Twenty-Four Teams Advance To Football Semifinals
One defending state champion and six unbeaten teams posted victories in the quarterfinals of the AHSAA state football playoffs and are among the 24 schools that advanced to this week’s semifinals. All games will be played Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Four teams in each of the six classes will be competing for berths in the 2012 Super 6 State Championships set for Dec. 6-7 at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. Classes 1A, 3A and 5A will play Dec. 6 (Thursday) and Classes 2A, 4A and 6A will play Dec. 7 (Friday).
Defending Class 1A state champion Marion County (12-1) beat Region 5 rival Hubbertville 41-22 in the third round and will now host another Region 5 rival, Pickens County (11-2) at Guin. Marion County beat the Tornadoes 45-27 on Oct. 19 to claim the region title – and this week’s home berth in the semifinals. Unbeaten Brantley (13-0) beat Linden and advances to host McIntosh (8-5), which downed Maplesville, in the other semifinal game.
In Class 3A, Madison Academy (11-2), the Region 8 champion and last year’s state runner-up, downed Region 8 fourth-seed Colbert County 66-28, while Region 8 runner-up Lauderdale County (12-1) beat Region 8 third-seed Deshler 21-7 to set up this week’s semifinal battle at Madison. The Mustangs won the regular-season battle 24-10 on Sept. 7. Fayette County (11-2) and Straughn (9-3) posted road wins at Leeds and Midfield, respectively, and will meet in the other semifinal game. The Bulldogs, who were the fourth seed in Region 1, will be the host.
In Class 5A, unbeaten Muscle Shoals (13-0) ousted defending state champion Hartselle 49-21 and McAdory (13-0) knocked off Cullman to set up Friday’s semifinal clash at McCalla. Region 1 rivals Spanish Fort (12-1) and Saint Paul’s (11-2) also advanced and will play at Spanish Fort. The Saints beat the Toros in the regular-season game 31-21.
In Class 6A, Hoover (13-0) remained unbeaten with a 21-7 win over arch-rival Vestavia Hills and will now host Clay-Chalkville (12-1). The Cougars downed Mountain Brook 30-9 in the third round. Region 3 champion Carver-Montgomery (12-1) defeated Spain Park 26-20 at Cramton Bowl and earned the right to host Region 3 third-seed Opelika (9-4, an 8-7 winner over Region 3 second-seed Auburn.
In Class 2A, Region 1 foes Sweet Water (11-2) and Washington County (12-1) advanced. The top-seeded Bulldogs will host the game. Reeltown (12-1) beat Woodland and will host unbeaten Tanner (12-0) in the other semifinal contest.
And, in Class 4A, unbeaten Oneonta (13-0), last year’s state runner-up, shut out J.O. Johnson and will host Madison County (12-1) in one semifinal. Dora (12-1) won on the road at Charles Henderson and will travel to Mobile Friday to face UMS-Wright (11-2). UMS also won the road at Beauregard.
AHSAA State Football Playoff Pairings
Semifinals (Nov. 30)
Class 1A
McIntosh (8-5) at Brantley (13-0)
Pickens County (11-2) at Marion County (12-1), Guin
Class 2A
Washington County (12-1) at Sweet Water (11-2)
Tanner (12-0) at Reeltown (12-1)
Class 3A
Fayette County (11-2) at Straughn (9-3)
Lauderdale County (12-1) at Madison Academy (10-2), Madison
Class 4A
Dora (12-1) at UMS-Wright (11-2), Mobile
Madison County (12-1) at Oneonta (13-0)
Class 5A
Saint Paul’s Episcopal (11-2) at Spanish Fort (12-1)
Muscle Shoals (13-0) at McAdory (13-0), McCalla
Class 6A
Opelika (9-4) at Carver-Montgomery (12-1), Cramton Bowl
Clay-Chalkville (12-1) at Hoover (13-0)