From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Clay-Chalkville enters the 2022 season with a target on their backs. The Cougars, who ran to a 15-0 season and a 6A state championship in 2021, find themselves ranked No. 1 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason poll.
Mario Craver (File photo)
Clay-Chalkville holds the state’s longest current AHSAA win streak at 15 games.
Also appearing in the poll: Hewitt-Trussville is ranked No. 4 in Class 7A, while Pinson Valley is ranked No. 10 in 6A; Leeds is ranked No. 6 in 5A, while Moody is unranked but mentioned in the “others receiving votes” category for 5A.
The regular season starts Aug. 18-19.
Here are the initial rankings, with vote totals and 2021 win-loss records:
CLASS 7A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Thompson (21); 13-1; 252
- Central-Phenix City; 13-1; 177
- Auburn; 10-3; 152
- Hewitt-Trussville; 9-3; 148
- Hoover; 12-1; 140
- James Clemens; 10-1; 99
- Fairhope; 9-2; 84
- Enterprise; 8-4; 52
- Baker; 7-4; 32
- Opelika*; 9-4; 22
Others receiving votes: Prattville (7-4) 20, Bob Jones (5-6) 9, Florence (5-6) 4, Oak Mountain (7-5) 4, Daphne (5-5) 2.
CLASS 6A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Clay-Chalkville (21); 15-0; 252
- Mountain Brook; 12-2; 172
- Saraland; 10-3; 143
- Briarwood; 10-2; 121
- Hueytown; 13-2; 98
- Pike Road*; 14-0; 93
- Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 11-3; 92
- Spanish Fort; 10-2; 60
- Gardendale; 10-3; 26
- Pinson Valley; 9-4; 25
Others receiving votes: Theodore* (10-2) 23, Hartselle (10-1) 21, Gadsden City* (5-5) 20, Helena (9-2) 14, Carver-Montgomery (5-6) 13, Fort Payne (6-5) 7, Parker* (11-2) 5, Baldwin County (8-4) 4, Calera (7-4) 3, Muscle Shoals (9-2) 2, Oxford (7-5) 2, Homewood (6-6) 1.
CLASS 5A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- UMS-Wright (12); 11-2; 222
- Vigor* (7); 14-1; 202
- Ramsay; 6-5; 126
- Pleasant Grove (1); 12-2; 102
- Alexandria (1); 11-1; 76
- Leeds; 10-2; 75
- Guntersville; 9-2; 72
- Gulf Shores*; 6-4; 69
- Russellville; 9-3; 63
- Central-Clay County; 9-3; 45
Others receiving votes: Fairview (12-2) 30, Arab* (8-3) 29, Eufaula* (5-6) 26, Greenville (8-4) 14, Moody (6-4) 13, Faith Academy (7-5) 12, Demopolis (7-5) 7, Southside-Gadsden* (5-6) 7, Williamson* (5-6) 6, Citronelle* (3-7) 1.
CLASS 4A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Montgomery Catholic* (8); 13-1; 167
- Handley (4); 9-3; 161
- Andalusia* (2); 9-5; 145
- Jacksonville (1); 7-4; 122
- Northside (3); 10-2; 112
- Montgomery Academy* (1); 11-4; 103
- Jackson; 11-3; 95
- Oneonta (2); 13-2; 77
- Etowah; 6-5; 47
- Anniston; 5-5; 44
Others receiving votes: Randolph (10-2) 26, T.R. Miller* (10-3) 21, Cherokee County (7-4) 18, American Christian (11-2) 13, Priceville (10-2) 12, Bayside Academy* (9-3) 11, Brooks (12-1) 11, Good Hope (9-4) 7, Orange Beach* (9-2) 5.
CLASS 3A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Piedmont (21); 13-2; 252
- Gordo*; 9-3; 112
- Mars Hill Bible*; 10-4; 106
- Opp; 9-3; 100
- Alabama Christian*; 7-4; 87
- St. James*; 10-2; 86
- Mobile Christian*; 5-6; 85
- Hillcrest-Evergreen; 7-6; 83
- Winfield; 12-1; 69
- Madison Academy*; 12-2; 68
Others receiving votes: Saks (12-2) 44, Flomaton (6-4) 23, Ohatchee (9-3) 21, Straughn* (7-4) 20, Houston Academy (6-5) 12, Walter Wellborn (5-5) 9, Excel (6-4) 6, Lauderdale County (10-2) 6, Sylvania (8-3) 6, Geraldine (7-4) 2.
CLASS 2A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Fyffe* (14); 10-2; 230
- Clarke County (6); 13-2; 202
- Lanett; 10-3; 143
- Ariton; 10-2; 142
- Highland Home (1); 8-6; 115
- B.B. Comer; 10-3; 75
- Aliceville; 8-4; 69
- G.W. Long; 8-2; 53
- Pisgah; 7-4; 52
- Cleveland; 12-3; 44
Others receiving votes: Wicksburg* (7-4) 31, Tanner (8-4) 26, J.U. Blacksher (4-7) 13, Sand Rock (7-4) 2.
CLASS 1A
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Brantley (7); 12-1; 170
- Spring Garden* (3); 12-1; 167
- Sweet Water (6); 14-0; 153
- Leroy* (3); 2-8; 151
- Wadley (1); 13-2; 129
- Elba*; 10-2; 108
- Pickens County; 11-3; 107
- Decatur Heritage; 10-3; 63
- Linden (1); 5-5; 56
- Cedar Bluff; 6-5; 27
Others receiving votes: Valley Head (5-6) 23, Kinston (8-4) 18, Millry (8-4) 12, Maplesville (11-2) 8, Hackleburg (6-5) 3, Keith (10-2) 2.
AISA
Team (first-place); W-L; Pts
- Glenwood (20); 6-5; 249
- Autauga Academy; 13-0; 172
- Patrician; 8-3; 152
- Chambers Academy (1); 10-2; 142
- Macon-East; 7-5; 113
- Edgewood; 5-6; 85
- Jackson Academy; 10-2; 84
- Lowndes Academy; 11-3; 83
- Escambia Academy; 11-2; 57
- Bessemer Academy; 3-7; 24
Others receiving votes: Abbeville Christian (2-8) 14, Monroe Academy (3-7) 13, Crenshaw Christian (7-4) 6, Clarke Prep (2-9) 1, Lee-Scott (8-3) 1, Sparta (9-2) 1.
