Statewide scores

I realize we had these in the paper, but these are broken down by classification. It makes it a little easier to find what you're looking for.

Alabama Friday’s Prep Scoreboard
Class 1A
Akron 32, Autaugaville 22
Alabama School for Deaf 42, Jacksonville Christian 22
Ariton 34, Headland 12
Brantley 21, Luverne 6
Coosa Christian 19, Gaylesville 12
Frisco City 18, J.F. Shields 0
Hackleburg 34, Meek 0
Hazlewood 37, R.A. Hubbard 13
Holy Spirit 37, Sunshine 16
Hubbertville 27, Brilliant 26
J.U. Blacksher 40, Coffeeville 0
Linden 38, Cottage Hill Christian 20
Loachapoka 20, LaFayette 14
Lynn 40, Parrish 22
Maplesville 40, Billingsley 20
Marengo 22, Georgiana 14
McKenzie 34, Excel 29
Parkway Christian 21, Shades Mountain 19
Phillips, Bear Creek 80, Mt. Hope 40
Pleasant Home 21, Samson 20
Section at Valley Head, PPD, rescheduled for noon Sat.
Speake 41, Tharptown 8
Spring Garden 21, Appalachian 6
Sweet Water 30, Thomasville 14
Talladega Co.-Central 28, Ranburne 22
Verbena 28, Thorsby 0
Victory Chr. 10, Collinsville 7
Vina 22, Shoals Christian 13
Wadley 20, Horseshoe Bend 18
Waterloo 34, Woodville 8


Class 2A
American Christian 45, Aliceville 8
Barbour County 18, Stgewart-Quitman, GA 6
Bowdon, GA 19, Woodland 6
Clay County 13, Munford 8
Clements 21, West Limestone 13
Cleveland 20, Locust Fork 15
Cottonwood 26, Slocomb 20
Elba 43, Opp 28
Falkville 28, Priceville 0
Flomaton 57, Calhoun 7
Fultondale 32, Addison 14
Fyffe 33, Dade County, GA 14
Geraldine 27, Sylvania 14
Hale County 39, Francis Marion 13
Hatton 23, Danville 19
Houston Academy 17, Providence Chr. 14
Isabella 74, Jefferson Christian 0
Lamar County 28, South Lamar 16
Lanett 34, Beulah 0
Leroy 36, Clarke County 9
New Brockton 31, Zion Chapel 6
North Sand Mountain 24, Skyline 12
Oakman 40, Northside 0
Ohatchee 14, Pleasant Valley 12
Randolph County 34, Winterboro 14
R.C. Hatch 22, Livingston 14
Red Level 38, Kinston 0
Sand Rock 24, Cedar Bluff 21
Southern Choctaw 29, Choctaw County 8
Tanner 26, New Hope 13
Vincent 27, Fayetteville 13
Westbrook Christian 31, Ragland 8
West End, Walnut Grove 27, Glencoe 12
Westminster Chr. 59, St. Bernard 0
Winston County 53, Lawrence County 21

Class 3A
Abbeville 28, Goshen 25 (OT) corrected
Bayside Academy 28, Millry 24
Carbon Hill 39, Cold Springs 6
Colbert County 47, Muscle Shoals 0
Colbert Heights 34, Cherokee 28
Cordova 34, Dora 6
Dadeville 15, Reeltown 6
Dale County 36, G.W. Long 25
Elkmont 7, Ardmore 6
Geneva 28, Rehobeth 20
Hamilton 34, Sulligent 21
Holly Pond 48, Hanceville 22
Leeds 26, Oak Grove 0
Madison Academy 28, Brewer 6
Montevallo 46, Calera 41
Pisgah 14, Ider 13
Sardis 13, Gaston 7
Sheffield 21, Wilson 13
Straughn 50, Andalusia 26
Susan Moore, 35, J.B. Pennington 32
Trinity 17, St. James 2
West Blocton 27, Dallas County 20
Weaver 15, Jacksonville 13
West Morgan 41, East Limestone 20
White Plains 51, Donoho 6
Wicksburg 24, Geneva County 16

