By: Damian Mitchell
Tribune Sports
ALABAMA— The 2018 Alabama Sports Writers Association have released the official preseason polls for the start of the 2018 football season.
In 7A, Hewitt-Trussville starts the season as the number five ranked team after an impressive 11-2 2017 season.
Pinson Valley, the defending 6A state champions, open the season as the top ranked team in the class, while Clay-Chalkville opens the season ranked fifth in 6A.
Alabama Sports Writers Association Rankings
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Hoover (27), 11-3, 358, 6
2. Thompson (3), 12-1, 258, 2
3. Central-Phenix City (1), 11-1, 241, 1
4. McGill-Toolen, 13-1, 219, 4
5. Hewitt-Trussville, 11-1, 214, 3
6. Bob Jones, 7-4, 124, 8
7. Auburn, 10-2, 123, 5
8. Spain Park, 6-5, 60, —
9. Austin*, 12-1, 57, —
10. James Clemens, 3-7, 53, —
Others receiving votes: Lee-Montgomery (7-4) 27, Jeff Davis (5-6) 17, Sparkman (7-4) 6, Enterprise (2-8) 4, Fairhope (8-3) 2, Gadsden City (3-7) 2, Mountain Brook (8-4) 1, Theodore (6-5) 1.
*—Austin played in 6A last season.
CLASS 6A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Pinson Valley (31), 15-0, 372, 3
2. Wetumpka, 13-2, 246, 6
3. Spanish Fort, 11-2, 224, 4
4. Oxford, 12-1, 173, 2
5. Clay-Chalkville, 11-3, 172, 9
6. Opelika, 9-4, 104, 8
7. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 10-4, 94, —
8. Saraland, 8-4, 71, —
9. Eufaula*, 9-3, 49, —
10. Homewood, 10-2, 48, 7
Others receiving votes: Muscle Shoals (9-3) 46, St. Paul’s* (14-1) 46, Hueytown (5-6) 36, Daphne (8-3) 27, Park Crossing (10-2) 18, Calera* (7-5) 17, Jackson-Olin (6-4) 17, Pelham (5-6) 6, Benjamin Russell (7-4) 1.
*—Eufaula, St. Paul’s and Calera played in 5A last season.
CLASS 5A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Briarwood (31), 14-1, 372, 1
2. Etowah, 11-2, 256, 5
3. Vigor, 9-4, 231, 9
4. Carroll-Ozark, 11-1, 158, 2
5. Demopolis, 11-3, 154, 10
6. St. Clair Co., 10-4, 152, —
7. Wenonah, 10-2, 138, 4
8. Tallassee*, 10-2, 91, —
9. Jackson, 5-5, 48, —
10. Beauregard, 10-2, 41, 3
Others receiving votes: Dora* (9-3) 39, Alexandria (8-3) 26, Madison Aca.* (7-4) 26, Ramsay* (7-5) 16, Charles Henderson (6-5) 10, Munford* (9-2) 5, Bibb Co.* (11-2) 2, Central-Clay Co. (8-4) 2.
*—Ramsay played in 6A last season. Tallassee, Dora, Madison Aca., Munford and Bibb Co. played in 4A.
CLASS 4A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. UMS-Wright (30), 13-2, 369, 5
2. Hillcrest-Evergreen* (1), 14-1, 246, —
3. Fayette Co., 12-3, 234, 8
4. Andalusia, 12-2, 197, 1
5. Hokes Bluff, 10-3, 155, 9
6. Catholic-Montgomery, 10-2, 125, 10
7. Brooks*, 8-3, 107, —
8. W.S. Neal, 6-6, 91, —
9. Clarke Co.*, 11-3, 61, —
10. Dale Co., 7-4, 56, —
Others receiving votes: Leeds (7-4) 52, Deshler (7-4) 36, Alabama Chr. (10-3) 13, North Jackson (2-8) 13, West Morgan* (10-2) 6, Williamson* (7-4) 3, Jacksonville (8-4) 2, Handley (2-8) 1.
