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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Staff Writer

Another big week for the Southside-Selma Panthers came with a boost in the Alabama Sportswriters Association’s football media rankings.

The Week 7 edition of the poll had Southside as the No. 5 team in Class 5A when it was released on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

The undefeated Panthers are up one spot in this week’s rankings after previously sitting at No. 6 following the Week 6 results. They currently have 94 points in the media rankings, 28 less than No. 4 Fyffe and 18 more than No. 6 Geraldine.

Southside is one of five undefeated teams in the class 3A top 10 following another win on Oct. 3. The Panthers defeated Hale County at home in 36-14 fashion to move to 6-0 on the season.

The win also boosted them to 4-0 in Class 3A, Region 3, tying them with Thorsby atop the region. The Rebels remain unranked despite also being 6-0, and the two teams will square off on Oct. 24 to finish region play.

The Panthers have been ranked in the top 10 in each of the eight media polls this season. After starting the season at No. 8, Southside briefly bumped down to No. 9 in Week 2 before immediately rising back to No. 8. That was where the Panthers remained until Week 6, when they bumped up two spots ahead of another rise to No. 5 in Week 7.

Southside’s underlying numbers also continue to impress. The Panthers are scoring 49 points per game, a number that came slightly down last week in a 36-14 win. However, that’s only because Southside posted 74 points against Dallas County, 62 against Greensboro and 56 at Keith.

The Panthers defense continues to rank among the best in Class 3A as well, allowing just 7.8 points per game. Southside has given up a touchdown or less in three of its six games this season, including shutouts against Selma and Dallas County and a 6-point showing against Greensboro.

The Panthers are the latest member to join the top five after T.R. Miller lost to then-No. 10 Cottage Hill Christian 28-14. The top four above them remains intact with Mars Hill Bible, Piedmont, Gordo and Fyffe making up that group.

The Panthers will have a short turnaround in their quest to remain top Class 3A, Region 3 as they will face the Sumter Central Jaguars at home on Thursday, Oct. 9.

To see the rest of the rankings, read more below:

The Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football rankings with first-place votes, win-loss record and total poll points:

CLASS 7A

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

1. Central-Phenix City (9); 6-1; 189
2. Thompson (8); 5-2; 179
3. Mary Montgomery (1); 7-0; 142
4. Hewitt-Trussville; 6-1; 129
5. Opelika; 6-1; 89
6. Vestavia Hills; 4-2; 83
7. Carver-Montgomery; 5-1; 72
8. Auburn; 5-2; 54
9. Daphne; 6-1; 49
10. Hoover; 4-3; 26

Others receiving votes: Fairhope (6-1) 10, Dothan (3-3) 2, Baker (4-2) 1, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (5-2) 1.

CLASS 6A

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

1. Clay-Chalkville (17); 7-0; 213
2. Saraland (1); 6-0; 161
3. Muscle Shoals; 6-0; 124
4. Hartselle; 6-0; 117
5. Parker; 5-2; 115
6. Benjamin Russell; 6-1; 97
7. Russell Co.; 7-0; 63
8. Pike Road; 5-2; 49
9. Spain Park; 4-2; 41
10. Homewood; 6-1; 24

Others receiving votes: Jasper (6-0) 12, McAdory (5-0) 8, St. Paul’s (5-1) 2.

CLASS 5A

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

1. Vigor (15); 6-0; 206
2. Williamson (1); 7-0; 162
3. Moody (2); 5-2; 133
4. Fairview; 6-0; 125
5. Guntersville; 6-0; 107
6. Central-Clay Co.; 6-1; 100
7. Northside; 7-0; 78
8. St. Clair Co.; 5-1; 43
9. Corner; 5-1; 28
10. Priceville; 5-1; 12

Others receiving votes: Ramsay (4-3) 11, Andalusia (5-2) 7, Jacksonville (4-3) 5, Leeds (5-2) 5, Carver-Birmingham (3-1) 2, Eufaula (5-2) 2.

CLASS 4A

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

1. St. Michael (17); 6-0; 213
2. Jackson; 5-2; 147
3. West Morgan (1); 6-0; 145
4. Anniston; 6-0; 130
5. Good Hope; 6-0; 103
6. Madison Aca.; 5-1; 76
7. Cherokee Co.; 5-2; 75
8. Plainview; 6-0; 46
9. Deshler; 6-0; 31
10. Hamilton; 7-0; 18

Others receiving votes: Alexandria (5-1) 11, Opp (5-1) 11, North Jackson (4-2) 10, Handley (6-1) 5, Mobile Chr. (5-1) 4, Bullock Co. (5-1) 1.

CLASS 3A

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

1. Mars Hill Bible (17); 6-0; 213
2. Piedmont; 6-0; 159
3. Gordo (1); 7-0; 137
4. Fyffe; 5-1; 122
5. Southside-Selma; 6-0; 94
6. Geraldine; 5-1; 72
7. Cottage Hill; 6-0; 70
8. Bayside Aca.; 5-1; 53
9. Montgomery Aca.; 6-1; 51
10. T.R. Miller; 5-2; 25

Others receiving votes: Lee-Scott (6-0) 14, Thorsby (6-0) 11, Winfield (5-2) 4, Westbrook Chr. (5-1) 1.

CLASS 2A

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

1. Luverne (14); 6-0; 204
2. Coosa Chr. (4); 5-2; 158
3. Ariton; 5-0; 132
4. Tuscaloosa Aca.; 5-1; 112
5. Reeltown; 5-2; 99
6. Pisgah; 4-2; 96
7. Pleasant Valley; 6-1; 66
8. North Sand Mountain; 6-0; 55
9. Lanett; 5-2; 44
10. Vincent; 4-2; 18

Others receiving votes: Goshen (5-1) 14, J.U. Blacksher (5-1) 13, Cold Springs (6-1) 5, Providence Chr. (4-2) 5, Red Bay (5-1) 4, Clarke Co. (4-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

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

1. Wadley (18); 7-0; 216
2. Maplesville; 6-0; 158
3. Leroy; 7-0; 144
4. McKenzie; 6-0; 130
5. Winterboro; 6-0; 99
6. Hubbertville; 6-0; 84
7. Addison; 6-1; 72
8. Southern Choctaw; 6-0; 53
9. Appalachian; 7-0; 47
10. Hackleburg; 4-2; 8

Others receiving votes: Woodville (5-1) 7, University Charter (5-1) 5, Berry (4-2) 1, Brantley (4-2) 1, Lynn (4-3) 1.

AISA (top five)

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

1. Chambers Aca. (16); 6-1; 208
2. Patrician (1); 6-0; 159
3. Lowndes Aca.; 6-1; 146
4. Abbeville Chr. (1); 6-0; 119
5. Monroe Aca.; 6-1; 93

Others receiving votes: Wilcox Aca. (4-2) 13, Fort Dale Aca. (4-2) 12, South Choctaw Aca. (3-3) 6.