PREP CAPSULES (RND 2/AISA SEMIS): River Region represented by eight remaining teams
STAFF REPORT
A few surprises dotted the first round of the high school playoffs last week.
What does the second week have in store?
Six teams in AHSAA and two more in AISA are still alive from the River Region. At least one of those five will be alive next week since Trinity and Montgomery Academy meet in the playoffs for the second straight year.
Last year, MA swept two games. This season, Trinity has the opportunity after winning a close battle back in August. Catholic is the third team in Class 3A looking to advance against Bayside Academy. The Knights will head south for that one.
Robert E. Lee also travels south to face Saraland in another rematch from last year’s postseason. The Generals hope for a better fate after getting shut out at home in the third round.
Pike Road is in a similar situation, facing another team from the Mobile area in the second round. This time it’s defending champ St. Paul’s.
St. James played a difficult first-round game but survived and look to do the same against Jackson.
The AISA playoffs are in the semifinals with the winners meeting at Cramton Bowl next Friday.
Autauga Academy faces Patrician at home on Thursday while Lowndes Academy takes on Sparta Academy.
Round 2 (& AISA semifinals)
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
R.E. LEE at SARALAND (6A)
Friday at Spartan Stadium
Records: Lee (8-2, 2nd seed R2) Saraland (9-2, 1st seed R1)
Last week: Lee def. McAdory, 33-25; Saraland def. Wetumpka, 37-7
Last meeting: 2020 – Saraland, 34-0
Series: Saraland, 1-0
Next week: Winner faces either Baldwin County or Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Key Numbers: In the win over McAdory, Lee had 15 penalties for 105 yards.
The skinny: In the second-round matchup last year, Lee threatened to score a couple of times but was shut out when all was said and done. But one particular drive stood out when the Generals had five cracks at scoring inside the 10-yard line and yet held out of the end zone. That was late in the first half. They would not be heard from again. What did they learn from the loss a year ago? That’s the magic question. Lee is a better offensive team this year with Jakel Williams improving at quarterback. They don’t have the breakneck running attack like last year. The defense is good and has improved. The biggest difference – this is a senior-laden team that seems to handle adversity better than previous teams. They didn’t play all that well against McAdory but managed to survive, which hasn’t been the norm for this program this time of year. But Saraland has improved defensively after losing the first two games of the season. One other note, Spanish Fort is the only team to have beaten Saraland at home since 2017. That’s too much to ask of the Generals.
PREDICTION: SARALAND, 35-18
ST. PAUL’S at PIKE ROAD (5A)
Friday at Patriots Stadium
Records: St. Paul’s (8-3, 2nd seed R1), Pike Road (10-0, 1st seed R2)
Last week: St. Paul’s def. Selma, 36-0; Pike Road def. Holtville, 37-0
Last meeting: N/A
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winner faces either Central-Clay County or Faith Academy
Key Numbers: Pike Road has not gotten past the second round of the playoffs in two tries, having lost to Mobile Christian and UMS-Wright.
The skinny: This is not a repeat. No, Pike Road has not gotten past the second round of the playoffs. And no, they haven’t fared well against teams from the Mobile area in the post season. But those trends have to stop sometime, right? Why not now? The Patriots are solid in nearly all facets of the game. They’ve heard the cries and should respond. St. Paul’s is sold, as usual, with arguably the best coach in the state in Steve Mask (he’s won five state titles in his career)… The Saints are the defending champs but this is a “rebuilding” year having lost three games. Chances are the Patriots will be in Class 6A next year which will make winning a state title more difficult. So, now is a good time to make the move and beating St. Paul’s is a good start.
PREDICTION: PIKE ROAD, 29-28
JACKSON at ST. JAMES (4A)
Friday at Carlisle Field
Records: Jackson (5-4, 2nd R4), STJ (10-1, 1st R2)
Last week: STJ def. Anniston, 28-26; Jackson def. Montevallo, 44-20
Last meeting: N/A
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winner faces either Jackson or Montevallo
Key Numbers: The Trojans have won 10 straight games and have guaranteed a 10-win season for the fourth time in six years.
The skinny: Last week’s win over Anniston will continue to grow in stature based on just how far the Trojans go in the playoffs. That might be the best team they face. Obviously that depends on how far they go in the postseason. More importantly, it was one of those good ole hard-fought victories that may be the catapult needed to take the team a long way. Or it could have the opposite affect. The Trojans could have left it all on the field and have nothing left for this week. Let’s assume the former and look for another big win.
