By PAUL BEAUDRY

As far as the positions are concerned, nothing changed in this week’s Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll. As far as the voters are concerned, however, the pack is beginning to spread out.

In last week’s poll, 102 points separated the top eight teams. This week, the distance is far greater – 236, actually – and Hartselle, by virtue of a 55-7 win over Region 6 rival West Point, established itself as a secure No. 1. Briarwood Christian is a steady second with 296 points while Walker, which set the dominoes falling with a 49-28 win over Russellville in week 5, is third with 279.

The only unanimous No. 1 pick is Hoover, enjoying its third-straight week at the top of Class 6A. Runner-up and Region 6 rival Vestavia Hills was a nearly unanimous choice for second as all but one of the 35 voters had the Rebels second for the second consecutive week.

AISA had the lone change at the top, thanks to then-No. 4 Monroe Academy knocking off No. 1 Fort Dale Academy. The Volunteers have moved into the top spot with 368 points, just 12 ahead of second-place Bessemer Academy in the poll’s tightest race at the top in any class.

Of the nearly 420 teams in the AHSAA and AISA, four have clinched playoff spots and two have yet to be scored upon. Three of the playoff teams are in the AISA with No. 2 Bessemer Academy, No. 6 Clarke Prep and No. 7 Edgewood Academy. Class 3A Piedmont is the lone AHSAA to have formally clinched a playoff berth.

The two teams with perfect scoring defense? Class 2A No. 6 Tanner and Class 1A No. 2 Maplesville, who have outscored their opponents 187-0 and 298-0 respectively, although Tanner has played five games to Maplesville’s six.

Among ranked teams this week, Class 6A No. 8 Auburn is at No. 9 Central-Phenix City, Class 5A No. 4 McAdory is at No. 9 Pleasant Grove, Class 4A No. 2 Thomasville is at No. 8 UMS-Wright, AISA No. 9 Glenwood is at No. 9 Monroe Academy, No. 2 Bessemer Academy is at No. 10 Prattville Christian, No. 4 Pike Liberal Arts hosts No. 5 Fort Dale Academy, and No. 7 Edgewood is at No. 8 Springwood.

CLASS 6A

1. Hoover (35) (6-0) 420

2. Vestavia Hills (6-0) 313

3. Daphne (6-0) 264

4. Decatur (6-0) 201

5. Bob Jones (5-1) 193

6. Gadsden City (5-1) 171

7. Davidson (5-1) 138

8. Auburn (4-1) 100

9. Central-Phenix City (6-0) 91

10. Wetumpka (5-0) 54

Others receiving votes: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (6-0) 20, Foley (5-1) 11, Mountain Brook (5-1) 7, Prattville (4-2) 7, Carver-Montgomery (4-2) 4, Murphy (5-1) 1.

CLASS 5A

1. Hartselle (22) (5-1) 368

2. Briarwood Chr. (5) (5-1) 296

3. Walker (4) (5-1) 279

4. McAdory (1) (5-1) 231

5. Hueytown (2) (5-1) 216

6. Russellville (5-1) 177

7. Spanish Fort (5-1) 138

8. Fort Payne (1) (6-0) 132

9. Pleasant Grove (5-1) 74

10. Demopolis (4-2) 31

Others receiving votes: LeFlore (5-1) 20, St. Paul’s (5-1) 12, Greenville (5-1) 11, Cullman (4-2) 4, Tallassee (5-1) 3, Muscle Shoals (5-1) 2, Etowah (5-1) 1.

CLASS 4A

1. Jackson (24) (6-0) 384

2. Thomasville (10) (6-0) 344

3. N. Jackson (6-0) 266

4. Straughn (6-0) 232

5. Bibb Co. (1) (6-0) 223

6. Deshler (5-1) 181

7. Dadeville (6-0) 135

8. UMS-Wright (4-2) 92

9. Fairview (6-0) 77

10. Fayette Co. (5-1) 29

Others receiving votes: Anniston (5-1) 13, Ashford (6-0) 4, Central-Florence (5-1) 4, Beauregard (5-1) 3, Oak Grove (6-0) 3, Andalusia (5-1) 2, Oneonta (5-1) 2, Cherokee Co. (3-3) 1.

