Defending champion Spartans earn 17 of 21 first-place votes
BARNESVILLE, Pa., August 12, 2015: Defending champion North Schuylkill was ranked as the league favorite in the first Anthracite Football League Preseason Media Poll that was conducted at Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day at Mountain Valley Golf Course.
Twenty-one media members that cover the 11 schools in the Anthracite Football League took part in the poll, with teams ranked 1-11 in projected order of finish and points awarded 11 to 1 based on that ranking.
The Spartans, who went 9-0 in league play last season and reached the District 11 Class AA championship game, collected 17 of 21 first-place votes and 219 votes overall. The Spartans were followed by Lehighton, which grabbed the other four first-place votes and had 203 votes overall.
Following North Schuylkill and Lehighton were Blue Mountain (178), Marian (174) and Jim Thorpe (134). Schuylkill Haven and Tamaqua tied for sixth with 119 votes, while Mahanoy Area (79), Minersville (75), Panther Valley (51) and Shenandoah Valley (35) rounded out the poll.
2015 Anthracite Football League Preseason Media Poll
(Teams receive 11-1 points in descending order; first-place votes in parentheses)
1. North Schuylkill (17) 219
2. Lehighton (4) 203
3. Blue Mountain 178
4. Marian 174
5. Jim Thorpe 134
T-6. Schuylkill Haven 119
T-6. Tamaqua 119
8. Mahanoy Area 79
9. Minersville 75
10. Panther Valley 51
11. Shenandoah Valley 35
