Piedmont still No. 2; Cedar Bluff, Collinsville move up a spot

By KURT DURYEA

The Piedmont Bulldogs earned seven first-place votes from the Alabama Sportswriters Association in this week’s poll but remain No. 2 in Class 3A. The Bulldogs (2-0) edged closer to top-ranked Leeds (2-0) with a 36-13 victory over Ashville. Leeds dodged a bullet, as the Green Wave squeaked by Trinity 15-13. A Thursday night special looms on the horizon as Piedmont hosts Leeds on Sept. 27. This week, the Bulldogs entertain Region 5 foe Glencoe (1-1).

Cedar Bluff (2-0) and Collinsville (2-0) each gained spot within the Class 1A ranks after R.A. Hubbard was upset by Shoals Christian. The region rivals are perched at No. 7 and No. 9, respectively. Cedar Bluff crushed Valley Head 57-30 a week ago; Collinsville cruised past Jacksonville Christian, 48-21. This week the Tigers welcome Coosa Christian (0-2) to L.D. Bruce Field. Collinsville is at home against winless Woodville (0-2).

Class 2A Sand Rock (2-0) and 1A Spring Garden (2-0) continued to receive votes in their respective classes.  Sand Rock travels to North Sand Mountain in a 2A Region 7 slugfest this week. Valley Head drifts into Spring Garden on Friday in a key Class 1A Region 7 matchup.

Fort Payne (2-0) gained a measure of revenge against Etowah (1-1) after losing its Class 5A Region 7 opener a year ago. Last week, after falling behind 12-0 to the Blue Devils, the Wildcats stormed back to an impressive 35-18 win which boosted the ‘Cats from the No. 10 spot into a tie for ninth with Homewood.

Gadsden City (2-0), with wins over Florence and Lee Huntsville, is knocking on the door of the Class 6A top 10 squads.  The Titans square off against Oxford (1-1) on Friday.

In other news from around the state, Class 4A Oneonta (2-0) was the only team to claim all 31 first-place votes in its classification. In Class 6A, Clay-Chalkville kept powerful No. 1 Hoover from a perfect sweep.  The Cougars defeated then-No. 5 Oxford to gain the only other first place vote. 

Class 6A
1. Hoover (30) (2-0) 369
2. Clay-Chalkville (1) (2-0) 281
3. Auburn (2-0) 243
4. McGill-Toolen (2-0) 212
5. Vestavia Hills (2-0) 170
6. Northridge (2-0) 133
7. Austin (2-0) 80
8. Oxford (1-1) 71
9. Daphne (1-1) 66
10. Cent-Phenix City (2-0) 48
Others receiving votes: Gadsden City (2-0) 34, Carver-Montgomery (1-1) 21, Fairhope (2-0) 12, Huffman (2-0) 6, Davidson (2-0) 5, Mountain Brook (2-0) 5, Northview (1-1) 4, Thompson (1-1) 3, Stanhope Elmore (2-0) 2, Blount (2-0) 1, Bob Jones (1-1) 1..

Class 5A
1. Hartselle (25) (2-0) 350
2. Muscle Shoals (3) (2-0) 275
3. Jackson (2) (2-0) 252
4. Eufaula (2-0) 197
5. Spanish Fort (1) (2-0) 189
6. Pinson Valley (1-1) 124
7. Cullman (2-0) 91
8. St. Paul’s (1-1) 87
9t. Fort Payne (2-0) 63
9t. Homewood (1-1) 63
Others receiving votes: Demopolis (2-0) 37, Benjamin Russell (2-0) 17, McAdory (2-0) 9, Vigor (1-1) 6, Talladega (2-0) 4, Sylacauga (2-0) 2, Boaz (2-0) 1.

Class 4A
1. Oneonta (31) (2-0) 372
2. Dadeville (2-0) 265
3. Thomasville (2-0) 230
4. Central-Clay Co. (2-0) 218
5. Beauregard (2-0) 191
6. UMS-Wright (1-1) 123
7. Anniston (2-0) 113
8. Handley (1-1) 83
9. Andalusia (2-0) 69
10. Madison Co. (2-0) 30
Others receiving votes: Brooks (2-0) 27, Fairview (2-0) 19, J.O. Johnson (2-0) 9, St. James (2-0) 5, Bibb Co. (1-1) 4, N. Jackson (0-2) 4, Dora (2-0) 3, Charles Henderson (1-1) 1, Rogers (1-1) 1.

Class 3A
1. Leeds (23) (2-0) 345
2. Piedmont (7) (2-0) 296
3. T.R. Miller (2-0) 231
4. Deshler (1) (1-1) 210
5. Madison Acad. (1-1) 164
6. Hamilton (2-0) 161
7. Gordo (2-0) 106
8. Bayside Acad. (1-1) 100
9. Lauderdale Co. (1-1) 67
10. Abbeville (1-1) 49
Others receiving votes: Midfield (1-1) 10, Vinemont (2-0) 9, Sylvania (2-0) 8, Good Hope (2-0) 4, Opp (1-1) 3, Straughn (1-1) 3, Colbert Co. (2-0) 1.

Class 2A
1. Fultondale (21) (2-0) 340
2. Tanner (9) (2-0) 300
3. Washington Co. (1) (2-0) 244
4. Fyffe (2-0) 189
5. Elba (1-1) 180
6. Sweet Water (1-1) 155
7. G.W. Long (2-0) 123
8. Reeltown (1-1) 73
9. Walter Wellborn (2-0) 67
10. N. Sand Mountain (2-0) 50
Others receiving votes: Sheffield (1-1) 14, Vincent (1-1) 10, Ider (2-0) 8, Lanett (2-0) 3, Horseshoe Bend (1-1) 2, Providence Chr. (2-0) 2, Sand Rock (2-0) 2, Woodland (1-1) 2, Millry (2-0) 1, Oakman (1-1) 1, Randolph Co. (2-0) 1.

Class 1A
1. Marion Co. (28) (2-0) 363
2. Linden (3) (2-0) 286
3. Maplesville (2-0) 233
4. Ragland (1-0) 200
5. Brantley (2-0) 198
6. Pickens Co. (2-0) 166
7. Cedar Bluff (2-0) 126
8. Lynn (2-0) 90
9. Collinsville (2-0) 58
10. R.A. Hubbard (1-1) 17
Others receiving votes: Shoals Chr. (1-1) 9, Hubbertville (2-0) 7, Ellwood Chr. (2-0) 5, Spring Garden (2-0) 3, Keith (2-0) 2, Parrish (1-1) 2, Berry (0-2) 1, Sumiton Chr (2-0) 1.