*—Brooks and Williamson played in 5A last season. Hillcrest-Evergreen, Clarke Co. and West Morgan played in 3A.
CLASS 3A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Randolph Co. (15), 13-2, 295, 3
2. Mobile Chr. (10), 9-4, 289, —
3. Gordo (2), 10-2, 214, 2
4. Fultondale (3), 11-1, 194, 4
5. Piedmont, 12-2, 171, 1
6. Saks* (1), 13-1, 155, —
7. Thomasville*, 7-4, 134, —
8. Pike Co., 8-3, 87, —
9. Wicksburg, 10-2, 57, 9
10. St. James*, 8-4, 52, —
Others receiving votes: Oakman (8-4) 51, Sylvania (11-2) 21, T.R. Miller (5-5) 20, Lauderdale Co. (6-5) 8, Westminster-Huntsville* (6-5) 8, Weaver (7-5) 7, Prattville Chr. (3-8) 3, Plainview (9-2) 1.
*—Saks, Thomasville, St. James and Westminster-Huntsville played in 4A last season.
CLASS 2A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Leroy (18), 12-3, 333, 7
2. Fyffe (13), 12-1, 313, 1
3. Luverne, 10-3, 220, 9
4. Ariton, 10-2, 148, 10
5. LaFayette, 9-3, 126, 6
6. Reeltown, 7-5, 125, —
7. Ohatchee*, 8-3, 119, —
8. Goshen, 12-2, 118, 3
9. Sulligent, 12-2, 60, 5
10. Aliceville, 7-5, 48, —
Others receiving votes: Thorsby (8-3) 33, Abbeville (9-3) 26, Addison* (10-3) 23, North Sand Mountain* (8-3) 21, Cedar Bluff* (8-4) 18, Daleville* (6-5) 11, Vincent (5-5) 10, New Brockton (5-6) 6, Collinsville (4-6) 4, Houston Co.* (8-3) 4, J.U. Blacksher (6-5) 1.
*—Ohatchee, North Sand Mountain and Daleville played in 3A last season. Addison, Cedar Bluff and Houston Co. played in 1A.
CLASS 1A
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts , Pvs
1. Lanett* (30), 15-0, 369, —
2. Sweet Water (1), 13-1, 260, 3
3 (tie). Pickens Co., 12-3, 199, T6
3 (tie). St. Luke’s*, 10-2, 199, —
5. Linden, 7-4, 140, —
6. Maplesville, 11-1, 135, 1
7. Brantley, 8-4, 118, 9
8. South Lamar, 10-4, 95, —
9. Elba*, 8-3, 75, —
10. Marengo, 9-4, 47, —
Others receiving votes: Millry (5-6) 24, Falkville* (7-4) 18, Hackleburg (10-2) 16, Lynn (11-1) 16, Mars Hill Bible* (7-4) 15, Isabella (10-2) 12, Spring Garden (8-4) 11, Georgiana (11-1) 8, Decatur Heritage (8-3) 4, Florala (3-6) 4, Wadley (12-1) 2.
*—Lanett, St. Luke’s, Elba, Falkville and Mars Hill Bible played in 2A last season.
AISA
Team (first-place), 2017 W-L, Pts, Pvs
1. Autauga Aca. (28), 12-1, 362, 1
2. Tuscaloosa Aca. (2), 8-2, 281, 5
3. Escambia Aca., 12-1, 244, 4
4. Monroe Aca. (1), 13-0, 213, 2
5. Bessemer Aca., 8-6, 184, —
6. Glenwood, 7-5, 152, 9
7. Patrician, 9-4, 99, —
8. Chambers Aca., 12-1, 96, 3
9. Pike Liberal Arts, 7-5, 82, —
10. Lakeside, 7-4, 29, 10
Others receiving votes: Cornerstone-Columbiana (6-5) 10, Coosa Valley (3-8) 8, Pickens Aca. (6-4) 4, Abbeville Chr. (5-8) 2, Success Unlimited (new team) 1.