PREDICTION: ST. JAMES, 28-21
TRINITY at MONTGOMERY ACADEMY (3A)
Friday at McLemore Field
Records: TPS (9-2, 2 nd R4), MA (8-3, 1st R3)
Last week: Montgomery Aca def. Flomaton , 35-7; Trinity def. Wicksburg, 51-23
Last meeting: Aug. 27 - Trinity, 18-15
Series: TPS leads, 26-19
Next week: Winner faces either T.R. Miller or Opp
Key stat: Trinity won the first matchup this season on a 24-yard field goal by Grayden Flowers.
The skinny: These two hooked up in last year’s playoff but in the third round. Like the regular season outcome, MA won that matchup but by three touchdowns. The regular season game was much closer. This year’s game came down to a field goal. Which leads to the question… where are these two teams? MA has been trying out quarterbacks for most of the season but seemed to have settled on Jamal Cooper. There was a time when Trinity’s offense wasn’t in position to beat MA at this stage of the game, but after scoring more than 50 points in two of the last three games, that doesn’t fit the narrative. Both teams have their share of issues but the key will be the same as it is when two teams of like ilk face off. Take care of the football and the chances for victory increase. The trend, based on last year, is to go with the regular-season winner. It’s a tough call with the Eagles at home, but let’s follow that logic.
PREDICTION: TRINITY, 21-20
CATHOLIC at BAYSIDE ACADEMY (3A)
Friday at Freedom Field, Daphne
Records: Catholic (11-0, 1st R1), Bayside (9-2, 3rd R1)
Last week: Catholic def. Houston Aca, 56-7; Bayside Aca def. Southside-Selma., 37-36
Last meeting: 2020 - Catholic, 52-21
Series: Bayside leads, 2-1
Next week: Winner faces either Slocomb or Hillcrest-Evergreen
Key stat: Five different Knights scored in last week’s win over Houston Academy.
The skinny: Catholic has reached the status that a win can be judged on how they played and not just the score. Kirk Johnson wasn’t overjoyed with last week’s win – too many mistakes, he said. That’s all good when you win by 49 points. But that’s where the program stands right now. And based on what Bayside has shown so far, nothing less than a big victory for Catholic is expected. This team seems to be on a collision course for another trip to the Super 7 and while Johnson doesn’t want to hear the “rat poison” it remains to be seen who can get in their way. Now’s not the time to be concern with the next opponent. Knights will take care of Bayside and move on.
PREDICTION: CATHOLIC, 47-13
KEY GAMES (AISA SEMIS)
A: SPARTA ACADEMY (9-1) AT LOWNDES ACADEMY (9-3) – Sparta won the regular season battle back in September but Lowndes is playing much better, having won seven straight. The Rebels have given up a total of 20 points in their last five games, including pitching a shutout in the playoff opener last week against Pickens Academy. The Warriors average 40 points per game offensively with the only loss coming at the hands of region winner Jackson Academy. It would be a huge upset for Lowndes to pull it off. But the pick is Sparta in a close game. SPARTA ACADEMY, 28-25
AA: PATRICIAN ACADEMY (8-2) at AUTAUGA ACADEMY (11-0) – The Generals won the first meeting by 28 points. Not much has changed since then except Autauga has reeled off eight more victories. Patrician is good with the only losses coming against the two favorites (including Escambia Academy), but the Saints are a step below. Generals win comfortably. AUTAUGA ACADEMY, 35-14
THE REST (outside River Region)
7A: Auburn over Enterprise, 42-23; Central-Phenix City over Theodore, 37-27; 6A: Spanish Fort over Opelika, 24-20; 5A: Faith Academy over Clay Central Co., 27-21; Demopolis over Andalusia, 24-20; UMS-Wright over Greenville, 35-19; 4A: Handley over Bibb County, 28-24; American Christian over Jacksonville, 35-13; 3A: Slocomb over Hillcrest-Evergreen, 20-14; Opp over T.R. Miller, 26-21; 2A: Elba over Highland Home, 25-21; Lanett over Luverne, 42-27; 1A: Keith over Notasulga, 23-21; Maplesville over Linden, 40-22; Sweet Water over Kinston, 35-18; Brantley over Millry, 33-7; AAA: Pike Liberal over Glenwood, 42-21; AA: Chambers Aca over Escambia Aca., 35-34; A: Jackson Aca over Crenshaw Christian, 33-28
RECORD: Last week 28-6; Season 158-39 (.802)