PREP CAPSULES (SEMIFINALS): Pike Road, Catholic, St. James one step away from Super 7
STAFF REPORT
One more step to Tuscaloosa.
That’s all that stands between three teams from the River Region and a trip to the Super 7.
All three have been to the title game in the last four years. Pike Road made it in 2021. Catholic was there the year before and St. James made its first trip to the final last season.
Of the three, Catholic is still looking for the state title. The irony for the Knights is they have been in the semifinals the last two years and faced a regional opponent. They do the same this year in Booker T. Washington-Tuskegee.
Pike Road faces another relatively new program in Saraland, which is the defending 6A champs. The two schools have never met.
St. James faces a familiar foe in Mobile Christian. The Leopards were the semifinal opponent of the Trojans last year.
The Super 7 Championships open next week and one River Region team has already qualified for the championships. Catholic’s flag football team will play for the Class 1A-5A title on Wednesday against Wenonah. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
AHSAA SEMIFINAL ROUND
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
PIKE ROAD at SARALAND
CLASS 6A
Friday at Spartan Stadium
2023 Records: Saraland (13-0, 1 seed R1), Pike Road (11-2, 1 seed R2)
Third round results: Saraland def. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 31-21; Pike Road def. Benjamin Russell, 31-28
Semifinal round record: Saraland 3-2 (Last, 2022- Def. Theodore, 21-6); Pike Road 1-0 (Last, 2021 - Def. Andalusia, 33-0 - Class 5A)
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winners faces either Parker or Clay-Chalkville in Class 6A finals on Friday, Dec. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Key Fact: Saraland has never had a perfect season, coming close last year at 14-1. The Spartans are also on the verge of reaching the championship round for the fourth time in their existence which began in 2010… Pike Road has only been around five years and is looking for its second berth in a title game.
The skinny: It might sound too simple but if Pike Road is to reach its second title game in three years, it has to figure out a way to slow down the juggernaut offense that is averaging -AVERAGING - 53 points per game. And the Spartans have done it against some solid competition. The closest anybody came to beating them was in the first game against Lipscomb out of Nashville, Tenn. That was a crazy one-point win that went down to the final minute. Otherwise, Saraland has been unstoppable. Does Pike Road have the mettle to do what no one else has been able to do? without getting too involved in game planning, it will come down to controlling the clock, playing keep-away and allowing the run game to slosh around (rain is expected this Friday) and milk the clock. Turnovers are a big “no no,” and the Patriots defense will need to find a turnover or two on its own to have a chance. It’s a lot to ask of a team that has done well to get to this point. Alas, it’s too much to expect against what some believe is the best team in the state, regardless of classification.
PREDICTION: Saraland, 45-20
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON at MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC
CLASS 4A
Friday at Knights Field
2023 Records: BTW (9-4, 3 seed R2), Catholic (13-0, 1 seed R2)
Third round result: BTW def. Jackson, 20-17; Catholic def. Jacksonville, 44-20
Semifinal round record: BTW 0-0; Catholic 1-3 (Last, 2022, Lost to Andalusia, 29-26)
Series: Catholic, 4-0 (Last - Sept. 8 - 56-6)
Next week: Winners faces either Cherokee County or Westminster Christian in Class 4A finals on Friday, Dec. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Key Fact: BTW has never played football this late in the year and has set several school records already, including winning nine games in a season for the first time. Catholic faces a regional foe in the semis for the third-straight season.
The skinny: Assumptions can be dangerous, especially considering the last time these two played back in September, a 50-point slaughter for the Knights. Sure, Catholic is expected to win this time but it might be too cavalier to expect a point differential of that magnitude. But expecting a BTW victory would also be. The Golden Eagles have faced plenty of high-classed challengers and have taken care of all of them. Of their three playoff victories, last week’s might have been the most incredible. A last-minute drive to win the game over Jackson with a fumble recovery in the end zone pushed BTW into the semifinals. Yes, there was some controversy (the scoreboard apparently malfunctioned during the drive). Give coach L.A. O’Neal credit for getting this team this far. But the scoreboard will be working perfectly this week and Catholic is expected to do more than enough to earn the first trip to the Super 7 since 2020 and its second trip overall.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 43-12
ST. JAMES at MOBILE CHRISTIAN
Class 3A
Friday at Harrison Field
2023 Records: Mobile Christian (13-0, 1 seed R1); St. James (11-2, 1 seed R3)
Third round result: Mobile Christian def. Trinity, 42-21; STJ def. Thomasville, 28-26
Semifinal round record: Mobile Christian 2-1 (Last, 2022-Lost to St. James, 35-7); STJ 1-0 (Last, 2022 - Def. Mobile Christian, 35-7)
Series: STJ, 1-0 (‘22 semifinals)
Next week: Winners faces either Madison Academy or Geraldine in Class 3A finals on Thursday, Dec. 7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium
Key Fact: Second straight opponent for the Trojans in which they faced last year in the playoffs. They eliminated Mobile Christian in the semis and Thomasville before that. The Leopards are looking for their first trip to the finals since 2016 and their first title since joining the AHSAA in 2006.
The skinny: This is a battle of two teams that put up big numbers offensively. Naturally this game will turn on who gets it done on defense. Last year, the Trojans didn’t need a lot of offense, holding the Leopards to just one score. Quarterback KJ Jackson threw for less than 100 yards but it didn’t matter as the STJ defense did the job, holding Mobile Christian to 130 yards in total offense. Entering Friday, Mobile Christian has allowed just seven points a game. Ironically, Trinity matched the largest output against the Leopards with 21 points. Damien Gatson is the counter to Jackson at quarterback, leading the Leopards to more than 42 points per game. Mobile Christian also has an advantage up front with several lineman topping 300 pounds. Is it too much for the Trojans to overcome? Not necessarily but don’t be surprised to see the Leopards come out firing and build an early lead, on the way to a close win over the Trojans.
PREDICTION: Mobile Christian, 44-35
KEY GAMES
2A: Reeltown at B.B. Comer- Lot of similarities between these two. They average about the same number of points. They give up almost the same amount. They have two common opponents and each beat both by close to the same margin. B.B. Comer won this matchup last year in the quarterfinals. It’s the Rebels’ turn to reach the final. REELTOWN, 31-28
1A: Elba at Leroy- Two programs with a long history of winning state titles. But usually in different classifications. This is just the third time the two have met. Both were first-round games and both won by Leroy and they were about a decade apart. Elba has been solid but Leroy almost impossible to score on. Go with the Bears in a squeaker. LEROY, 24-20.
THE REST
6A: Clay-Chalkville over Parker, 35-12, 55-21; 5A: Gulf Shores over Eufaula, 30-16; Ramsey over Guntersville, 25-18; 4A: Westminster over Cherokee Co, 35-30; Madison Academy over Geraldine, 40-21; 2A: Fyffe over Pisgah, 43-13; ; 1A: Pickens County over Coosa Christian, 23-20.
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; Marbury; Montgomery Academy; Sidney Lanier; Elmore County; Wetumpka; G.W. Carver; Lowndes Academy; Trinity
RECORD: Last week 11-2; Season 225-47 (.827)