E.A. Sports Today

New birds roost in poll

Donoho, Jacksonville break into rankings; see list of last time each county school was ranked

By East Alabama Sports Today

Two Calhoun County teams ended long droughts in the statewide high school football poll Tuesday when Donoho and Jacksonville both were included in this week’s rankings.

Jacksonville’s 3-0 start earned it a No. 7 ranking in the Class 4A poll. The Golden Eagles hadn’t been ranked since pulling down a No. 7 in the final Class 5A poll of 1999. They had been ranked only 13 times previously in school history.

Opening the season with two straight shutouts earned Donoho a No. 8 ranking in the Class 1A poll. The Falcons hadn’t been ranked since Oct. 10, 2007, when they were undefeated and No. 5. They had been ranked only 19 times previously in school history.

“I think it’s neat; I knew it had been a long time,” Falcons coach Shannon Felder said. “I thought about it a couple days ago. I didn’t share it with the guys, but I was aware it was a possibility.

“I think it’s something the guys would be proud of. It shows the progress we’re making.”

Jacksonville coach Clint Smith knew his team was close to breaking into the Top 10, too, but he spent as much time worrying about it as he plans to spend thinking about it now that the Golden Eagles are in it.

“It is an honor for people to consider you one of the best teams in the state, but we understand that it doesn’t really mean anthying,” he said. “We’re excited to be in it, but we’re not going to dwell on it.”

The Golden Eagles are 3-0 for the third straight year under Smith despite having to replace a veteran quarterback and productive running back. They haven’t been 4-0 since 1999. They visit a Sardis team this week that gave Saks a game and are receiving votes in the 4A poll.

“Our kids have worked extremely hard and I think they’ll be excited about (the poll), but we also understand games aren’t won on paper and they’re not won in the polls,” Smith said. “That is not going to change anything we do as far as preparations and taking it one game at a time … but our kids are going to have to understand that along with that comes other responsibilities and expectations. We can’t forget what’s got us to where we are.”

Saks (3-0) and Piedmont (2-0) remained in their respective polls – Saks at No. 3 in Class 4A and Piedmont No. 3 in 3A, with one first-place vote.

Winless Wellborn and Weaver and Pleasant Valley (1-1) all are receiving votes in the 3A poll.

Statewide, only Class 5A St. Paul’s stand as a unanimous No. 1 in this week’s poll – and it faces the No. 2 team in the classification this week.

Two other top-ranked teams had 29 of 30 first-place votes – Class 4A Leeds (which visits No. 4 Clay Central this week) and AISA Edgewood Academy. The other leaders remained the same from last week with 7A Bob Jones, 6A Spanish Fort, 3A Madison Academy, 2A Fyffe and 1A Brantley.

Here is a list of the last time the Calhoun County teams appeared in the Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football poll:

Alexandria No. 9-5A 2014 Preseason
Anniston No.7-4A Sept. 12, 2012
Donoho No. 8-1A this week
Jacksonville No. 7-4A this week
JCA Never
Ohatchee No. 6-2A 2002 Preseason
Oxford No. 9-6A 2013 Final
Piedmont No. 3-3A this week
Pleasant Val. No. 7-2A 1984 Final
Saks No. 3-4A this week
Weaver No. 7-3A Sept. 6, 2006
Wellborn No. 8-3A Sept. 2, 2014
White Plains No. 10-2A Oct. 13, 1994
Source: AHSFHS.org

Class 7A
1. Bob Jones (25) (2-0) 335
2. Hoover (3) (1-2) 263
3. Spain Park (3-0) 237
4. Fairhope (2) (3-0) 204
5. Central-Phenix City (3-0) 203
6. Gadsden City (3-0) 156
7. McGill-Toolen (1-1) 94
8. Foley (2-1) 75
9. Prattville (2-0) 67
10. Vestavia Hills (1-1) 21
Others receiving votes: Baker (3-0) 14, Smiths Station (3-0) 13, Oak Mountain (2-0) 11, Tuscaloosa Co. (2-0) 9, Huntsville (2-0) 7, Hewitt-Trussville (1-1) 1.

Class 6A
1. Spanish Fort (28) (3-0) 353
2. Clay-Chalkville (1) (3-0) 271
3. Shades Valley (1) (3-0) 235
4. Opelika (2-0) 208
5. Carver-Montgomery (2-0) 187
6. Florence (1-1) 138
7. Daphne (1-1) 105
8. Saraland (2-0) 97
9. Blount (1-1) 46
10. Muscle Shoals (1-1) 27
Others receiving votes: Hartselle (3-0) 26, Decatur (2-1) 7, Pell City (3-0) 4, Pinson Valley (2-1) 3, Wetumpka (3-0) 2, McAdory (3-0) 1.