Class 4A
Alabama Christian 34, St. Jude 27
Alexandria 9, Anniston 0
Ashford 31, Houston County 12
Bibb County 37, Paul W. Bryant 13
Brooks 40, Lauderdale County 6
Cherokee County 34, Piedmont 32
Childersburg 35, B.B. Comer 6
Cleburne County 21, Lineville 12
Corner 20, Sumiton Christian 18
Daleville 37, Highland Home 6
DAR 36, Crossville 15
Douglas 26, Brindlee Mountain 14
East Lawrence 20, Phil Campbell 0
Fairview 42, Vinemont 21
Fayette County 34, Winfield 6
Greensboro 26, Pickens County 21
Haleyville 28, Central-Florence 13
Hillcrest-Evergreen 21, Theodore 20
Holtville 28, Marbury 12
Jackson 51, Washington County 6
Jemison 28, Chilton County 21
Lincoln 33, Etowah 6
Midfield 35, Tarrant 0
Montgomery-Catholic 13, Montgomery Academy 0
North Jackson 25, Scottsboro 7
Oneonta 58, Arab 31
Rogers 25, Lexington 14
Saks 48, Walter Wellborn 7
St. Clair Co. 34, Moody 12
T.R. Miller 22, Escambia County 21
West Point 21, Good Hope 14
W.S. Neal 33, Monroe County 6

Class 5A
Albertville 38, Ashville 14
Boaz 21, Guntersville 10
Briarwood 15, Vestavia Hills 14
Brookwood 16, Woodlawn 13
B.T. Washington 50, Notasulga 0
Carroll-Ozark 27, Pike County 18
Carver-Montgomery 50, Jeff Davis 7
Central-Tuscaloosa 40, Carver-Birmingham 6
Charles Henderson 24, Greenville 19
Cullman 35, Hayden 0
Eufaula 13, Dothan 9
Faith Academy 33, Mobile Christian 6
Fort Payne 17, Plainview 12
Gulf Shores 21, Robertsdale 6
Hartselle 29, Chelsea 13
Madison County 32, Columbia 6
McAdory 26, Parker 6
Mortimer Jordan 14, Curry 6
Pleasant Grove 18, Erwin 12
Russellville 26, Deshler 14
Selma 32, Southside-Selma 6
Shelby County 29, Pell City 20
Southside-Gadsden 17, Hokes Bluff 6
Spanish Fort 27, J.O. Johnson 8
Sylacauga 44, Central, Coosa 7
Tallassee 21, Elmore County 19
Vigor 35, Williamson 28 (OT)
Walker 21, Springville 6

Class 6A
Auburn 42, Valley 7
Baldwin County 31, Baker 16
Blount 27, LeFlore 6
Buckhorn 21, Bob Jones 14
Central-Phenix City 33, Shaw (Ga.) 32
Clay-Chalkville 14, Athens 12
Davidson 35, Daphne 10
Decatur 41, Austin 14
Enterprise 26, Alma Bryant 13
Florence 21, Hazel Green 3
Grissom 34, Butler 12
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 28, Gordo 20
Hoover 27, Gardendale 7
Huntsville 20, Sparkman 0
Jess Lanier 28, Fairfield 14
Mary Montgomery 23, Citronelle 20
McGill-Toolen 41, UMS-Wright 17
Minor 40, Sumter County 18
Murphy 14, Foley 3
Mountain Brook 39, Thompson 0
Northridge 49, Holt 17
Northview 7, Lee-Montgomery 6
Opelika 30, Sidney Lanier 6
Oxford 35, Benjamin Russell 21
Pelham 33, Oak Mountain 16
Pinson Valley 41, John Carroll Catholic 25
Russell County 13, Beauregard 12
Satsuma 20, B.C. Rain 6
Shades Valley 31, Hueytown 28
Smiths Station 54, Talladega 0
Spain Park 21, Homewood 0
Stanhope Elmore 30, Hewitt-Trussville 0
Tuscaloosa County 24, Gadsden City 6
Wetumpka 12, Demopolis 7

Silence on the internet

We've just gotten word from from the folks at Thunder 92.7 FM and there is a slight change of plans when it comes to the broadcasts of high school games.

In the past, the 92.7 crew had produced an internet-only feed for a certain high school football game every week. Thunder personality Grady Sapp has told us that will no longer be the case.

In any event, if you're not going to a game, you probably have a radio. Here's what you can listen to on Thursday and Friday night.

