Sports writers from across the state have had their say, and the have spoken loud and clear: football is back in the Troy area.

For the first time since week three of the 2008 season, Charles Henderson and Pike County are ranked at the same time.

The Trojans, fresh off a 4A state title game appearance, are ranked sixth in 5A in the preseason poll and received one first-place vote. The Bulldogs come in sixth in the 3A poll, and look to build on last season’s run to the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The 2014 preseason poll marks the 11th consecutive appearance in the top 10 for the Trojans. Charles Henderson was ranked in every poll during the 2013 season.

Despite the lofty ranking and last year’s success, Charles Henderson head coach Brad McCoy isn’t going to let his players read a lot in to it.

“Unfortunately all of those things are based off last season,” McCoy said. “When I got here six weeks ago, we made sure to let the players know that this team isn’t last years. We are our own team that has to make our own name.”

The Trojans dominated 4A competition en route a 14-1 record last year, and knocked off two 5A programs as well. CHHS will meet both of those 5A teams, Greenville and Eufaula, this year.

Charles Henderson downed Greenville 28-27 in a mid-season contest and outscored Eufaula 59-42 in a wild week 10 contest.

McCoy feels his player will wear the target proudly.

“I firmly think these guys are not satisfied, even after going as far as they did,” McCoy said. “These six returning seniors are not satisfied by a long shot. We have a lot to build on, and know we are going to get everyone’s best shot every single week.”

St. Paul’s topped the 5A poll, followed by Pleasant Grove, Vigor, Central-Clay Co., Jackson, CHHS, J.O. Johnson, Alexandria and Guntersville.

Pike County is back in the state rankings for the first time since 2008. The Bulldogs have been ranked No. 1 in the polls for 26 weeks all time, but haven’t made an appearance in the top 10 since Eddie Stephenson’s first, and only, season as top dog.

Pike County surprised teams down the stretch last year, and downed highly ranked Trinity Presbyterian in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs.

The strong second half of the 2013 season have the Bulldogs barking loud, but head coach Fred Holland said his team would not get overconfident.

“Polls don’t mean much to us,” Holland said. “We are much more worried about getting to where we need to be on the field. We have things to work on to be able to do what we need to do, and be able to stop other teams as well.”

The Bulldogs return several playmakers on both sides of the ball, but will have to fill the void left by the departing LaMarcus Adair.

Adair rushed for over 1,00 yards last season, and Holland feels one person won’t be able to replace him.

“We are going to be a committee back there,” Holland said. “LaMarcus was a great back, and no one guy will be able to do what he did. We like what the backs have been doing so far, and they will keep it up.”

Powerhouse Madison Academy was slated as the top team in 3A. Piedmont, T.R. Miller, Dale County and Walter Wellborn claimed second through fifth, while Pike County, Colbert County, Glencoe, Midfield and Lauderdale Co. rounded out the top 10.

Pike Liberal Arts received one vote in the AISA poll, as well.

Hoover topped the 7A poll, Spanish Fort led 6A voting, Leeds will start the year at No. 1 in 4A, Tanner in 2A, Brantley topped 1A and Edgewood Academy will open the season as the No. 1-ranked team in AISA.

 

Alabama Sports Writers Association Preseason Poll

Example: School (1st place votes) (Final 2013 record) total ballot points

Class 7A
1. Hoover (32) (15-0) 384
2. Bob Jones (11-2) 233
3. McGill-Toolen (12-2) 224
4. Spain Park (8-3) 218
5. Auburn (13-2) 190
6. Central-Phenix City (6-4) 158
7. Foley (6-6) 137
8. Vestavia Hills (11-3) 133
9. Fairhope (9-3) 75
10. Prattville (7-3) 45
Others receiving votes: Smiths Station (10-3) 13, Murphy (6-5) 5, Gadsden City (5-6) 4, Baker (6-4) 3, Mountain Brook (7-4) 1, Tuscaloosa Co (7-4) 1.

Class 6A
1. Spanish Fort (29) (15-0) 370
2. Clay-Chalkville (1) (10-2) 279
3. Shades Valley (1) (10-2) 216
4. Carver-Montgomery (1) (10-3) 198
5. Opelika (7-4) 190
6. Florence (9-4) 150
7. Daphne (8-3) 147
8. Blount (9-2) 97
9. Muscle Shoals (13-2) 60
10. Bessemer City (10-2) 49
Others receiving votes: Decatur (5-6) 33, Saraland (12-2) 14, Southside-Gadsden (13-1) 7, Hartselle (8-3) 6, Scottsboro (7-4) 3, Briarwood Chr. (9-3) 2, Athens (9-4) 1, Oxford (9-3) 1, Stanhope Elmore (4-6) 1.

