PREP CAPSULES: One more step to reach Auburn and Super 7 for Catholic, St. James
STAFF REPORT
One more step to Auburn and the Super 7.
That’s what is needed for both Montgomery Catholic and St. James this week as the two teams look for a berth in the Class 4A and Class 3A championship games, respectively.
The Knights will face region foe Andalusia for a second time this season. They won the regular season battle back in October.
St. James will take on Mobile Christian in a road game. These two teams have never met.
The Knights are looking for their second trip to the finals in the last three years while St. James has never made it this far. A win over Mobile Christian would give the Trojans their first semifinal win and berth in the championship game.
For their coach, Jimmy Perry, it would be his second trip after taking Robert E. Lee to the 6A championship back in 1999.
This will be the first time in three trips to the semis that Catholic has not faced Montgomery Academy. The two teams split games the last two years with MA winning last year and Catholic in 2020. Neither team could finish the deal, losing to Piedmont and Fyffe, respectively.
Catholic’s game with Andalusia will be played at Cramton Bowl. The schools officials expect a large crowd and decided the larger venue would be beneficial.
AHSAA Semifinal Round
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
ST. JAMES at MOBILE CHRISTIAN (3A)
Friday at Lamar Harrison Field
2022 Records: Mobile Christian (6-7*, 4th seed R1), St. James (11-2, 1st seed R3) (* Forfeited four games in regular season for use of ineligible player)
Playoff results: Mobile Christian def. Houston Aca., 30-3; Trinity, 27-13; Pike County, 27-7. St. James def. Walter Wellborn, 54-7; W.S. Neal, 42-21;. Thomasville, 40-15
Semifinal Round records:St. James 0-0; Mobile Christian (AHSAA only) 2-0 (last - 2019, def. to T.R. Miller, 41-21)
Last meeting: :First meeting
Key stats: Conner Harrison became St. James’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 66. KJ Jackson broke the single-season record for passing yards with 2,381 yards.
The skinny: In nearly 50 years of playing tackle football, St. James will make its first appearance in a semifinal game on Friday. The program has made a total of 25 appearances, moving past the second round twice in its history. These are new times for Trojan fans, good times. The irony is Mobile Christian has been playing football in the AHSAA for 17 years and already has two appearances in a state championship game and has been in the playoffs every year but three. The approach of these two schools can be debated another time but the bottom line is St. James is the newbie here. But what does that matter? None. The Trojans’ coach, Jimmy Perry, is a state championship coach. He has proven time and time again that he can take what he has (in this case a very talented team) and make them competitive with almost anyone. Two years ago, he had a squad full of freshmen and sophomores and they made it to the playoffs. In his 11 years at the helm, he has missed the playoffs one time. This is nothing new to the former Robert E. Lee alum. Now he has to relay that to his players, who go on the road to face a very talented team that features a Division I prospect in defensive end Sterling Dixon. But the Trojans have one of the better quarterbacks in the state in KJ Jackson. It sounds like a daunting task but something says the Trojans pull it out. Perry has always been pretty good in an underdog role and he has one here. Look out Auburn, here come the Trojans…
PREDICTION: St. James, 34-31
ANDALUSIA at CATHOLIC (4A)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Catholic (13-0, 1st seed, R2), Andalusia (12-1, 2nd seed, R2)
Playoff results: Catholic def. Bayside, 41-13, Jacksonville, 44-27; Handley, 21-14; Andalusia def. Jackson., 25-10; American Christian 31-7; Anniston, 35-28.
Semifinal Round records:Catholic, 1-2 (last, 2021 - lost to Montgomery Academy (3A), 10-7); Andalusia 4-6 (last, 2021 - lost to Pike Road (5A), 33-0)
Last meeting: Oct. 21 - Catholic, 45-23 (Regular season)
Series: Andalusia, 2-1
Key Stats: In region games only, Catholic averaged 58 points offensively with the lowest output coming against Andalusia with 45. The Knights gave up a total of 42 points with more than half coming against the Bulldogs. Andalusia scored an average of 48 points while allowing 13 points per game.
The skinny: There is a small sample size for Catholic and its semifinal history. The last two seasons have given us the idea that when the odds are stacked against them, they win. When they are the favorite, they lose. But with only two games for a basis, that’s not much to go on. Ironically, this is the third rematch in the semis with a region foe. There are no secrets between these two and based on the first game, where Catholic was average in one half and untouchable in the other, it might depend on which team shows up at Cramton Bowl (yes, they are playing downtown with expectations of a large crowd). No doubt, the Bulldogs wants the opportunity to redeem themselves after the loss in October. But wanting and doing are two different things. Last week, Catholic proved it can win with defense. It might have been a sign that it doesn’t have to rely on big offense to win an important game. That wasn’t the case a year ago, at least based on the loss to MA in the semifinals. This game will probably have a different tint much like last year’s rematch. It has been proven that beating a good team twice in one season is not easy to do (see Auburn/Central-Phenix City and Thompson/Hoover last week). The Knights can overcome that proverb and will do so in this one.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 35-20
KEY GAMES
Highland Home at B.B. Comer (2A semifinals) - Highland Home looking for that elusive trip to the Super 7. The came close last year, losing in the semis. B.B. Comer has similar history, making just two appearances in the semis, winning once back in 1995. Defense usually settles these type of games and the Squadron showed up last week, holding Clarke County to 127 yards in total offense, picking off three passes. They do it again this week against another high-scoring team. HH, 30-27.
Leroy at Millry (1A semifinals) - The word all season is Millry (a school about 12 miles from the Mississippi state line) is the team to beat in 1A. They have an all-everything quarterback in sophomore Daylon Edmonds, who leads the team in every offensive category including 41 touchdowns combined. This is a rematch with the Wildcats winning the first meeting 36-14. This one might be a little closer but there is no reason to pick against the home team. Millry, 35-23.
THE REST (games outside the River Region)
(6A) Theodore over Saraland, 33-31; Muscle Shoals, 45-41; (5A) Faith Academy over Charles Henderson,35-34; Ramsey over Pleasant Grove, 40-27; (4A) Cherokee Co over Oneonta, 24-21; (3A) Piedmont over Sylvania, 35-24; (2A) Fyffe over Pisgah, 32-29; (1A) Pickens Co over Coosa Christian, 39-23.
RECORD: Last week 12-5; Season 199-59 (.771)