Prep radio weekend
Thursday
Anniston at Alexandria, WHMA-FM (95.5)
Anniston at Alexandria, WHMA-AM (1390)
Hokes Bluff at Southside, WAAX-AM (570)

Friday
High school preview
Fridays – 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Thunder 92.7 WTDR-FM (92.7)
Grady Sapp, Chad Barnett, Mike Mote

GAMES
White Plains at Donoho, WOXR-AM (1580)
Weaver at Jacksonville, Alabama 810 WCKA-AM (810)
Oxford at Benjamin Russell, K98 WVOK-FM (97.9)
Cedar Bluff at Sand Rock, WEIS-AM (990)
Lineville at Cleburne County, Thunder 92.7 WTDR-FM (92.7)
Tuscaloosa County at Gadsden City, WGMZ-FM (93.1)
Troup County (Ga.) vs. Callaway (Ga.), Eagle 102.3 WELR-FM (102.3)

Saturday
White Plains at Donoho replay, K98 WVOK-FM (97.9), 7 a.m.

2008 at a glance in this neck of the woods

It just feels right, doesn't it?

Here's something we can do in blog form that we can't do in print: an unabashed look at East Central Alabama, and how each team will finish.

Before we start, let me say that I have a new passion in the sports world: the Alabama High School Football History Site, which must have taken painfully copious amounts of time to put together and is a valuable resource for anyone who's a geek about this kind of stuff (like ... ya know ... me).

On then, to some fearless predicting. As always, this is merely one man's opinion — feel free to shove it in our faces once the season begins.

