MONTGOMERY – A total of 208 high school football teams earned berths in the AHSAA 58th annual State Football Playoffs which get underway next week with 28 first-round games scheduled for Thursday night, November 9. The remaining 76 games will be played Friday, November 11.
The big shift in Thursday games is mainly due to next weekend being the Veterans Day holiday weekend with many schools closing on Friday.
The first round will include 16 games in each of the first six classifications and eight in Class 7A. The state playoffs will culminate December 6-7-8 at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium with the 2022 Super 7 State Football Championships. Also scheduled for that week will be two AHSAA Flag Football championships. The girls’ finals for 1A/5A will be at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 6, and the 6A/7A finals at 3 p.m. The Class 7A boys’ Super 7 championship game will close out the first day’s action at the Super 7 Championships.
All seven defending state champions and 2023 state runner-up teams are among the schools vying to reach the state finals. The defending champs include Leroy (1A); Fyffe (2A); Saint James (3A); Andalusia (4A); Ramsay (5A); Saraland (6A); and four-time defending state champion Thompson (7A).
The seven runners-up from 2022 back in the playoff hunt in round one include: Pickens County (1A); B.B. Comer (2A); Piedmont (3A); Cherokee County (4A); Charles Henderson (5A); Mountain Brook (6A); and Auburn (7A).
AHSAA TV Network executive producer Vince Earley of WOTM TV announced the AHSAA TV Network/WOTM TV Game of the Week for the first round will be a Class 5A batted at Lineville featuring UMS-Wright (6-4) versus Central of Clay County (10-0). This game pits the state’s top two winningest prep coaches against each other. Terry Curtis, who became the AHSAA’s all-time leader in 2022, comes in with a 359-97 career record. Central head coach Danny Horn moved into the number two spot this season passing now retired long-time wins leader Buddy Anderson of Vestavia Hills. Horn’s career mark is 350-96-0. Combined, the two coaches had 709 wins, only 193 losses and a sterling 78.6% winning percentage. The pair also have the distinction of sharing the AHSAA state record for most stat titles coached. Each have eight.
Mark Freeman, who tied the AHSAA state coaching record (4) set by Rush Propst at Hoover (2002-2005) for consecutive state titles last season with Thompson’s 49-24 victory over Auburn in the 2022 Class 7A finals, has coached six state championship teams in the AHSAA (four at Thompson, two at Spanish Fort) and coached four at non-AHSAA team Bessemer Academy in the AISA giving him 10 state titles overall. He comes into this year’s playoffs with a 255-56 career record – 15 years in the AHSAA and 10 in the AISA.
Paul Benefield, Fyffe’s legendary Hall of Fame coach who became just the second AHSAA football coach in history to record 300 wins at one school, comes into the Class 2A playoffs with a 345-56-0 overall record and a state-leading 86.0% winning percentage for coaches with more than 400 games. He is also one win shy of tying Anderson for third-most wins in AHSAA history. Anderson, who spent his entire coaching career at Vestavia Hills, is the only other coach in state history to record 300 wins at the same school.
A second small-school Game of the Week, which will be shown on a delayed basis over the AHSAA TV Network, features B.B. Comer (10-0) and Washington County (4-6) at Sylacauga Friday night.
Approximately 75 games are expected to be aired live over the NFHS Network’s school broadcast program this week.
AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs set the official brackets Saturday morning for the first round with a meeting attended by all 208 participating schools at Alabama State University’s Abernathy Auditorium. The meeting was live-streamed over the NFHS Network and WOTM.tv with Susan Carothers, host of AHSAA TV Weekly, coordinating interviews with the coaches’ meeting and announced the pairings live. The show can be seen on a delayed basis at www.nfhs.com or www.wotm.tv
A total of 20 teams in this year’s field head into the state playoffs undefeated. Leroy (9-0) comes in with a 15-game winning streak dating back to the last game of the 2022 regular season.
Unbeaten teams entering the playoffs include: (Class 1A) Leroy (9-0); Elba (10-0); Loachapoka (9-0); (Class 2A) B.B. Comer (10-0); Reeltown (9-0); Locust Fork (10-0); (Class 3A) Mobile Christian (10-0); Lauderdale County (10-0); Madison Academy (10-0); (Class 4A) Montgomery Catholic (10-0); Jackson (9-0); West Morgan (10-0); (Class 5A) Gulf Sores (10-0); Central, Clay County (10-0); (Class 6A) Saraland (10-0); Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (10-0); Clay-Chalkville (10-0); Muscle Shoals (9-0); and (Class 7A) Mary Montgomery (10-0) and Central-Phenix City (9-0).
