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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Staff Writer

The Southside Panthers are flying high as region champions, and they’re flying up the Class 3A football media rankings as a result.

Southside-Selma moved up one spot to No. 3 in the Alabama Sportswriters Association’s week poll, which was released on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

The Panthers earned 130 points from the voting members of the media in Week 10, which was three points more than No. 4 Geraldine. In addition, Geraldine suffered its first loss of the season in Week 10, giving Southside another opportunity to move up.

The Panthers took care of business in their high-profile battle with undefeated Thorsby. Southside’s offense erupted for a 74-22 win over the Rebels to secure the Class 3A, Region 5 championship.

The win also continued the best start in school history for the Panthers as they moved to 9-0 on the season with just one game remaining in the regular season.

Southside’s offense improved its overall points per game total to 55.6 while the defense is still giving up 7.7 points per game despite allowing a season-high 22 points to Thorsby. The 74-point outburst tied a season-high with the Panthers’ 74-0 win over Dallas County, and it’s the fifth time this season that Southside has scored at least 62 points.

This week continues the Panthers’ streak of being in each of the media polls this season. After starting the season at No. 8, Southside briefly moved down to No. 9 in Week 2 before quickly rising back to No. 8 the next week.

Southside stayed there until Week 6, when they bumped up two spots ahead of another rise to No. 5 in Week 7, and they were at No. 4 in Class 3A in Week 8 and 9. That preceded the latest rise to No. 3 in Week 10.

The Panthers will look to finish their perfect regular season with a non-region matchup against Bullock County on Thursday, Oct. 30 at home.

From there, Southside-Selma will host Dadeville in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs on Nov. 7.

To see the full rankings for each classification, 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); 9-1; 216
2. Vestavia Hills; 7-2; 147
3. Thompson; 7-3; 133
4. Auburn; 8-2; 130
5. Hewitt-Trussville; 8-2; 104
6. Mary Montgomery; 9-1; 88
7. Baker; 7-2; 74
8. Daphne; 8-2; 55
9. Hoover; 6-4; 54
10. Opelika; 7-3; 18

Others receiving votes: Fairhope (7-3) 6, Austin (6-3) 1.

CLASS 6A

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

1. Clay-Chalkville (17); 10-0; 213
2. Saraland (1); 9-0; 162
3. Muscle Shoals; 8-0; 145
4. Benjamin Russell; 8-1; 120
5. Homewood; 8-1; 100
6. Hartselle; 8-1; 80
7. Pike Road; 7-2; 74
8. Spain Park; 7-2; 50
9. Parker; 7-3; 44
10. Fort Payne; 8-1; 24

Others receiving votes: Russell Co. (8-1) 12, Bessemer City (7-1) 2.

CLASS 5A

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

1. Williamson (18); 10-0; 216
2. Vigor; 8-1; 157
3. Moody; 8-2; 136
4. Fairview; 9-0; 119
5. Central-Clay Co.; 9-1; 115
6. Northside; 9-0; 97
7. St. Clair Co.; 8-1; 68
8. Guntersville; 8-1; 52
9. Ramsay; 6-3; 25
10. Catholic-Montgomery; 6-3; 11

Others receiving votes: Corner (7-2) 10, Scottsboro (6-3) 8, Boaz (7-2) 5, Carver-Birmingham (5-2) 3, Andalusia (7-3) 2, Russellville (6-3) 2.

CLASS 4A

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

1. St. Michael (17); 9-0; 213
2. Jackson; 8-2; 152
3. West Morgan (1); 9-0; 140
4. Anniston; 9-0; 133
5. Plainview; 9-0; 100
6. Hamilton; 10-0; 86
7. Deshler; 9-0; 63
8. Alexandria; 8-1; 42
9. Good Hope; 8-1; 39
10. Madison Aca.; 7-2; 31

Others receiving votes: Handley (9-1) 12, Cherokee Co. (7-3) 8, Opp (8-1) 6, Dale Co. (7-2) 1.

CLASS 3A

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

1. Mars Hill Bible (18); 9-0; 216
2. Piedmont; 9-0; 161
3. Southside-Selma; 9-0; 130
4. Geraldine; 8-1; 127
5. Bayside Aca.; 8-1; 99
6. Montgomery Aca.; 9-1; 83
7. Fyffe; 7-2; 81
8. Gordo; 9-1; 63
9. Cottage Hill; 8-1; 38
10. Westbrook Chr.; 8-1; 10

Others receiving votes: Winfield (8-2) 7, T.R. Miller (6-3) 4, Thorsby (8-1) 4, Glenwood (7-2) 3.

CLASS 2A

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

1. Luverne (14); 9-0; 204
2. Coosa Chr. (4); 8-2; 163
3. Pisgah; 7-2; 128
4. Reeltown; 7-2; 123
5. Pleasant Valley; 9-1; 101
6. Lanett; 8-2; 77
7. Tuscaloosa Aca.; 7-2; 69
8. Ariton; 7-1; 67
9. Vincent; 7-2; 34
10. Red Bay; 8-1; 17

Others receiving votes: North Sand Mountain (7-2) 12, J.U. Blacksher (8-1) 11, Clarke Co. (7-2) 10, Cottonwood (6-3–1) 4, Goshen (6-2) 4, Falkville (7-2) 2.

CLASS 1A

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

1. Wadley (18); 9-0; 216
2. Maplesville; 9-0; 156
3. Leroy; 10-0; 145
4. McKenzie; 9-0; 131
5. Hubbertville; 9-0; 96
6. Addison; 9-1; 83
7. Appalachian; 10-0; 74
8. Winterboro; 7-1; 60
9. Hackleburg; 7-2; 38
10. University Charter; 8-1; 20

Others receiving votes: Southern Choctaw (7-2) 6, Autauga Aca. (7-2) 1.

AISA

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

1. Patrician (14); 9-0; 203
2. Chambers Aca. (3); 8-2; 167
3. Abbeville Chr. (1); 9-0; 148
4. Wilcox Aca.; 7-2; 127
5. Lowndes Aca.; 7-2; 105

Others receiving votes: Monroe Aca. (7-3) 6.