PREP CAPSULES (2nd RND/AISA Semis): CCC enjoying full-fledge success

STAFF REPORT

The old “Capital City Conference” has changed in the past few years.

What was once a six-team private school league is now just five since St. Jude closed its doors a few years ago.

The history has been somewhat uneventful during football season with only Trinity and Montgomery Academy owning state championships. The other three schools – St. James, Alabama Christian and Montgomery Catholic – have not enjoyed near the success as the two dominant programs.

Until now.

Never before have all five programs earned a home date in the first round or, for that matter, all made the playoffs in the same year. It might be that fans look back to this season and enjoy the success for years to come.

But will it be considered a complete success if one or more doesn’t make the championship game?

In this case, Montgomery Academy, Trinity and Catholic are in line for a shot at the 3A title while ACA will attempt to make a run at the 4A crown.

St. James saw its run end prematurely last week.

Frankly, history is not on their side. The best any of the four remaining teams have done recently in the postseason is a quarterfinal berth by a couple of teams, including the Knights last year.

But this season feels a bit special.

If they can win on Friday, Trinity and Montgomery Academy would meet in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least one team to reach the semis.

ACA and Catholic have tough draws but both have powerful offenses to outscore just about anybody. Catholic could be waiting for either Trinity or MA in the semis, meaning a CCC team would make it to Tuscaloosa and the Super 7.

It’s too early to talk about that. All four have tough games this week and could be gone in the blink of an eye. But it would do the city of Montgomery good to see a couple of these teams reach deep in the playoffs.

Ditto for Pike Road, Robert E. Lee and the two teams remaining in the AISA playoffs – Edgewood and Macon East.

Good luck to all of them.

SARALAND at R.E. LEE
Class 6A Second Round 

Friday at Cramton Bowl

2020 Records: Saraland (9-2, R1 2 seed), Lee (7-3, R2 4 seed)
Previous meetings: None

Latest 2nd Round appearance: Saraland 2018 (Won at Hueytown); Lee - 2019 (Won at Auburn)

Last week: Saraland def. Northridge, 45-7; Lee def. Pelham, 23-21

Next week: Winner faces either Opelika or Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Key Stats: This will be Lee’s first home playoff game since 2001. The Generals have played 13 consecutive road games. They are 6-7 in that stretch… Saraland has scored 40 or more points in the last four games.

The Skinny: It might be odd to call Saraland the new kids on the block but since the program has been around since 2010, the shoe fits. It took them all of four years to become a factor in Class 6A, playing for the title twice already. Last season, the Spartans seemed to be cruising with a perfect record when they ran into Park Crossing, which eliminated them in a huge upset. Lee is considered the underdog again this time and gets to play at home… finally. The Generals have a gaudy playoff history, at least up until the 2000s. But they’ve proven to be competitive in the postseason of late and reached the 7A semis two years ago. They did not make the playoffs last year after losing inexplicably to a lowly Enterprise team late in the season. As has been explained recently, they don’t throw the ball with much consistency but the defense has shown improvement. It’s too much to ask of a Lee win here but don’t be surprised if it happens.

PREDICTION: Saraland, 28-24

PIKE ROAD at UMS-WRIGHT
Class 5A Second Round

Friday at E.S. Cooper Stadium, Mobile

2020 Records: Pike Road (11-0, R2 1 seed), UMS (7-4,  R1 3 seed)
Previous meetings: None

Latest 2nd Round appearance: Pike Road 2019 (Lost to Mobile Christian); UMS 2019 (Won at Talladega)
Last week: Pike Road def. Shelby Co., 45-7; UMS-Wright def. Holtville, 27-6

Next week: Winner faces either Demopolis or Faith Academy

Key Stats: This is the first season UMS-Wright has lost four games since it lost five times in 2011. Quinshon Judkins averaged 20 yards per carry in the win over Shelby County last week.

The Skinny: The classic great offense vs. great defense highlights this battle. Usually the defense prevails. But in this time of change where offenses seem to have a leg up, that might not be the case. Pike Road has been unstoppable, even after losing the starting quarterback. Judkins has been the spark and that should be the case again this week. UMS has the chance to win five state titles consecutively, albeit in different classifications. But based on the outcome of games this season, the move up to 5A has been a little bit more than they can handle. The Patriots may not score their average of 48 points per game, but they score enough to knock off the Bulldogs.

PREDICTION: Pike Road, 30-20.

JACKSONVILLE at ALABAMA CHRISTIAN
Class 4A Second Round

Friday at Wade Black Norton Stadium

2020 Records: Jacksonville (7-3, R4 2 seed), ACA (9-2,  R2 1 seed)
Previous meetings: None

Latest 2nd Round appearance: Jacksonville 2019 (Won at St. John Paul II); ACA 2018 (Lost to Hillcrest-Evergreen)

Last week: Jacksonville def. Jackson, 27-24; ACA def. West Blocton, 56-14
Next week: Winner faces either American Christian or Mobile Christian

Key Stats: Jalen Clark passed for 307 yards and rushed for 106 yards and accounted for seven TDs last week for ACA.

