SUNDAY UPDATE: Golden Tigers open season ranked No. 2

By By Scot Beard
The Russellville varsity football team flew under the radar last season and surprised many with a trip to the state finals.
This year, however, people are noticing the Golden Tigers, especially the Alabama Sports Writer's Association, which has Russellville ranked second in the Class 5A preseason poll.
"Polls are nice for recognition," said Russellville coach Doug Goodwin.
He down played the importance of polls, saying at the high school level there is a playoff system where anything can happen.
Last year Russellville, which was ranked No. 6 in the final poll, beat top-ranked Hartselle on the road in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
To open this year's polling, the Golden Tigers earned 306 points and four first-place votes. Vigor, the team that defeated Russellville in the state title game, is ranked first with 401 points and 29 first-place votes.
Rounding out the Class 5A rankings are No. 3 Briarwood Christian, No. 4 Carver-Montgomery, No. 5 Demopolis, No. 6 Spanish Fort, No. 7 Cullman, No. 8 Walker, No. 9 Shelby County and No. 10 Springville.
Goodwin said he spoke with his team about the expectations this year.
"We talked a good bit in the spring about the public not expecting much (last year) and how it is not like that this time," Goodwin said. "(The players) know what is expected of them. Hopefully we can stay injury free."
Only two of the opponents on Russellville's schedule this season earned preseason rankings. Deshler is ranked third in Class 4A while Colbert County is ranked fourth in Class 3A.
Two of Russellville's Region opponents – Athens and Hartselle – received votes, but not enough to earn a ranking.
The only other Franklin County team to earn votes in the preseason poll was Red Bay.
The Tigers, coming off a 4-7 season and a loss in the first round of the playoffs, got a few votes, but not enough to earn a ranking.