Bucs, Jags land in preseason rankings

The Alabama Sports Writers Association released its preseason football poll last week, and it featured an unusual sight.

Hoover has been the top-ranked team in either Class 6A or 7A in every preseason poll since 2000, but McGill-Toolen snapped that streak this year, as the defending 7A champs are the No. 1 team to start the year. James Clemens was ranked second.

The Bucs find themselves at No. 3 to begin the year, receiving one first-place vote among the 30 cast.

Spain Park knocked off Hoover to reach the state final against McGill-Toolen last fall, and the Jags are slotted at No. 5 to kick off the season.

Hoover's first opponent of the season, Central-Phenix City, slid in between the Bucs and Jags at No. 4. 

Bob Jones, Hewitt-Trussville, Murphy, Auburn, and Gadsden City rounded out the top 10.

Vestavia Hills was the only other Region 3 team to receive votes outside of Hoover and Spain Park.