PREP CAPSULES (SUPER 7): Catholic a win away from first state title

STAFF REPORT

Another season has come and gone but not before seven… make that nine champions will be crowned this week at the Super 7 held at Bryant-Denny, probably for the last time.

Added to the list of the seven classifications are two flag football championships, one of which includes a local team, Montgomery Catholic. The Lady Knights have played two years of flag football and earned the right to join the boys’ team this year at the championships. They face Wenonah on Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m.

As for the boys, Catholic is back in the final looking for its first championship. The Knights were in the finals in 2020 and came up short against Fyffe. The Knights take on Cherokee County, which lost in the finals last year to Andalusia.

The first state championship games are on Wednesday highlighted by Central-Phenix City and Thompson, which is after six straight titles, something that has never happened in the highest classification.

This is the final year, more than likely, for the games to be held at Bryant-Denny due to the changes in the College Football Playoff which added more rounds and includes the first round being played on home fields. Auburn might also bow out as a Super 7 host site for the same reason. UAB was recently added as a site but no word if the school will follow suit.

AHSAA SUPER 7

TUSCALOOSA, BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM (Wednesday-Friday)

CHEROKEE COUNTY vs MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC

CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, 11 a.m.

2023 Records: BTW (9-4, 3 seed R2), Catholic (13-0, 1 seed R2)

Road to Tuscaloosa: Cherokee County def. Central Florence, 56-28; Haleyville, 49-14; West Morgan, 29-28; Westminster Christian, 50-6; Catholic def. West Blocton, 48-7; T.R. Miller, 24-14; Jacksonville, 44-20; BT Washington, 28-0

Finals round record: CCHS 1-4 (Last, 2022, Lost to Andalusia, 28-7/ won 4A in 2009); Catholic 0-1 (Last, 2020, lost to Fyffe, 21-16)

Series: First meeting

Key Players: : CCHS: RB Jacob Cornejo, Sr.; OL Zach Gaylor, Sr.; OL Landon Ransum, Jr.; QB Carson Tittle, Sr.; Catholic: RB Josh Griffin, Sr.; QB Caleb McCreary, Sr.; LB Miles Khatri, So.; DL Keltric Washington, Jr.; WR J.J. Williams, So.

Key Facts: Cherokee County reached the finals last season after a trip to the Super 7 a year ago, losing to Andalusia. The program, located in Centre, is coached by Jacob Kelly, who is in his fifth year… Catholic makes its second appearance in the finals, where it lost to longtime power Fyffe. Kirk Johnson is in his third year as head coach and with his 40 wins already has the second-most victories among Catholic coaches, trailing only Aubrey Blackwell (54), who preceded him.

The skinny: Before a breakdown of this year’s 4A final, let’s travel back to 2020, the year of COVID. The Knights had built momentum, first with Blackwell as head coach, followed by Johnson, who was an assistant when Catholic began this ascension. That year, the Knights had lost two games including a season-opening loss to then 3A Pike Road. While expectations were high, a state championship would have been icing on the cake. While it came up short, the precedent was set. For the next two years, the program looked the part of a state champion but could not get past region foes in the semifinals. This season had a similar feel with the Knights ended up facing a surprising foe in the semis in BTW, which had peaked at the perfect time. But timing is everything and facing the Knights at this point was unrealistic. Catholic did what everyone expected, winning handily. Now for the next chapter. Can this hump be conquered? Everything seems to be in place. McCreary has been almost flawless while the defense continued to be dominant against almost everybody that got in its way, leading the AHSAA in scoring defense. So, what’s keeping the Knights from winning it all? Let’s start with the fact that the Warriors are a worthy opponent. Anyone is at this point. No one lucks into making the finals after four games. They have a running back in Jacob Cornejo who has tallied nearly 3,000 yards and close to 40 touchdowns rushing. They average more than 40 points per game offensively. But so does Catholic. Play the numbers game all you want but it usually comes down to talent, but that hasn’t been the case with the Knights. Catholic has been the most talented team in 4A for the last few years, yet it hasn’t been able to get the final win. Talk determination all you want but the game, in this case, comes down to making plays. Yes, that’s a nice throwaway line that commentators use but there is truth to it. While Cherokee County has been here, losing the finals a year ago, Catholic has been in a position to win it all for the last sesons. On Friday, they finally get it done.

PREDICTION: Catholic, 28-17

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

1A: Coosa Christian vs. Leroy (Thursday) - Coosa Christian has a sub-par W-L record (9-5) but that’s due to forfeits in four games. They also received a forfeited win so that makes this season rather odd for any team to reach the championship. Nothing weird about the Bears who are the reigning champs and have a 19-game winning streak. They should increase that total to 20 wins after a tough tussle. LEROY, 40-35.

2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe (Friday) - The Rebels have been solid all season and got its stiffest test last Friday in the semifinals against B.B. Comer. Fyffe is the perennial champion, having won six titles and finishing runner up twice. But Reeltown has a championship pedigree too and their offensive strength should be enough to get it done. REELTOWN, 24-23

3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy (Thursday) - Offense vs. defense with Madison Academy averaging nearly 50 points per game offensively while Mobile Christian rarely gives up a touchdown. The two teams have won titles in the past but it’s been a while for both. The Leopards have been closer in more recent times. They get just enough to earn the win. MOBILE CHRISTIAN, 34-33

5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores (Thursday) - Ramsey has the tradition. Gulf Shores has the roster. Gulf Shores has basically face-planted everybody it has faced. Ramsey just gets it done. But not this time. GULF SHORES, 33-28.

6A: Saraland vs. Clay-Chalkville (Friday) - Some are marking this as the battle between Saraland’s Ryan Williams and Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe, the two leading candidates for this year’s Mr. Football award. Williams won it last year and the one that has the better game might win it this year. Saraland looks unbeatable and has probably played the better schedule. But Chalkville just looks a little better and has the win over Thompson in its back pocket. CLAY-CHALKVILLE, 40-37

7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City (Wednesday) - Another rematch from a couple of years ago that Central has probably been waiting for. The Red Devils didn’t play well the last time these two met. They might have had the better team at the time. That is true again this year. After its sixth-straight championship, Thompson is the usual solid passing attack led by QB Trent Seaborn. It will be another matchup that goes to the wire with Central getting revenge. C-PC, 35-31.

BONUS PICK: Flag Football 1A-5A Championship: Catholic vs. Wenonah: A first for RRS… The Lady Knights will play Wednesday in the first championship game of the week. No reason to think they can’t set the table for the Catholic football team two days later…. CATHOLIC, 23-22.

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; Lowndes Academy; Trinity; Pike Road; St. James

RECORD: Last week 11-1; Season 236-48 (.831)