PREP CAPSULES (Week 9): Bids, seeding for playoffs coming down to cases
STAFF REPORT
Almost every team in the River Region enters the week having a good idea what their playoff situation holds. A few already know their fate, having either clinched a spot in the post season and in some cases, knowing their seeding.
A few more are playing for seeding while some are also after one of the final spots.
To break down…
Clinched playoff bid and a top two spot: Prattville, Pike Road, Montgomery Academy, Trinity, Marbury
Clinched playoff bid but still playing for seeding: G.W. Carver; Elmore County; Billingsley; Alabama Christian; St. James; Catholic
In the running for a playoff bid: Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore; Holtville; Tallassee
Note: AISA schools eight of top 10 teams make the playoffs and are seeded in two brackets.
There are games this week that will determine the seedings for many schools including Prattville looking to finish off a region title but needs a win over Vestavia Hills to clinch.
Trinity and Montgomery Academy face off for the Private A Region 2 title while Marbury still has a shot at the region championship with a win over Holtville and a Greenville win over Charles Henderson.
The annual battle between Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore will decide the final spot in Class 5A, Region 2.
Week 9
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise. Games times are subject to change without notice.
OPELIKA at G.W. CARVER (6A R3)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2026 Records: Opelika (4-3, 4-2), Carver (4-4, 3-2)
Series: Opelika leads, 18-4
Last year: Opelika won, 24-14
Last week: Opelika def. Smiths Station, 51-19; Central-Phenix City def. Carver, 56-7
Key Notes: Carver has given up a combined 114 points in the last two meetings to Central-PC.
The skinny: Carver has been in this position before. But thanks to the new playoff setup, this game will not decide if the Wolverines will be playing in the post season or sitting at home in a couple of weeks. Opelika has its ticket to the dance. Seeding is what matters at this point but Carver needs a win this week and next week against Enterprise to move to the third spot on the ladder. But there hasn’t been enough consistency to say the Wolverines can pull it off.
PREDICTION: Opelika, 27-20
VESTAVIA HILLS at PRATTVILLE (6A R3)
Friday at Stanley-Jensen Stadium
2026 Records: Prattville (8-0, 6-0), Vestavia Hills (7-0, 5-0)
Series: VH leads, 2-0
Last year: VH won, 56-21
Last week: Prattville def. Thompson, 28-27; Vestavia def. Hewitt-Trussville, 27-24
Key Notes: It might be hard to believe but Prattville’s last region title was in 2011. A win Friday ends that drought.
The skinny: The season has been one for the books for the Lions, taking old timers back to the early 2000s when they were the team to beat. Last week’s coronation all but made it complete. Almost… despite all the success, a region title is not secured. That will be the goal on Friday when the Rebels come to Stanley-Jensen. There is no reason to believe Prattville will drop the ball on this one. But do keep in mind how much of an emotional win beating Thompson was. It might set the Lions back a bit but it’s doubtful it will be enough to keep this team from finishing the first of a couple of goals. The newest champs in Region 3 will be…
PREDICTION: Prattville, 40-20
MONTGOMERY ACADEMY at TRINITY (Private A R2)
Friday at Carlisle Field
2026 Records: MA (8-0, 5-0), TPS (7-2, 5-0)
Series: Trinity leads, 27-23
Last year: MA won, 36-12
Last week: MA def. Ft Dale Aca, 50-0; Trinity def. Pike Liberal Arts, 46-8
Key Notes: The Montgomery Academy defense has pitched shutouts in four of the last five games and allowed a total of 14 points in the last six … Trinity has three shut outs of its own but has also been shut out twice…. Friday will be the 23rd time the two teams have met in region/area play and of those games six have decided the champion. In 1990 and ‘91, they were the only teams in the area. This game decided the region champ last year.
