Sports Editor

For the second straight year, the Pike County Bulldogs will open football season with a state ranking.

Pike County was a 3A semifinalist last season under head coach Wayne Grant, finishing the year with a 10-4 record. The Bulldogs enter 2002 ranked No. 7 in the state.

Class 3A runner-up Tarrant, the team that beat the Bulldogs in the semifinals a year ago, is ranked No. 2, while former Class 4A champion T.R. Miller was an overwhelming choice for the top spot in Class 3A.

The Bulldogs and T.R. Miller compete in the same region this year.

As was the case last season, the defending state champs in each classification claimed first place to open the year. Daphne is No. 1 in Class 6A, Benjamin Russell in Class 5A, UMS-Wright in Class 4A, Miller in Class 3A, Gordo in Class 2A, Reeltown in Class 1A and Monroe Academy takes first place in the AISA ranks.

Pike Liberal Arts received four votes in the AISA, while Goshen was tied with Red Bay (31 votes apiece) for 11th

place in Class 2A. Charles Henderson High School received 25 votes from around the state, 20 points below Class 5A No. 10 Walker High School.

CHHS regional foe Wilcox-Central comes in ranked No. 5 this season.