2. B.B. Comer; 12-3; 173
3. Pisgah; 11-3; 166
4. Highland Home; 12-2; 157
5. Tuscaloosa Academy; 10-3; 110
6. Ariton; 10-2; 106
7. Reeltown; 10-2; 101
8. Vincent; 10-2; 58
9. Goshen; 6-4; 33
10. Aliceville; 11-2; 25
Others receiving votes: Collinsville (8-3) 21, G.W. Long (8-4) 18, Lanett (5-6) 15, Lexington (9-3) 4, Clarke Co. (7-6) 3.
Leroy coach Jason Massey embraces wife Melanie following the win over Pickens County during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 1A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Leroy (14); 13-1; 233
2. Elba (4); 11-1; 175
3. Pickens County (1); 11-4; 167
4. Brantley (1); 10-3; 140
5. Meek (1); 11-1; 129
6. Sweet Water (1); 8-3; 95
7. Spring Garden; 10-2; 67
8. Lynn; 11-2; 66
9. Coosa Christian; 9-5; 63
10. Millry; 12-2; 56
Others receiving votes: Addison (9-3) 21, Maplesville (8-4) 11, Florala (7-4) 9, Georgiana (7-4) 7, Linden (9-2) 7, Valley Head (10-2) 3, Autaugaville (6-5) 2, Keith (5-6) 1, Loachapoka (9-2) 1, Southern Choctaw (3-7) 1.
AISA
Team (first-place); 2022 W-L; Pts
1. Glenwood (10); 8-4; 213
2. Patrician (10); 13-0; 209
3. Lee-Scott; 12-0; 171
4. Lowndes Academy (2); 11-2; 150
5. Chambers Academy; 8-4; 138
6. Clarke Prep; 9-4; 109
7. Jackson Academy; 12-1; 85
8. Autauga Academy; 3-7; 40
9. Southern Academy; 5-6; 28
10. Banks Academy; 6-5; 25
Others receiving votes: Crenshaw Christian (8-4) 21, Fort Dale Academy (4-6) 10, Lakeside (3-8) 7, Valiant Cross (4-7) 7, Wilcox Academy (4-7) 7, Bessemer Academy (2-8) 6, Sparta (0-10) 6, South Choctaw Academy (4-7) 5, Edgewood (6-6) 4, Macon-East (7-4) 4, Abbeville Christian (4-7) 3, Coosa Valley (2-8) 3, Snook (1-10) 2, Morgan Academy (7-5) 1.