In reverse order, by classification:
Coosa Valley Academy: 2-7 in 2007, AISA Class A, Region 1, Steven Mackin — third season, 5-14 career.
Seems like an up year for these guys — they played a number of agonizingly close games in '07 (this will become a theme), and need some early momentum to get over that hump. They have an experienced quarterback in Whit Lovelady, some talented skill people (starting with JB Ripley) and are comfortable enough with Mackin's system that they won't have any struggles on that end. Also, the schedule sets up well for them: they'll likely be 1-1 going into a Week 3 matchup with rival Cornerstone Christian — win there and everything sets up nicely for the next month.
One other thing: slowly but surely, this group of athletes is experiencing success. Some of this group — not all, but some — played key roles in the baseball state title in '07. And Ripley & Co. led CVA to the AISA regionals during the winter of this past year. So maybe things are finally clicking into place on the football end.
Prediction: 6-5, 2d round AISA playoffs.
ASD: 3-7 in '07, AHSAA NR, Paul Kulick — fourth season, 14-15 at ASD.
The Silent Warriors will always possess crazy amounts of speed, and they're still a dangerous team on the right Friday (or Saturday). But there's a definite drop-off in experience from last year's group to this year's, and the schedule is tougher, also.
Prediction: 3-7
Fayetteville: 6-4 in '07, 1A-R4, Jimmy Wright — third season, 8-12.
Like many small schools, the Wolves have spent the past three seasons — after their only playoff appearance in 2004 — re-stocking the stores left depleted by the graduation of a loaded senior class. Finally, the hour has arrived: Wright's third squad is big, experienced and on a hot streak — they closed '07 with three consecutive wins, then crushed Coosa Christian in the spring.
Of course, the AHSAA rewarded that effort by throwing them into a crazy-good Region 4: three of their region opponents are already ranked in the state's top 10. And of those three, two of them — Loachapoka and Wadley — are on the road. Not good times, really.
Still, Fayetteville believes it can compete for the postseason. And that's a good thing.
Prediction: 7-3, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Ragland: 8-3 in '07, upset in first round of playoffs, 1A-R5, Brian Mintz — fifth season, 95-103 career.
How do you make up for the disappointment of getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs (when you were a strong candidate to make the third or fourth round)? Well ... drawing a new-look Region 5 — in which every team other than Appalachian and St. Bernard is named "Christian" — helps a good bit. To say the Purple Devils are the odds-on favorite to win this region isn't much of a stretch; it's like saying I'm the odds-on office favorite for inappropriate jokes.
It helps, too, that Ragland has more Brocks (specifically receiver Jamiel) in waiting, and is changing its offense to suit the talents of quarterback Jamarcus Embry. Regardless, it should come down to their Oct. 24 visit from Appalachian to determine this year's region title.
Prediction: 11-2, 3d round AHSAA playoffs.
Talladega Co. Central: 14-1 in '07, lost in 1A finals, 1A-R4, Chris Mahand — third season, 24-13, career.
Few groups of athletes have accomplished as much as the TC class of 2008 accomplished — two playoff appearances, 25 wins, and the greatest season in school history (2007). So losing that group is tough, particularly given the team's leading rusher (Robert Reynolds) and leading tackler (Reggie Virges) were a part of that group, along with a do-everything guy like Charles Curry.
Still, quarterback Dion Duncan remains on the roster, and is poised to play like a senior in his final season. Also, there's receiver Eric Garrett and Vnonte Chapman, who will likely fill the void left by Reynolds. This team still features a great deal of speed, albeit in a tougher region (the aforementioned Region 4). Don't look for them to be back in the finals, but do look for another good run.
Prediction: 10-3, 3d round AHSAA playoffs.
Victory Christian: 2-8 in '07, 1A-R5, Scotty Smith — second season, 2-8 career.
Put it this way: either the Lions make the playoffs this year for the first time in school history, or I don't understand the world anymore.
Prediction: 6-4, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Winterboro: 1-9 in '07, 1A-R4, Adam Fossett — first season.
Here's an intriguing team — yes, the Bulldogs only avoided a winless '07 by driving the field late in Week 9 to defeat White Plains. Yes, they're on their third head coach in three seasons. Yes, they looked fumble-happy last week at Munford in their jamboree.
Winterboro's intriguing because of its athletes, like Bacardy McClendon and Rontavious McGhee. They can run for days, and Fossett — an assistant in '07 under Todd Evans — won't fiddle too much with the system that's currently in place, so there shouldn't be too much confusion.
The problem? Size, and attitude. The 'Dogs are perilously small in stature, and according to Fossett are "one injury away from putting a receiver on the offensive line." That's not promising. Still, look for them to pull at least one upset this fall. The Week 2 matchup at Fayetteville will determine a lot about where both teams are headed.
Prediction: 3-7.
BB Comer: 2-8 in '07, 3A-R3, Tripp Henderson — first season, 20-12, career.
Few programs are hungrier to be back in the postseason mix than the folks at BB Comer, and Comer has the personnel to do it. Only a few months ago, I told you that this team looked like a playoff contender ... if the coaching situation stayed the same and the program wasn't forced to adjust to a new head guy. Of course, then David Norred fled the premises, a completely new staff took the reins and now, once again, the black and gold is starting all over again.
To business, however: Henderson's single-wing offense is a goofy enough departure from the norm — with all the motion and ball fakes — that it will confuse the opposition and allow for some big plays. And with athletes like Michael Hale and Del Franklin, the Tigers have the playmakers to make those (like Hale's 75-yarder in the jamboree against Fayetteville last week).
