FOOTBALL FRIDAY: Cramton Bowl slate set to begin Aug. 24 with AHSAA Kickoff
By GRAHAM DUNN
The football season opens with a rush at Cramton Bowl in 2023 with the opening weekend featuring three games, including the annual FCS Kickoff game on Saturday, Aug. 26.
The season opens with the annual AHSAA Kickoff Classic, a doubleheader with matchups between Selma and Beauregard on Thursday, Aug. 24, then Thompson and Opelika facing off the following Friday.
The annual FCS Kickoff completes the first weekend with North Alabama facing Mercer in a game televised by ESPN. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
The FCS Kickoff is one of three college games on the slate including the Camellia Bowl set for Saturday, Dec. 23. The annual Red Tails Classic will be played on Sunday, Sept. 3. Tuskegee will play host to Fort Valley State at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Local high school football begins play at the bowl on Aug. 31 when Opelika visits J.A.G. (aka Jeff Davis) on Thursday. Dothan comes to town on Friday, Sept. 1 to face Percy Julian, formerly Robert E. Lee, On Saturday at 11 a.m. Park Crossing will face Greenville.
A total of three Saturday games are scheduled among the high school ranks. In a rare twist of the schedule, the final week of the regular season (Nov. 3) no games are scheduled for Cramton Bowl.
The AISA will also play its three championship games at Cramton Bowl, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16. The annual AISA All-Star game will be played Dec. 1.
The Camellia Bowl is set to kick off at 11 a.m. All high school games will start at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
2023 CRAMTON BOWL SCHEDULE
All games kick off at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
AHSAA Kickoff Classic
Aug. 24 (Thur) Selma vs. Beauregard
Aug. 25 (Fri) Opelika vs. Thompson
Aug. 26 (Sat) FCS Classic: North Alabama vs. Mercer (7 p.m.)
Aug. 31 (Thur) Opelika at J.A.G. (Jeff Davis)
Sept. 1 (Fri) Dothan at Percy Julian (R.E. Lee)
Sept. 3 (Sun) Red Tails Classic: Ft Valley St at Tuskegee (6 p.m.)
Sept. 7 (Thur) J.A.G. vs. Sidney Lanier
Sept. 8 (Fri) Park Crossing vs. G.W. Carver
Sept. 14 (Thur) Wetumpka at Park Crossing
Sept. 15 (Fri) Auburn at J.A.G.
Sept. 22 (Fri) Sidney Lanier vs. Park Crossing
Sept. 28 (Thur) Selma at Park Crossing
Sept. 29 (Fri) G.W. Carver vs P. Julian
Oct. 5 (Thur) P. Julian vs. J.A.G.
Oct. 6 (Fri) Pike Road at Park Crossing
Oct. 7 (Sat.) Russell Co. at Sidney Lanier
Oct. 12 (Thur) Wetumpka at G.W. Carver
Oct. 13 (Fri) Prattville at J.A.G.
Oct. 14 (Sat.) Central-Phenix City at P. Julian
Oct. 19 (Thur) Russell Co. at Park Crossing
Oct. 20 (Fri) Sidney Lanier vs G.W. Carver
Oct. 25 (Wed.) City Middle School Championship (TBA)
Oct. 26 (Thur) Wetumpka at Sidney Lanier
Oct. 27 (Fri) Enterprise at J.A.G.
Oct. 28 (Sat.) Smiths Station at P. Julian (11 a.m.)
Nov. 3 (Fri) No Games scheduled
Nov. 9 (Fri) AHSAA Playoffs (TBD)
Nov. 11 (Sat) YMCA Day of Football
Nov. 16 (Thur) AISA State Championships (10 a.m./1 p.m./4 p.m./7 p.m.)
Dec. 1 (Fri) AISA All-Star Game
Dec. 23 (Sat) Camellia Bowl (11 a.m.)