ORWIGSBURG - Schuylkill Haven received six of the nine first-place votes in the Anthracite Football League Coaches Preseason Poll and is the favorite to win the league title with 78 of a possible 81 points.
Balloting was conducted Wednesday at the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Preseason Media Day held at Roman Delight, Route 61, Orwigsburg.
Schuylkill Haven went 7-5 last season and won the Eastern Conference Class A championship. The team graduated just four seniors.
Following the Hurricanes in the balloting is perennial league contender North Schuylkill (9-3 last season), which received two first-place votes and 69 points. Defending AFL champion Tamaqua (10-1) received the remaining first-place vote and is projected to finish third with 64 points.
Marian (8-3) is ranked fourth with 54 points, Mahanoy Area (2-8) fifth with 33 points, Shenandoah Valley (7-4) sixth with 31 points, Jim Thorpe (1-9) seventh with 29 points, Panther Valley (3-7) eighth with 28 points and Minersville (4-6) ninth with 19 points.
The first official day of preseason practice is Monday, with the first scrimmages capping Week 1 of drills on Aug. 17.
The first night of the regular season will be Friday, Aug. 30.
The Republican-Herald's 48-page preseason football tabloid will be inserted into the Sunday, Aug. 25 edition, with the first Football Friday appearing Aug. 30.