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10 Best Teams in 2-A in 2001!!!!

1. Houston County-This is team is one that is considerd a heavy favorite coming in to the 2001. There is good reason for that hype as well, they return 21 of 22 starters off of a team that went 11-1 in 2000 and finished the final regular season poll with the #1 ranking. They have two of the best backs in 2A with Kevin Buze and Norris Drinkard. They have the talent and all the makings of a title team in 2001. The only conceivable problem that I can see them running into is lack of play-off experience, this is not a powerhouse school. They have never been past the 2nd round and when they run into teams like Clay County, Lineville and Southern Choctaw who have a lot of play-off experience it could spell trouble for the Lions! Regardless the talent and returning of 21 starters make them the heavy favorite in 2001.

2. Clay County-This team will be one of the heavy favorites coming into season for one obvious reason, they are the defending champs! It is true that they have lost a huge number of players due to graduation and disciplinary reasons. They will return only about 5 starters on each side of the ball. This will be the largest rebuilding year for the Panthers since 1993 and INCREDIBLY they are #2 on this list. There is a reason for that, they have a breeding ground for athletes like no other team in class 2A, they have the best coaching staff in Alabama, the toughest schedule in 2A and they are probably the most intimidating team one could ever imagine. They are the "mighty" Clay County Panthers, regardless of talent, loss of players, injuries and other factors, they are one of those teams that you can always count on being at the top of the pack!

3. Pickens County-Truthfully I dont really feel this is the 3rd best team in 2A, but I have to put some Northern teams in the list. They have talent thats for sure, but they have always had a knack for getting upset in the play-offs. This year they may pull an upset or two in making it to the big show in Birmingham, but their run will end there. But I feel the tornadoes FINALLY make it to the big game!

4. Lineville-DANGEROUS TEAM!!!!!!! Those two words best describe the Aggies this season. They lost nine starters to graduation last season, yet none really significant losses. They return Roman Smith, Greg McLain and LaDaniel Thomas off of last years 8-3 play-off team! They have one of the tougher schedules in 2A and play in what may be the toughest region. They have talent, a great coaching staff, and the experience to get it done! If Houston County or their arch-rival slip up, the Aggies will be raising the Big Blue Trophy in Birmingham.

5. Southern Choctaw-Everyone seems to be forgetting about this team. Only two years ago they won back to back titles and had a team that ranked 5th on my list of the greateset 2A teams ever. They return quite a few players off of last years 10-2 campaign, a great coaching staff, and are only one year removed from the title. They arent the most talented team in 2A, but if the ball bounces their way, they could win it all!

6. Crossville-A team that may not should be this high on the list, but we're gonna take a gamble. They looked like for most of last year that they were going to be the team in Birmingham, but a couple of bad weeks cost Crossville a trip to the states biggest city. They should win their region this year and they return a good nucleus from last years team, but I just dont think they have the overall team speed to get it done. This is a team looking at a probable semi-final appearance.

7. Leroy-A team with a rich tradition, yet no title appearances. Looks like Bear fans wont get one this year either. They lost two of the best 2 players in 2A last season in Samson Irvin and Marc Anthony Coleman and they depended upon those guys too much last season and their loss will devistate the Bears. They have some good players returning but will finish 2nd in their region and will not likely make it past the 3rd round.

8. Horseshoe Bend-I'm taking a big gamble on this one. These guys have the talent to win a state title, yet the instability to go 5-5 and miss the play-offs. They have lost only 8 players in 2 years and return what could be the best back in 2A in Fernando Burns. They dont have the experience at being a good team so Im not sure what they will make of all the talent they have, but they have too much to not be in the Top 10.

9. Gordo-This was a team was supposed to compete for a trip to Birmingham last year, instead they ended up with a dissapointing 5-5 season and no play-off appearance. They have a rich tradition and a large portion of their talent coming back from last season and could possibly make a run at Birmingham, watch out this could be the sleeper team of 2001!

10. Greene County-I feel this team is highly overrated coming into 2001. Their 2000 post-season run was a Cinderella story, had they not played Lineville the week after the "Clay Bowl" Lineville wouldve defeated them. They have talent no doubt, but they lost all of their superstars last season and at times tend to give up when they get behind in games. Though they do have plenty of talent and considering they are a Fairly large 4A school competing against 2A teams, they should compete and do no worse than the 2nd round of the play-offs.

Here are the teams from each region that will make the play-offs and their seeding:

Region 1:
1. Southern Choctaw
2. Leroy
3. Greene County
4. Excel

Region 2:
1. Houston County
2. Geneva County
3. Cottonwood
4. Houston Academy

Region 3:
1. Straughn
2. Goshen
3. Highland Home
4. Georgiana

Region 4:
1. Clay County
2. Lineville
3. Horseshoe Bend
4. Ranburne

Region 5:
1. Pickens County
2. Gordo
3. Vincent
4. Hale County

Region 6:
1. Ohatchee
2. West End
3. Susan Moore
4. Cleveland

Region 7:
1. Crossville
2. Geraldine
3. Sand Rock
4. Pisgah

Region 8:
1. Addison
2. Cherokee
3. Hatton
4. Red Bay

We will rank the regions 1-8, top to bottom, toughest to easiest, starting with the toughest region first and going down to the weakest:

1. Region 4
2. Region 1
3. Region 5
4. Region 7
5. Region 3
6. Region 2
7. Region 8
8. Region 6

The Top 10 toughest 2A schedules:

1. Clay County
2. Leroy
3. Southern Choctaw
4. Lineville
5. Straughn
6. Geneva County
7. Gordo
8. Pickens County
9. Sand Rock
10. Cottonwood

Top 5 Most important games in 2A:

1. Week 10- There should be NO question what the top 2A game of 2001 will be, the same one it always is. The nationally famous "Clay Bowl" (Clay County vs. Lineville). This game is huge you will see 2 teams with a record a of 9-0 at worst one of them will be 8-1, could possibly be #1 vs #2 and will be for the region 4 title. Do I really have to further explain myself on this one. Oh and by the way, dont be shocked if you see these two titans clash again in the semi-finals! Wow what a game this promises to be, this is not only a premiere game in 2A, but in the entire country, if you ever get the chance, GO TO ONE OF THESE BEFORE YOU DIE, simply put, its unbelievable!

2. Week 8- Leroy vs. Southern Choctaw, this will likely be for the region title. A great rivalry game as well, it will be extremely important in shaping up the picture in the 2A south. The winner of this one will make a heavy run at Birmingham.

3. Week 7-Houston County vs. Geneva County, we will find out if Houston County is a legit leading candidate for champs in 2001 by this game. This will be their toughest regular season contest as it was last year. Which ever team wins this game, LOOKOUT!!!

4. Week 4-Gordo vs. Pickens County-The most important game in the north this season. Will determine region winner and possibly the team who takes a trip to Birmingham because I like both of these teams chances in getting there, the better team should be the favorite from the north.

5. Week 2-Cherokee vs. Addison, I think this will be a big impact game early in the season, this will be for the region title early in the season and the winner could contend in the north. May not be the marquee headliner game like the others, but it will have a large impact on the 2A north, wait and see!