The Andalusia Bulldogs enter the 2019 football season ranked third in Alabama Sports Writers Association’s preseason poll.

Andalusia has been one of the top Class 4A teams in the state in the past four years.

The Bulldogs have made it to semifinals the past three years, but haven’t been able to get to the state championship game.

Andalusia plays in one of the toughest regions in Class 4A.

Class 4A, Region 1 includes the UMS-Wright Bulldogs, the Hillcrest-Evergreen Jaguars and Andalusia.

Those three teams are ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the ASWA’s preseason poll.

Andalusia finished 2018 with a 9-5 record, made a strong playoff run, but fell to UMS-Wright in the semifinals for the second-straight year.

UMS-Wright went on to win the Class 4A in 2017 and 2018.

Andalusia knocked off Hillcrest-Evergreen in the third round of the playoffs.

The rest of Region 1 includes Clarke County, Escambia County, Monroe County, W.S. Neal and Williamson

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place), 2018 W-L, Pts

1. UMS-Wright (25), 14-0, 309

2. Hillcrest-Evergreen (1), 8-5, 215

3. Andalusia, 9-5,        185

4. Hokes Bluff, 11-2,    177

5. American Christian, 12-1, 151

6. Catholic-Montgomery, 8-4, 96

7. Jacksonville, 11-1,    91

8. Montevallo, 9-2,       87

9. Deshler, 9-6,              86

10. Headland, 10-2,       36

Others receiving votes: North Jackson (11-1) 30, Holtville (7-4) 9, Leeds (3-7) 6, Brooks (8-3) 4.