KICKOFF COUNTDOWN: With AHSAA Kickoff Classic absent, local teams open season at Cramton Bowl
For the first time since 2024, two city schools will meet on the opening weekend of high school football at Cramton Bowl. G.W. Carver will face Percy Julian on Friday. (File Photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
There is good news and bad news regarding the 2026 AHSAA Kickoff Classic this season.
The bad news - it will not be played at Cramton Bowl, the home of the series for the first 20 years.
The good news - the venue change for the event opened the door for two city schools to play their opener at the bowl on Friday.
Hence, out goes Thompson-Central-Phenix City. In comes G.W. Carver-Percy Julian.
“I got an E-mail early one morning and, I was like, the (Julian) game is canceled,” explained Carver coach Mario White.
“So, I was thinking, what happened? Nobody knew what happened. There was talk that we could play at (17) Springs (Millbrook). But 24 hours later, we were set to play at Cramton Bowl. That means so much to so many in the city of Montgomery. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Thompson will travel to Central-Phenix City on Thursday to play the first Kickoff Classic not held at Cramton Bowl. The series originated in 2006 and usually included two games.
This year’s classic has two games but one is a flag football matchup with Catholic traveling to Central on Thursday. It will be played prior to Thompson-Central.
The reason why the annual Kickoff Classic moved out of Montgomery and to a home field this season? Executive director Heath Harmon did his best to explain during a recent interview with River Region Sports.
“(It’s) great you asked that,” he said. “One of the first conversations about the Kickoff Classic was we couldn’t find teams to play. And I said we are going to find teams to play. I believe in it and I believe in bringing teams to Montgomery.
"But we ran up against things (this year) that kept us from (playing in Montgomery) but we are definitely looking to re-invision that game because there is nothing more than I want to do than play at Cramton bowl, bring teams into that type of experience. It serves a different purpose.”
Carver played in the Classic in 2024, beating Vestavia Hills, 41-19. Julian has not played an opener at Cramton Bowl since its name change and the former R.E. Lee never played in the Classic and last played an opener at the bowl in 2015 when the Kickoff Classic was played a week prior to the start of the regular season.
Julian has a new coach in Fred Farrier will make his debut against Carver with the Phoenix.
“What I know about these guys is we have some very talented young men who love football and we have some guys that want to win football games, and we have guys who want to be successful in life,” he said. “I am excited to get an opportunity to contribute to that. We are going to equip these guys with fundamentals and tools to be successful every Friday night.”
Farrier was familiar with Cramton Bowl from several stops he made before taking the Julian job. He had coached at nine different places including Kentucky State, Morgan State where he was head coach. He got his start as a grad assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State in 1999.
White was reminiscent when discussing a couple of his appearances, including the last time he coached at the bowl before taking over at Carver last season.
“My first time was the (AISA) championship game (as coach at Pike Liberal Arts) and now it's my home field,” he said. “I love being there, I love the atmosphere, and we're excited.”
Kickoff is Friday at 7 p.m.