The first-round playoff pairings are listed.
AHSAA 2023 STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS
(First round games Nov. 10 unless otherwise noted; other playoff rounds
are Nov. 17, Nov. 24, Dec. 1, and Super 7 Championships at Tuscaloosa, Dec. 6-7-8)
CLASS 1A
South
R-4, No. 4: Calhoun (3-6) at R-1, No.1: Leroy (9-0)
R-3, No. 3: Keith (6-3) at R-2, No.2: Georgiana (8-1)
R-1, No. 4: Southern Choctaw (4-6) at R-4, No. 1: Loachapoka (9-0), at Beulah HS, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-2, No. 3: Brantley (6-4) at R-3, No. 2: Linden(6-2)
R-2, No. 4: Florala (7-3) at R-3, No.1: Sweet Water (8-1)
R-1, No. 3: Choctaw County (5-3) at R-4, No.2: Maplesville (6-4), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-3, No. 4: University Charter School (5-4) at R-2, No. 1: Elba (10-0)
R-4, No. 3: Notasulga (5-4) at R-1, No. 2: Millry(8-2), Thursday, Nov. 9
North
R-8, No. 4: Shoals Christian (5-5) at R-5, No.1: Lynn (9-1)
R-7, No. 3: Coosa Christian (5-5) at R-6, No.2: Spring Garden (8-2)
R-5, No. 4: Marion County (5-5) at R-8, No. 1: Hackleburg (9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-6, No. 3: Ragland (6-4) at R-7, No. 2: Valley Head(7-3)
R-6, No. 4: Winterboro (5-5) at R-7, No.1: Decatur Heritage (9-1)
R-5, No. 3: Pickens County (7-3) at R-8, No. 2: Addison (8-2)
R-7, No. 4: Cedar Bluff (5-5) at R-6, No. 1: Wadley (9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-8, No. 3: Meek (6-4) at R-5, No. 2: South Lamar(7-3), Millport
CLASS 2A
South
R-4, No. 4: Vincent (6-4) at R-1, No.1: Clarke County (5-5), Grove Hill, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-3, No. 3: Goshen (8-2) at R-2, No.2: G.W. Long (7-3), Skipperville, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-1, No. 4: Washington County (4-6) at R-4, No. 1: B.B. Comer (10-0), Sylacauga
R-2, No. 3: Ariton (6-4) at R-3, No. 2: Highland Home(9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-2, No. 4: Wicksburg (5-5) at R-3, No.1: Reeltown (9-0)
R-1, No. 3: Chickasaw (5-5) at R-4, No.2: Thorsby (8-2), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-3, No. 4: Luverne (7-3) at R-2, No. 1: Cottonwood (8-1)
R-4, No. 3: Isabella (8-2) at R-1, No. 2: St. Luke’s Episcopal(6-4), Mobile, Thursday, Nov. 9
North
R-8, No. 4: Red Bay (6-4) at R-5, No.1: Tuscaloosa Academy (8-2)
R-7, No. 3: Collinsville (8-2) at R-6, No.2: Southeastern (6-3), Remlap
R-5, No. 4: Lamar County (7-3) at R-8, No. 1: Tanner (7-3), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-6, No. 3: Pleasant Valley (5-5) at R-7, No. 2: Pisgah (9-1)
R-6, No. 4: West End (5-5) at R-7, No.1: Fyffe (9-1)
R-5, No. 3: Aliceville (5-5) at R-8, No.2: Lexington (6-4)
R-7, No. 4: North Sand Mountain (5-5) at R-6, No. 1: Locust Fork (10-0)
R-8, No. 3: Hatton (7-3) at R-5, No. 2: Sulligent (8-2), Thursday, Nov. 9
CLASS 3A
South
R-4, No. 4: Beulah (4-6) at R-1, No.1: Mobile Christian (10-0)
R-3, No. 3: Alabama Christian (6-4) at R-2, No.2: Houston Academy (9-1), Dothan
R-1, No. 4: Flomaton (6-4) at R-4, No. 1: Walter Wellborn (7-3), Anniston
R-2, No. 3: Providence Christian (5-5) at R-3, No. 2: Trinity Presbyterian(9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-2, No. 4: Opp (4-6) at R-3, No.1: Saint James (8-2), Montgomery, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-1, No. 3: W.S. Neal (6-4) at R-4, No.2: Randolph County (9-1), Wedowee
