PREP CAPSULES (SUPER 7): Catholic has a chance to repeat
STAFF REPORT
After Friday night, seven teams will have taken home a new (and improved) blue trophy as an AHSAA state champion.
If you include the two Flag Football champs, the number is nine.
Two of those nine could come from the same school - Catholic.
The Knights are back in both cases with the Catholic flag team looking to win its first crown while the football team looks to earn back-to-back trophies. A team from the River Region hasn’t won consecutive AHSAA titles since Prattville did it in 2006-07.
Central-Phenix City is the only other team that can earn a repeat. Four teams - Parker, Moody, Houston Academy and Wadley - have never won a title.
It all gets started Wednesday with the two Flag Football finals that includes Catholic taking on Moody in the championship. How ironic since the 5A title game features the same two teams.
SUPER 7
5A: MOODY BLUE DEVILS vs. CATHOLIC KNIGHTS
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
2024 Records: Moody (11-2, 6-0, 1st in R6), Catholic (6-3, 6-0, 1st in R2)
Road to Birmingham: Moody def. Arab, 49-7; Wennonah, 34-0; Ramsay, 49-7; Leeds, 42-0; Catholic def. Holtville, 52-0; Citronelle, 43-0; Central-Clay Co, 21-9; Vigor, 21-7
Championship appearances: Moody, 0; Catholic 3
Championships: Moody 0; Catholic 1 (2023 - 4A)
Series: First meeting
Key Facts: The representative from the North bracket has won the 5A title just twice since 2010… Moody did not face a top seed any any round of this year’s playoffs; Catholic faced two (Central-Clay County and Vigor)… Before this season, Moody had never reached the semifinals of the playoffs in its history. Catholic has reached at least the semis every year since 2020…Catholic is one of just three undefeated teams to reach the championship round. The others are Wadley (1A) and Saraland (6A)… Catholic can join four other teams that moved up a classification from the year before to win a state title the next year. The others are Mars Hill (‘20), Fyffe (‘20), Ramsay (‘16) and Leeds (‘14)… Due to competitive balance factor and the private school multiplier, Catholic is 5A despite being listed as 197th in size with 304 students while Moody is 107th with an average of 354 students daily.
The skinny: Despite their lack of championship history, no one from the northern part of the state is surprised that the Blue Devils are in this year’s Class 5A state championship game. They have built its roster on the replica of what Catholic has done the last couple of years. It makes sense due to the fact that the two head coaches are good friends that worked and played together at Huntingdon College. They have all the stats offensively of an explosive team. Quarterback Charlie Johnston has passed for almost 3,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns. Running back Bravis Cave and Le’Kamren Meadows combine for nearly 2,000 yards rushing. Receiver Josiah Dozier has more than 1,000 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns. The Moody defense has recorded 66 sacks and 111 quarterback hurries. Gaudy stats, yes. But nothing Catholic hasn’t seen before. The Knights continue to provide little reason to pick against them. Their offense, while not perfect at times, has found ways to score enough points the last two weeks against strong competition. The Knights defense has not slowed down since joining a bigger classification. Everything seems to have clicked for Kirk Johnson and his staff. This one might be tighter than some think but Catholic has too many weapons of its own to keep them from collecting its second trophy in as many years.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 24-17
OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS
7A: Central-Phenix City vs Thompson (Wed.) - After rearranging the brackets and setting up different matchups, we still get the same final we’ve had in this class four of the last six years. Both teams have had struggles at some point of the season but saved the best for last. Central won last year’s matchup. That means it’s Thompson’s turn. THOMPSON, 30-27.
6A: Saraland vs. Parker (Fri.) - Parker may be the darling of the media (particularly the Birmingham portion), but Saraland is primed to win its second title. No reason to think it doesn’t happen. SARALAND, 40-21
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County (Fri.) - Jackson has been the best team in this class and benefits the most from Catholic’s move to 5A, otherwise they would be at home this week. Cherokee County lost in the finals a year ago and deals with the same disappointment this year. JACKSON, 44-21.
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible (Thur.) - Mars Hill makes its fourth appearance in the Super 7 while Houston Academy hasn’t been in a championship game since the 1970s. It’s been a nice run for the Raiders but it ends here. MARS HILL, 38-25.
2A: Reeltown vs. Tuscaloosa Academy (Fri.) - TA was playing in the AISA four years ago and made the league’s championship game just three times. Yet it takes only three years to make the Knights’ first appearance in the Super 7. But a traditional power awaits and Reeltown was here a year ago. Not a good combination for TA. Reeltown rolls. REELTOWN, 42-20.
1A: Maplesville vs. Wadley (Thur.) - This used to be Maplesville’s annual trek, at least to the championship series but this is the first trip to the title game since 2016 when it won three straight. Wadley has never won a title but there are plenty who expect it to happen this year. Nope. Red Devils get it done. MAPLESVILLE, 24-20.
SEASON COMPLETED: G.W. Carver; JAG; Park Crossing; Prattville; Stanhope Elmore; Marbury; Prattville Christian; Billingsley; Autaugaville; Edgewood Academy; Hooper Academy; Percy Julian; Wetumpka, Holtville; Elmore County; St. James; Autauga Academy; Valiant Cross; ; Alabama Christian; Trinity; Montgomery Academy; Montgomery Academy; Evangel Christian; Macon East; Lowndes Academy; Tallassee; Pike Road.
RECORD: Last week 8-4; Season 240-76 (.760)