PREP CAPSULES (Super 7): St. James reaching for new success with trip to finals

STAFF REPORT

The St. James Trojans are reaching new heights.

For the first time in school history, the program will play for a state championship in football.

That was made possible with an impressive win over Mobile Christian last week. But they do face a formidable task in beating perennial favorite Piedmont, which is after its second-straight championship and sixth title in its illustrious history.

The Trojans ran through its playoff season with impressive wins with an average margin of victory of 30 points. They gave up just 12.5 points per game in those four.

STJ has won eight-straight games since a non-region loss to Charles Henderson back on Oct.

The Trojans will attempt to do what both Montgomery Academy and Catholic could not do the last two years - want the 3A title. Catholic attempted two years ago, losing to Fyffe while MA faced Piedmont and lost late.

The game is set for Thursday at 11 a.m. at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Super 7 opens Wednesday with the Class 7A championship that features a rematch from 2020 and one of the wildest games ever. Thompson scoring 10 points in the final 18 seconds to beat Auburn, 29-28.

Ironically, Auburn coach Keith Etheredge led Oxford to a come-from-behind win the year before in Class 6A.

Games continue Thursday and Friday with the odd-number classifications playing Thursday and even-numbered classes on Friday. The girls’ Flag Football title game between Oxford and Auburn will be played Wednesday afternoon.

AHSAA Finals

ST. JAMES vs. PIEDMONT  (3A CHAMPIONSHIP)

Thursday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn University (11 a.m.)

2022 Records: Piedmont (12-2, top seed R6), St. James (11-2, top seed R3)
Playoff results: Piedmont def. Oakman., 61-0; Colbert Co., 42-20; Gordo, 27-14; Sylvania, 55-22;. St. James def. Walter Wellborn, 54-7; W.S. Neal, 42-21;. Thomasville, 40-15; Mobile Christian, 35-7
Championship records:St. James 0-0; Piedmont 5-1 (last - 2021, def. Montgomery Academy, 35-33)
Last meeting: :First meeting

Key stats: St. James held Mobile Christian to 55 yards rushing in last week’s win. Conner Harrison became the school’s all-time rushing leader with his 165-yard performance.

Key players: Piedmont: QB Jack Hayes (Sr.) - 3,187 yards/37 TDs passing and 1,378 yards/19 TDs rushing; LB Brody Epps (Sr.) - 113 tackles/11 TFL/6 Sacks; STJ: KJ Jackson (Sr.) - 2,484 yards/37 TDs passing; RB Conner Harrison (Sr.) - 1,524 yards/20 TDs rushing; LB Wils Johnson (So.) - 114 tackles/12 TFL.; LB Tucker Williams (Sr.) - 99 tackles; DE AJ Alozie (Sr.) - 73 tackles/13 TFL/6.5 sacks

The skinny: To prep for this game, one has to wonder what it will take to knock a king off the throne. Piedmont, under Steve Smith, has won five titles and in each case has depended on a player named “Hayes” and this team is no different. Jack Hayes owns several AHSAA records after spending the last four years on the Piedmont squad. There is nothing sneaky about how the Bulldogs go about their offense. In most cases, it’s Hayes left and Hayes right. It works. He is also a pretty good passer having thrown for a state record 10,994 yards in his career. Ironically, Montgomery Academy had them right where you would want them in last year’s title game but couldn’t hold the lead. The Eagles led 21-0 at one point and 23 points at the half but the brute straight-forward running game would lead to open receivers when the Eagles crowded the line, allowing the Piedmont passing game to flourish, that is when it needed to. Hayes led the rushing attack to another Piedmont title. One would think Jimmy Perry has an answer. It’s not like he needs a road map to figure this out. He has been at this a while and probably had a good idea a few weeks ago that if his Trojans made the championship game, Piedmont would be waiting. No, it’s doubtful his coaching staff had been working too much on a plan to beat the defending champs until this week but he probably spent a few nights sitting up crafting ideas on what he believes would work Now he has that chance to see if he has the code to crack the Bulldogs. It is hard not to compare what the Trojans face versus what both MA and Catholic did at this point in the last two years. Yes, Catholic played a different team in Fyffe but the approach was similar. Ironically, St. James has a somewhat similar makeup with Harrison carrying the ball. KJ Jackson will make plays and that might be the difference. But it comes down to whether or not the STJ defense can make a stop when it needs it and that was something neither Catholic or MA could do. That said, there is faith in the Trojans. They have the blueprint from the last two seasons. Somehow, some way, they get it done and bring home a blue trophy.

PREDICTION: St. James, 31-30

SUPER 7 (Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn University)

Pickens County vs Leroy (1A/Thursday, 3 p.m.) - Leroy hasn’t won a state title since 2010 while Pickens County has won since 2013, losing in the last three trips to the championship. Michael Williams was the head coach the last time PCHS lost while Jason Massey was the coach the last time Leroy made a final in 2017 (2A). Hard to figure who might have the advantage. It’s a toss up but the south team has won seven of the last eight titles. That’s good enough reason to pick the Bears. Leroy, 25-21.

Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer (2A/Friday, 3 p.m.) - Would we dare pick against the Red Devils. They have won five titles and not lost a championship game since 2015. But don’t sleep on the Tigers, who have the best team in school history. Still, it’s hard to pick against a team that makes it a habit to be in the title game nearly every year.  Fyffe, 32-20.

Andalusia vs. Cherokee County (4A/Friday, 11 a.m.) - Andalusia and Catholic were considered the top two teams in 4A all year. There is no reason to think that won’t prove to be true in the championship game. Bulldogs win a first state championship since 1977 and second overall. Andy, 28-21.

Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson (5A/Thursday, 7 p.m.) - Six years ago, Ramsay won one of the most thrilling championship games over Opelika in Super 7 history. They haven’t done much since, making the semis just once. The Trojans have endured a long drought being shut out of the post season the last two years but could be considered the surprise of the Super 7 this year. The Chucks haven’t exactly dominated their playoff opponents but have figured out ways to win. That’s good enough to make them the pick. Charles Henderson, 22-17.

Saraland vs. Mountain Brook (6A/Friday, 7 p.m.) - Mountain Brook has been a no show in the championship game since it lost to Jeff Davis in 1996 under Joey Jones. Their only titles came back in 1965-76 when former Alabama great Major Ogilvie led them to back-to-back championships. For Birmingham old-timers, it’s the feel-good story of the season. Saraland has fought through a difficult schedule both in regular season and in the playoffs. No reason to think they are not ready for Friday. Saraland, 31-20.

Auburn vs. Thompson (7A/Wednesday, 7 p.m.) - The last time these two teams faced off, chaos ensued in the last few seconds of the game. It will go down as one of the wildest finishes in high school football history. Don’t think that game (see above) has left the memories of Auburn’s fans and players, some of who were on the sidelines when Thompson came back to win. There is one big difference in this one - Keith Etheredge. He is a championship coach and has enough talent to pull off what some believe would be an upset. Not so, Auburn is the better team and wins its first state title. Auburn, 28-24.

RECORD: Last week 7-5; Season 206-64 (.763)