R-3, No. 4: Southside-Selma (7-3) at R-2, No. 1: Straughn (9-1)
R-4, No. 3: Dadeville (4-4) at R-1, No. 2: Thomasville (8-1)
0
North
R-8, No. 4: Phil Campbell (4-6) at R-5, No.1: Gordo (9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-7, No. 3: Susan Moore (6-4) at R-6, No.2: Geraldine (9-1)
R-5, No. 4: Fayette County (6-4) at R-8, No. 1: Lauderdale County (10-0), Rogersville
R-6, No. 3: Piedmont (5-5) at R-7, No. 2: J.B. Pennington (8-2), Blountsville
R-6, No. 4: Hokes Bluff (5-5) at R-7, No.1: Madison Academy (10-0)
R-5, No. 3: Oakman (7-3) at R-8, No.2: Mars Hill Bible (9-1), Killen, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-7, No. 4: Vinemont (4-6) at R-6, No. 1: Sylvania (8-2)
R-8, No. 3: Colbert County (6-4) at R-5, No. 2: Winfield(9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
CLASS 4A
South
R-4, No. 4: Cleburne County (4-6) at R-1, No.1: Jackson (9-0)
R-3, No. 3: Sipsey Valley (6-4) at R-2, No.2: Andalusia (9-1)
R-1, No. 4: St. Michael Catholic (6-4) at R-4, No. 1: Handley (9-1), Roanoke
R-2, No. 3: B.T. Washington (6-4) at R-3, No. 2: American Christian (8-2), Tuscaloosa
R-2, No. 4: Montgomery Academy (4-6) at R-3, No.1: Bibb County (9-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-1, No. 3: Bayside Academy (8-2) at R-4, No.2: Jacksonville (8-2)
R-3, No. 4: West Blocton (6-4) at R-2, No. 1: Montgomery Catholic (10-0)
R-4, No. 3: Anniston (6-3) at R-1, No. 2: T.R. Miller (7-3), Brewton
North
R-8, No. 4: Priceville (4-6) at R-5, No.1: Dora (8-2)
R-7, No. 3: Brooks (6-4) at R-6, No.2: Oneonta (7-2)
R-5, No. 4: Oak Grove (6-4) at R-8, No. 1: Westminster Christian (8-2), Huntsville
R-6, No. 3: Fultondale (4-6) at R-7, No. 2: Deshler(7-3), Tuscumbia, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-6, No. 4: Etowah (3-7) at R-7, No.1: West Morgan (10-0), Trinity, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-5, No. 3: Corner (9-1) at R-8, No.2: Randolph (6-4), Huntsville
R-7, No. 4: Central-Florence (6-4) at R-6, No. 1: Cherokee County (9-1), Centre, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-8, No. 3: North Jackson (4-6) at R-5, No. 2: Haleyville (7-3)
CLASS 5A
South
R-4, No. 4: Beauregard (5-4) at R-1, No.1: Gulf Shores (10-0)
R-3, No. 3: Marbury (2-8) at R-2, No.2: Charles Henderson (6-3), Troy
R-1, No. 4: UMS-Wright (6-4) at R-4, No. 1: Central, Clay County (10-0), Lineville
R-2, No. 3: Headland (8-2) at R-3, No. 2: Holtville(7-3)
R-2, No. 4: Carroll (4-6) at R-3, No. 1: Demopolis (8-2), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-1, No. 3: B.C. Rain (7-3) at R-4, No. 2: Valley (7-3)
R-3, No. 4: Shelby County (2-8) at R-2, No. 1: Eufaula (7-3), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-4, No. 3: Elmore County (8-2) at R-1, No. 2: Faith Academy (7-3), Mobile
North
R-8, No. 4: West Point (5-5) at R-5, No. 1: Ramsay (8-2), Birmingham, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-7, No. 3: Arab (8-2) at R-6, No. 2: Leeds (8-2)
R-5, No. 4: Fairfield (4-6) at R-8, No. 1: Russellville (8-2)
R-6, No. 3: Moody (8-2) at R-7, No. 2: Scottsboro (8-2)
R-6, No. 4: Springville (5-5) at R-7, No.1: Guntersville (9-1)
R-5, No. 3: John Carroll Catholic (8-2) at R-8, No.2: Fairview (9-1)
