PREP CAPSULES (PLAYOFFS): River Region down to five survivors; Lowndes goes for three-peat
STAFF REPORT
The stage is set for an exciting day at Cramton Bowl as four champions will be crowned in the AISA Championship on Thursday.
Lowndes Academy goes for the three-peat, facing Wilcox Academy in the championship while Lee-Scott also looks for a repeat in Class AAA.
it’s part of a big week of playoff football in the River Region.
Four teams are still alive after the first round and there were no real surprises among that number. All four have a good shot are moving into Thanksgiving weekend and the third round.
And in somewhat of a twist all but one of the teams are at home Friday. Only Trinity has to travel, heading south to face Flomaton.
There is one rematch from last year’s playoffs including Pike Road facing Spanish Fort, a team it defeated in the first round in 2022.
AHSAA 2ND ROUND/AISA CHAMPIONSHIPS
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
SPANISH FORT at PIKE ROAD
CLASS 6A
Friday at Patriot Field
2023 Records: Spanish Fort (9-2, 2 seed R1), Pike Road (9-2, 1 seed R2)
First round result: Spanish Fort def. Bessemer City, 28-0; Pike Road def. Homewood, 10-9
Second round record: Briarwood 13-1(Last, 2021- Lost to Opelika, 28-14); Pike Road 1-3(Last, 2022 - Lost to Homewood, 24-21)
Series: Pike Road leads, 1-0 (2022 1st Rnd, 22-21)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Benjamin Russell/Hueytown
Key Fact: Both teams are on winning streaks with Spanish Fort having won seven straight while the Patriots have won nine straight.
The skinny: It’s another playoff rematch from last year but in reverse. The Patriots won a close battle in the first round a year ago and eventually lost to Homewood in the second round. Last week, 10 points were enough for the Patriots to advance to the second round. it will not be this week. Spanish Fort averages 28 points per game, which is not an outlandish amount but they also allow just 13 points per game. Is this a “classic” Toro team that scores in bunches? Not necessarily but the Patriots have not found enough consistency lately to allow a game such as they had a week ago against Homewood. Yes, Pike Road has averaged 35 points a contest but much of that was built on a little better than average opponents. Carver, as it turned out, was not as solid as originally advertised. They will need a much better showing to get to the third round. There is not enough evidence to say that happens.
PREDICTION: Spanish Fort, 27-21
T.R. MILLER at MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC
CLASS 6A
Friday at Knights Field
2023 Records: TRM (8-3, 2 seed R1), Catholic (11-0, 1 seed R2)
First round result: T.R. Miller def. Anniston, 20-16; Catholic def. West Blocton, 48-7
Second round record: TRM 24-11 (Last, 2021- Lost to Handley, 27-14); Catholic 5-2 (Last, 2022 - Def. Jacksonville, 44-27)
Series: Tied, 2-2 (Last - 2019 - T.R. Miller, 26-21 - Regular season)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Bibb County/Jacksonville
Key Fact: Two teams have never met in the playoffs. Between 1992-2005, TR Miller did not lose a second-round playoff game, winning 12 straight. Since then, the Tigers are 4-8…. Catholic hasn’t lost a second round game since 2018.
The skinny: Frame this as tradition vs. newcomer if you want but don’t sell the Tigers short. They are capable of putting together a solid offensive game plan. Only problem - Catholic has seen it all. The Knights are playing the same stifling defense as last season. The offense may not have the same punch but only slightly. This team seems destined, as much as that word is hated at RRS. This might be a hiccup for Catholic but the Knights should win going away.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 31-13
RANDOLPH CO. at ST. JAMES
Class 6A
Friday at Carlisle Field
2023 Records: Randolph Co (10-1, 2 seed R4); St. James (9-2, 1 seed R3)
First round result: Randolph Co def. W.S. Neal, 48-36; STJ def. Opp, 41-7
Second round record: Randolph Co 12-4 (Last, 2019- Def. Westminister Christian, 54-6); STJ 3-8 (Last, 2022 - Def. W.S. Neal, 42-21)
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winner faces either Straughn or Thomasville
Key Fact: Randolph County has won five straight games in the second round. The last three were on the road… With their win last year, the Trojans broke a five-game losing streak in the second round.
The skinny: Class 3A, Region 4 was not the best of regions with Randolph County the only survivor in the first round. It’s a wonder how this team was not the top seed but the loss to Walter Welborn proved to be the difference in first and second place. The defending 3A champs looked solid in the first round and expectations are they should be the favorite in this one. Both teams average 41 points per game offensively but the Trojans have played a little stronger schedule. It does seem a round early for these two teams to meet but expect St. James to have just enough to advance.
