Only two reigning AHSAA state football champions will start the season at No. 1 in 2024, and one of those is in a different classification.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its annual preseason rankings this morning.
Defending Class 7A champ Central-Phenix City starts the season at No. 1 in the state’s largest classification after dethroning Thompson in the title game last December.
The only other state champ atop its classification is Fyffe, which is No. 1 in Class 3A after moving up from 2A last fall.
The remaining No. 1 preseason AHSAA teams are Saraland (6A), Ramsay (5A), Jackson (4A), Pisgah (2A) and Elba (1A). Reigning AA champ Chambers Academy is No. 1 in the Alabama Independent School Association. The ASWA will rank the top five teams in the AISA this year with the organization fielding 22 total 11-man football teams.
In the AHSAA, four reigning state champs moved up in classification in the offseason: Gulf Shores went from 5A to 6A, Montgomery Catholic from 4A to 5A, Mobile Christian from 3A to 4A and Fyffe from 2A to 3A. All start the season ranked in their new class.
Here is the preseason ASWA high school football rankings with first-place votes, last year’s win-loss record and total poll points:
CLASS 7A
2023 champion: Central-Phenix City
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Central-Phenix City (12); 13-0; 207
2. Thompson (7); 11-2; 192
3. Enterprise; 9-3; 128
4. Auburn; 9-3; 126
5. Hoover; 5-7; 95
6. Dothan; 8-3; 90
7. Mary Montgomery; 12-1; 77
8. Hewitt-Trussville; 9-4; 66
9. Vestavia Hills; 9-3; 39
10. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa*; 12-1; 33
Others receiving votes: Austin (8-3) 17, Carver-Montgomery* (7-4) 11, James Clemens (7-4) 2.
*--Played in 6A last season.
CLASS 6A
2023 champion: Clay-Chalkville
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Saraland (16); 14-1; 219
2. Parker (2); 12-2; 168
3. Clay-Chalkville (1); 14-0; 155
4. Gulf Shores**; 15-0; 118
5. Spain Park*; 7-3; 101
6. Oxford; 9-3; 80
7. Pike Road; 11-3; 74
8. Muscle Shoals; 11-1; 50
9. Gadsden City; 9-4; 36
10. Mountain Brook; 8-4; 31
Others receiving votes: Hartselle (9-3) 16, Helena (9-3) 12, Fort Payne (7-5) 8, Theodore (7-4) 8, Homewood (6-5) 6, Benjamin Russell (10-3) 1.
*--Played in 7A last season. **--Played in 5A last season.
CLASS 5A
2023 champion: Gulf Shores
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Ramsay (10); 12-3; 191
2. Moody (7); 10-3; 177
3. Guntersville; 11-2; 149
4. Montgomery Catholic** (2); 15-0; 133
5. Central-Clay County; 10-1; 129
6. Leeds; 9-3; 70
7. Briarwood*; 6-6; 53
8. Center Point*; 7-4; 39
9. Fairview; 9-2; 36
10. Demopolis; 10-3; 30
Others receiving votes: Andalusia** (10-2) 29, Eufaula (10-4) 26, Vigor$ (7-3) 13, Scottsboro (8-3) 4, Headland (10-3) 3, Boaz (6-6) 1.
*--Played in 6A last season. **--Played in 4A last season. $--Record includes one forfeit loss.
CLASS 4A
2023 champion: Montgomery Catholic
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Jackson (11); 11-1; 203
2. Cherokee County (6); 13-2; 183
3. Pleasant Grove* (1); 10-2; 152
4. Bibb County; 10-2; 108
5. Madison Academy**; 14-1; 95
6. Mobile Christian** (1); 15-0; 86
7. Handley; 10-2; 71
8. Dora; 8-3; 46
9. Anniston; 6-4; 43
10. St. James**; 11-3; 34
Others receiving votes: Deshler (8-4) 20, Brooks (8-5) 16, Oak Grove (6-5) 9, West Morgan (12-1) 6, Opp** (4-7) 4, Straughn (10-2) 2, Westminster-Huntsville (11-3) 2, American Christian (8-3) 1, North Jackson (4-7) 1, St. Michael (6-5) 1.
