PRESS PICKS: Catholic looks to make history in Super 7
STAFF REPORT
No matter what happens on Thursday, Montgomery Catholic has already made history.
In so many ways, the entry in the Super 7 and the Class 3A state championship game was a long time coming.
The Knights have been moving toward this level of play for the last couple of years under Aubrey Blackwell, who learned his high school football from another championship coach in Jimmy Perry.
If the Knights win the championship on Thursday, they will have earned it against what has become one of the top high school programs in the state. Fyffe has won five championships, all in 1A and 2A. The Red Devils made the move up to 3A this year and promptly beat last year’s champion in Piedmont in the semifinals.
The last time a Capital City Conference team made it this far was in 2003 when Trinity reached the 4A championship. The Wildcats faced long-time power Deshler in the finals. Few gave the local team a shot.
But the Wildcats really weren’t challenged in the 24-14 win over the Tigers. Quarterback Rory McKean was the difference, tying a Super 6 record at the time with two touchdown passes, both to Tommy Trott.
Catholic will need a solid performance from its offense against a team that will be proficient on both sides of the ball. Last year, Fyffe manhandled a very good team in Reeltown, 56-7.
The Devils haven’t lost in 44 straight games. They haven’t lost a playoff games since 2017 in the quarterfinals against Sulligent.
It might sound like a tough hill but most thought the same back in ’03 when Trinity reached the summit. No reason to think the Knights can’t find the same magic on Thursday.
Doug Amos has maintained his lead in what is now an extended season. He continues on top of the panel standings.
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Doug Amos 153-56 (9-3) .732
2. Graham Dunn 148-61 (10-2) .708
3. Tim Gayle 144-65 (9-3) .689
Michael Butler 144-65 (10-2) .689
5. Rick Hendrick 141-68 (9-3) .675
6. Barry McKnight 140-69 (8-4) .670
7. Mike Peacock 139-70 (9-3) .665
8. Darrell Puckett 138-71 (10-2) .665
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
153-56 (9-3) .732
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Catholic
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Spanish Fort
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Handley
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Wisconsin
West Va at Iowa St – Iowa St
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
148-61 (10-2) .708
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Spanish Fort
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Gordo
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Texas A&M
Troy at South Alabama – South Alabama
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Wisconsin
West Va at Iowa St – Iowa St
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
144-65 (9-3) .689
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Pinson Valley
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Gordo
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Texas A&M
Troy at South Alabama – South Alabama
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Wisconsin
West Va at Iowa St – Iowa St
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
141-68 (9-3) .675
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Catholic
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley - Spanish Fort
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Gordo
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Texas A&M
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Arkansas
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Indiana
West Va at Iowa St – West Va
Texas at Kansas St – Kansas St
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Liberty
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
140-69 (8-4) .670
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Spanish Fort
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Gordo
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Indiana
West Va at Iowa St – West Va
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
144-65 (10-2) .689
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Pinson Valley
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Handley
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Wisconsin
West Va at Iowa St – Iowa St
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Liberty
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
139-70 (9-3) .665
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Thompson
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Spanish Fort
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Handley
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Indiana
West Va at Iowa St – Iowa St
Texas at Kansas St - Texas
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina
Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
138-71 (10-2) .665
3A: Catholic vs. Fyffe – Fyffe
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn – Auburn
6A: Spanish Fort vs Pinson Valley – Pinson Valley
4A: Gordo vs Handley - Gordo
Alabama at LSU – Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at South Alabama - Troy
Florida at Tennessee – Florida
Arkansas at Missouri – Missouri
South Carolina at Kentucky - Kentucky
Ohio St at Michigan St – Ohio St
Indiana at Wisconsin – Indiana
West Va at Iowa St – West Va
Texas at Kansas St – Kansas St
Liberty at Coastal Carolina – Liberty