By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

Through three weeks of the 2016 football season, the top offenses and defenses in Alabama have already begun to assert themselves. While there is still a ton of football left to be played, and these scoring averages likely won’t hold pace over a 10-game regular season, there is still an early-season pattern emerging. The AHSAA released a list of the most prolific offenses and stingiest defenses in the state over the first three weeks of the season, and there were a number of county teams that made the cut.

Shelby County and Chelsea are among the state’s leading offenses through three weeks of the season, while Thompson is among the state’s best defenses. The Wildcats (2-0, 1-0) are averaging 49 points per game through two games this year, which puts them in a tie for the 10^th-most productive offense in the state. The Hornets are averaging 42.3 points per game to date, which puts them 32^nd overall in the state and fourth overall in the 6A class. Chelsea (3-0, 1-0) have also played three games to date while a number of schools have just played twice, and the Hornets are ranked as the 10^th-best scoring offense among teams that have played three games to date.

The Warriors (2-0, 1-0) are on the opposite end of the spectrum, as their defense has given up just 8.5 points per game through two games. That mark currently has them tied for the 27^th-best defense in the state as well as the No. 1 defense in the 7A class.

Montevallo (2-0, 1-0) was averaging 36.5 points per game through two games, which was good for 12^th overall in the 3A class. Calera (3-0, 1-0), at 33 points per game, was 13^th overall in the 5A class in scoring offense, and was fourth overall in the class among teams that had played three regular season games through Week 3. Helena’s defense, which was giving up just 17 points per game through two games, was 18^th-best defense in the class. Spain Park (3-0, 1-0) came in at No. 15 in scoring offense in the 7A class at 28 points per game, and also came in at No. 11 in scoring defense in the class, as the Jags have held opponents to just 16.3 points per game to date.