The skinny: Seemingly, this game was set up well before this Friday, considering how the two teams have played. Other than a couple of non-regional hiccups, Trinity has been flawless in building an impressive resume with an offense that has averaged 42 points in its last two wins, making this the best it has been all season. Then, there is Montgomery Academy, which has dominated nearly everybody on its schedule. Only Catholic has scored significantly, totaling 26 points in the second week of the season. There is plenty of talk about the MA offense but the Eagles’ defense has allowed a total of 40 points all season, half of which were to Catholic. All of this sounds like a mismatch but expect Trinity to make a run at this one. But in the end, the Eagles pull away for a region title, which would be their 21st in program history.
PREDICTION: MA, 32-14
CATHOLIC at ST. MICHAEL (Private AA R1)
Friday at The Nest, Fairhope
2026 Records: -St. Michael (5-3, 4-2); Catholic (5-4, 4-2)
Series: First meeting
Last week: McGill-Toolen def. Catholic, 16-14; St. Michael def. Glenwood, 48-27
Key Notes: St. Michael coach Phillip Rivers, is a former star quarterback who prepped at Athens High School before a successful stint at North Carolina State, earning the ACC Player of the Year award in 2003 (and later had his number retired by the school) before becoming a mainstay in the NFL where he played 18 seasons, eight of which he earned All-Pro status. He became the coach of the Cardinals in 2021, the first year of the program.
The skinny: The last leg of the brutal schedule for Catholic and we will see how this affects the Knights going forward. The last two games - a two-overtime loss to UMS-Wright and a last-second loss to McGill-Toolen - could send them one of two ways. Either it builds the character needed to endure a difficult stretch or deflates the success had before the two close losses. Either way, it doesn’t take away from the final test and its difficulties. St. Michael is a newcomer to the scene and has been very successful in its early stages. The Cardinals reached the semifinals the last two years, falling to EJ Crowell and Jackson High School in each case. But they have their own stars including Gunner Rivers, who will follow his dad’s footsteps and play at North Carolina State beginning next fall. There is a question of residual effect on the Knights heading into this one. Winner will be the third seed from the region in the playoffs. Home team will get the nod but only by a little.
PREDICTION: St. Michael, 27-24
KEY GAMES
Dothan at JAG (6A R2) (Thu) – A couple of 1-5 teams in region play looking to get to basketball season. JAG finishes outside of the cellar of the region. JAG, 22-14.
Wetumpka at Stanhope Elmore (5A R2) – The Mustangs have been playing much better of late, winning four straight. The Indians have lost three of four. Winner gets the region’s final playoff spot. Can’t argue with momentum. SE, 19-16.
Tallassee at Elmore County (4A R4) - Tallassee has found a mini-winning streak and there is an outside chance to make the playoffs. But odds are this is the finale for the Tigers. The Panthers have sewn up a post season bid but would like to build a little incentive for the playoffs. ECHS, 26-13.
Holtville at Marbury (4A R4) - Marbury is guaranteed a second seed and a home game in the first round. Holtville has all but run out of chances for the playoffs. MARBURY, 37-15.
Maplesville at Billingsley (1A R4) – Thanks to that Maplesville forfeit loss to McKenzie, both of these teams are playing for second place. Hard to go against the defending champs. MAPLESVILLE, 45-20.
Alabama Christian at Pike Liberal Arts (Private A R2) - First-ever meeting between two schools should be a tuneup for the Eagles’ playoff run. ACA, 31-13.
Lowndes Academy at Autauga Academy (AA) - It’s been 11 years since these two teams have met. Autauga has recorded two consecutive shutouts in the last couple of games. Lowndes has lost three straight. Math adds up to a Generals win. AA, 23-8.
THE REST
Benjamin Russell over P. Julian (Thurs), 39-6; Russell Co over Park Crossing, 30-16; Pike Road over Rehobeth, 45-10; Ft Dale over PCA, 25-21; Edgewood over Valiant Cross, 35-24; Hooper Aca over Southern Prep, 48-22; Macon East over Southern Christian (Opelika), 43-21; Coosa Christian over Evangel Christian, 52-26.
OPEN: St. James
RECORD: Last week 16-5; Season 133-44 (.751)