Saraland enters the 2023 high school football season as the team to beat across South Alabama after being named the overwhelming No. 1 pick in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll, released this week. The Spartans are coming off a Class 6A state championship season and return to the field with the target squarely on their backs.
Saraland is not the only Mobile-area program earning early respect from the state’s sportswriters. The Spartans are joined atop Class 6A Region 1 by rival programs Theodore, ranked No. 5, and Spanish Fort, ranked No. 9, setting up what could be one of the most competitive regions in the state once region play begins.
In Class 7A, Mary Montgomery is the lone Mobile-area team to crack the rankings, checking in at No. 9. The recognition marks a significant turnaround for a program that posted its first winning season and first playoff appearance in two decades last fall, a sign that the Vikings’ rebuild under their coaching staff has taken hold.
Class 5A features two local powers near the top of the poll. UMS-Wright, a perennial contender in the classification, comes in at No. 3, while Faith Academy is ranked No. 5. Both programs have built reputations for sending players on to college football, and preseason expectations reflect the continued depth of talent in the area’s private-school ranks.
Jackson checks in at No. 4 in Class 4A, while Mobile Christian is ranked No. 5 in Class 3A. In Class 1A, the poll reflects a rivalry that has defined Washington County football in recent years: defending state champion Leroy is ranked No. 1, with county rival Millry not far behind at No. 10. Jackson Academy, meanwhile, is ranked No. 7 in the Alabama Independent School Association poll.
The preseason rankings carry weight beyond bragging rights. For programs like Saraland, a No. 1 ranking raises expectations from the season’s first kickoff, while for teams like Mary Montgomery, a first-time appearance in the poll validates years of program-building work. Region assignments this fall will test whether the rankings hold up, particularly in Class 6A Region 1, where three ranked teams will collide for playoff positioning.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association poll is voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters from across the state and is updated throughout the season as results come in. Preseason polls are based on returning talent, coaching continuity and the previous season’s results, and they often shift considerably once teams begin playing games that count.
For Mobile-area fans, the preseason rankings offer an early look at which programs are expected to contend for region titles and playoff runs when the season kicks off in the coming weeks.