| Nothing changes for 10th-ranked Union City in latest poll |
|
Posted: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 7:01 pm
|
By MIKE HUTCHENS
Messenger Sports Editor
No news was essentially good news for Union City.
Monday’s Class 1A Associated Press prep football poll was unchanged from a week ago — meaning the Golden Tornadoes remained at No. 10 for the fourth straight week in the latest listing.
UC (6-3), which beat South Fulton 37-12 last week, was one of six ranked teams in the 1A Top 10 to win in Week 9. Four others in that group had an open date.
The Twisters remained one of three rural West Tennessee entries in the Single-A vote of writers and broadcasters across the state. Huntingdon (7-2) is still fifth, while West Carroll — also 7-2 — is sixth.
Each of Union City’s three losses has come vs. other teams currently ranked. The Tornadoes were beaten in Week 3 by Huntingdon (38-22), two Fridays later by Dresden (28-14) and then the following week by Trenton (30-27).
Easily the most noteworthy development to come from the release of the rankings Monday was Dresden’s rise to No. 1 in the Class 2A poll.
The unbeaten Lions (9-0) — idle last week — assumed the position when previous No. 1 Boyd Buchanan was beaten by Class 4A Maplewood 26-16.
The Class 2A state runners-up to Friendship Christian School a year ago, Dresden has steadily moved up in the Top 10 this season under the direction of first-year head coach Keith Hodge, who was the program’s offensive coordinator the past three seasons before moving up when veteran Scott Hewett retired to devote all his time to administration duties.
“I think this will be a good thing for the players to see,” Hodge said. “It shows that their hard work has been noticed by people outside our area. It shows that they’re being respected and that what they’re doing is paying off.
“I don’t really look at the rankings, but I’m sure our players probably do. Ånd, it’s big for the community. Everybody can see that the hard work our players put in every wek has not gone unnoticed. It’s good for the program because it puts our name out there.”
Dresden’s first test as the top dog in 2A will be a tough one as the Lions play at Huntingdon Friday in a District 13A showdown. The Black and Gold has already claimed at least a share of the league title and can wrap up the championship outright by beating the Mustangs.
A Huntingdon victory would forge a three-way tie for the district’s top spot with Dresden, Huntingdon and West Carroll — provided WC beats McKenzie Friday.
Trenton, which clinched its first district championship in 20 years last week by locking up the 14A crown, entered the Class 2A rankings this week at No. 9. Peabody (6-3), whose losses have all also come vs. ranked opponents (Milan, Huntingdon and Dyersburg).
The Tide did dethrone two-time district champ Humboldt, largely on the strength of a 21-14 victory two weeks ago that broke the Vikings’ 17-game winning streak that began back in 2009.
Adamsville, winners of nine straight since a season-opening loss to Chester County, moved up one place to No. 5 in 2A.
A 24-13 loss to Covington in a District 13AA showdown cost Milan (7-2) two spots in the Class 3A pecking order. South Gibson, which is aiming for a perfect regular season in just the second full year on the varsity level when it hosts Westview Friday, remained at No. 5.
Covington (9-0) received five first-place votes but still trails Giles County in Class 4A. Lexington (8-1) advanced one place to fifth, while Dyersburg — set to host Obion Central in Friday’s regular season finale — is still No. 8 with eight wins in nine games.
In Class 5A, a two-touchdown win over then-unbeaten and 6A ranked Dickson County did nothing for Henry County’s status — the reigning state champion Patriots (7-2) still sixth. Unbeaten Jackson Northside, which survived a hard-fought 13-9 decision vs. Millington, is still second behind only Beech.
USJ (9-0) is seventh in Division II.
A complete listing of the rankings can be found on page 9.
Published in The Messenger 10.23.12 |
|
Printer-friendly format
|
|