*--Played in 5A last season. **--Played in 3A last season.
CLASS 3A
2023 champion: Mobile Christian
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Fyffe** (19); 14-1; 228
2. Trinity; 11-2; 131
3. T.R. Miller*; 8-4; 114
4. Gordo; 10-2; 109
5. Mars Hill Bible; 10-2; 85
6. Geraldine; 12-2; 76
7. Piedmont; 5-7; 75
8. Sylvania; 10-3; 70
9. Houston Academy; 10-2; 55
10. Thomasville; 10-2; 54
Others receiving votes: Southside-Selma (7-4) 18, Bayside Academy* (8-3) 14, Randolph Co. (10-2) 14, B.B. Comer (13-1) 11, Ohatchee (5-5) 9, Lauderdale Co. (12-1) 7, Walter Wellborn (7-4) 5, Collinsville** (8-3) 4, Westbrook Chr. (5-5) 3, Locust Fork (12-1) 1.
*--Played in 4A last season. **--Played in 2A last season.
CLASS 2A
2023 champion: Fyffe
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Pisgah (14); 12-2; 212
2. Coosa Christian*$ (4); 8-6; 148
3. Highland Home; 10-2; 140
4. Tuscaloosa Academy; 10-3; 133
5. Cottonwood; 10-2; 114
6. Clarke County; 7-6; 95
7. Decatur Heritage*; 9-2; 60
8. Vincent; 6-5; 56
9. Reeltown (1); 13-1; 45
10. Sulligent; 9-3; 44
Others receiving votes: Pleasant Valley (5-6) 30, Goshen (9-3) 3, Cedar Bluff* (5-6) 2, West End-Walnut Grove (5-6) 1.
*--Played in 1A last season. $--Record includes four forfeit losses.
CLASS 1A
2023 champion: Leroy
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Elba (12); 13-1; 204
2. Leroy (7); 14-0; 181
3. Wadley; 11-2; 122
4. Sweet Water; 9-2; 121
5. Hackleburg; 11-2; 115
6. Brantley; 8-5; 102
7. Georgiana; 9-3; 58
8. Maplesville; 8-5; 56
9. Spring Garden; 8-3; 42
10. Pickens County; 10-4; 40
Others receiving votes: Lynn (10-2) 30, Addison (8-3) 8, Florala (7-4) 4.
AISA (top 5)
2023 champions: Lee-Scott (AAA), Chambers Academy (AA), Lowndes Academy (A)
Team (first-place); 2023 W-L; Pts
1. Chambers Academy (17); 12-1; 222
2. Banks Academy (2); 11-2; 176
3. Bessemer Academy; 4-7; 148
4. Lowndes Academy; 13-0; 134
5. Fort Dale Academy; 9-3; 75
Others receiving votes: Wilcox Academy (10-4) 18, Edgewood (4-7) 7, Clarke Prep (8-5) 6, Jackson Academy (9-3) 6, Patrician (8-4) 6.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The AISA’s 22 11-man teams are divided into two classifications this season.
VOTING PANEL
Andrew Garner, Atmore Advance
Andrew Simonson, Shelby Co. Reporter
Anna Snyder, Tuscaloosa News
Ben Thomas, AL.com
Caleb Suggs, Decatur Daily
Chris McCarthy, Messenger
David Mundee, Dothan Eagle
Dennis Victory, AL.com
Jake Winfrey, Cullman Times
James Jones, Selma Times-Journal
Jason Bowen, Jackson Co. Sentinel
Joe Medley, EASportstoday
Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle
Kyle Parmley, Starnes Media
Maxwell Donaldson, Gadsden Times
Shannon fa*gan, WEIS Radio
Stacy Long, Florence TimesDaily
Thomas Ashworth, AL.com
Tripp Norris, Opp News
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