AHSAA First round of playoffs set for this week (UPDATED SCHEDULE)
STAFF REPORT
The Alabama High School Athletic Association state football playoffs open play this week with an interesting twist.
Because many schools are closed on Friday to observe Veterans’ Day, 29 first-round games will be played on Thursday, including Trinity’s game at Ragsdale-Boykin Field against Providence Christian and St. James’ game at Carlisle Field against Opp.
Montgomery Academy will be playing on Thursday as well, traveling to Centreville to play Bibb County, while Sidney Lanier will be in Alexander City against Benjamin Russell and Wetumpka will be at Helena.
Friday first-round games include Catholic at home against West Blocton, Pike Road at home against Homewood. Holtville at home against Headland and G.W. Carver in Cramton Bowl against Briarwood Christian.
Other Friday games involving local teams includes Alabama Christian at Houston Academy, Marbury at Charles Henderson and Elmore County at Faith Academy.
All seven defending state champions and 2023 state runner-up teams are among the schools vying to reach the state finals. The defending champs include 1A Leroy, 2A Fyffe, 3A St. James, 4A Andalusia, 5A Ramsay, 6A Saraland and 7A Thompson. The runners-up include 1A Pickens County, 2A B.B. Comer, 3A Piedmont, 4A Cherokee County, 5A Charles Henderson, 6A Mountain Brook and 7A Auburn.
Catholic (10-0) is among 20 unbeaten teams entering the playoffs and one of three in Class 4A, including Jackson (9-0) and West Morgan (10-0).
Other undefeated teams include Mary Montgomery and Central-Phenix City in 7A; Saraland, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Clay-Chalkville and Muscle Shoals in 6A; Gulf Shores and Central-Clay County in 5A; Mobile Christian, Lauderdale County and Madison Academy in 3A; B.B. Comer, Reeltown and Locust Fork in 2A; and Leroy, Elba and Loachapoka in 1A.
AHSAA 2023 STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
First round games
Thursday
CLASS 7A
Florence (6-4) at Thompson (8-1)
CLASS 6A
Wetumpka (5-5) at Helena (8-2)
Sidney Lanier (5-5) at Benjamin Russell (8-2)
Mae Jemison (3-7) at Parker (9-1)
Buckhorn (6-4) at Mountain Brook (7-3)
CLASS 5A
Carroll (4-6) at Demopolis (8-2)
Shelby County (2-8) at Eufaula (7-3)
West Point (5-5) at Ramsay (8-2)
Boaz (5-5) at Southside-Gadsden (8-2)
Lawrence County (6-4) at Pleasant Grove (8-1)
CLASS 4A
Montgomery Academy (4-6) at Bibb County (9-1)
Fultondale (4-6) at Deshler (7-3)
Etowah (3-7) at West Morgan (10-0)
Central-Florence (6-4) at Cherokee County (9-1)
CLASS 3A
Providence Christian (5-5) at Trinity (9-1)
Opp (4-6) at St. James (8-2)
Phil Campbell (4-6) at Gordo (9-1)
Oakman (7-3) at Mars Hill Bible (9-1)
Colbert County (6-4) at Winfield (9-1)
CLASS 2A
Vincent (6-4) at Clarke County (5-5)
Goshen (8-2) at G.W. Long (7-3)
Ariton (6-4) at Highland Home (9-1)
Chickasaw (5-5) at Thorsby (8-2)
Isabella (8-2) at St. Luke’s Episcopal (6-4)
Collinsville (8-2) at Southeastern (6-3)
Lamar County (7-3) at Tanner (7-3)
North Sand Mountain (5-5) at Locust Fork (10-0)
