| One loss costs Twisters four spots in prep poll |
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 7:00 pm
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By MIKE HUTCHENS
Messenger Sports Editor
A two-touchdown loss to Huntingdon knocked Union City four rungs down the Class 1A state rankings ladder.
The Golden Tornadoes dropped from second to No. 6 in the latest Associated Press prep football poll, released Monday.
The 4-0 Mustangs climbed into the No. 2 spot previously held by UC, behind only top-ranked South Pittsburg, which continued its stranglehold on the position.
Member writers and broadcasters across the state gave the Pirates 19 of 21 first-place votes cast and 208 total points — meaning SP was No. 2 on those other two ballots. Fourth-ranked Clarksville Academy and No. 5 Gordonsville got the other two first place votes.
Huntingdon, which dominated Union City with a 22-point second quarter in building a commanding 30-6 halftime lead in last week’s battle of No. 2 vs. No. 3, received 175 total points to outdistance Greenback for runnerup honors to South Pittsburg in this week’s listing.
Despite suffering its first loss in four games, the Tornadoes are still ahead of three unbeaten teams in the latest pecking order.
The Twisters totaled 104 points in all and lead Moore County, Coalfield and Copper Basin, which are a combined 11-0. Columbia Academy (2-1) is 10th.
After playing at winless Greenfield Friday, UC will face another highly-ranked opponent next week when it plays at Dresden — rated No. 3 in the Class 2A poll after a 4-0 start. The Lions, last year’s state runnerup, play host to Bruceton Friday night looking to complete an unbeaten first half of the regular season.
Dresden, which beat Stewart County 35-7 on the road last Friday, received a first-place vote in this week’s balloting to advance from fifth to third. The Weakley Countians are one of just three teams with perfect records in the Double-A rankings.
Adamsville also moved up — from 10th to No. 7 behind Boyd Buchanan, which supplanted Grace Christian in the top spot after the Rams dropped a close 27-19 decision to Class 3A No. 1 Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK) on Friday.
West Tennessee has two entries in the Triple-A poll with Milan (3-0) still third and Camden seventh and up a spot after handling Westview 33-13 in a game that was ended after three quarters due to inclement weather last week. The Lions are unbeaten after three games.
Covington, a 29-7 winner over Tipton County rival Brighton to remain unbeaten at 4-0, is still No. 2 in 4A — behind only Giles County. Lexington fell from fourth to eighth after dropping a close 24-23 decision to Hardin County.
Henry County and Jackson Northside — both coached by South Fulton High School graduates — are Nos. 4 and 5 in the Class 5A Top 10.
Defending state champion HC, skippered by veteran James Counce, is 3-1, while JNS is 4-0 and up three positions from last week under the direction of Tab Vowell in the coach’s fourth season at the Indian helm.
USJ (4-0) is eighth in this week’s Division II poll.
The polls in their entirety can be found on page 9.
Sports editor Mike Hutchens can be reached by email at mhutch@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 9.11.12 |
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