Field set for AHSAA high school football playoffs

A total of 208 high school football teams earned berths in the AHSAA 58th annual State Football Playoffs.

The games start 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 AHSAA said.

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).

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).

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)

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