R-7, No. 4: Boaz (5-5) at R-6, No. 1: Southside (8-2), Rainbow City
R-8, No. 3: Lawrence County (6-4) at R-5, No. 2: Pleasant Grove (8-1), Thursday, Nov. 9
CLASS 6A
South
R-4, No. 4: McAdory (6-4) at R-1, No.1: Saraland (10-0)
R-3, No. 3: Briarwood Christian (5-5) at R-2, No.2: Carver-Montgomery (7-3)
R-1, No. 4: St. Paul’s Episcopal (7-3) at R-4, No. 1: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (10-0)
R-2, No. 3: Wetumpka (5-5) at R-3, No. 2: Helena(8-2), Thursday, Nov. 9
R-2, No. 4: Sidney Lanier (5-5) at R-3, No.1: Benjamin Russell (8-2), Alex City, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-1, No. 3: Theodore (7-3) at R-4, No.2: Hueytown (7-3)
R-3, No. 4: Homewood (6-4) at R-2, No. 1: Pike Road (7-2)
R-4, No. 3: Bessemer City (5-5) at R-1, No. 2: Spanish Fort(8-2)
North
R-8, No. 4: Mae Jemison (3-7) at R-5, No.1: Parker (9-1), Birmingham, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-7, No. 3: Athens (8-2) at R-6, No.2: Oxford (8-2)
R-5, No. 4: Gardendale (3-7) at R-8, No. 1: Gadsden City (7-3)
R-6, No. 3: Center Point (7-3) at R-7, No. 2: Hartselle (8-2)
R-6, No. 4: Pinson Valley (4-5) at R-7, No. 1: Muscle Shoals (9-0)
R-5, No. 3: Mortimer Jordan (8-2) at R-8, No. 2: Fort Payne (6-4)
R-7, No. 4: Cullman (5-5) at R-6, No. 1: Clay-Chalkville (10-0)
R-8, No. 3: Buckhorn (6-4) at R-5, No. 2: Mountain Brook(7-3)
CLASS 7A
South
R-1, No. 4: Davidson (5-5) at R-2, No.1: Central-Phenix City (9-0)
R-2, No. 3: Auburn (8-2) at R-1, No.2: Baker (8-2), Mobile
R-2, No. 4: Dothan (8-2) at R-1, No. 1: Mary Montgomery (10-0), Semmes
R-1, No. 3: Daphne (6-4) at R-2, No. 2: Enterprise (8-2)
North
R-3, No. 4: Hoover (4-6) at R-4, No. 1: James Clemens (7-3), Madison
R-4, No. 3: Bob Jones (5-5) at R-3, No. 2: Hewitt-Trussville (7-3)
R-4, No. 4: Florence (6-4) at R-3, No. 1: Thompson (8-1), Alabaster, Thursday, Nov. 9
R-3, No. 3: Vestavia Hills (8-2) at R-4, No. 2: Austin(8-2), Decatur
AHSAA FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD
Week 10 Results
Class 7A
Baker 37, Mountain Brook 28
Central-Phenix City8 48, Prattville 7
Daphne 50, Hillcrest-Evergreen 18
Dothan 57, Johnson-Abernathy-Graetz (JAG) HS 12
Enterprise 56, Percy Julian 13
Fairhope 24, Briarwood Christian 14
Foley 38, Jackson-Olin 26
Huntsville 56, Hazel Green 13
Vestavia Hills 44, Helena 0
Saraland 70, McGill-Toolen Catholic 27
Spain Park 39, Pelham 0
Tuscaloosa County 42, Brookwood 14
Class 6A
Athens 41, Russellville 14
Baldwin County 43, Robertsdale 13
Benjamin Russell 35, Valley 19
Blount 26, Murphy 6
Buckhorn 17, Grissom 13
Chilton County 53, Marbury 18
Fort Payne 21, Cherokee County 14
Hartselle 35, Bob Jones 21
Homewood 38, Jasper 14
Hueytown 47, Gardendale 28
McAdory 35, Calera 31
Mortimer Jordan 14, Fultondale 13
Minor 28, Stanhope Elmore 21
Muscle Shoals 48, Sparkman 7
Northridge 21, Alma Bryant 18
Oxford 36, Jacksonville 7
Pike Road 29, B.T. Washington 16
Russell County 75, Greenville 43
Theodore 20, St. Paul’s Episcopal 10
Woodlawn 26, Shelby County 19
Class 5A
Beauregard 27, Lincoln 7
Boaz 48, Lee-Huntsville 14
Brewer 56, Danville 14
Carver-Birmingham 38, Cordova 26
Citronelle 35, Elberta 24
Demopolis 43, Paul Bryant 21
Douglas 56, North Sand Mountain 26
East Limestone 29, Mae Jemison 28
Elmore County 56, Jemison 6
Eufaula 27, Early County (GA) 24