The Skinny: The Jacksonville Golden Eagles achieved a first in its 100-year history of high school football last season – a win in the second round. That would catapult them into the Class 4A state championship game where it took UMS-Wright to the brink of an upset before bowing out. That, too, was a first and only. The Golden Eagles were a scoring machine averaging more than 45 points per game prior to the playoffs. It was impressive to watch, especially since it was a program that had done nothing in the playoffs in the previous 99 years. That has to be an encouragement to ACA, which hasn’t been around nearly that long but had equal mediocrity in the postseason. The Eagles are very capable of putting together a run like Jacksonville in 2019. They have a elite quarterback in Clark, solid front line on either side of the ball and they have experience. But they must break through their own history. This looks like a winnable game but Jacksonville still has remnants of last year’s finalist team. It will take a solid effort for the Eagles to win. They get it and advance.

PREDICTION: ACA, 34-26

OPP at CATHOLIC

Class 3A Second Round

Friday at Knights Field

2020 Records: Opp (8-3, R2 2 seed), Catholic (9-2,  R4 1 seed)
Previous meetings: 2009 – Opp, 21-3 (Series tied, 1-1)

Latest 2nd Round appearance: Opp 2015 (Lost to Gordo); Catholic 2019 (Defeated Williamson)
Last week: Opp def. Greensboro, 14-8; Catholic def. Bayside Aca., 52-21

Next week: Winner faces either T.R. Miller or Thomasville

Key Stats: Freshman quarterback Caleb McCreary leads Catholic with 2,392 yards in total offense.

The Skinny: The Knights made quick work of Bayside Academy last week. Can they do the same this week? Opp has been consistent most of the season but one has to wonder about the region. The top three teams were good but the rest of the league didn’t sniff a .500 season. The Knights should have too much firepower offensively to lose. Just don’t turn it over…..

PREDICTION: Catholic, 44-19

TRINITY at SLOCOMB
Class 3A Second Round

Friday at Newton-Tew Field

2020 Records: Slocomb (10-1 R2 1 seed), TPS (9-2 R4 2 seed)
Previous meetings: None

Latest 2nd Round appearance: Slocomb 2014 (Lost to Opp); Trinity 2018 (Lost to UMS-Wright)
Last week: Slocomb def. Southside-Selma, 29-20; Trinity def. Flomaton, 10-7

Next week: Winner faces either Montgomery Academy or Pike County

Key Stats: In its win over Southside-Selma, Slocomb set a school record for total points in a season with 445… Walton Cherry had 20 tackles while Will Chandler added 14 in last week’s win for Trinity.

The Skinny: The Red Tops are enjoying their best season since a 10-plus win run in 2002 and 2003. Normally, they are watching everybody else play in the postseason, especially in the second round. But, like a lot of other teams from the Wiregrass, they are enjoying one of their best seasons. Trinity continued its defensive assault on opponents again last week, all but shutting down Flomaton and holding the Hurricanes to a touchdown while getting just enough of their own offense to advance. They might need a little more than 10 points this week although the Wildcats have been up to every offensive challenge so far this season. A win might get them another shot at Montgomery Academy, which beat TPS in the second game of the season (a non-region affair). There is no reason to think they can’t slow the Red Tops enough to advance, as long as they aren’t looking ahead.

PREDICTION: Trinity, 20-13

MONTGOMERY ACADEMY at PIKE COUNTY
Class 3A Second Round

Friday at Bulldog Stadium, Brundidge

2020 Records: MA (11-0 R3 1 seed), Pike Co (6-4 R4 3 seed)
Previous meetings: 2017 – Pike Co, 31-7 (Pike Co leads, 6-2)

Latest 2nd Round appearance: MA 2019 (Lost to T.R. Miller); Pike Co 2018 (Won at Thomasville)
Last week: Pike Co def. Hillcrest-Evergreen, 39-21; MA def. Providence Christian, 24-9

Next week: Winner faces either Slocomb or Trinity

Key Stats: MA’s Jashawn Cooper had 118 yards and a TD rushing in last week’s first-round win.

The Skinny: History may not be on the Eagles’ side in this one, but it will play no part in what should be an MA victory. Pike County will have plenty of athleticism. But the Eagles are enjoying a special season. The record of 11-0 is the best since 2006 when the Eagles reached the quarterfinals. We could repeat all the statistics but one stands out and that is MA has given up a total of 22 points in its last three games. That works in their favor. The Eagles advance.

PREDICTION: MA, 27-12

EDGEWOOD at CHAMBERS ACADEMY
AISA Class AA Semifinals

Friday at Torbert Field, LaFayette

2020 Records: Edgewood (7-3 R1 3 seed), Chambers (10-1 R1 1 seed)
Previous meetings: Oct. 9 – Edgewood, 40-36 (Chambers leads series, 11-7)

Latest semifinal round appearance: Edgewood 2019 (Lost at Escambia Aca); Chambers 2019 (Defeated Wilcox)
Last week: Edgewood def. Patrician, 35-34; Chambers Aca def. Autauga Aca, 43-3

Next week: Winner plays in AISA AA State championship Friday at Cramton Bowl (3:30 p.m.)

