PREP CAPSULES (PLAYOFFS): Second season opens with hope for some, chance for others to prove they belong
STAFF REPORT
It’s the time of year that every coach and player prepared for in the last four months.
The playoff season brings another type of energy. For the best teams, a chance to prove they are of championship caliber. For those that started slow but ended with a bang, a chance to provide a new idea of what their team is made of. For those trying to cause the season to last one more week, a win would make the new season more special, no matter who the win comes against.
Yes, there were the “Three faces of Eve,” but this is the “three faces of the playoffs.” You could pick where teach team in the River Region belongs, but it comes down to who survives each week. As for Week 1, chances to advance for the top teams are almost guaranteed while those traveling will have their hands full.
Yes, teams like Montgomery Catholic and St. James should win with relative ease while others such as Wetumpka, Sidney Lanier and Montgomery Academy will need better efforts if their season is to be extended another week.
There are a few games that - on the surface - may not provide any angst but a deeper look might say otherwise. G.W. Carver is looking to stop a first-round skid of losses that goes back six years (four defeats) culminated by last year’s debacle in a loss to St. Paul’s. The Wolverines have an opponent with a traditional name in Briarwood but hasn’t lived up to it in the last few years.
Wetumpka faces a relative newcomer in Helena and, most certainly, the Indians have a better history. But the Huskies have been challenged this season and will be a handful for the visiting Indians.
In AISA, teams are one step away from a trip to Cramton Bowl and the state championships next week. Lowndes Academy seems to be a lock, as does Glenwood. Both teams are looking to win consecutive titles. The other games might be too hard to predict.
Several games have been moved to Thursday thanks to the Veterans Day holiday on Friday. Also, forecasts in many parts of the state of Alabama are calling for rain. So, as the old saying goes, check local listings.
AHSAA 1ST ROUND/AISA SEMIFINALS
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN at G.W. CARVER
CLASS 6A
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2023 Records: Briarwood (5-5, 3 seed R3), Carver (7-3, 2 seed R2)
First round result: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Second round record: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Series: Tied, 1-1 (Last - 2009- Briarwood, 31-28, 2nd Rnd)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Saraland/McAdory
Key Fact: Briarwood, a five-time state champion, makes its first appearance in the post season since 2021… Carver has lost four straight first-round games dating back to 2018.
The skinny: The good news for the Wolverines is there is no cloud hanging over their heads leading into the first round of the playoffs, unlike last year when the team took the field against St. Paul’s down several players due to suspension from a fight during the win over Pike Road two weeks before the playoff opener. A much-lesser squad humiliated Carver last year and don’t think that isn’t on the minds of every player that was on the Cramton Bowl turf a year ago. But the downside is this team hasn’t played as consistently as last year and will need to find that for any type of run in the post season. Briarwood has not been the same program since long time head coach Fred Yancey retired in 2018. The program has not reached the third round since then. The fallback of “determination” on the Wolverines works to a point, but it will down to discipline. Avoid penalties and turnovers. Yep, it’s that time of year where every mistake is magnified and Carver has not handled that part of the game in the playoffs in a while. Is it asking too much to think they can this year? Maybe but here’s a hunch they play with a little more composure and break their first-round losing streak.
PREDICTION: Carver, 27-20
WETUMPKA at HELENA
Class 6A
Thursday at Huskie Stadium
2023 Records: Wetumpka (5-5, 3 seed R2); Helena (8-2, 2 seed R3)
First round result: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Second round record: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Series: Wetumpka, 3-1 (Last - 2021- Helena, 20-10, Regular season)
Next week: Winner faces either St. Paul’s or Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Key Fact: The two teams were regional opponents in 2016-17 and again in 2020-21.
The skinny: Neither team had a resounding finish to the season with Helena losing its last two games and Wetumpka losing two of its last three. Wetumpka did what it needed in the win over Sidney Lanier in Week 9 to earn a third seed. But after scoring in the 50s a couple of times, the offense has sputtered of late, being held to a single touchdown in two of the last three games. Helena isn’t exactly a world beater but did put together an eight-game winning streak before dropping the last two games, one of those to Benjamin Russsell decided the region title. The other was to Vestavia Hills, a 7A team that shut out its last three opponents. Helena is a relatively-young program but knows about Wetumpka since the two were region-mates for four years. The Indians own just one playoff win since Coach Tim Perry took them to the Class 6A championship game in 2018. They’ve lost four-straight post season contests and nothing from their play the last few weeks says that streak will end on Friday.
