PREP CAPSULES (First Round): Second season arrives with hope for all
STAFF REPORT
Second season enters like a flash with the ideas of raising hopes among several teams in the River Region.
The reality is only a handful of teams will make it past this weekend but a few more have what it takes to make a run.
There are opportunities for a couple of upsets this week. And there might be a team or two that enters Friday’s matchup and doesn’t play their best and watches it all come crashing down.
A lot of statements with few details but that’s the playoffs. It’s too difficult to predict.
Week 10/Season Top 5 Performances
TRISTIN BLACKMON (Prattville) - Rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ final game of the season, defeating JAG..
WHIT HOLLY (Lowndes Academy) - Rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Hooper Academy.
GAGE DAVIS (Elmore County) - Passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Chilton County.
MILES KHATRI (Pike Road) - Completed the season with 74 tackles, six sacks including 17 for loss and an interception for the Patriots this season.
CALEB MASSEY (Billingsley) - Finished with 146 total tackles and 18 for loss for the Bears this season.
AHSAA and AISA First Round
All games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
McGILL-TOOLEN at PIKE ROAD (6A)
Patriot Stadium
2025 Records: Pike Road (8-2), McGill-Toolen (6-4)
Series: Pike Road leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2021 - Pike Road, 76-51 (regular season)
Next week: Winner faces either Bessemer City or Helena
Key Numbers: Pike Road has allowed just 8.1 points defensively per game with three shut outs and allowed seven or less points in three other games.
The skinny: Pike Road is poised to make it past the semifinals, which is where their quest for a state title ended the last two years. Saraland has stood in the way each time. But they are down the line and the Patriots have work to do to give themselves another shot. Based on what the McGill-Toolen has done to this point, there is little reason to think an upset is in the offing for the first round. The Yellow Jackets did win their last five games averaging 37 points on offense. But the Patriots are nearly impossible to score on. Don’t expect these two teams to combine for 127 points like they did the last time they met but the outcome will be the same.
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 35-13
CITRONELLE at CATHOLIC (5A)
Knights Field
2025 Records: Catholic (6-4), Citronelle (5-5)
Series: Catholic leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2024 - Catholic won, 43-0 (2nd Round)
Next week: Winners face either Valley or Shelby County
Key Stats: Catholic has won seven straight region titles and eight out of nine after the win last week.
The skinny: It’s too much to call it dilemma but it’s also concerning with what happens with the outcome. Catholic enters Friday’s game with a bit of a shadow hanging overhead. Due to the program’s success the last few years, as a private school, Catholic has been moving up in classification each of the last two realignments thanks to the Competitive Balance rule. This season, a win in the first round will move the Knights up to Class 6A. But don’t read that as a suggestion to lose, although there are teams that have done that to help their playoff situation in the past. Earlier in the season, it didn’t look like it would be a problem with Catholic faltering in three straight games, ending their long winning streak that spanned three seasons and creating some doubt the Knights would make the playoffs. Yet, they preceded to win five straight, earning their seventh consecutive region title. It set them up for what should be no less than a nice run and maybe more. Friday’s matchup won’t be easy. The Wildcats finished on a three-game winning streak to make the playoffs. Their losses have come to some of the top programs in the Mobile area. Catholic finished with one of the favorites in Class 7A, Vestavia Hills, losing their fourth game of the year. But that makes little difference this week. The Knights should win this one going away, even if it puts a damper on future scheduling.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 35-20
ELMORE COUNTY at DEMOPOLIS (5A)
Tigers Field
2025 Records: ECHS (7-3), Demopolis (6-4)
Series: Demopolis leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2022 - Demopolis won, 48-28 (1st Round)
Next Week: Winner faces either Williamson or Eufaula
Key Stat: Elmore has not won a first-round game since 2011, losing the last three times.
The skinny: It might not make much sense to pick the Panthers considering the history of the two programs. Demopolis has a couple of state titles to its credit and 30 straight trips to the playoffs. ECHS has had its moments but not to the extent of the Tigers. That said, the Panthers have been able to pick up key wins on the way to the second season. The playoffs have not been something the program has enjoyed with only 10 appearances since the turn of the century. But no worries, if there is a time to turn the fortunes around, it’s now, Panthers pull the upset and advance.