Fairview 41, Randolph 7
Faith Academy 21, LeFlore 6
Gulf Shores 43, B.C. Rain 21
Guntersville 57, Albertville 16
Headland 42, Cottonwood 26
Holtville 54, Tallassee 18
John Carroll Catholic 44, Maplesville 7
Lawrence County 42, Wilson 8
Leeds 22, Center Point 0
Rehobeth 47, G.W. Long 3
Sardis 42, Hokes Bluff 20
Southside 45, Etowah 27
Springville 31, Pell City8 48
Sylacauga 32, Piedmont 31
UMS-Wright 20, Williamson 19
Vigor 46, Sidney Lanier 8
Class 4A
Bayside Academy 35, Alabama Christian 7
Central-Florence 49, Ardmore 21
Cleburne County 28, Walter Wellborn 22
Corner 40, Hayden 13
Dora 47, St. Clair County 27
Ft. Walton Beach (FL) at Orange Beach, cancelled
Hanceville 46, East Lawrence 26
Jackson 45, Davidson 14
Montevallo 41, Tarrant 21
Munford 35, Ashville 21
New Hope 28, Plainview 26
Oak Grove 57, Carbon Hill 7
Rogers 29, Lexington 26
Sipsey Valley 49, Northside 14
Slocomb 24, Geneva County 14
St. John Paul II Catholic 42, Elkmont 20
T.R. Miller 36, W.S. Neal 8
West Morgan 42, Haleyville 12
Wilcox Central 54, J.F. Shields 14
Class 3A
Colbert County 38, Sulligent 34
Cottage Hill Christian 25, St. Luke’s Episcopal 13
Excel 42, Southern Choctaw 6
Fayette County 51, Hamilton 33
Flomaton 63, Marengo 0
Geraldine 63, Hatton 6
Glencoe 48, West End 28
Gordo 58, Hale County 26
Houston Academy 10, Pike County 0
Lauderdale County 33, Brooks 3
Madison Academy 42, Westminster Christian 7
New Brockton 27, Northside Methodist 14
Oakman 69, Meek 26
Opp 50, Ashford 48 (3 OT)
Prattville Christiam 44, Monroe County 16
Randolph County 49, Ranburne 21
Saint James 49, Carroll 48 (OT)
Southside-Selma 50, Dallas County 18
Straughn 35, Providence Christian 14
Susan Moore 51, Cleveland 6
Thomasville 34, Clarke County 0
Vinemont 40, Holly Pond 24
Westbrook Christian 46, White Plains 16
Winfield 64, Lamar County 7
Class 2A
Collinsville 27, Valley Head 22
Fayetteville 47, Holy Spirit Catholic 12
Francis Marion 25, R.C. Hatch 6
Fyffe 21, Sylvania 10
Gaston 61, Brindlee Mountain 42
Horseshoe Bend 19, Beulah 10
Isabella 42, Keith 24
Jay (FL) 41, J.U. Blacksher 20
Mars Hull Bible at Linden, cancelled
Pataula Charter (GA) 54, Barbour County 8
Pike Liberal Arts 43, Calhoun 18
Pisgah 50, North Jackson 24
Red Bay 52, Phil Campbell 20
Samson 54, Red Level 32
Southeastern 35, Appalachian 7
Thorsby 55, Billingsley 20
Tuscaloosa Academy 39, Holt 16
Weaver 47, Pleasant Valley 0
Whitesburg Christian 44, Tharptown 0
Wicksburg 28, Dadeville 22 (OT)
Winston County 27, Fairview 6
Class 1A
Addison 44, Shoals Christian 6
Berry 34, Sumiton Christian 14
Brantley 55, Florala 47
Central-Coosa 58, Autaugaville 34
Cedar Bluff 45, Donoho 6
Choctaw County 24, University Charter School 16
Coosa Christian 49, Victory Christian 0
Elba 56, McKenzie 28
Decatur Heritage 21, Colbert Heights 20
Georgiana 61, Pleasant Home 0
Hackleburg 41, Cherokee 6
Houston County 48, Kinston 25
Leroy 49, Washington County 14
Linden at Central-Hayneville, cancelled
Lynn 56, Hubbertville 33
Pickens County 34, Marion County 15
South Lamar 56, Brilliant 0
Talladega County Central 24, Gaylesville 6
Verbena 1, A.L. Johnson 0, forfeit
Vina 42, Waterloo 32
Wadley 56, Woodland 21
Winterboro 24, Childersburg 20
Woodville 51, Asbury 7
208-Team Field set for First Round ofthe 58th AHSAA State Football Playoffs