Key Stats: In the previous meeting, the two teams combined for 850 yards of total offense.

The Skinny: Can the rematch live up to the first game? That might be hard to do but both teams have been solid offensively for most of the season. Chambers is the favorite to win Class AA. They were cruising along in the regular season before Edgewood surprised them to start the second half of the schedule. It wasn’t a fluke. The Wildcats fought back four different times and held onto the lead in the final minutes. Since that game, the Rebels have given up just 36 points in four games, including three in last week’s win. It would be nice to say lightning can strike in the same place twice. But expect Chambers to be plenty prepared and knock off the Wildcats for what would be their sixth-straight trip to the state championship game.

PREDICTION: Chambers Academy, 40-30

 

MACON EAST at ESCAMBIA ACADEMY
AISA Class AA Semifinals

Friday at Bachelor Field, Atmore

2020 Records: Macon East (8-4, R1 2 seed), Escambia (9-1, R2 1 seed)
Previous meetings: 2017 – Escambia Aca, 50-13 (Escambia leads series, 5-0)

Latest semifinal round appearance: Macon East 2018 (Lost at Monroe Aca); Escambia Aca 2019 (Defeated Edgewood Aca.)
Last week: Macon East def. Wilcox Aca., 28-25; Escambia Aca. def. Springwood, 48-8

Next week: Winner plays in AISA AA State championship Friday at Cramton Bowl (3:30 p.m.)

Key Stats: Escambia’s last loss in a semifinal game was in 2013 (Monroe Academy). Macon East’s last win in the semis was in 2000.

The Skinny: If tradition means anything, Escambia Academy should win this one. The Cougars spent the last four years battling Bobby Carr and Autauga Academy for the championship in AA. This year, they don’t have to worry about the Generals. But first things first, Macon East is capable of pulling the upset but must find some consistency on defense where it has given up 40 or more points four times this season. The Knights’ losses have come to the best teams on their schedule – three of which are still playing this weekend in one of the semifinal games. Escambia will have a brutal rushing attack that fits the mantra of its coach, Hugh Fountain. Macon East will need a few turnovers and find the end zone frequently for the upset. That’s probably asking too much.

PREDICTION: Escambia Academy, 35-18

KEY GAMES

7A: Central-Phenix City at Theodore –  The Red Devils have not been pretty at times but continue to be effective when they need to be. Theodore has won 10 times. But No. 11 eludes them.   CENTRAL, 36-34

7A: Daphne at Auburn – This is about the spot Auburn trips up in the playoffs. The Tigers have lost their last five playoff road games. But they’ve been almost perfect at home in the same span. This one’s at the “Duck” so go with the Tigers. AUBURN, 26-20

6A: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Opelika  – The Bulldogs should roll to the quarters but Hillcrest has a solid defense. Take the ‘O’ … OPELIKA, 21-17. 

5A: Selma at St. Paul’s – Saints vs. Saints. Selma has been a surprise but the road ends in Mobile.  ST. PAUL’S, 37-13.

5A: Andalusia at Central-Clay County – Defending champs move on… CENTRAL-CLAY, 29-16.

3A: Thomasville at T.R. Miller: Classic matchup. Eight state championships and more than 130 playoff victories between these two. Thomasville has played a little more difficult schedule and win a close one. THOMASVILLE, 35-34.

2A: G.W. Long at Lanett - Strangley, two programs have never met in the playoffs. The Panthers win with powerhouse defense. LANETT, 24-8.

1A: Notasulga at Sweet Water – Blue Devils will need to score in bunches. But it still will not be enough.  SWEET WATER, 45-20.

1A: Millry at Maplesville – Millry caught a break in the first round facing Central-Hayneville. No such luck in the second round. MAPLESVILLE, 50-14. 

AISA AAA: Morgan Academy at Glenwood -  Glenwood has run roughshod over everybody. No need to expect anything different against the Senators. GLENWOOD, 41-19.

AISA A: Sparta Academy at Crenshaw Christian: Cougars make their first trip to the finals since 2018. CRENSHAW, 49-19.

THE REST

6A: Spanish Fort over Helena, 25-21; Eufaula over Blount, 28-25; 5A: Faith Aca over Demopolis, 31-29; 4A: Mobile Christian over American Christian, 27-24; Bibb Co over Anniston, 34-18; Handley over Montevallo, 21-19; 2A: Clarke Co over Isabella, 30-16; Leroy over Geneva Co, 35-16; 1A: Linden over McKenzie, 27-13; Brantley over Keith, 34-7; AISA A: Jackson Aca over Abbeville Christian, 24-13; AISA AAA: Bessemer Aca over Pike Liberal Arts, 27-24.

RECORD: Last week 41-10 Season 192-52 (.787)