Eufaula ranked No. 1 in preseason

Eufaula head coach Dan Klages hopes the Alabama Sports Writers Association is right for a second straight year.

A year ago, ASWA members correctly tabbed St. Paul’s as the team to beat in Class 5A.

This year, the writers have pegged Klages’ Tigers as the top team in 5A, following preseason voting.

“I appreciate the people (voters) and the confidence they have in us,” Klages said. “It is a big honor, but it is also puts a big target on us.”

Eufaula is one of nine Wiregrass teams in the opening poll, including Dothan private schools Houston Academy and Providence Christian, who open the season against each other Aug. 28.

Houston Academy is No. 6 in Class 2A and Providence Christian is tied for 10th in Class 1A.

Other area teams ranked are Charles Henderson (No. 8 in Class 5A), Andalusia (No. 9, Class 4A), Pike County (No. 5, 3A), Houston County (No. 7, 2A), Ariton (No. 6, 1A) and Pike Liberal Arts (No. 8, AISA).

Four others received votes, but didn’t make the top 10 in their classification. They are Slocomb, Geneva and Wicksburg in Class 3A and Cottonwood in Class 2A.

Eufaula has five starters returning on offense and six on defense off last year’s 9-3 team that advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Klages said being selected No. 1 was a honor, but wasn’t a huge deal.

“Polls are for the fans and it’s fun, but it doesn’t mean much,” Klages said. “It is a compliment to our program, our kids and our coaches and the work they have put in and success we have had.

“It is good to be No. 1, but we want to be No. 1 at the end. That is when it means something.”

The Tigers were selected to the top spot in the closest vote of any of the seven classifications. They received only 49 more points than second-place Briarwood Christian, last year’s state runner-up.

The difference came mainly on the strength of first-place votes. Eufaula received 15 of the 28 first-place votes and Briarwood Christian four.

Overall, six teams received a first-place vote in Class 5A, easily the most in any classification. The next nearest was three in the Alabama Independent Schools Association division.

Others in 5A with first-place votes were Russellville (four), Wenonah (five), Central-Tuscaloosa and Erwin (one each).

“I have said for some time that it is wide open (in 5A),” Klages said. “There is no one who is a clear-cut favorite.”

One team that didn’t receive a first-place vote was defending state champion St. Paul’s, a team Klages feels should be favored if anybody.

“Until St. Paul’s is knocked out, they should be No. 1 to me,” Klages said.

The Saints are ranked sixth in the initial poll.

The 5A division also features last year’s 4A state champion, Central-Tuscaloosa, which moved up this year.

Two teams in the state — Class 1A Sweet Water and Class 3A Cordova — were unanimous choices to start the season No. 1. Both teams finished undefeated last year and as state champs.

Three other defending champions also start ranked No. 1. They are Prattville in 6A, Leroy in 2A and Bessemer Academy in AISA.

Prattville is a two-time defending champion in 6A. Leroy has won 2A three of the last four years and Bessemer has earned four of the last six titles in AISA Class AAA.

The other No. 1 team to start the season is Deshler in Class 4A.

The complete poll, including all schools receiving votes and the panel of voters is listed below, with first-place votes and last year’s record in parentheses.

Class 6A          
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Prattville (26) (15-0) 330
2. Hoover (1) (6-6) 236
3. Tuscaloosa Co. (1) (11-1) 232
4. McGill-Toolen (13-1) 167
5. Gadsden City (10-2) 150
6. Daphne (11-2) 132
7. Oxford (3-7) 69
8. Florence (8-3) 57
9. Vestavia Hills (12-2) 53
10. Hueytown (10-2) 46
Others receiving votes: Opelika 38; Pelham 28; Mountain Brook 16; Austin 12; Central-Phenix City 10; Spain Park 9; Wetumpka 6; Foley 5; Jess Lanier 4; Decatur 3.

Class 5A        
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Eufaula (15) (9-3) 285
2. Briarwood Chr.(4) (14-1) 236
3. Cullman (13-1) 181
4. Russellville (2) (10-2) 178
5. McAdory (10-1) 153
6. St. Paul’s (14-1) 115
7. Wenonah (5) (8-2) 88
8. Henderson-Troy (12-1) 68
9. Chelsea (8-4) 62
10. Central-Tuscaloosa (1) (15-0)  61
Others receiving votes: Demopolis 53; Erwin (1) 52; J.O. Johnson 43; Vigor 24; Carver-Montgomery 10..