PREDICTION: Elmore County, 24-20
T.R. MILLER at TRINITY (3A)
Ragsdale-Boykin Field
2025 Records: Miller (6-4), Holtville (8-2)
Series: Miller leads, 4-3
Last meeting: 2024 - Miller won, 21-7 (2nd Round)
Next Week: Winner faces either Glenwood or Thomasville
Key Stat: Miller has won six titles but none since 2002. Trinity is making its eighth consecutive playoff and have not lost a first-round game since 2019.
The skinny: The Trinity Wildcats have enjoyed a sparkling year that started with a lot of question marks. But after a loss to Reeltown in the second game, they figured out a few things and won six out of seven with the lone loss to Montgomery Academy. They’ve seen their point production increase while holding the last three opponents to 16 points or less. They face a team that eliminated them from the playoffs a year ago so throw in the revenge factor and it should be enough to advance. T.R. Miller has the history but the Wildcats have the better team this year.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 26-16
KEY GAMES
(7A) G.W. Carver at Thompson - Two teams met to start the season, a Thompson win. It’s hard to tell where these two teams are after three months but one thing is certain - Thompson plays its best when there a trophy to be had. That’s not good news for the Wolverines. THOMPSON, 31-14.
(6A) Stanhope Elmore at Theodore – The Mustangs have made it past the first round twice in the last 10 years. . The last time was two years ago when they beat Paul Bryant. If they can run the football with some consistency, they have a chance. Give them the benefit of the doubt… SE, 26-21.
(6A) Wetumpka at Saraland - Facing what most believe is the favorite to win the state title, the Indians will need to play a perfect game. That’s asking too much of a young team. SARALAND, 40-16.
(4A) Tallassee at American Christian - This one has a feel of a possible upset. But the Tigers have been too inconsistent to remove the doubt. ACA, 25-17.
(3A) Flomaton at Montgomery Academy – The Eagles should be solid enough all the way around to eliminate the Hurricanes… MA, 43-14.
(1A) Choctaw Academy at Autauga Academy - A year ago, in its first try in the AHSAA playoffs, the Generals fell short against Georgiana. This time, they get the job done. AA, 28-23.
(1A) Billingsley at Linden - The Bears are back in the playoffs but their time is short lived… LINDEN, 34-31
(AAA) Valiant Cross at Lowndes Academy - The Rebels look for a sixth-straight trip to the finals. They start off on the right foot… LOWNDES, 45-13.
(A) Springwood at Macon East - The Knights have been unstoppable all season. No reason to expect that to change in the “new” season. ME, 50-12.
THE REST
AISA: Chambers Aca over Ft. Dale, 45-15; South Choctaw over Crenshaw Christian, 31-13; Trinity Christian over Evangel Christian, 23-14; 7A: Central-PC over Hoover, 35-23; Vestavia Hills over Auburn, 28-24; Hewitt-Trussville over Opelika, 31-30; 6A: Benjamin Russell over Central-Tuscaloosa, 43-21; Russell County over Gulf Shores, 30-20; 5A: Andalusia over UMS-Wright, 25-21; Vigor over Ch. Henderson, 34-21; Williamson over Eufaula, 39-14; 4A: Handley over Bibb County, 35-21; Oak Grove over Bullock County, 26-20; 3A: Glenwood over Thomasville, 23-21; Lee-Scott over Hale County, 34-28; Bayside over Houston Academy, 20-13; 2A: Reeltown over Highland Home, 31-14; Goshen over Loachapoka, 33-13; Luverne over Central Coosa, 56-12; 1A: Maplesville over R.C. Hatch, 65-0; Brantley over McIntosh, 23-10; University Charter over Notasulga, 29-12.
SEASON COMPLETED: St. James; Prattville Christian; JAG; Percy Julian; Park Crossing; Prattville; Holtville; Marbury; Alabama Christian; Hooper Academy
RECORD: Last week 16-1; Season 166-45 (.787)