Cubs get ranked
- Updated: September 29, 2015
Alexandria breaks into in-season poll for first time since 2007, pulls in at No. 10 in Class 5A; Saks, Piedmont remain ranked
By East Alabama Sports Today
Alexandria moved into an in-season statewide prep football poll for the first time in eight years Tuesday and it comes right in time for its biggest game of the year.
The undefeated Valley Cubs (4-0) broke into the Class 5A poll at No. 10 despite being open last week. It’s the first time they’ve been ranked since the 2014 preseason poll (ninth), but the first time since Oct. 3, 2007 (ninth) they’ve been ranked during the season.
“It’s a small reward when you’ve been working hard,” Cubs coach Frank Tucker said, “but the big thing is what you do in the playoffs.
“It is nice to be recognized, but the way our high school football is, you want to keep winning. … If you continue to win, over a 10-week period you will get recognized.”
The ranking comes at a time when the Cubs are preparing to play at No. 4 Mortimer Jordan for the upper hand in 5A Region 6. Tucker called the Blue Devils (5-0) “one of the most versatile teams I’ve seen” with their ability to throw out of the triple option.
The Blue Devils are the second-highest scoring team in Class 5A (44.8 ppg) and ranked 19th in scoring defense (16.8). Alexandria is ranked ninth in scoring (35.8) and second in defense (8.8).
The Cubs lost this game last year 61-21, but it served as the catalyst for their run to the playoffs. They won their final four regular season games, averaging 47.3 points a game.
“That was definitely a wakeup game, a make-or-break game, of the season,” Tucker said. “I wouldn’t call this make-or-break, but it is a big game. We played so bad last year it adds fuel to the fire.”
Saks and Piedmont remained in the poll. Saks is No. 4 in Class 4A, while Piedmont fell to No. 5 in Class 3A after losing at Leeds, the new No. 3 in 4A. Wellborn received votes in 3A.
Friday’s games
Anniston at Springville
No. 10-5A Alexandria at No. 4-5A Mortimer Jordan
Victory Christian at Donoho
Gaylesville at Jacksonville Christian
Jacksonville at Cleburne County
Weaver at Ohatchee
No. 6-6A Benjamin Russell at Oxford (WVOK-FM 98.7)
No. 5-3A Piedmont at Pleasant Valley
No. 4-4A Saks at Crossville
Sardis at White Plains
Westbrook Christian at Wellborn
ASWA FOOTBALL POLL
Class 7A
1. Hoover (29) (5-0)
2. Bob Jones (5-0)
3. James Clemens (4-1)
4. Prattville (4-1)
5. Central-Phenix City (4-2)
6. Foley (5-1)
7. Buckhorn (4-1)
8. Spain Park (4-1)
9. Theodore (5-1)
10. Murphy (3-2)
Others receiving votes: McGill-Toolen (4-1) 22, Vestavia Hills (4-1) 18, Jeff Davis (5-1) 8, Gadsden City (3-3) 5, Smiths Station (5-1) 5, Auburn (2-4) 2, Hewitt-Trussville (3-2) 2, Sparkman (2-3) 2, Lee-Montgomery (4-2) 1.
Class 6A
1. Clay-Chalkville (24) (5-0)
2. Spanish Fort (3) (5-0)
3. Opelika (2) (6-0)
4. Muscle Shoals (6-0)
5. Saraland (4-1)
6. Benjamin Russell (5-1)
7. McAdory (4-1)
8. Homewood (4-1)
9. Park Crossing (5-1)
10. Blount (5-0)
Others receiving votes: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (4-2) 47, Chelsea (5-0) 10, Gardendale (4-1) 10, Pinson Valley (4-2) 10, Walker (5-0) 5, Bessemer City (4-1) 2, Cullman (4-1) 1, Fort Payne (4-1) 1, Hartselle (4-1) 1.