CLASS 3A

1. Leeds (33) (6-0) 414

2. Cordova (2) (6-0) 314

3. Piedmont (6-0) 269

4. Handley (6-0) 246

5. Hamilton (6-0) 220

6. Washington Co. (5-1) 165

7. Glencoe (5-1) 114

8. Pike Co. (5-1) 75

9. Gordo (5-1) 68

10. Bayside Acad. (5-1) 55

Others receiving votes: Madison Acad. (5-1) 22, Trinity (5-1) 17, T.R. Miller (4-2) 6, Walter Wellborn (5-1) 4, Abbeville (5-1) 2, Susan Moore (4-2) 2, Lauderdale Co. (5-1) 1, Plainview (4-2) 1.

CLASS 2A

1. Elba (22) (6-0) 373

2. Leroy (9) (5-1) 335

3. Reeltown (2) (5-1) 281

4. Westbrook Chr. (1) (6-0) 232

5. Cottonwood (6-0) 216

6. Tanner (1) (5-0) 200

7. Lineville (5-1) 137

8. Fyffe (5-1) 103

9. Ider (5-1) 67

10. Goshen (5-1) 49

Others receiving votes: Cleveland (5-1) 1, Colbert Hts. (5-1) 1.

CLASS 1A

1. Brantley (29) (6-0) 398

2. Maplesville (3) (6-0) 303

3. Sweet Water (3) (4-2) 289

4. Linden (5-1) 248

5. R.A. Hubbard (5-1) 183

6. McKenzie (6-0) 177

7. Hackleburg (5-1) 122

8. Addison (5-1) 101

9. Lynn (6-0) 96

10. Appalachian (6-0) 31

Others receiving votes: Collinsville (6-0) 16, St. Jude (5-1) 7, Gaylesville (5-1) 6, Ragland (5-1) 5, Winterboro (5-1) 5, Autaugaville (5-1) 3, Cedar Bluff (4-2) 2, Pickens Co. (4-2) 2, Shoals Chr. (4-2) 1.

AISA

1. Monroe Acad. (20) (6-0) 368

2. Bessemer Acad. (14) (6-0) 356

3. Crenshaw Chr. (6-0) 263

4. Pike Liberal (5-1) 229

5. Fort Dale (1) (5-1) 195

6. Clarke Prep (5-1) 150

7. Edgewood (6-1) 143

8. Springwood (5-1) 101

9. Glenwood (5-1) 97

10. Prattville Chr. (6-1) 63

Others receiving votes: Patrician Acad. (3-2) 11, Lowndes Acad. (6-1) 8, Restoration Acad. (4-2) 5, Coosa Valley Acad. (5-1) 4, Sumter Acad. (5-1) 2.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association prep committee members are:; Paul Beaudry, Chairman, Freelance (Birmingham); Andrew Garner, Andalusia Star-News; Nick Birdsong, Anniston Star; Chandler Myers, Atmore Advance; Jeff Sentell, Birmingham News; Adam Robinson, Brewton Standard; Rob Rice, Blount Countian; Shannon Fagan, Cherokee Herald; Ross Wood, Clarke Co. Democrat; Justin Graves, Cullman Times; Jonathon Bentley, Daily Mountain Eagle; Jason Bowen, Daily Sentinel; Cody Whitlock, Decatur Daily; Jeremy Smith, Demopolis Times; David Mundee, Dothan Eagle; Lee Peacock, Evergreen Courant; Gregg Dewalt, Florence TimesDaily; Lew Gilliland, Fort Payne Times-Journal; Scot Beard, Franklin County Times; Dennis Victory, Freelance (Birmingham); Brooke Johnson, Freelance (Madison); Chris McCarthy, Gadsden Messenger; Kim Craft, Gadsden Times; Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer; Mike Easterling, Huntsville Times; Josh Bean, Mobile Press-Register; Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser; Wesley Lyle, Montgomery Advertiser; Jonathan Deal, Moulton Advertiser; Robert Carter, North Jefferson News; David Morrison, Opelika-Auburn News; Shannon Allen, Sand Mountain Reporter; Heather Baggett, Talladega Daily Home; Aaron Suttles, Tuscaloosa News; Griffin Pritchard, Wetumpka Herald. Not Voting: Newton Peters, Florala News.