PREDICTION: St. James, 28-20
TRINITY at FLOMATON
CLASS 5A
Friday at Hurricane Field
2023 Records: Trinity (10-1, 2 seed R3), Flomaton (7-4, 4 seed R4)
First round result: Trinity def. Providence Christian, 31-14; Flomaton def. Walter Welborn, 34-0
Second round record: Trinity 11-8 (Last, 2022- Lost to Mobile Christian, 27-13); Flomaton 6-3 (Last, 2019 - Def. St. James 20-19)
Series: Trinity leads, 1-0 (2020, 1st Round, 10-7)
Next week: Winners faces winner of Mobile Christian/Houston Academy
Key Fact: Doug Vickery is the longest tenured coach in Flomaton history, currently in his 18th season… As a head coach Brian Seymore is looking for his first win in the second round since 2018 (losses coming while at Demopolis).
The skinny: Do we take under consideration when picking a winner the fact that Flomaton, a four seed, shut out the winner of Region 4, Walter Welborn, last week? Maybe, but a few in that part of the state might point out that Welborn was not the best team in the region (they are playing St. James Friday). Still, the Hurricanes have returned from a lull since it won a state title in 2018. Before last week, they had just two playoff wins in the last five years (and they didn’t make the post season a year ago). Trinity has made the transition with Seymore at the helm and pivoted nicely. A win over the Hurricanes would make for an even better story. Flomaton will present a challenge with its defense but the Wildcats have enough weapons to advance.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 24-17
WILCOX ACADEMY at LOWNDES ACADEMY
AISA Class A Championship
Thursday, 1 p.m. at Cramton Bowl
2023 Records: Wilcox (10-3, 1 seed R2), Lowndes (12-0, 1 seed R1)
Road to Cramton Bowl: Wilcox def. Lakeside, 23-16; Southern Academy, 49-12. Lowndes def. Sparta Aca, 47-0; Jackson Aca, 48-14
Finals record: Wilcox 3-5 (Last, 2003- Def. Edgewood, 30-29); Lowndes 9-6 (Last, 2022 - Def. Jackson Aca, 24-8)
Series: Wilcox leads, 20-10 (Last - 2019 - Wilcox 31-19)
Key Fact: Wilcox Academy and Lowndes Academy have never met in the playoffs.
The skinny: The Wilcox Academy Wildcats are a scrappy bunch. Even though they have the most losses of any team in the AISA championships, they have been put through difficult situations all season, but figured out a way to limit offenses to an average of 16 points per game (last year they gave up more than 400 points). Lebo Jones took over the duties as head coach this season and made a few moderate changes but not as many as you might think. The team has grown in confidence and now expects to win. That said, this is a tall order. Lowndes continues to be a machine and will have a marked advantage in Thursday game. There are too many reasons why this will be a blowout but with rain in the forecast, there is a chance it’s a lot closer than expected. Still, Lowndes makes it three in a row.
PREDICTION: Lowndes Academy, 28-16
KEY GAMES
2A: Thorsby at Reeltown- At this point, only one team has challenged the Rebels and chances are good they will meet them again in the semifinals (that would be Highland Home). REELTOWN, 40-14
2A: Highland Home at B.B. Comer -Before last week, Highland Home had never had back-to-back 10-win seasons. They took care of that last week and this week, they go after No. 11. No problem. HH, 44-13.
4A: Handley at B.T. Washington (Tuskegee)- BTW pulled off one of the upsets in Round 1 last week defeating American Christian. Handley poses other problems, mainly a physical one that the Golden Eagles have struggled with in the past. Tigers prove to be too much for the home team. HANDLEY, 28-21.
7A:Auburn at Central-Phenix City - This was the stage where Auburn pulled off the upset a year ago. Not this time… Red Devils advance. C-PC, 39-30.
AISA AA CHAMP: Chambers Academy vs. Banks Academy (Thurs) - The Banks story is a good one with the program only a few years old. But Chambers might be as good as any team in AISA and will prove too much for the Jets. CA, 45-24.
AISA AAA: Glenwood vs. Lee-Scott (Thurs) - Rematch of last year’s championship game. Both teams will move to AHSAA next year. Who gets the better sendoff. They. played once before this season with Glenwood winning. They have a little too much and win again. GLENWOOD, 24-17.
THE REST
7A: Mary Montgomery over Enterprise, 34-32; 5A: Charles Henderson over Gulf Shores, 24-20; BC Rain over Demoopolis, 35-32; Faith Academy over Eufaula, 20-12; 4A: Andalusia over Jackson, 37-14; 3A: Thomasville over Straughn, 23-22; 1A: Loachapoka over Brantley, 28-23; Maplesville over Sweet Water, 25-19.
SEASON COMPLETED: Park Crossing; Valiant Cross; JAG; P. Julian; Prattville; Stanhope Elmore; Tallassee; Prattville Christian; Autaugaville; Billingsley; Edgewood Academy; Hooper Academy; Macon East; Evangel Christian; Marbury; Montgomery Academy; Sidney Lanier; Elmore County; Wetumpka; G.W. Carver.
RECORD: Last week 25-4; Season 204-36 (.850)