Will it be enough to win a few, however? Comer's varsity hasn't been part of a successful campaign at all — even the 6-5 campaign of 2001 seems like a distant memory. Much like Winterboro, or half the other teams on this list, the key is the first few weeks. Pick up a win or two, get some momentum, and suddenly everything will look rosier.
Prediction: 5-5.
Childersburg: 2-8 in '07, 4A-R4, Jeff Bullen — eighth season, 93-96 career.
Folks from the riverbanks bristled last season when I implied in a column that their team wasn't equipped to win tough football games. The last two seasons have borne that out, however — Big Blue lost 6 games last season by 10 points or fewer, including one nightmarish game against Central-Coosa where the Tigers played just well enough to make the game a heartbreaker.
This season they've gotten out of the spread with the intent of punishing people on the ground. It's a good move, considering their quarterback and top two receivers from a year ago have all graduated and moved on. And it should pay off — though how much is up for debate, since the region got infinitely tougher during the offseason.
We'll see. The first three games — at Comer, vs. Anniston and at Central — are all winnable, and if they're 3-0 going into that home game with Lincoln ... well, who knows?
Prediction: 4-6.
Lincoln: 9-4 in 07, 4A-R4, Keith Howard — fifth season, 49-28 career.
If ever there were a poster child for speed being a killer, Lincoln would be it. The Golden Bears can run for days with athletes like Tiger Williams, Jonathan George, TJ Hoyt and DJ Howard. And those are just the top 4, by the way — there's speed up and down the roster.
A much-hyped Week 2 showdown with Cleburne County looms as one of "those games" that can set the tone for the rest of the year in Region 2. I think they have the stuff to win that region, or at least finish in the top 3.
Prediction: 12-2, 4th round AHSAA playoffs
Munford: 6-4 in '07, 4A-R4, Todd Smith — second season, 6-4 career.
The classic "nobody is talking about us" team, the Lions were a very close fifth in a supremely tough 3A region last season. They did graduate a strong senior class in the spring, but after watching them in last week's jamboree, I can confirm that Munford still has playmakers — specifically, quarterback Drakkar Holcombe and backs Tim Curry and Montrel Parker.
Now the tough part: Todd Smith's group is thin as a rail, sporting a roster of less than 30 (by contrast, rival Lincoln has 50-plus on its roster). An injury here or there and suddenly the Lions are in serious trouble. And that opening trio of games — at Clay Co., at Handley, vs. Heflin — is the sort of series that could result in nicks and bumps.
Don't be surprised if Munford comes on toward the end of the season, however. They get Childersburg and Anniston at home, followed by a trip to Central before a home date against the hated Golden Bears.
Prediction: 6-4.
Sylacauga: 2-8 in '07, 5A-R4, Matt Griffith — fourth season, 19-52 career.
A study in momentum, the Aggies are: two seasons ago, the senior-laden Aggies picked up a few early victories, developed some confidence and ended up snowballing into the playoffs. Last season, a now-young squad struggled, couldn't find its confidence and ultimately needed a few breaks just to finish 2-8.
This team is more experienced on both sides the ball, including quarterback Kelsey Pope and back Josh Crowe. They can score in bunches, and did so last year despite having 10 new starters.
Now comes the hard part: playing tough enough defense that can make that offense stand up. If they can do it, they might make a postseason run again. If not, well ...
Prediction: 7-4, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Talladega: 2-8 in '07, 5A-R4, Bill Granger — second season, 2-8 career.
Here's what Talladega needs, as much as anything else: a capable, energetic head coach who will stay in the system, employ capable, energetic assistants that can help change the culture and gradually sculpt a program that competes week-in and week-out. "Changing the culture" is one of the worst cliches in all of sports, but at Talladega, that's exactly what's necessary. Building a program from nothing takes time, even with the perfect head coach in place.
So we'll see if the Tigers show signs of that this fall. Last year's team was built around the talents of Tae Keith, one of the best pure athletes you'll ever meet (as well as someone who graduated and now plays at Jacksonville St.). So how do you replace that kind of athlete? Frankly, I have no idea.
Just remember: this season, like last season, is a stepping stone. Wins and losses don't matter as much as steps toward improvement. That's where the real wins come.
Prediction: 2-8.
Pell City: 6-5 in '07, 6A-R7, Jay Brown — seventh season, 58-41 career.
The Panthers had a weird season in 2007 that can't totally be encapsulated here. Suffice to say, when your best lineman suffers a compound fracture because he jumped up in the air, it's probably not your year. But they still did get back to the playoffs, and managed to give their fans two rivalry victories — against Hewitt and Clay — that they won't soon forget.
Now the bad news: in a region that's gotten progressively better, Pell City has basically stayed the same. Elliott Wilson gives them a better threat running the ball from the QB position, but Brown and his staff will have to avoid that too much, to prevent him getting hurt. And then there's Oxford, Gadsden City, Clay-Chalkville and Hewitt, all of whom have college prospects that are much-ballyhooed.
Prediction: 6-4.

back, and it's preseason ...

Long hiatus -- no excuses, just apologies.

As penance, here's the 2008 preseason ASWA prep football poll.

ASWA Football Poll (8-6-08)

Class 1A
Rank School 2007 Pts.
1. Sweet Water (28) (14-0) 336
2. Talladega Co.-Cen. (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. (tie) Providence Chr. (7-4) 49
10. (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.

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 (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 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. (tie) Sardis (8-4) 68
9. (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 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 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-Tusc. (1) (15-0) 61
Others receiving votes: Demopolis 53; Erwin (1) 52; J.O. Johnson 43; Vigor 24; Carver-Montgomery 10.

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.

Back with more later in the week.

wlh