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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Special to the Times-Journal

Southside-Selma maintained its spot near the top of the Class 3A football media rankings in Week 9 as it prepares for the home stretch of the season.

The Panthers held on to their No. 4 spot in the Alabama Sportswriters Association’s poll when it was released on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Southside earned 115 points from the voting members of the media, an improvement of one point from Week 7. The Panthers sit 25 points behind No. 3 Fyffe and 17 points above No. 5 Geraldine.

Southside took its record to 8-0 last week with a 66-0 win over Wilcox Central over the road. It’s the second-straight week that the Panthers have won by that scoreline after they defeated Sumter Central 66-0 in Week 8.

The victory continued the best start in school history from Southside as it looks to close out the season with two more victories.

The Panthers will face the other team that they are tied with atop Class 3A, Region 3 in the Thorsby Rebels on Oct. 24 at home. The winner will earn the region championship and the top spot in the region going into the playoffs. Southside is already assured of a home first-round playoff game.

Thorsby is also 8-0 going into the matchup but for the second-straight week, the Rebels were the top unranked vote-getter with 17 points in the poll compared to No. 10 Cottage Hill Christian’s 24 points.

This week continues Southside’s streak of being in each of the 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.

The Panthers remained there until Week 6, when they bumped up two spots ahead of another rise to No. 5 in Week 7, and they’ve sat at No. 4 in Class 3A as of Week 8.

Southside improved its overall season numbers with the 66-0 win over Wilcox Central as the Panthers are now scoring 53.3 points per game and giving up just 5.9 points per game. Southside has eclipsed 60 points in four games this season and has also shut out four opponents in 2025.

To see the full 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 (18); 8-1; 216
2. Vestavia Hills; 6-2; 144
3. Auburn; 7-2; 121
4. Thompson; 6-3; 117
5. Hoover; 6-3; 100
6. Hewitt-Trussville; 7-2; 99
7. Mary Montgomery; 8-1; 86
8. Baker; 6-2; 52
9. Daphne; 7-2; 37
10. Fairhope; 7-2; 33

Others receiving votes: Carver-Montgomery (5-3) 9, Opelika (6-3) 8, Prattville (5-3) 3, Dothan (5-3) 1.

CLASS 6A

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

1. Clay-Chalkville (17); 9-0; 213
2. Saraland (1); 8-0; 163
3. Muscle Shoals; 7-0; 132
4. Hartselle; 8-0; 125
5. Benjamin Russell; 7-1; 110
6. Homewood; 7-1; 83
7. Pike Road; 7-2; 72
8. Spain Park; 6-2; 46
9. Parker; 6-3; 43
10. Fort Payne; 7-1; 15

Others receiving votes: Russell Co. (7-1) 13, Theodore (6-2) 8, McAdory (6-1) 2, Bessemer City (6-1) 1.

CLASS 5A

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

1. Williamson (18); 9-0; 216
2. Vigor; 7-1; 155
3. Moody; 7-2; 134
4. Fairview; 8-0; 118
5. Central-Clay Co.; 8-1; 116
6. Northside; 8-0; 98
7. St. Clair Co.; 7-1; 63
8. Corner; 7-1; 50
9. Guntersville; 7-1; 35
10. Andalusia; 7-2; 20

Others receiving votes: Ramsay (5-3) 13, Priceville (6-2) 3, Jacksonville (5-3) 2, Scottsboro (6-3) 2, Boaz (6-2) 1.

CLASS 4A

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

1. St. Michael (17); 8-0; 213
2. Jackson; 7-2; 152
3. West Morgan (1); 8-0; 143
4. Anniston; 8-0; 131
5. Madison Aca.; 7-1; 96
6. Plainview; 8-0; 75
7. Hamilton; 9-0; 70
8. Deshler; 8-0; 48
9. Alexandria; 7-1; 29
10. Good Hope; 7-1; 28

Others receiving votes: Cherokee Co. (6-3) 21, Handley (8-1) 8, Opp (7-1) 8, BTW-Tuskegee (6-1) 2, Mobile Chr. (6-2) 2.

CLASS 3A

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

1. Mars Hill Bible (18); 8-0; 216
2. Piedmont; 8-0; 160
3. Fyffe; 7-1; 140
4. Southside-Selma; 8-0; 115
5. Geraldine; 7-1; 98
6. Bayside Aca.; 7-1; 87
7. Montgomery Aca.; 8-1; 76
8. Gordo; 8-1; 59
9. T.R. Miller; 6-2; 27
10. Cottage Hill; 7-1; 24

Others receiving votes: Thorsby (8-0) 17, Winfield (7-2) 4, Westbrook Chr. (7-1) 2, Glenwood (7-2) 1.

CLASS 2A

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

1. Luverne (15); 8-0; 207
2. Coosa Chr. (3); 7-2; 158
3. Tuscaloosa Aca.; 7-1; 132
4. Reeltown; 6-2; 111
5. Pisgah; 6-2; 108
6. Pleasant Valley; 8-1; 91
7. Lanett; 7-2; 69
8. Ariton; 6-1; 59
9. Vincent; 6-2; 28
10. North Sand Mountain; 7-1; 26

Others receiving votes: Goshen (6-1) 16, Red Bay (7-1) 8, J.U. Blacksher (7-1) 7, Clarke Co. (6-2) 3, Falkville (6-2) 2, Cottonwood (5-3-1) 1.

CLASS 1A

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

1. Wadley (18); 8-0; 216
2. Maplesville; 8-0; 157
3. Leroy; 9-0; 144
4. McKenzie; 8-0; 130
5. Winterboro; 7-0; 104
6. Hubbertville; 8-0; 84
7. Addison; 8-1; 71
8. Appalachian; 9-0; 60
9. Hackleburg; 6-2; 29
10. Southern Choctaw; 7-1; 22

Others receiving votes: University Charter (7-1) 9.

AISA (top five)

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

1. Patrician (14); 8-0; 203
2. Chambers Aca. (3); 7-2; 166
3. Abbeville Chr. (1); 8-0; 144
4. Wilcox Aca.; 6-2; 132
5. Lowndes Aca.; 7-2; 87

Others receiving votes: Monroe Aca. (7-2) 24.