History lesson: Spanish Fort becomes No. 1 in ASWA high school football poll for first time

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA 

Spanish Fort picked up its second football title in the school's short history last December when the Toros beat McAdory in the Class 5A final.

Even with two titles in the last three seasons, the Toros did something this week that the program has never done, courtesy of another McAdory defeat, by taking over the No. 1 spot in this week's Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A high school football poll.

Spanish Fort's 38-14 win over Fairhope, coupled with McAdory's 22-14 overtime loss to Center Point, allowed the school - in its eighth season of varsity football - to displace the Yellow Jackets as No. 1 with 28 of 32 first-place votes in this week's poll. McAdory slid to fifth and Center Point moved into seventh. Jackson moved into second and Muscle Shoals -- which gave up points for the first time this season in a 45-7 win over Dora - was in third.

The Toros don't have a breather this week, playing at No. 8 St. Paul's.

There were close calls, but the only other movement among the top three in any poll came in the AISA where Restoration Academy displaced Tuscaloosa Academy as the No. 2 team, following the Bulldogs' easy 34-7 win over the third-ranked and defending AAA champion Knights.

In other games involving ranked teams this week, Class 6A No. 8 Auburn is at No. 9 Carver-Montgomery, Class 3A No. 8 Colbert County hosts No. 10 Lauderdale County, and Class 1A No. 3 Brantley is at No. 8 Geneva County.

ASWA High School Football Poll
Week 5

(First place votes and record in parentheses).

Others receiving votes: Bessemer City (5-0) 28, Murphy (5-0) 18, Tuscaloosa Co. (4-1) 18, Spain Park (5-0) 6, Oxford (3-2) 4.

Others receiving votes: Hartselle (4-1) 20, Etowah (5-0) 10, Cullman (4-1) 6, Southside-Gadsden (5-0) 4, Demopolis (4-1) 2.

Others receiving votes: Munford (4-1) 33, J.O.Johnson (4-1) 24, Ardmore (5-0) 22, Beauregard (3-2) 9, Cleburne Co. (4-1) 4, Dora (3-2) 4, Guntersville (4-1) 3, Brooks (4-1) 2, Jemison (4-1) 2, Childersburg (4-1) 1, Jacksonville (4-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Dale Co. (5-0) 38, New Hope (4-1) 7, Hamilton (4-1) 6, Slocomb (4-1) 4, Geraldine (3-2) 3, Deshler (3-2) 2, Hanceville (4-1) 2, B.B. Comer (4-1) 1, W.S. Neal (3-2) 1.

Others receiving votes: Ranburne (5-0) 13, Reeltown (3-2) 11, Sweet Water (3-2) 7, Woodland (3-2) 7, Cottonwood (4-1) 6, Houston Acad. (4-1) 6, Isabella (5-0) 5, Lexington (4-1) 3.

Others receiving votes: Valley Head (5-0) 45, Hubbertville (4-1) 9, Fayetteville (4-1) 8, Autaugaville (4-1) 6, Ragland (3-1) 5, Berry (2-3) 4, R.A. Hubbard (3-2) 4, Collinsville (4-1) 3, Donoho (4-1) 3, Marengo (4-1) 1.

Others receiving votes: Autauga Acad. (3-2) 19, Abbeville Chr. (5-1) 9, Escambia Acad. (4-2) 2, Wilcox Acad. (3-2) 2, Macon-East (3-2) 1, Patrician (4-2) 1.

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.