PREP CAPSULES (3rd Round/AISA Finals): Champions to be crowned at Cramton Bowl; AHSAA hits the quarters

STAFF REPORT

Not that it wasn’t already… it gets real interesting as of this week.

The third round of the AHSAA playoffs arrive while the AISA will crown its three champions this Thursday at Cramton Bowl.

The tradition of “Championship Thursday” brings a couple of River Region teams in with Lowndes Academy looking to win its first Class AAA title while Macon East is back to try to earn a Class A championship, or 8-man. The Knights face Escambia Academy while Lowndes takes on Chambers Academy.

Also the Class 2A championship will be sandwiched in between with South Choctaw Academy facing Abbeville Christian.

There are a couple of rematches among AHSAA teams. Pike Road will face Saraland for a third time in as many years while Thompson and Central-Phenix City face off in a rematch of the last two state championships in 7A. This time they meet in the semis in Phenix City.

Bullock tries to make more program history with a win over St. Michael. Bullock won just its second playoff game in school history last week.

Of the seven defending state champions, only Parker has been eliminated. That happened last week at the hands of Muscle Shoals in Class 6A.

AHSAA Quarterfinal Round/AISA Finals

All AHSAA games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise

SARALAND at PIKE ROAD (6A)

Patriot Stadium

2025 Records: Pike Road (10-2), Saraland (11-0)
Playoff results: Pike Road def. McGill-Toolen, 28-10; Bessemer City, 28-6; Saraland def. Wetumpka, 49-24; Spain Park, 35-31
Series: Saraland leads, 2-0
Last meeting: 2024 - Saraland, 47-12 (semifinal round)
Next week: Winner faces either Benjamin Russell or Hueytown

Key Numbers: Pike Road has given up a total of 29 points in the last six games, which includes two shut outs.

The skinny: They meet again. For the third-straight year, the Patriots and Spartans battle in the 6A playoffs. Saraland has won both of the previous meetings and neither has been particularly close. This one is a round earlier, if that matters. For the Patriots, they probably hope so although due to the health of a couple key players, Braylon Outlaw and Jordan Holmes, they might need an extra week. Pike Road won last week thanks in part to Miles Khatri, who took up the offensive slack with two early touchdowns to lift his team to the win. With all things being equal, it would be better if all hands were on deck to face what most say is the team to beat for the 6A crown. Saraland has reached the finals the last three years but has just one title (2022) to show for it. Spain Park came as close as anyone to beating them, with a four-point scare a week ago. The Spartans have to know the Patriots are gunning for them after being eliminated the last two seasons. Still, to “be the man, you have to beat the man.” So until that happens, go with Saraland.

PREDICTION: Saraland, 24-20

MONTGOMERY ACADEMY at BAYSIDE ACADEMY (3A)

Freedom Field, Daphne

2025 Records: Bayside (11-1), MA (11-1)

Playoff results: MA def. Flomaton, 42-0; Lee-Scott, 38-0; Bayside def. Houston Aca, 46-7; Randolph Co., 47-7

Series: Bayside leads, 2-1 (Last - 2019, MA,, 26-13 (1st Round)
Next week: Winner faces either Southside-Selma or Glenwood
Key Stats: MA had not recorded a shut out in the playoffs since 2021 (T.R. MIller). They have two so far in this year’s playoffs.

The skinny: It is scary how similar these two teams are. From the records to the statistics, it’s hard to tell these two apart. The Eagles have scored a few more points and give up a few less but not enough to make a difference in comparison. The competition also looks like a wash with the Admirals losing their one game to St. Michael, one of the favorites to win the Class 4A title, while MA lost to Luverne, a favorite in Class 2A. The teams have two common opponents, both won those games by almost identical scores. Bayside has the homefield advantage but MA has not had any problems winning on the road. Bayside will have equal amount of talent but the money here is on the Eagles. In a close one…

PREDICTION: MA, 31-28

WILLIAMSON at CATHOLIC (5A)