PREDICTION: Helena, 35-24
HOMEWOOD at PIKE ROAD
CLASS 6A
Friday at Patriot Field
2023 Records: Homewood (6-4, 4 seed R3), Pike Road (8-2, 1 seed R2)
First round result: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Second round record: Briarwood 23-3 (Last, 2021- Def. Ft. Payne, 35-12); Carver 14-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to St. Paul’s, 13-0)
Series: Homewood leads, 1-0 (2022 2nd Rnd, 24-21)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Spanish Fort/Bessemer City
Key Fact: Pike Road has not lost a first-round game since its first playoff game in 2018. Homewood is playing in its 12th straight playoff, having won five of its last six first-round games.
The skinny: The rematch from last year’s second round should give the Patriots a boost since they did not play up to their skill set that particular night. Pike Road has been in search of that spark that took them to the championship in 2021. This season, they have not lost since the first day of September and provided a glimpse of its capabilities in the win over Carver a few weeks ago. But the cracks may have shown a week later in a close win over B.T. Washington. So, which team will show up? Homewood had the only region win over the champ, Ben Russell, but could not beat the two other teams in front of them in Helena and Briarwood Christian. Pike Road looks to have a little better roster but will need to play with a little more fire than it did a week ago. Here’s betting they do.
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 24-17
HEADLAND at HOLTVILLE
CLASS 5A
Friday at Boykin-Chapman Field
2023 Records: Headland (8-2, 3 seed R2), Holtville (7-3, 2 seed R3)
First round record: Headland 4-8 (Last, 2022 - Lost to UMS-Wright, 56-13); Holtville 5-17 (Last, 2022 - Lost to Clay-Central, 50-0)
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winners faces winner of Central-Clay County/UMS-Wright
Key Fact: Holtville has not won a first-round game since 1993 (10 appearances). While Headland has four first-round wins, it has never gotten past the second round.
The skinny: There are similarities in these two programs, at least when comparing playoff success (or failure as the case may be). Headland has been the whipping post of the Wiregrass for many years, losing at least eight games six times since 2008. Holtville has faced similar disappointment. The Bulldogs have not won a playoff game since 1993. Of course they’ve only made 10 appearances in that timeframe. But five of those have come in the last five seasons. And of those five, only one was at home (a loss to UMS-Wright in 2020). The Bulldogs didn’t exactly finish with a bang, losing big to region champ Demopolis and then dropping a game to rival Elmore County. The win over Tallassee may have healed a few wounds but will there be enough confidence to earn a win against the traveling Rams? The answer is… probably.
PREDICTION: Holtville, 35-27
ALABAMA CHRISTIAN at HOUSTON ACADEMY
CLASS 3A
Friday at Westgate Park, Dothan
2023 Records: ACA (6-4, 3 seed R3), HA (9-1, 2 seed R2)
First round record: ACA 9-11 (Last, 2022 - Def. Randolph, 62-30); HA 10-15 (Last, 2022 - Lost to Mobile Christian, 30-3)
Series: ACA leads, 5-4 (Last - 2003, HA, 30-14)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Mobile Christian/Beulah
Key Fact: Take out the 35 points given up to Straughn and Houston Academy allowed just 10 points per game. ACA gave up 34 and 35 points in the final two games of the season.
The skinny: If you want, let’s talk about the potential of the Eagles in this first-round matchup. ACA made adjustments as the season progressed. That played a part in winning games against Montgomery Academy and a potent Southside Selma team in the last few weeks of the season. Unfortunately, against the better competition, the Eagles have not fared as well offensively, scoring just six points against Trinity and seven against Bayside. They did manage 20 points against St. James but was unable to match the Trojans’ scoring frenzy. Houston Academy enters Friday’s game putting up almost 40 points per contest with their lowest output coming in. the last game of the season (a 10-0 win over Pike County). But there might be some question about the strength of opponents. The Raiders have beaten up a less-than-stellar region. Does ACA’s tougher schedule trump a potent offense? The heart says, ‘yes,’ but the head says ‘no.’ Raiders get the home-field win by a slim margin.
