By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The Helena Huskies may not have done much work over their bye week, but they did move up one spot in the Class 6A poll when the Week 8 rankings were released on Wednesday, Oct. 18, while the Thompson Warriors held firm at No. 2 in Class 7A and the Vincent Yellow Jackets received votes in Class 2A.

Helena moved up one spot to No. 6 in the Class 6A rankings thanks to 78 votes from the media. While the Huskies were on the bye last week, Parker’s knocked Mountain Brook back to the eighth spot with a win in their Week 8 matchup, which allowed Helena and Hartselle to each rise one place.

Helena will face Calera at home on Oct. 20 as it looks to improve on its 7-0 record. A win and a Benjamin Russell loss to Briarwood would clinch the region championship for the Huskies.

Thompson stayed at No. 2 in Class 7A rankings as it earned 171 votes, including one first place vote. The Warriors held on to their spot thanks to their 67-7 victory on the road over Oak Mountain. Thompson scored three touchdowns in the first three minutes to apply pressure early and walk away with the victory.

With the win over Oak Mountain, Thompson improved to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in region play. The defending state champions from the last four seasons can clinch their first region title since 2020 with a win over Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 20 in the Warriors’ final home game of the regular season.

Vincent received four votes from the media after the Yellow Jackets improved to 4-2 on the season. The Jackets have now won back-to-back games after losing twice in a row, with their most recent win coming over Woodland in Week 8.

Vincent will take on Isabella on the road on Oct. 20 with playoff implications at stake. Vincent, Isabella and Thorsby are all battling for the second through fourth seeds, and the Jackets will close out region play with matchups against both of those teams.

To see the full rankings, check out the list below:

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Central-Phenix City (18); 7-0; 225
2. Thompson (1); 6-1; 171
3. Auburn; 6-1; 140
4. Mary Montgomery; 8-0; 137
5. Hewitt-Trussville; 6-2; 110
6. Dothan; 6-2; 91
7. Vestavia Hills; 5-2; 66
8. Enterprise; 5-2; 60
9. Baker; 6-2; 35
10. Austin; 6-2; 34

Others receiving votes: Sparkman (5-2) 8, Bob Jones (4-3) 3, James Clemens (5-3) 2, Opelika (4-4) 1.

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Saraland (15); 8-0; 216
2. Clay-Chalkville (4); 7-0; 183
3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 8-0; 149
4. Muscle Shoals; 7-0; 133
5. Parker; 7-1; 110
6. Helena; 7-0; 78
7. Hartselle; 6-2; 68
8. Mountain Brook; 5-2; 62
9. Oxford; 6-1; 39
10. Theodore; 5-2; 24

Others receiving votes: Mortimer Jordan (6-1) 7, Spanish Fort (6-2) 6, Center Point** (7-1) 4, Benjamin Russell (5-2) 2, Carver-Montgomery (6-2) 1, Hueytown (4-3) 1.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Gulf Shores (14); 8-0; 210
2. Ramsay (5); 6-2; 166
3. Central-Clay Co.; 7-0; 156
4. Pleasant Grove; 6-1; 132
5. Moody; 7-1; 110
6. Guntersville; 6-0; 97
7. Southside-Gadsden; 6-1; 48
8. Fairview; 7-0; 45
9. Leeds; 5-2; 24
10. Vigor*; 5-2; 22

Others receiving votes: Russellville (6-1) 21, Charles Henderson (4-3) 20, Demopolis (5-2) 8, Headland (6-1) 6, Holtville (6-1) 5, Scottsboro (6-1) 5, Faith-Mobile (4-3) 3, UMS-Wright** (4-3) 3, Elmore Co. (6-1) 2.

*–Record includes 1 forfeit loss. **–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Andalusia (15); 8-0; 216
2. Cherokee Co. (1); 7-0; 164
3. Catholic-Montgomery; 8-0; 154
4. Jackson (2); 6-0; 144
5. West Morgan (1); 7-0; 113
6. Handley; 7-1; 91
7. Jacksonville; 7-1; 75
8. Corner; 7-0; 51
9. Bibb Co.; 7-1; 43
10. Oneonta; 5-2; 18

Others receiving votes: T.R. Miller (5-2) 5, Westminster-Huntsville (6-1) 5, BTW-Tuskegee (5-2) 2, American Christian (6-2) 1, Oak Grove (4-3) 1.

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Mars Hill Bible (16); 8-0; 218
2. Mobile Christian (1); 8-0; 171
3. Madison Academy (2); 7-0; 153
4. Gordo; 7-1; 125
5. St. James; 6-2; 103
6. Thomasville; 6-0; 85
7. Sylvania; 6-1; 77
8. Geraldine; 6-1; 52
9. Houston Academy; 6-1; 38
10. Straughn; 6-1; 23

Others receiving votes: Lauderdale Co. (7-0) 19, Trinity (7-1) 10, W.S. Neal (6-1) 4, Fayette Co. (4-3) 2, Walter Wellborn (5-2) 2, Winfield (6-1) 1.

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. B.B. Comer (13); 8-0; 207
2. Highland Home (2); 8-0; 171

3 (tie). Fyffe (3); 6-1; 147

3 (tie). Pisgah (1); 7-0; 147

5. Reeltown; 7-0; 118
6. Sulligent; 8-0; 93
7. Cottonwood; 6-0; 74
8. Locust Fork; 8-0; 54
9. Tanner; 6-2; 30
10. Goshen; 6-2; 14

Others receiving votes: St. Luke’s (6-1) 9, Luverne (6-2) 6, Vincent (6-2) 4, Hatton (6-1) 3, Lamar Co. (6-2) 3, Tuscaloosa Academy (5-2) 2, Collinsville (5-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Leroy (19); 6-0; 228
2. Elba; 7-0; 169
3. Sweet Water; 6-1; 141
4. Millry; 7-1; 132
5. Loachapoka; 7-0; 113
6. Lynn; 6-1; 98
7. Wadley; 6-1; 72
8. Coosa Christian*; 1-5; 32
9. South Lamar; 5-2; 25
10. Decatur Heritage**; 7-1; 18

Others receiving votes: Florala (6-1) 16, Georgiana (6-2) 12, Pickens Co. (5-3) 12, Hackleburg (6-1) 6, Addison (5-2) 3, Linden (4-2) 3, Maplesville (5-2) 3.

*–Record includes 4 forfeit losses. **–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

AISA

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Glenwood (18); 8-0; 225
2. Lowndes Academy (1); 8-0; 170
3. Lee-Scott; 7-1; 148
4. Chambers Academy; 7-1; 125
5. Banks Academy; 7-1; 107
6. Jackson Academy; 8-1; 97
7. Fort Dale Academy; 7-1; 93
8. Clarke Prep; 6-3; 47
9. Patrician; 5-3; 38
10. Wilcox Academy; 7-2; 17

Others receiving votes: Autauga Academy (5-3) 14, Crenshaw Christian (6-3) 2.