Welcome to the Southern Torch Final POWER Rankings!
Each week our staff grades every team in DeKalb County based on a number of factors.
Rankings are based on:
Overall Record
Region Record
Head-to-Head Match-ups
Strength of Schedule
Margin of Victory
Fan Base
As the season draws to a close, there is an undoubtedly clear picture of who is this seasons' wheat, and who is the chaff.
9. Ider Hornets (1-9, 1-6)
It's been a tough time for Ider athletics of late.There is no doubt that Coach Brent Tinker is Ider Football, but he can't do it alone. This season just has to be chalked up to a loss.
Impact Win: Ider 27 - West End 18
Impact Loss: Sylvania 14 - Ider 13
Average Margin of Victory: -17
8. Crossville Lions (2-8, 1-6)
Crossville is going to need to develop some top-class athletes in order to compete in a 4A region with teams like Guntersville. Year one of the Clowdus era is in the books, and the team did show improvement over the course of the season. They aren't far off from being competitive, but it's going to take a bigger turnout of players for the Lions to get to the next level.
Impact Win: Crossville 35 - Douglas 19
Impact Loss: Crossville 28 - Fairview 32
Average Margin of Victory: -18
7. Sylvania Rams (4-6, 2-5)
The Rams are a young team that was ravaged with injuries this season. QB Dillon Cambron should be much stronger out of the gate next year in a good system brought in with Coach Haynes. The Rams are on the brink of being a factor in the Region in 2014.
Impact Win: Sylvania 34 - Pisgah 27
Impact Loss: Plainview 39 - Sylvania 6
Average Margin of Victory: -7
6. Collinsville Panthers (7-3, 6-2)
Collinsville stormed out of the starting gate like gang busters destroying teams in the first month of the season. Reality struck and the schedule to end the year was brutal. This team may be as young as any in DeKalb County and could be frontrunners for next years Southern Torch County Championship.
Impact Win: Collinsville 33 - Sumiton Christian 32
Impact Loss: Valley Head 41 - Collinsville 13
Average Margin of Victory: +7
5. Fort Payne Wildcats (6-4, 5-3)
The inexperienced Wildcats improved along the course of the entire season, even seeing a 3 game run of defensive shutouts in the second half of the year. But in 5A, there isn't much mercy shown for growing pains. Next year Fort Payne should be ready to roll and improve on a 6-4 season.
Impact Win: Fort Payne 37 - James Clemens 34
Impact Loss: Fort Payne 20 - Scottsboro 35
Average Margin of Victory: +9
4. Plainview Bears (7-3, 6-1)
The first half of the season was a head scratcher for the Bears. Jekyll and Hyde, if you will. Things seemed to click at New Hope and the sprint was on. They were as impressive as any team coming down the stretch until they ran in to a Week 10 buzz saw. This team will return a number of key starters and could be lethal in the County next season if they gel early.
Impact Win: New Hope 20 - Plainview 27
Impact Loss: Plainview 7 - Fyffe 32
Average Margin of Victory: +13
3. Valley Head Tigers (9-1, 7-0)
ONE GAME AWAY FROM THEIR FIRST UNDEFEATED SEASON SINCE 1967! No. The Tigers were the talk of the Southern Torch office all season and held the top spot in the POWER Rankings going in to Week 10. The knock on Valley Head all year was that we weren't sure who they were beating. That wasn't their fault, just the nature of the beast. The Tigers are still a real contender for the 1A State Championship, but fell short of the Southern Torch County Championship.
Impact Win: Valley Head 41 - Collinsville 13
Impact Loss: Valley Head 6 - Section 52
Average Margin of Victory: +22
2. Geraldine Bulldogs (8-2, 6-1)
After opening the year with wins over what was perceived as the two toughest games on their schedule, we were certain the Bulldogs were going to run the table. A few midseason stumbles kept that from happening, but video game numbers down the stretch (77 points and 63 points) locked them in the two spot to end the year. Geraldine will lose a number of big-time leaders to graduation, but still may contend for next years title.
Impact Win: Geraldine 20 - Fyffe 14
Impact Loss: New Hope 21 - Geraldine 13
Average Margin of Victory: +19
1. Fyffe Red Devils (9-1, 7-0)
The Red Devils were the preseason pick of this writer (not that I was going out on a limb with that one), but a Week 1 defeat to the Geraldine Bulldogs wasn't in the crystal ball. The Red Devils went on to go 9-0 from there and did it in a punishing way. This team wrapped up their 3rd straight undefeated season in the Region and capped the year with a 32-7 drubbing of their rivals, the Plainview Bears.
Impact Win: Fyffe 32 - Plainview 7
Impact Loss: Geraldine 20 - Fyffe 14
Average Margin of Victory: +26
Congratulations to the Fyffe Red Devils for being unanimously voted the 2013 Southern Torch County Champions!