Class 5A
1. Jackson (29) (5-0)
2. St. Paul’s (5-1)
3. Guntersville (5-0)
4. Mortimer Jordan (5-0)
5. Greenville (5-0)
6. Pleasant Grove (4-1)
7. Beauregard (4-0)
8. Russellville (4-1)
9. Demopolis (4-1)
10. Alexandria (4-0)
Others receiving votes: Wenonah (5-0) 17, East Limestone (4-1) 16, Madison Co. (2-2) 11, St. John Paul II (0-5) 9, Calera (4-1) 6, Tallassee (4-2) 5, Etowah (3-2) 3, Vigor (3-1) 1.
Class 4A
1. UMS-Wright (29) (5-0)
2. Cordova (5-0)
3. Leeds (4-2)
4. Saks (4-1)
5. Andalusia (5-1)
6. Priceville (5-0)
7. Fayette Co. (4-2)
8. Brooks (5-0)
9. Handley (5-0)
10. Dadeville (3-2)
Others receiving votes: W.S. Neal (4-1) 29, Cleburne Co. (4-1) 24, Deshler (3-2) 24, Montevallo (6-0) 20, Northside (5-0) 20, Oneonta (4-1) 7, Elmore Co. (3-2) 2, Bibb Co. (3-3) 1, West Blocton (3-2) 1.
Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (22) (4-1)
2. Gordo (7) (5-0)
3. Pike Co. (4-0)
4. T.R. Miller (5-1)
5. Piedmont (4-1)
6. Opp (4-1)
7. American Chr. (5-0)
8. Oakman (4-1)
9. Lauderdale Co. (4-1)
10. Glencoe (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Daleville (4-1) 24, Winfield (5-1) 14, Montgomery Acad. (4-1) 3, Slocomb (3-2) 3, Colbert Co. (2-3) 2, Walter Wellborn (3-2) 2.
Class 2A
1. Elba (20) (5-0)
2. Tanner (9) (6-0)
3. Cleveland (5-0)
4. G.W. Long (5-0)
5. Fyffe (4-1)
6. Red Bay (6-0)
7. Randolph Co. (5-0)
8. Mobile Chr. (5-0)
9. Flomaton (4-1)
10. Washington Co. (4-1)
Others receiving votes: Pickens Co. (4-1) 16, Fayetteville (5-0) 8, LaFayette (4-1) 6, Ranburne (4-1) 6, Falkville (5-0) 4, Providence Chr. (4-1) 1.
Class 1A
1. Hubbertville (12) (4-0)
2. Maplesville (14) (3-1)
3. Cedar Bluff (3) (5-0)
4. Hackleburg (5-0)
5. Linden (2-2)
6. Loachapoka (4-1)
7. Georgiana (5-1)
8. Brantley (3-2)
9. Wadley (4-1)
10. Berry (4-1)
Others receiving votes: McKenzie (3-2) 23, Victory Chr. (4-0) 23, Notasulga (3-2) 13, J.U. Blacksher (4-1) 7, Decatur Heritage (4-1) 5, Millry (3-2) 5, Autaugaville (4-2) 1.
AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (26) (6-0)
2. Bessemer Acad. (5-0)
3. Monroe Acad. (2) (6-0)
4. Abbeville Chr. (5-0)
5. Escambia Acad. (1) (4-2)
6. Marengo Acad. (3-1)
7. Lee-Scott Acad. (4-1)
8. Tuscaloosa Acad. (4-1)
9. S. Choctaw Acad. (4-1)
10. Sparta Acad. (5-1)
Others receiving votes: Chambers Acad. (4-1) 11, Northside Methodist (4-1) 11, Autauga Acad. (3-2) 9, Morgan Acad. (2-3) 8, Pike Liberal (3-2) 7, Fort Dale Acad. (3-2) 5, Clarke Prep (3-2) 3, Glenwood (3-2) 2, Jackson Acad. (3-2) 1.
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