19 unbeaten teams head into last week of regular season ranked in ASWA football poll

By PAUL BEAUDRY
For The ASWA 

Heading into the final week of the regular season, some 19 teams carry an unblemished record into their final game.
Five of the 19 are ranked No. 1 in their respective classes in this week's Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football poll - Class 6A Hoover, Class 5A Spanish Fort, Class 3A Madison Academy, Class 1A Pickens County and the AISA's Edgewood Academy. Madison Academy and Hoover are the two undefeated No. 1 teams to face a top-10 opponent this week as the Mustangs will play at Class 4A No. 7 Central-Clay County and Bucs at Class 6A No. 8 Opelika in a rematch of last year's state championship game.
In all, six unbeaten teams will play ranked opponents. The other four are Class 5A No. 3 Muscle Shoals at Class 6A No. 6 Bob Jones, Class 2A No. 5 Luverne at Class 5A No. 8 Saraland, Class 3A No. 2 T.R. Miller at Class 2A No. 6 Sweet Water and AISA No. 2 Monroe Academy hosting No. 6 Tuscaloosa Academy.
One of the 19 unbeaten teams will finish the regular season that way as Class 2A No. 2 Lanett does not play this week; the team it's chasing, No. 1 Tanner, is also off. Madison Academy and Hoover are not the only No. 1 teams to play a ranked foe as Class 4A UMS-Wright will host Class 5A No. 9 St. Paul's.
Other games involving ranked teams include Class 5A No. 4 Homewood at No. 5 Benjamin Russell, AISA No. 2 Restoration Academy at No. 9 Kingwood Christian and No. 8 Patrician Academy at No. 5 Bessemer Academy.

ASWA High School Football Poll
Week 9

(First place votes and record in parentheses).

Others receiving votes: Carver-Montgomery (7-2) 25, Oxford (7-2) 20, Bessemer City (8-1) 19, Daphne (7-2) 16, Smiths Station (7-2) 7, Florence (7-2) 2.

Others receiving votes: Pleasant Grove (8-1) 26, Briarwood Chr. (7-2) 6, Hartselle (7-2) 4, Cullman (7-2) 3, Walker (7-2) 3, Etowah (7-2) 2, Scottsboro (7-2) 2, Valley (6-3) 2.

Others receiving votes: Guntersville (8-1) 20, Beauregard (7-2) 11, Tallassee (7-2) 4, Anniston (5-4) 1, Central-Florence (7-2) 1, Childersburg (7-2) 1, Hillcrest-Evergreen (6-3) 1.

Others receiving votes: Hamilton (8-1) 21, Hanceville (8-1) 11, Lauderdale Co. (7-2) 6, Gordo (7-2) 2, Midfield (6-3) 2, New Hope (7-2) 2.

Others receiving votes: Lamar Co. (8-1) 30, Mobile Chr. (7-2) 23, Houston Acad. (8-1) 18, Montgomery Acad. (8-1) 10, Gaston (6-3) 3, Red Bay (7-2) 3, Walter Wellborn (6-3) 1.

Others receiving votes: R. A. Hubbard (7-2) 12, Autaugaville (7-2) 5, Hubbertville (7-2) 3, A.L. Johnson (7-2) 2, Donoho (7-2) 2, Geneva Co. (7-2) 1, Marion Co. (6-3) 1.

Others receiving votes: Escambia Acad. (8-2) 31, Abbeville Chr. (8-2) 15, Fort Dale Acad. (6-3) 13, Clarke Prep (5-4) 2, Wilcox Acad. (6-3) 1.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry (Chairman), Alabama Media Group; Josh Bean, AL.com; 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.