Class 5A
1. St. Paul’s (24) (10-3) 347
2. Pleasant Grove (3) (10-2) 249
3. Vigor (3) (2-8*) 228
4t. Central-Clay Co. (10-3) 223
4t. Jackson (1) (12-1) 223
6. Charles Henderson (1) (14-1) 160
7. J.O. Johnson (11-2) 139
8. Etowah (7-4) 67
9. Alexandria (3-7) 59
10. Guntersville (10-2) 24
*-includes five forfeits
Others receiving votes:  Dora (5-6) 20; Demopolis (7-4) 17; Madison Co. (8-3) 16; Calera (10-2) 15; Mortimer Jordan (4-7) 11, Sylacauga (8-4) 9, Greenville (2-8) 6, Eufaula (6-5) 3, Russellville (4-6) 3, Moody (6-5) 2, Lincoln (4-7) 1, Parker (8-4) 1, West Point (4-6) 1.

Class 4A
1. Leeds (16) (12-3) 332
2. UMS-Wright (12) (11-3) 321
3. Dadeville (11-2) 198
4. Straughn (10-3) 175
5. Oneonta (14-1) 167
6. Saks (13-1) 165
7. Thomasville (5-6) 139
8. Deshler (8-4) 98
9. Andalusia (8-3) 50
10. Trinity (8-3) 47
Others receiving votes: Bibb Co. (10-2) 38, Fayette Co. (10-2) 38, Munford (12-2) 32, Hamilton (9-3) 6, North Jackson (2-8) 6, St. James (4-6) 6, Haleyville (10-2) 4, Childersburg (9-3) 2.

Class 3A
1. Madison Acad. (30) (15-0) 378
2. Piedmont (11-2) 271
3. T.R. Miller (2) (12-1) 267
4. Dale Co. (11-1) 192
5. Walter Wellborn (8-4) 141
6. Pike Co. (7-5) 132
7. Colbert Co. (11-2) 129
8. Glencoe (8-4) 120
9. Midfield (7-5) 59
10. Lauderdale Co. (9-3) 48
Others receiving votes: Geraldine (8-3) 15, Daleville (5-5) 14, Plainview (7-4) 12, Fultondale (10-2) 9, Gordo (7-4) 8, Oakman (10-2) 7, Montgomery Acad. (11-2) 6, Lamar Co. (10-2) 5, Aliceville (7-4) 3, Hillcrest-Evergreen (7-4) 3, Bayside Acad. (8-5) 2, Excel (5-5) 2, New Hope (8-3) 1..

Class 2A
1. Tanner (28) (13-1) 369
2. Fyffe (3) (12-2) 266
3. Lanett (1) (11-1) 251
4. Washington Co. (13-2) 238
5. Sweet Water (10-4) 161
6. G.W. Long (10-2) 160
7. Addison (9-2) <ws>88
8. Cottonwood (6-5) 86
9. Pickens Co. (15-0) 64
10. Falkville (9-2) <ws>54
Others receiving votes: Geneva Co. (9-3) 36, Luverne (11-2) 24, Red Bay (8-3) 13, Reeltown (7-4) 9, Gaston (7-4) 5.

Class 1A
1. Brantley (19) (11-3) 336
2. Maplesville (12) (14-1) 272
3. Linden (1) (9-4) 252
4. Hubbertville (11-3) 191
5. R.A. Hubbard (8-4) 136
6. Loachapoka (10-3) 131
7. Cedar Bluff (4-5) 115
8. Valley Head (9-2) 90
9. Ragland (10-2) 72
10. A.L. Johnson (7-3) 69
Others receiving votes: Marion Co. (6-4) 32, Berry (7-6) 28, J.U. Blacksher (1-9) 18, McKenzie (9-3) 16, Autaugaville (8-4) 15, Donoho (7-3) 11, Lynn (3-7) 8, Shades Mtn. Chr. (2-7) 7, Billingsley (8-3) 6, Brilliant (7-5) 6, Kinston (5-6) 5, Hackleburg (7-4) 2, Millry (3-7) 2, Gaylesville (6-5) 1, McIntosh (2-8) 1, Spring Garden (3-7) 1, Talladega Co. Cent. (5-6) 1.

AISA
1. Edgewood Acad. (30) (14-0) 378
2. Restoration (12-2) 260
3. Bessemer Acad. (12-2) 248
4. Monroe Acad. (1) (13-0) 224
5. Marengo Acad. (1) (13-0) 194
6. Wilcox Acad. (8-4) 189
7. Escambia Acad. (10-3) 112
8. Clarke Prep (8-5) 99
9. Autauga Acad. (8-3) 63
10. S. Choctaw Acad. (4-7) 25
Others receiving votes: Abbeville Chr. (10-3) 16, Tuscaloosa Acad. (7-4) 13, Sparta Acad. (3-8) 2, Pike Liberal (2-8) 1.