McAdory, Spanish Fort two points apart on top of Class 5A ASWA high school football poll

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA

Two weeks into the regular season and McAdory and Spanish Fort are picking up where they left off in December, battling to be No. 1.

The two schools are separated by just two points atop this week's Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A football poll, with the Yellow Jackets holding onto their perch by a 317-315 margin. McAdory also has a 17-15 edge in first-place votes, and 31 of the 32 voters put both schools in their top four.

It's the closest margin since 2011 when Leroy edged American Christian in the Class 2A preseason poll, 340-339.

It's not the closest battle near the top of in this week's poll as Tanner and Mobile Christian are tied for second in Class 2A behind Washington County, while UMS-Wright holds a 275-273 edge over Charles Henderson for second place behind Calera in Class 4A.

Pickens County jumped one place into the top spot in Class 1A, thanks to Berry's 48-34 win over previous No. 1 Marion County. Berry moved to No. 4 from No. 8 and Marion County fell to seventh.

Madison Academy remains the lone unanimous choice among the 32 voters, holding down the top spot in Class 3A, while Class 6A Hoover, 4A Calera, 2A Washington County, and Edgewood Academy of the Alabama Independent Schools Association.

In this week's games between ranked teams, Class 4A No. 9 Thomasville is at No. 2 UMS-Wright, Class 2A Reeltown is at No. 5 Lanett, and AISA No. 7 Macon-East at No. 2 Tuscaloosa Academy.

Class 6A
1. Hoover (29) (2-0)  375
2. Clay-Chalkville (3) (2-0)  290
3. McGill-Toolen (2-0)  249
4. Auburn (2-0)  233
5. Opelika (2-0)  176
6. Tuscaloosa County (2-0)  149
7. Florence (2-0)  125
8. Carver-Montgomery (2-0)  86
9. Vestavia Hills (2-0)  72
10. Mountain Brook (0-2)  28

Others receiving votes: Bob Jones (2-0) 18, Shades Valley (2-0) 7, Blount (2-0) 4, Dothan (2-0) 4, Murphy (2-0)3, Spain Park(2-0) 2, Fairhope (2-0) 1, Oxford (0-2) 1, Pell City (2-0) 1.
Class 5A
1. McAdory (17) (2-0)  333
2. Spanish Fort (15) (2-0)  331
3. Jackson (2-0)  250
4. Muscle Shoals (2-0)  190
5. Hartselle (2-0)  187
6. Homewood (1-1)  135
7. Demopolis (2-0)  111
8. Benjamin Russell (1-1)  105
9. Vigor (2-0)  75
10. St.Paul's (1-1)  46
Others receiving votes:  Athens (2-0) 22, Pinson Valley (2-0) 11, Eufaula (2-0) 9, Cullman (2-0) 7, Saraland (2-0) 5, Pleasant Grove (2-0) 4, Briarwood Chr. (1-1) 2, Etowah (2-0) 1.

Class 4A
1. Calera (22) (2-0)  349
2. UMS-Wright (5) (1-1)  275
3. Charles Henderson (3) (2-0)  273
4. Central-Clay Co. (2) (2-0)  227
5. Oneonta (1-1)  173
6. Dadeville (2-0)  170
7. Madison Co. (2-0)  120
8. Cleburne Co. (2-0)  84
9. Thomasville (2-0)  54
10. Beauregard (1-1)  28
Others receiving votes: Tallassee (2-0) 18, Andalusia (2-0) 15, Dora (1-1) 15, Munford (2-0) 10, Brooks (2-0) 6, Central-Florence (2-0) 4, Jacksonville (2-0) 2, Sardis (2-0) 1.

Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (32) (2-0)  384
2. Piedmont (2-0)  287
3. T.R. Miller (2-0)  252
4. Deshler (2-0)  220
5. Daleville (2-0)  149
6. Geraldine (2-0)  133
7. Leeds (1-1)  105
8. Fayette Co. (1-1)  84
9. Straughn (1-1)  64
10. Trinity (1-1)  53

Others receiving votes: Hamilton (2-0) 51, Saks (2-0) 15, Midfield (2-0) 10, Lauderdale Co. (1-1) 6, Vinemont (2-0) 5, Good Hope (2-0) 3, Gordo (2-0) 3.

Class 2A
1. Washington Co. (29)(2-0)  373
2t. Tanner (2) (1-1)  258
2t. Mobile Chr. (2-0)  258
4. G.W. Long (1) (2-0)  215
5. Lanett (2-0)  163
6. Lamar Co. (2-0)  150
7. Reeltown (1-1)  127
8. Fyffe (1-1)  92
9. Oakman (1-1)  62
10. Walter Wellborn (1-1)  53
Others receiving votes: Fultondale (2-0) 22, Luverne (2-0) 22, Cottonwood (2-0) 8, Houston Acad. (2-0) 6, Sweet Water (1-1) 4, Hatton (2-0) 3, Elba (1-1) 2, Lexington (2-0) 2, Ranburne (2-0) 2, Section (2-0) 1, Woodland (1-1) 1.

Class 1A
1. Pickens Co. (25) (2-0)  360
2. Maplesville (6) (2-0)  299
3. Brantley (1) (1-1)  222
4. Berry (2-0)  201
5. Addison (2-0)  197
6. Geneva Co. (2-0)  159
7. Marion Co. (1-1)  141
8. Linden (1-1)  123
9. Loachapoka (2-0)  37
10. R.A. Hubbard (1-1)  27

Others receiving votes: Falkville (2-0) 21, Gaylesville (2-0) 13, Hubbertville (2-0) 13, Hackleburg (1-1) 5, Collinsville (2-0) 2, Valley Head (2-0) 2, Fayetteville (2-0) 1, Keith (2-0) 1.

AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (30) (3-0)  378
2. Tuscaloosa Acad. (2) (2-0)  278
3. Restoration (2-1)  221
4. Pickens Acad. (2-0)  213
5. Fort Dale Acad. (2-0)  177
6. Monroe Acad. (2-0)  123
7. Macon-East (2-0)  122
8. Bessemer Acad. (3-0)  114
9. Clarke Prep (1-1)  99
10. Patrician (2-1)  19
Others receiving votes: Morgan Acad.(2-0) 16, Lee-Scott (1-1) 14,Abbeville Chr. (3-0) 12, Autauga Acad.(2-0) 12, Crenshaw Chr. (1-1) 12, Escambia Acad. (2-1) 6, Marengo (2-0) 5, Pike Liberal (0-2) 3.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry (Chairman), Alabama Media Group; Josh Bean, AL.com; Ed Bailey, Alexander City Outlook; Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Jonathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Brandon Miller, Anniston Star; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Jonathon Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Newton Peters, Florala News; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Dennis Victory, Freelance (Birmingham); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Nick Johnston, Gadsden Times; Davis Potter, Hamilton Journal Record; Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times; Ben Thomas, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Jason Galloway, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Jason Bowen, Scottsboro Daily Sentinel; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Griffin Pritchard, Tallassee Tribune; Andrew Carroll, Tuscaloosa News; Cory Diaz, Wetumpka Herald.