Class 5A
1. St. Paul’s (30) (3-0) 360
2. Jackson (2-0) 267
3. Vigor (1-1) 228
4. Central-Clay Co. (2-1) 195
5. Guntersville (2-0) 164
6. Mortimer Jordan (2-0) 117
7. Pleasant Grove (1-1) 103
8. Sylacauga (3-0) 89
9. Charles Henderson (1-1) 54
10. Russellville (2-0) 44
Others receiving votes: J.O. Johnson (1-1) 36, Ramsay (2-0) 19, Parker (2-0) 9, East Limestone (2-0) 6, West Point (2-0) 6, Jemison (2-1) 4, Demopolis (1-1) 3, Dora (2-1) 3, Dallas Co. (0-2) 2, Tallassee (2-1) 1.

Class 4A
1. Leeds (29) (3-0) 357
2. UMS-Wright (1) (2-0) 273
3. Saks (2-0) 222
4. Thomasville (3-0) 208
5. Haleyville (3-0) 156
6. Straughn (1-1) 106
7. Jacksonville (3-0) 76
8. Oneonta (1-1) 62
9. St. James (2-0) 60
10. Fayette Co. (2-1) 35
Others receiving votes: Hamilton (2-1) 34, Ashford (3-0) 19, Wilson (3-0) 19, Deshler (1-1) 15, Locust Fork (3-0) 11, Munford (1-2) 9, Andalusia (1-2) 8, Childersburg (2-1) 8, Sardis (1-1) 8, Dadeville (0-2) 6, Bibb Co. (1-2) 5, Clarke Co. (1-1) 5, Priceville (2-0) 4, Central-Florence (2-0) 2, Northside (2-1) 2.

Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (20) (2-1) 327
2. T.R. Miller (9) (3-0) 291
3. Piedmont (1) (2-0) 241
4. Dale Co. (3-0) 221
5. Pike Co. (2-0) 160
6. Glencoe (2-0) 157
7. Gordo (2-0) 76
8. Lauderdale Co. (2-1) 62
9. Colbert Co. (1-1) 54
10. Montgomery Acad. (3-0) 30
Others receiving votes: Bayside Acad. (1-1) 20, Aliceville (3-0) 14, Walter Wellborn (0-2) 13, Lexington (3-0) 12, Oakman (2-0) 6, Opp (2-1) 6, Fultondale (2-1) 4, Geraldine (1-1) 4, Plainview (1-1) 3, Lamar Co. (3-0) 2, Westbrook Chr. (1-1) 2, Greensboro (2-0) 1, Hillcrest-Evergreen (1-1) 1, Pleasant Valley (1-1) 1, Sand Rock (2-0) 1, Weaver (0-2) 1.

Class 2A
1. Fyffe (19) (2-0) 324
2. Washington Co. (4) (2-0) 273
3. Tanner (7) (2-1) 267
4. G.W. Long (2-0) 193
5. Lanett (2-1) 174
6. Sweet Water (1-1) 139
7. Reeltown (3-0) 114
8. Falkville (2-0) 107
9. Pickens Co. (2-1) 59
10. Geneva Co. (2-0) 22
Others receiving votes: Ranburne (2-0) 12, Addison (1-2) 7, Leroy (2-0) 6, Elba (2-0) 4, Cottonwood (0-2) 3, Cold Springs (3-0) 2, New Brockton (2-0) 2, Red Bay (2-1) 1, Woodland (2-0) 1.

Class 1A
1. Brantley (24) (2-0) 342
2. Maplesville (5) (2-0) 282
3. Hubbertville (1) (3-0) 236
4. Linden (1-1) 204
5. Ragland (2-0) 178
6. A.L. Johnson (1-1) 77
7. Georgiana (3-0) 68
8. Donoho (2-0) 66
9. Phillips (3-0) 51
10. McKenzie (2-0) 47
Others receiving votes: Spring Garden (2-0) 37, Millry (2-0) 25, Valley Head (1-1) 21, R.A. Hubbard (1-2) 18, Marion Co. (2-1) 11, Verbena (2-0) 11, Berry (2-1) 9, Autaugaville (1-1) 8, Cedar Bluff (0-2) 7, Winterboro (2-0) 7, Woodville (2-0) 2, Isabella (1-0) 1, J.U. Blacksher (2-0) 1, Wadley (1-1) 1.

AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (29) (2-0) 357
2. Restoration (2-0) 257
3. Bessemer Acad. (2-0) 243
4. Monroe Acad. (1) (3-0) 217
5. Wilcox Acad. (2-0) 181
6. Escambia Acad. (2-0) 146
7. Marengo Acad. (1-1) 125
8. S. Choctaw Acad. (2-0) 78
9. Autauga Acad. (1-1) 57
10. Abbeville Chr. (3-0) 18
Others receiving votes: Clarke Prep (0-1) 13, Tuscaloosa Acad. (1-1) 8, Lee-Scott (2-0) 6, Sparta Acad. (2-0) 3, Pike Liberal (2-1) 1.

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