Knights Field

2025 Records: Catholic (8-4), Williamson (11-0)

Playoff results: Catholic def. Citronelle, 31-8; Shelby County, 38-15; Williamson def. Eufaula, 50-14; Elmore County, 42-14

Series: Catholic leads, 1-0 (Last - 2019, 24-6)

Next Week: Winner faces either Vigor or Clay County

Key Stat: Catholic has not lost a playoff game since Nov. 25, 2022 (Andalusia) and have not lost a quarterfinal game since 2019 (UMS-Wright)

The skinny: Class 5A football in south Alabama has been very good this season with Williamson and Vigor leading the way. Some say the Vigor program is on top but the Wolves lost to Williamson back in on Oct. 17 in overtime. Only recently, under second-year coach Antonio Coleman, has this program been competitive. You have to go back to 2007 to find them in the state championship hunt. The situation is far different for the Knights, who are looking for a third-straight title and a sixth-straight trip to the semifinals. The Lions are led by quarterback Alvin Dinkins who has over 2,600 yards passing with 29 touchdowns. The Knights have been solid on defense in their first two playoff games but this is a different animal. They might need to create a few turnovers and a short field to help their situation. It’s been a while since the program has been an underdog in the playoffs but Catholic is one this week. It’s close but Williamson advances.

PREDICTION: Williamson, 27-23

MACON EAST vs. ESCAMBIA ACADEMY (AISA A CHAMPIONSHIP/8-Man)

Thursday, Cramton Bowl, 12 p.m.

2025 Records: Macon East (12-0), Escambia (11-1)

Playoff results: Macon East def. Springwood, 50-14; Evangel Christian, 36-6; Escambia def. Snook, 56-8; Cornerstone Christian, 27-14

Series: Escambia leads, 6-1 (Last - Oct. 31, Macon East - 28-26)
Previous state championships: Escambia (2), 2014, 2017; Macon East (1), 2000

Last championship appearance: Macon East, 2024; Escambia Aca, 2021

Key Stat: Macon East has never finished a season with a perfect record. The closest they came was the Knights won a state championship in 2000 and in 1999, in each case finishing 12-1.

The skinny: The first meeting this season back on Halloween Night was a doozy with the Knights earning the close win. No doubt there is revenge on the minds of the Cougars, who are enjoying their best season since 2021 when they reached the Class AA championship under the late Hugh Fountain, who past away earlier this year. This has been an incredible reversal for Escambia, which finished 2-8 a year ago that included the forfeit of the final three games due to several injuries that reduced the roster to just 12 players. The school chose to forfeit the rest of the season, the first forfeitures in the history of the program. Macon East was in a simlar situation before last season with Glynn Lott electing at the last moment to drop to 8-man and it paid off with a berth in the championship. But the Knights were unable to slow down Cornerstone Christian, falling 52-12. The previous meeting was the lowest output for the Knights offense this season.. Ditto for Escambia, creating the thought that the better defense probably wins this matchup. But the Knights have championship experience, which leads to the idea that they win the title for the second time in school history.

PREDICTION: Macon East, 36-31

LOWNDES ACADEMY vs. CHAMBERS ACADEMY (AAA CHAMPIONSHIP)

Thursday, Cramton Bowl, 7 p.m.

2025 Records: LA (10-2), Chambers (11-2)

Playoff results: Lowndes def. Valiant Cross, 31-0; Banks Aca, 41-14; Chambers def. Snook, 56-8; Cornerstone Christian, 27-14

Series: Tied, 10-10 (Last - Sept. 26, Chambers - 26-0)
Previous state championships: Lowndes (5), 1968, 1997, 2021, 2022, 2023; Chambers (4), 2018, 2020, 2023, 2024

Last championship appearance: Lowndes, 2024; Chambers, 2024

Key Stat: This is Chambers’ third-straight trip to the finals and 12th overall in school history…. Lowndes is making its fifth straight trip to the finals, with last year’s trip in Class AA and the three prior to that in Class A.

