South Pittsburg and Baylor, 2011 state championship runners-up, are ranked first and second in their respective divisions in the initial Tennessee high school football poll for 2012.
South Pitt’s Pirates (1-0) have been to three straight state finals and won the Class 1A championship in 2010. Baylor (2-0) has reached Division II state finals the past two seasons.
Also in Division II, McCallie is ranked seventh. Boyd-Buchanan came in No. 3 in Class 2A, East Hamilton No. 7 in Class 4A and McMinn County No. 8 in Class 6A.
Area teams receiving votes include Bradley Central (6A), Signal Mountain (4A), Tyner (3A) and Lookout Valley (1A).
Whittens given surprise