Saks No. 2 in ASWA poll

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: October 14, 2014

By East Alabama Sports Today

Saks pulled down its highest ranking in 17 years this week – just in time for a showdown that could decide the region championship.

The Wildcats (7-0) were ranked No. 2 in Class 4A in the ASWA high school football poll that was released Tuesday night. The last time they were ranked that high was Sept. 25, 1997, when they were 3-0.

They had been No. 3 for the previous three weeks. They are 79 points behind new No. 1 UMS-Wright, who replaced Leeds.

The Wildcats received one first-place vote – from Brandon Miller of The Anniston Star.

“Saks has dominated every team it’s played,” Miller said. “That should change this week, but I’ve yet to see Saks even relatively struggle. That has me thinking it could be best team in the state.”

The Wildcats travel to Cleburne County Friday. The Tigers (6-1) are in the poll for the first time this season at No. 9.

The game is for the absolute upper hand in the region since Cleburne County defeated Jacksonville on the road two weeks ago. Jacksonville was ranked fourth at the time; the Golden Eagles are No. 8 in Class 4A this week.

The Saks-Cleburne County game isn’t the only one involving a ranked county team playing another ranked opponent for region supremacy. No. 5 Donoho travels to No. 4 Ragland for the upper hand in Class 1A Region 5.

Piedmont remains No. 8 in Class 3A.

2 County players make roster

Oxford receiver Tre Gamble and Donoho tight end Justin Foster both were named to the Alabama team that will play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game Dec. 13 in Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.

Brackett, Forbes recognized

Jacksonville Christian quarterback Daylon Brackett’s performance last week against Spring Garden was recognized by the AHSAA on Tuesday. Brackett threw for 329 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another score in the Thunder’s 55-34 loss.

Meanwhile, Weaver’s Delo Forbes was recognized for intercepting two passes – one he returned for a touchdown – and rushing for 139 yards in the Bearcats’ 41-28 victory over Westbrook Christian.

Here is the ASWA poll:

Class 7A
1. Hoover (22) (5-2) 336
2. Fairhope (7) (7-0) 289
3. Prattville (6-1) 209
4. Gadsden City (7-1) 192
5. Central-Phenix City (1) (7-1) 183
6. Oak Mountain (6-1) 165
7. Baker (7-1) 123
8. Bob Jones (5-2) 85
9. Foley (6-2) 76
10. Murphy (5-2) 12
Others receiving votes: James Clemens (5-2) 9, Spain Park (4-3) 8, Theodore (5-2) 8, Mountain Brook (3-4) 7, Smiths Station (5-3) 4, Hewitt-Trussville (4-3) 3, Jeff Davis (5-3) 1.

Class 6A
1. Spanish Fort (24) (7-0) 340
2. Clay-Chalkville (6) (7-0) 288
3. Opelika (6-1) 236
4. Saraland (6-1) 179
5. Shades Valley (6-1) 178
6. Florence (5-2) 146
7. Blount (5-2) 119
8. McAdory (7-0) 108
9. Benjamin Russell (7-1) 58
10. Carver-Montgomery (5-2) 18
Others receiving votes: Fort Payne (6-1) 12, Muscle Shoals (5-2) 8, Daphne (4-3) 7, Decatur (5-2) 5, Homewood (5-2) 4, Southside-Gadsden (6-2) 3, Park Crossing (5-2) 1.

Class 5A
1. St. Paul’s (30) (7-0) 360
2. Guntersville (7-0) 264
3. Parker (7-0) 231
4. East Limestone (7-0) 214
5. Jackson (5-2) 156
6. Demopolis (6-1) 150
7. Russellville (6-1) 104
8. Mortimer Jordan (6-1) 92
9. Ramsay (6-1) 74
10. Calera (6-1) 38
Others receiving votes: Lincoln (5-2) 11, Sylacauga (6-1) 5, Greenville (5-2) 4, Tallassee (5-2) 3, Vigor (3-3) 3, Beauregard (4-2) 1.

Class 4A
1. UMS-Wright (29) (7-0) 348
2. Saks (1) (7-0) 269
3. Straughn (6-1) 220
4. Leeds (7-1) 210
5. Oneonta (6-1) 180
6. Fayette Co. (5-2) 130
7. Deshler (6-1) 94
8. Jacksonville (7-1) 86
9. Cleburne Co. (6-1) 32
10. West Blocton (7-0) 29
Others receiving votes: St. James (6-1) 26, Dadeville (4-3) 25, Haleyville (6-2) 23, W.S. Neal (4-2) 10, Wilson (6-1) 10, Locust Fork (6-1) 7, Clarke Co. (5-2) 5, Thomasville (5-3) 4, Hamilton (5-2) 1, North Jackson (5-2) 1.

Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (29) (6-1) 356
2. Dale Co. (8-0) 269
3. Glencoe (1) (7-0) 239
4. Gordo (7-0) 212
5. T.R. Miller (7-1) 159
6. Montgomery Acad. (7-0) 145
7. Pike Co. (5-1) 99
8. Piedmont (5-2) 80
9. Lauderdale Co. (6-2) 79
10. Opp (5-2) 24
Others receiving votes: Aliceville (7-1) 15, Geraldine (6-1) 10, Plainview (6-1) 10, Sylvania (3-4) 6, Oakman (6-1) 4, Colbert Co. (4-3) 1, Lamar Co. (6-1) 1, New Hope (3-4) 1.

Class 2A
1. Fyffe (24) (7-0) 342
2. Washington Co. (6) (7-0) 279
3. G.W. Long (7-0) 235
4. Tanner (6-2) 198
5. Ranburne (7-0) 185
6. Elba (7-0) 119
7. Sweet Water (5-2) 118
8. Reeltown (6-1) 101
9. Pickens Co. (5-2) 66
10. Red Bay (7-1) 30
Others receiving votes: Addison (5-2) 12, Leroy (4-3) 9, Cleveland (6-1) 8, Randolph Co. (6-1) 6, Geneva Co. (4-2) 2.

Class 1A
1. Brantley (16) (7-0) 317
2. Maplesville (14) (6-0) 311
3. Hubbertville (6-0) 235
4. Ragland (7-0) 205
5. Donoho (7-0) 179
6. McKenzie (7-0) 150
7. Linden (3-3) 125
8. Millry (6-1) 73
9. Berry (5-2) 56
10. Hackleburg (6-1) 23
Others receiving votes: A.L. Johnson (5-2) 13, Phillips (7-1) 10, Billingsley (5-2) 4, J.U. Blacksher (6-1) 4, R.A. Hubbard (5-2) 3, Isabella (5-1) 2.

AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (30) (7-0) 360
2. Bessemer Acad. (7-0) 270
3. Escambia Acad. (6-0) 237
4. Marengo Acad. (5-1) 196
5. Monroe Acad. (7-1) 185
6. Wilcox Acad. (5-1) 142
7. Restoration (4-2) 123
8. S. Choctaw Acad. (6-1) 88
9. Autauga Acad. (5-2) 57
10. Tuscaloosa Acad. (5-2) 35
Others receiving votes: Sparta Acad. (6-1) 12, Clarke Prep (3-3) 3, Abbeville Chr. (6-2) 1, Lakeside (5-2) 1.

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