For the first time in school history, Fultondale finds itself at the top of the heap.

The Wildcats moved to the top spot in Class 2A in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association high school football poll. They move up a spot from the pre-season poll, thanks in large part to a 64-28 rout of Montevallo last Thursday night in the season opener.

Quarterback ArDarius Stewart, the pre-season favorite to win the Mr. Football award and a verbal commitment to play college ball for Alabama, scored five touchdowns for the night — three passing and two rushing — in the victory.

Fultondale received 22 of the 30 first-place votes by the committee. Tanner finished second and got seven first-place votes. No. 3 Washington County got one top vote.

It’s the first time that one of the five public schools in north Jefferson County has been voted at the top of their class since the 1980s. Gardendale was ranked No. 1 in the final poll in Class 5A after going 10-0 in the regular season under coach Alan Pridmore (now a coordinator at Mortimer Jordan); they lost to Pell City in the second round of the playoffs. The Rockets were also first from Week 9 onward in the Class 3A poll, back when 4A was the top class. That team, coached by Ed Bruce, also went undefeated in the regular season in a region that included Jordan, Corner and Fultondale; the Rockets lost in the second round.

Hoover was the unanimous top choice in Class 6A, and Oneonta in 4A after they upset Pinson Valley (sixth in 5A) last week.

Fultondale hits the road to take on unranked Ohatchee in their first region game this week.

The ASWA poll is voted upon by 32 sportswriters from across the state (two did not vote this week). The committee includes the North Jefferson News.

The entire poll:

Class 6A

1.  Hoover (30 first place votes) (1-0) 360 points
2. Clay-Chalkville (1-0) 266
3. Auburn (1-0) 225
4. McGill-Toolen (1-0) 205
5. Oxford (1-0) 152
6. Carver-Mont. (1-0) 148
7. Vestavia Hills (1-0) 110
8. Northridge (1-0) 79
9. Daphne (0-1) 43
10. Austin (1-0) 37

Others receiving votes: Gadsden City (1-0) 26, Fairhope (1-0) 12, Spain Park (0-1) 12, Hueytown (1-0) 9, Mountain Brook (1-0) 7, Huffman (1-0) 6, Northview (1-0) 4, Davidson (1-0) 3, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (0-1) 2, Thompson (1-0) 2, Central-Phenix City (1-0) 1, Huntsville (1-0) 1.

Class 5A

1. Hartselle (26) (1-0) 341
2. Muscle Shoals (1) (1-0) 257
3. Jackson (2) (1-0) 244
4. Eufaula (1-0) 170
5. Spanish Fort (1) (1-0) 129
6. Pinson Valley (0-1) 105
7. St. Paul’s (0-1) 94
8. Homewood (0-1) 80
9. Cullman (1-0) 87
10. Fort Payne (1-0) 67

Others receiving votes: Demopolis (1-0) 35, Russellville (1-0) 26, Etowah (1-0) 22, Vigor (0-1) 20, McAdory (1-0) 10, Briarwood Chr. (0-1) 8, Benjamin Russell (1-0) 6, Talladega (1-0) 4, Pleasant Grove (1-0) 3, Boaz (1-0) 1, Valley (0-1) 1.

Class 4A

1. Oneonta (30) (1-0) 360
2. Dadeville (1-0) 249
3. Thomasville (1-0) 223          
4. Central-Clay Co. (1-0) 193
5. Beauregard (1-0) 186           
6. UMS-Wright (0-1) 109
7. Anniston (1-0) 107  
8. Handley (0-1) 87
9. N. Jackson (0-1) 58
10. Andalusia (1-0) 34

Others receiving votes: Brooks (1-0) 20, Fairview (1-0) 16, Bibb Co. (0-1) 15, Madison Co. (1-0) 15, Charles Henderson (1-0) 11, J.O. Johnson (1-0) 9, Tallassee (1-0) 8, Calera (1-0) 4, St. James (1-0) 3, Dora (1-0) 1, Elmore Co. (1-0) 1, Munford (1-0) 1.

Class 3A

1. Leeds (28) (1-0) 353
2. Piedmont (2) (1-0) 262         
3. Lauderdale Co. (1-0) 195
4. T.R. Miller (1-0) 186
5. Deshler (0-1) 168
6. Hamilton (1-0) 130
7. Madison Academy (0-1) 120
8. Bayside Academy (0-1) 74
9. Gordo (1-0) 61
10. Abbeville (0-1) 50

Others receiving votes: Opp (1-0) 39, Midfield (0-1) 21, Greensboro (1-0) 15, Excel (1-0) 12, Pike Co. (1-0) 9, Sylvania (1-0) 5, Weaver (1-0) 5, Vinemont (1-0) 3, Brindlee Mountain (0-1) 1, W.S. Neal (1-0) 1.

Class 2A

1. Fultondale (22) (1-0) 333
2. Tanner (7) (1-0) 285
3. Washington Co. (1) (1-0) 235
4. Elba (0-1) 178          
5. Fyffe (1-0) 176
6. Sweet Water (0-1) 137         
7. Vincent (1-0) 127    
8. G.W. Long (1-0) 101
9. Reeltown (0-1) 64
10. N. Sand Mountain (1-0) 32

Others receiving votes: Sheffield (0-1) 16, Walter Wellborn (1-0) 13, Ider (1-0) 6, Horseshoe Bend (1-0) 2, LaFayette (0-1) 2, Southern Choctaw (1-0) 2, Sand Rock (1-0) 1.

Class 1A

1. Marion Co. (27) (1-0) 351
2. Linden (3) (1-0) 277
3. Maplesville (1-0) 226
4. Ragland (0-0) 192
5. Brantley (1-0) 182   
6. Pickens Co. (1-0) 166                  
7. R.A. Hubbard (1-0) 107
8. Cedar Bluff (1-0) 102           
9. Lynn (1-0) 59
10. Collinsville (1-0) 23            

Others receiving votes: Berry (0-1) 12, Parrish (1-0) 8, Florala (1-0) 3, Addison (0-1) 1, Spring Garden (1-0) 1.

AISA

1. Edgewood Academy (29) (3-0) 357
2. Glenwood Academy (2-0) 259
3. Autauga Academy (2-0) 215
4. Jackson Academy (2-0) 181
5. Fort Dale Academy (2-0) 163
6. Monroe Academy (1) (2-0) 140
7. Bessemer Academy (1-2) 107
8. Tuscaloosa Academy (2-0) 75
9. Restoration Academy (3-0) 63
10. Lee-Scott (1-1) 53

Others receiving votes: Clarke Prep (2-0) 26, Morgan Academy (2-0) 20, Pickens Academy (2-0) 18, Sumter Academy (1-1) 12, Pike Liberal (0-2) 11, Macon-East (2-0) 9, Marengo Academy (2-0) 1.

Voters rank the top 10 teams in order, with the top team getting 12 points, second place getting nine, third getting eight and so on down to one point for tenth place.