Spartans second in opening AP poll; Eagles earn votes in 2A

SM-Tn Sports

Reigning Class 5A state runner-up Summit is listed at No. 2 in the initial Associated Press statewide Top 10, leading a host of area teams listed in their respective classifications to start the season.

The Spartans, who rallied for a late 40-34 road victory over rival Independence in Friday’s opener, are behind defending 5A state champion Knoxville Central. They are the only team from Region 5-5A to earn consideration in this week’s poll. Summit takes on visiting Spring Hill on Thursday.

In Class 4A, Region 4 rivals Marshall County and Tullahoma are listed fourth and fifth, respectively. Marshall County travels Thursday to Lincoln County for its season opener, while Tullahoma faces visiting Coffee County on Thursday as well.

A trio of Region 5-3A teams are listed. Pearl-Cohn is No. 2 behind Alcoa, with Giles County – which fell 20-13 to Lincoln County last week – seventh and East Nashville ninth. However, Pearl-Cohn and East Nashville are not expected to begin play before October as Metro has opted to delay athletic competition because of the coronavirus pandemic. Giles County travels Thursday to Hendersonville.

Perennial Region 5-2A title contender Lewis County is ranked seventh and defending region champion Forrest is ninth. The Panthers, an 8-7 winner over Decatur County-Riverside, travels Thursday to Cheatham County, with Forrest playing Thursday at Eagleville after a 10-0 win over East Robertson. Summertown, which received votes following its 13-12 win over Mt. Pleasant, hosts Wayne County in a Thursday contest.

In Class 1A, Cornersville and Fayetteville are ranked fourth and fifth from Region 5, with Huntland receiving votes. Cornersville, a 36-6 winner at Communty last week, plays its home opener Friday against Eagleville, while Fayetteville meets visiting Zion Christian in a Thursday matchup after losing 27-16 at Marion County. Huntland, which knocked off Eagleville 36-27 on the road, goes Thursday to Jo Byrns.

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The top 10 teams in each of Tennessee’s six Division I non-financial aid classifications and the top five teams in each of the state’s three Division II financial aid classifications as selected by Tennessee Associated Press-member sportswriters and broadcasters follow (first-place votes in parentheses, records through Aug. 24, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote):

Class 6A

1. Oakland (8)                                 1-0     133
2. Maryville (6)                                1-0     132
3. Brentwood                                  1-0     107
4. Ravenwood                                 1-0     84
5. Houston                                       0-1     52
6. McMinn Co.                                1-0     44
7. Kingsport Dobyns Bennett       1-0     39
8. Farragut                                       1-0     31
9. Whitehaven                                0-0     30
10. Cane Ridge                                0-0     28
Others receiving 12 points or more: Riverdale 25; Bradley Central 22

Class 5A

1. Knoxville Central (12)               1-0     135
2. Summit (2)                                  1-0     110
3. Oak Ridge                                    1-0     104
4. Knoxville West                            0-0     100
5. Henry Co.                                     1-0     64
6. Powell                                           1-0     62
7. Gallatin                                         1-0     50
8. Beech                                            0-1     44
9. Rhea Co.                                       1-0     29
10. Tennessee                                 0-1     12
Others receiving 12 points or more: none

Class 4A

1. Elizabethton (12)                       1-0     132
2. Anderson Co.                              1-0     112
3. Hardin Co. (1)                              1-0     101
4. Greeneville (1)                            0-0     85
5. Marshall Co.                                0-0     73
6. Haywood Co.                              0-1     62
7. East Hamilton                             1-0     53
8. Tullahoma                                   1-0     41
9. Springfield                                   1-0     38
10. Lexington                                  1-0     25
Others receiving 12 points or more: none

Class 3A

1. Alcoa (14)                                    1-0     140
2. Pearl-Cohn                                   0-0     119
3. Covington                                    1-0     107
4. Red Bank                                      1-0     88
5. Loudon                                         1-0     82
6. Fairview                                        1-0     54
7. Giles Co.                                       0-1     45
8. Milan                                             0-1     41
9. East Nashville                              0-0     19
(tie) Westview                                 1-0     19
Others receiving 12 points or more: South Gibson 16

Class 2A

1. Peabody (14)                              1-0     140
2. Meigs Co.                                     1-0     118
3. Trousdale Co.                              0-1     95
4. Watertown                                  1-0     71
5. Tyner Acad.                                 0-0     60
6. Adamsville                                   1-0     59
7. Lewis Co.                                      1-0     40
8. McKenzie                                     1-0     35
9. Forrest                                          1-0     29
(tie) Union City                                0-0     29
Others receiving 12 points or more: Summertown 22; Marion Co. 18; Hampton 15; Riverside 13

Class 1A

1. South Pittsburg (8)                    1-0     128
2. Lake Co. (3)                                  0-0     125
3. Huntingdon (1)                           0-1     72
4. Cornersville                                 1-0     70
5. Fayetteville (2)                           0-1     68
6. Oliver Springs                             0-1     64
7. Copper Basin                              0-1     37
8. Coalfield                                       0-0     34
9. Greenback                                   0-1     31
10. Freedom Prep                          0-0     28
Others receiving 12 points or more: Clay Co. 23; Huntland 17; West Carroll 13; Monterey 12; Greenfield 12

Division II-A

1. Davidson Acad. (9)                    1-0     122
2. Univ. School of Jackson (5)      1-0     119
3. Friendship Chr.                           1-0     94
4. The King’s Acad.                         1-0     91
5. Nashville Chr.                                0-1     60
Others receiving 12 points or more: Fayette Acad. 28; Donelson Chr. 21; Trinity Chr. 13; Jackson Chr. 12

Division II-AA

1. Evangelical Chr. (10)                 0-0     127
2. Christ Presbyterian Acad. (4)  1-0     121
3. Boyd Buchanan                            0-0     69
4. Grace Chr.-Knoxville                  1-0     66
5. Lipscomb Acad.                          0-1     65
Others receiving 12 points or more: Lausanne 42; Christian Acad. of Knoxville 29; Chattanooga Chr. 26

Division II-AAA

1. McCallie (6)                                 0-0     117
2. Montgomery Bell Acad. (5)      0-0     99
3. Brentwood Acad. (1)                  1-0     86
4. Baylor (1)                                        0-0     81
5. Christian Brothers                       1-0     64
Others receiving 12 points or more: Knoxville Catholic 43; Memphis Univ. School 34; Ensworth 22; Briarcrest 14

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