PREP PREVIEWS: Another busy season slated for Cramton Bowl

By GRAHAM DUNN

Cramton Bowl will be busy as always this 2021 football season with three and possibly four college games and no less than 26 high school games.

The season opens with the annual AHSAA Kickoff Classic, a doubleheader  with matchups between Guntersville and Handley on Thursday, Aug. 19 followed by Bob Jones and Dothan facing off on the following Friday.

The first weekend of games totals four with a doubleheader on Saturday. Robert E. Lee will face Daphne at 2 p.m. and Sidney Lanier and Jeff Davis playing later that evening at 7.

Three college games are on the slate including the Camellia Bowl on Christmas Day. ESPN will also open its midweek coverage of football with another “classic” featuring UAB and Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The first-ever Red Tails Classic will be held on the following Sunday with Tuskegee taking on Fort Valley State. The game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m.

Nearly every week during the regular high school schedule has two games on the docket with a couple featuring three games – Sept. 16-18 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The only weekend with just one game is Aug. 27 when Lee and Jeff Davis renew their annual battle.

Prattville will make its lone trip to the bowl on Oct. 22 to face Jeff Davis. There are 10 intra-city games on the schedule.

The AISA will also play its three championship games at Cramton Bowl, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19. The annual AISA All-Star game will be played Dec. 3.

The Camellia Bowl is set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. All high school games will start at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. A possible fourth college game is on the schedule for Oct. 23. No teams are listed on that date.

CRAMTON BOWL SCHEDULE

All games kick off at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise/Games are subject to change without notice

AHSAA Kickoff Classic

Aug. 19 (Thur)         Guntersville vs Handley

Aug. 20 (Fri)             Bob Jones vs Dothan

Aug. 21 (Sat)             Daphne at R.E. Lee (2 p.m.)

                                    Sidney Lanier vs Jeff Davis

Aug. 27 (Fri)              R.E. Lee vs Jeff Davis

Sept. 1 (Wed.)          Kickoff Classic: UAB vs Jacksonville State (6:30 p.m.)

Sept. 2 (Thur)          Opelika at Sidney Lanier

Sept. 3 (Fri)              Valley at G.W. Carver

Sept. 5  (Sun)           Red Tails Classic: Ft Valley St at Tuskegee (6 p.m.)

Sept. 9 (Thur)          Sidney Lanier vs R.E. Lee

Sept. 10 (Fri)            G.W. Carver vs. Park Crossing

Sept. 16 (Thur)        Opelika at G.W. Carver

Sept. 17 (Fri)            Auburn at Jeff Davis

Sept. 18 (Sat)           Valley at Sidney Lanier (11 a.m.)

Sept. 23 (Thur)        G.W. Carver vs Jeff Davis

Sept. 24 (Fri)            Bessemer at Sidney Lanier

Sept. 30 (Thur)        G.W. Carver vs R.E. Lee

Oct. 1  (Fri)               Park Crossing vs Sidney Lanier

Oct. 2 (Sat)               Smiths Station at Jeff Davis (11 a.m.)

Oct. 7 (Thur)             Russell Co at Sidney Lanier

Oct. 8 (Fri)                Eufaula at G.W. Carver

Oct. 14 (Thur)          R.E. Lee vs Park Crossing

Oct. 15 (Fri)             Sidney Lanier vs G.W. Carver

Oct. 21 (Thur)          Opelika at Park Crossing

Oct. 22 (Fri)             Prattville at Jeff Davis

Oct. 27 (Wed.)         City Middle School Championship (TBA)

Oct. 28 (Thur)          Park Crossing vs Jeff Davis

Oct. 29 (Fri)             Pinson Valley at R.E. Lee

Oct. 30 (Sat)            YMCA Day of Football

Nov. 4 (Fri)               AHSAA Playoffs (TBD)

Nov. 19 (Fri)             AISA Tripleheader Championship

Dec. 3 (Fri)              AISA All-Star Game

Dec. 25 (Sat)           Camellia Bowl (1:30 p.m.)