A panel of 31 Alabama sportswriters placed the Brantley Bulldogs in the thick of the pack of Class 1A teams.

Brantley was ranked in second place behind last year’s state champions, Maplesville.

The Bulldogs were the only local team to make the poll.

The Bulldogs finished last season with a record of 12-1, losing their only game of the season in the playoffs. Brantley lost to Billingsley in the third round.

Despite that loss, the Bulldogs were ranked six places higher than Billingsley (10-3) in the pre-season poll.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are: Paul Beaudry (Chairman), Alabama Media Group; Josh Bean, AL.com; Brandon Miller, Anniston Star; Jonathan Deal, Athens News Courier; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Rob Ketcham, Cullman Times; Johnathan Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Justin Graves, Decatur Daily; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Will Gaines, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Jeremy Smith, Freelance (Demopolis); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; J.J. Hicks, Gadsden Times; Daniel Boyette, Huntsville Times; Ben Thomas, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; Will Sammon, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Jason Bowen, Scottsboro Daily Sentinel; Daniel Evans, Selma Times-Journal; Baker Ellis, Shelby County Reporter; Lavonte Young, Talladega Daily Home; Griffin Pritchard, Tallassee Tribune; Joey Chandler, Tuscaloosa News; Cory Diaz, Wetumpka Herald.

Brantley’s season-opener will be a non-region game against Straughn on Friday, Aug. 21.

ASWA High School Football Poll
Preseason — Aug. 5, 2015

(First place votes and 2014 record in parentheses).

Class 2A

1. Fyffe (15) (15-0) 316

2. Elba (8) (14-1) 296

3. Tanner (8) (10-3) 284

4. Reeltown (10-2) 205

5. G.W. Long (11-1) 176

6. Flomaton (9-4) 134

7. Ranburne (12-1) 106

8. Cleveland (9-3) 99

9. Red Bay (9-2) 35

10t. Gaston (8-4) 33

10t. Pickens Co. (7-4) 33

 

Others receiving votes: Washington Co. (13-1) 17, Mobile Chr. (3-7) 13, Sweet Water (8-4) 7, Cold Springs (8-3) 4, LaFayette (1-9) 4, Lanett (4-5) 3, Woodland (9-4) 2.

 

Class 1A

1. Maplesville (31) (14-0) 372

2. Brantley (12-1) 234

3. Hubbertville (12-1) 208

4. Linden (7-4) 201

5. Notasulga (9-4) 148

6. Spring Garden (7-4) 141

7. Cedar Bluff (7-6) 138

8. Billingsley (10-3) 97

9t. Loachapoka (3-7) 65

9t. Marion Co. (8-6) 65

 

Others receiving votes: Ragland (11-2) 47, McKenzie (9-2) 8, Brilliant (1-9) 7, Wadley (7-4) 5, A.L. Johnson (5-6) 4, Berry (7-4) 4, Donoho (11-1) 4, Hackleburg (10-2) 4, Red Level (2-8) 3, Fruitdale (9-3) 2, Marengo (6-4) 2, Millry (7-4) 2, Appalachian (1-9) 1, J.U. Blacksher (6-5) 1, Phillips (10-2) 1, R.A. Hubbard (6-5) 1, Talladega Co. Central (6-5) 1, Valley Head (5-5) 1.

 

AISA

1. Edgewood (29) (13-0) 366

2. Bessemer (12-1) 265

3. Escambia (11-1) 241

4. Monroe (1) (11-2) 221

5 Marengo (10-2) 190

6. Tuscaloosa (8-3) 137

7. Pike Liberal (8-4) 110

8. Abbeville (1) (10-4) 99

9. Autauga (8-3) 90

10. Clarke Prep (6-5) 37

 

Others receiving votes: Sparta Academy (6-5) 7, Lee-Scott (4-5) 2, Patrician Academy (8-5) 1, S. Choctaw Academy (9-3) 1.