Prediction: Houston Academy, 39-33
JACKSON ACADEMY at LOWNDES ACADEMY
AISA Class A Semifinals
Friday at Mac Champion Stadium, Hayneville
2023 Records: JA (9-2, 2 seed R2), Lowndes (10-0, 1 seed R1)
Semifinal round record: JA 7-3 (Last, 2022 - Def. Crenshaw Christian, 22-6); Lowndes 8-6 (Last, 2022 - Def. Southern Aca, 35-0)
Series: Lowndes leads, 6-2 (Last - 2022 Class A Championship, Lowndes, 24-8)
Next week: Winner faces either Wilcox Academy or Southern Academy for Class A title at Cramton Bowl (Thursday, Nov. 16)
Key Fact: The two teams have met in the Class A championship game the last two seasons, both won by Lowndes Academy.
The skinny: Is the two-time defending champion ripe for an upset? Only if the team pulling it off can score. The old saying that defense travels is true to form. In this case, the Rebels are at home and provide a near-impossible wall against everybody they play. Consider, of the 11 games played, only four teams scored. Only one team - Patrician - scored more than once (14 points). Many of the points came in mop-up time. Three years ago, when the championship streak began, the expectations were “just make it to the title game. Last year it was repeating. This is it’s “three-peat” and dominate. They are one win away from part 1 of that happening.
PREDICTION: Lowndes Academy, 35-0
KEY GAMES
6A: Sidney Lanier at Benjamin Russell (Thurs)- The Poets finished the season on a three-game losing streak. The injuries have obviously taken a toll. It’s too much to expect an upset but don’t be surprised if they give all they have left in what would be the final game in school history. BEN RUSSELL, 33-27
5A: Elmore County at Faith Academy - The Panthers didn’t lose a game on the road this season (5-0). Faith ended the season on a four-game winning streak. The Rams have played a tougher schedule. That pays off for the win. FAITH, 28-20.
4A: Montgomery Academy at Bibb County (Thurs)- It could be considered that the Eagles are just glad to be here. But they want more than that. Unfortunately, they draw a tough opponent in Bibb County, which has given up a total of 16 points in the last four games. BCHS, 23-0.
4A: West Blocton at Catholic - Knights can name the score in this mismatch. CATHOLIC, 49-0.
3A: Providence Christian at Trinity (Thurs) - Providence gives up nearly four touchdowns per game which means the Wildcats should have a good offensive evening. TPS, 35-14.
3A: Opp at St. James (Thurs) - St. James begins its quest to go for back-to-back championships. The Trojans get off to a good start STJ, 35-18.
AAA semis: Autauga Academy at Glenwood: Autauga has enjoyed a successful season but they face the odds-on favorite to win it all. GLENWOOD, 35-15.
THE REST
5A: Charles Henderson over Marbury, 45-13; 4A: American Christian over BT Washington, 35-31; 2A (Thurs): Highland Home over Ariton, 40-10; 1A (Thurs): Loachapoka over Southern Choctaw, 34-22; Millry over Notasulga, 32-19; 2A: Reeltown over Wicksburg, 47-12; Luverne over Cottowood, 27-25; 1A: Leroy over Calhoun, 35-12; AISA AAA Semis: Lee-Scott over Ft Dale Academy, 35-21; AISA AA Semis: Chambers Aca over Patrician, 31-27; Banks Academy over Clarke Prep, 39-23; AISA A Semis: Southern Academy over Wilcox Academy, 23-22; AISA 8-man Semis: Cornerstone over North River, 45-35; Springwood over Southern, 50-40.
SEASON COMPLETED: Park Crossing; Valiant Cross; JAG; P. Julian; Prattville; Stanhope Elmore; Tallassee; Prattville Christian; Autaugaville; Billingsley; Edgewood Academy; Hooper Academy; Macon East; Evangel Christian
RECORD: Last week 20-0; Season 179-32 (.848)