Class 4A       
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Deshler (27) (12-3) 333
2. Thomasville (1) (11-3) 238
3. North Jackson (11-1) 209
4. UMS-Wright (6-7) 163
5. Brooks (12-2) 150
6. Handley (11-2) 127
7. Clarke Co. (12-1) 80
8. Lincoln (9-4) 73
9. Andalusia (11-3) 72
10. Elmore Co. (9-3) 46
Others receiving votes: Guntersville 43; Fairview 24; Fayette Co. 14; Calera 10; Cleburne Co. 8; Bibb Co. 3; Hokes Bluff 2; Cherokee Co. 1; Oak Grove 1; Hillcrest-Evergreen 1

Class 3A        
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Cordova (28) (15-0) 336
2. Colbert Co. (12-2) 249
3. Trinity (8-4) 168
4. T.R. Miller (5-6) 156
5. Pike Co. (12-1) 147
6. West Morgan (6-5) 146
7. Leeds (8-5) 123
8. Good Hope (7-4) 71
9. Sardis (8-4) 68
tie Winfield (10-2) 68
Others receiving votes: Slocomb 21; Geneva 15; Wicksburg 10; Elkmont 9; Piedmont 9; Tarrant 8; Colbert Heights 1; Gordo 1.

Class 2A       
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Leroy (27) (14-1) 333
2. Clay Co. (1) (14-1) 254
3. Addison (8-3) 191
4. Red Bay (13-1) 187
5. Fyffe (14-1) 145
6. Houston Acad. (7-3) 106
7. Houston Co. (7-4) 94
8. American Chr. (11-3) 70
9. Fultondale (7-4) 55
10. West End-Walnut Grove (7-4) 54
Others receiving votes: Pickens Co. 46; Tanner 20; Cottonwood 18; Lanett 16; Sulligent 6; St. Jude 2; Southern Choctaw 1; Sand Rock 1; Excel 1.

Class 1A            
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Sweet Water (28) (14-0) 336
2. Talladega Co.-Central (14-1) 223
3. Brantley (10-2) 200
4. Gaston (8-4) 198
5. Hazlewood (12-1) 157
6. Ariton (6-5) 101
7. Wadley (11-2) 90
8. Loachapoka (9-2) 73
9. Shoals Chr. (7-6) 60
10. Providence Chr. (7-4) 49
tie Maplesville (12-1) 49
Others receiving votes: Ragland 18; Speake 12; Linden 12; Cedar Bluff 7; R.A. Hubbard 3; Appalachian 1, J.U. Blacksher 1.

AISA     
Rank, School, 2007.  Pts.
1. Bessemer Acad. (24) (13-0) 323
2. Fort Dale Acad. (2) (8-3) 249
3. Southern Acad. (2) (11-1) 209
4. Morgan Acad. (3-7) 200
5. Macon-East Acad. (8-3) 159
6. Edgewood Acad. (3-7) 130
7. South Choctaw Acad. (13-0) 115
8. Pike Liberal Arts (4-6) 88
9. Crenshaw Chr. (10-1) 74
10. Glenwood School (9-1) 32
Others receiving votes: Lee-Scott Acad. 8; Shelby Acad. 6; Chambers Acad. 6; Patrician Acad. 2; Meadowview Chr. 1; Sparta Acad. 1.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are:Ross Wood, Chairman, The Clarke Co. Democrat
Paul Beaudry, Co-Chairman, Freelance (Birmingham)
Nick Birdsong, Anniston Star
Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News
Rob Rice, Blount Countian
Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald
Justin Graves, Cullman Times
Brooke Milam, Decatur Daily
David Mundee, Dothan Eagle
Andy Brown, Eufaula Tribune
Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant
Gregg Dewalt, Florence Times-Daily
Scot Beard, Franklin Co. Times
Dennis Victory, Freelance (Birmingham)
Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger
Kim Craft, Gadsden Times
Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Mike Easterling, Huntsville Times
Mike Herndon, Mobile Register
Stacy Long. Montgomery Advertiser
Wesley Lyle, Montgomery Advertiser
Charles Prince, North Jefferson News
Tom Peavy, Opelika-Auburn News
Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter
Will Heath, Talladega Daily-Home
Matt Nascone, Troy Messenger
Griffin Pritchard, Wetumpka Herald
Aaron Suttles, Tuscaloosa News
Not voting:
Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal
George Jones, Selma Times-Journal
Mike Pruitt, Sports Preview