Hatton (7-3) at Sulligent (8-2)
CLASS 1A
Southern Choctaw (4-6) at Loachapoka (9-0), at Beulah HS
Brantley (6-4) at Linden (6-2)
Choctaw County (5-3) at Maplesville (6-4)
Notasulga (5-4) at Millry (8-2)
Marion County (5-5) at Hackleburg (9-1)
Cedar Bluff (5-5) at Wadley (9-1)
Friday
CLASS 7A
Davidson (5-5) at Central-Phenix City (9-0)
Auburn (8-2) at Baker (8-2)
Dothan (8-2) at Mary Montgomery (10-0)
Daphne (6-4) at Enterprise (8-2)
Hoover (4-6) James Clemens (7-3)
Bob Jones (5-5) at Hewitt-Trussville (7-3)
Vestavia Hills (8-2) at Austin (8-2)
CLASS 6A
McAdory (6-4) at Saraland (10-0)
Briarwood Christian (5-5) at G.W. Carver (7-3)
St. Paul’s Episcopal (7-3) at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (10-0)
Theodore (7-3) at Hueytown (7-3)
Homewood (6-4) at Pike Road (8-2)
Bessemer City (5-5) at Spanish Fort (8-2)
Athens (8-2) at Oxford (8-2)
Gardendale (3-7) at Gadsden City (7-3)
Center Point (7-3) at Hartselle (8-2)
Pinson Valley (4-5) at Muscle Shoals (9-0)
Mortimer Jordan (8-2) at Fort Payne (6-4)
Cullman (5-5) at Clay-Chalkville (10-0)
CLASS 5A
Beauregard (5-4) at Gulf Shores (10-0)
Marbury (2-8) at Charles Henderson (6-3)
UMS-Wright (6-4) at Central, Clay County (10-0)
Headland (8-2) at Holtville (7-3)
B.C. Rain (7-3) at Valley (7-3)
Elmore County (8-2) at Faith Academy (7-3)
Arab (8-2) at Leeds (8-2)
Fairfield (4-6) at Russellville (8-2)
Moody (8-2) at Scottsboro (8-2)
Springville (5-5) at Guntersville (9-1)
John Carroll (8-2) at Fairview (9-1)
CLASS 4A
Cleburne County (4-6) at Jackson (9-0)
Sipsey Valley (6-4) at Andalusia (9-1)
St. Michael (6-4) at Handley (9-1)
Booker T. Washington (6-4) at American Christian (8-2)
Bayside Academy (8-2) at Jacksonville (8-2)
West Blocton (6-4) at Catholic (10-0)
Anniston (6-3) at T.R. Miller (7-3)
Priceville (4-6) at Dora (8-2)
Brooks (6-4) at Oneonta (7-2)
Oak Grove (6-4) at Westminster Christian (8-2)
Corner (9-1) at Randolph (6-4)
North Jackson (4-6) at Haleyville (7-3)
CLASS 3A
Beulah (4-6) at Mobile Christian (10-0)
Alabama Christian (6-4) at Houston Academy (9-1)
Flomaton (6-4) at Walter Wellborn (7-3)
W.S. Neal (6-4) at Randolph County (9-1)
Southside-Selma (7-3) at Straughn (9-1)
Dadeville (4-4) at Thomasville (8-1)
Susan Moore (6-4) at Geraldine (9-1)
Fayette County (6-4) at Lauderdale County (10-0)
Piedmont (5-5) at J.B. Pennington (8-2)
Hokes Bluff (5-5) at Madison Academy (10-0)
Vinemont (4-6) at Sylvania (8-2)
CLASS 2A
Washington County (4-6) at B.B. Comer (10-0)
Wicksburg (5-5) at Reeltown (9-0)
Luverne (7-3) at Cottonwood (8-1)
Red Bay (6-4) at Tuscaloosa Academy (8-2)
Pleasant Valley (5-5) at Pisgah (9-1)
West End (5-5) at Fyffe (9-1)
Aliceville (5-5) at Lexington (6-4)
CLASS 1A
Calhoun (3-6) at Leroy (9-0)
Keith (6-3) at Georgiana (8-1)
Florala (7-3) at Sweet Water (8-1)
University Charter School (5-4) at Elba (10-0)
Shoals Christian (5-5) at Lynn (9-1)
Coosa Christian (5-5) at Spring Garden (8-2)
Ragland (6-4) at Valley Head (7-3)
Winterboro (5-5) at Decatur Heritage (9-1)
Pickens County (7-3) at Addison (8-2)
Meek (6-4) at South Lamar (7-3)