The skinny: It might be simple to chalk this one up for Chambers considering the previous meeting. At the moment, the team from LaFayette looks to be the class of all of AISA football. They’ve been dominant the last three years, winning the title in ‘23 and ‘24 by an average of 30 points in the finals. In their last three games (including the playoffs) they have scored 153 points. They gave up 20-plus points twice but you wonder how many 8th and 9th graders were out on the field for the last quarter or two of those games. This will be a tall order for Lowndes, which has been salty themselves in the return of Speed Sampley to the helm. The defense has allowed just three total touchdowns in the last three games. If they are to win, it will take an even better effort on defense but they are certainly capable considering what they have done the last few years. The moment will not be too big. But Chambers has been here too and may have too many weapons for Lowndes to pull it off. But look for this one to be close. Chambers Academy makes it three in a row.

PREDICTION: Chambers Academy, 29-21

KEY GAMES

(AISA Class AA Champ.) South Choctaw Aca vs. Abbeville Christian (Thursday/3:30 p.m./Cramton Bowl) - Had you looked at the record of South Choctaw in September and saw the 3-3 mark, an eyebrow might have been raised. But then look at the name in the head coach’s slot and see Stacy Luker, and there was no reason to panic. The Rebels will earn a second-straight title against the upstart Generals. SOUTH CHOCTAW ACA, 28-14.

(7A semis) Opelika at Auburn – Two big rivals clash for the right to reach the Super 7. The two played a three-point game back in early September. Has anything changed? It looks as though Auburn has four more scoring. That may be the difference. AUBURN, 31-23.

(7A Semis) Thompson at Central-Phenix City - This will be the fifth time these two have met with all five in the finals. That means Thompson has never visited Garrett-Harrison Stadium, which isn’t an easy place to play even when the Red Devils aren’t very good. But that’s the catch - they are very good. Thompson has been scoring at will lately but it all ends on Friday. CENTRAL, 42-37.

(4A) Bullock County at St. Michael (Mobile) - With any remaining victory, Bullock County sets a record having never won a playoff gameprogram history. They made it number two last week. Alas, the streak comes to an end against what looks like one of the best teams in the class. ST. MICHAEL, 35-14.

(5A) Central-Clay County at Vigor (Pritchard) - Lot of tradition in this one with six combined championships between the two. But Vigor has more athletes and if the Wolves take care of the football, should advance. VIGOR, 28-17.

(2A) Reeltown at Providence Christian (Dothan) - The Eagles have been sneaky good this year. They are the lowest seed remaining in the playoffs (4th) and have advanced with close wins in the first two rounds. But Reeltown ends their “Cinderella” run. REELTOWN, 30-13.

(1A) Southern Choctaw at Maplesville - The Red Devils have shut out all but three of their 12 opponents and have six straight shutouts. The Indians may be good but this one is a no brainer… MAPLESVILLE, 35-0.

(2A) Lanett at Luverne - This might be the best matchup in the quarterfinals, regardless of classification. Lanett has been difficult to score on all season while Luverne has scored at will on everybody. The Tigers have also bee difficult to put points on the scoreboard. The two teams are 1-2 in 2A scoring defense. Glenn Daniel Stadium should be rocking… give Luverne the edge…. LUVERNE, 35-26.

THE REST

6A: Benjamin Russell over Hueytown, 22-20; Muscle Shoals over Mountain Brook, 27-21; 5A: Moody over Briarwood, 35-13; 4A: Jackson over W.S. Neal, 37-16; 3A Southside-Selma over Glenwood, 29-24; 1A: McKenzie over Leroy, 28-17.

SEASON COMPLETED: St. James; Prattville Christian; JAG; Percy Julian; Park Crossing; Prattville; Holtville; Marbury; Alabama Christian; Hooper Academy; Stanhope Elmore; G.W. Carver; Billingsley; Tallassee; Wetumpka; Trinity; Autauga Academy; Elmore County; Evangel Christian

RECORD: Last week 29-2; Season 225-51 (.815)