Top 10 predictions for 5A:
1. Homewood-They return Reilly Struass and Parker Gargis from last years title team. Not to mention quite a few other guys. The going for defending their title wont be easy at all. They will come out of it beat up and banged up but I think they will survive and win back to back titles.
2. Briarwood Christian-They made a great run to the 3rd round last season before losing to powerful Williamson. I feel with the talent that they have returning and their great coaching that Tim Castille and company will make it all the way to Birmingham. Though I feel they will come up short, they will make a serious run at the title.
3. Williamson-JaMarcus Russell could be the states top player, but I think he will have to wait one more year to get that big pretty ring around his finger!
4. Gadsden-I thought they were gonna bring it home last year, but they let me down. They could likely be 10-0 going into the playoffs but I dont know if they can hold up through the entire playoffs. The loss of Coach Lorenzo will be tough to overcome in one year as well. A semi-final run is the best I think they can do.
5. Ben Russell-They are always good. I dont know if they can duplicate what they did last year, but it isnt far-fetched, but they will go deep in the playoffs, just not all the way!
6. Russellville-A fairly surprising team last year making it to the semi-finals. I think last years season and this years season will be very similar in record and ranking. Though in 2002 they will be my pick to be in Bham.
7. Athens-Do I really have to explain myself here? They usually hang around this part of the top 10 and around the 3rd round of the play-offs. I dont see either trend changing this year.
8. Walker-They were one of only two teams to beat Homewood last year so you know they had to be good. They are strong every year, but never seem to be able to get over the hump and make it to the title game and I dont think this is their year to do it either. They will be good and stay in the top 10 all season, but come playoff time I dont think they will have enough to get the job done.
9. Etowah-I know Im going to get a lot of flak from this one, but honestly they did begin to slack some last year after a title. I dont think losing one of the country's best players and the backbone of your team is going to help their cause very much. Still they are Etowah and will be very good, but you must rebuild at times, no matter how great your programs is. I think they will join fellow powerhouses Clay County and Hazlewood and will have a down year. But these teams down years arent like most teams, 8 wins is considered a down year for these guys, and that is still very good. Still they are Etowah and 5A should'nt take them lightly.
10. Cullman-They made an awesome run last year. They looked to be one of the top contenders for the title going into the playoffs, but playoff time came around and they dissapointed. 5A is probably going to be the states most competitve class this year so 10th is still a big honor! |
