The AHSAA football playoffs have moved into the semifinal round, and we’re picking every game across the state.
Teams are looking to punch tickets to the Super 7, which will be next week Dec. 3-5. All of the semifinal games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
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The Gadsden Times’ Maxwell Donaldson has been picking games around the Gadsden-area all season and went 22-4 picking all the games in the third round, that brought his season record to 105-35. This week he’s joined by Jaeden Day of The Montgomery Advertiser, who is 27-6 picking games around Montgomery and Amelia Hurley of The Tuscaloosa News, who is 38-13 picking games around Tuscaloosa.
Class 6A
Benjamin Russell (12-1) at Saraland (12-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Saraland 38, Benjamin Russell 20 — With Saraland rolling through a tougher slate and coming off a dominant 56-32 win at Pike Road in Round 3, I see the Spartans securing a championship spot for the fourth year in a row.
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Jaeden’s Pick: Saraland 42, Benjamin Russell 35 — This will be a brawl between Benjamin Russell receiver Cederian Morgan and Saraland receiver Deshawn Spencer, and Saraland is better equipped on defense to handle the workload.
Max’s Pick: Saraland 35, Benjamin Russell 28 — It’s hard to pick against Kirk Johnson, but Saraland is more experienced when it comes to semifinal matchups.
Clay Chalkville (13-0) at Muscle Shoals (12-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Clay-Chalkville 31, Muscle Shoals 21 — Clay-Chalkville has proven itself this season with a signature win over Thompson, and I think the Cougars have the edge in this matchup of two perfect records.
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Jaeden’s Pick: Clay-Chalkville 35, Muscle Shoals 20 — Clay-Chalkville might be the best team in the state and it can thank Ole Miss commit Corey Barber for that. The Cougars will overwhelm Muscle Shoals in this one.
Max’s Pick: Clay Chalkville 28, Muscle Shoals 17 — The Cougars have looked destined to bring home another Blue Map and the Trojans will give them a fight but fall short.
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Class 5A
Vigor (11-2) at Williamson (12-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Williamson 27, Vigor 20 — Williamson already proved it can outlast Vigor with an overtime win in Week 8, and with the Lions riding their most successful season since 2007, the momentum leans their way again.
Jaeden’s Pick: Williamson 28, Vigor 21 — Williamson had a slight scare against Montgomery Catholic in the quarterfinal round. The Lions will learn from the quarterfinal first half woes to keep Vigor just out of reach.
Max’s Pick: Williamson 21, Vigor 14 — Williamson won this matchup just over a month ago, and have rolled through the playoffs this year and Vigor won’t slow them down.
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Moody (11-2) at Scottsboro (9-4)
Amelia’s Pick: Moody 35, Scottsboro 10 — After last year’s run to the state championship and another strong postseason showing, Moody looks ready to take the next step back to the title game.
Jaeden’s Pick: Moody 35, Scottsboro 13 — Without Montgomery Catholic out of the picture, Moody can taste the Blue Map, Scottsboro won’t stand a chance.
Max’s Pick: Moody 28, Scottsboro 14 — Moody is looking to return back and avenge a state title loss and will control this matchup against Scottsboro from start to finish.
Class 4A
Jackson (11-2) at St. Michael (13-0)
Amelia’s Pick: St. Michael 31, Jackson 28 — With an unbeaten season and a head-to-head win already behind it, St. Michael looks ready to deny Jackson’s repeat bid and reach the state championship game for the first time in program history.
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Jaeden’s Pick: St. Michael 48, Jackson 42 — This will be the game of the semifinal round. In shootout fashion, Gunner Rivers will shine and takedown the star-studded lineup of Jackson for the second time this year.
Max’s Pick: Jackson 28, St. Michael 27 — Even though St. Michael won the first matchup this year, I think Jackson is still too talented to get beat by the same team twice.
Anniston (13-0) at Plainview (13-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Plainview 28, Anniston 24 — Plainview’s in its first winning season since 2021, and I don’t see its first undefeated season in more than 25 years ending before a state bid.
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Jaeden’s Pick: Plainview 20, Anniston 17 — Plainview won’t waste the season it’s having in 2025, the Bears will move on in what will be a tight contest.
Max’s Pick: Plainview 28, Anniston 21 — The Bears magically season won’t end in the semifinals, as they’ll play for a state title for the first time since 1991, when Jeremy Pruitt was playing.
Class 3A
Southside-Selma (13-0) at Bayside Academy (12-1)
Amelia’s Pick: Southside-Selma 34, Bayside Academy 28 — This feels like the year Southside-Selma powers through to grab its first state championship bid in program history.
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Jaeden’s Pick: Southside-Selma 40, Bayside Academy 28 — Southside-Selma has one of the best passing games in Class 3A and that will prove to be too much for Bayside to keep pace with.
Max’s Pick: Southside-Selma 35, Bayside Academy 21 — Southside-Selma has averaged more than 50 points per game and the offense will get them into the state title finals.
Piedmont (13-0) at Mars Hill Bible (13-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Mars Hill Bible 35, Piedmont 17 — Having followed last year’s title with another perfect season, Mars Hill has the momentum to punch back-to-back tickets to the state championship.
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Jaeden’s Pick: Mars Hill Bible 38, Piedmont 21 — Mars Hill Bible have been the best team in 3A and that will hold true in the semifinal in a similar fashion the way the Panthers beat down Geraldine.
Max’s Pick: Mars Hill Bible 35, Piedmont 21 — The Panthers are a juggernaut, downing Geraldine by 40 points, but the Bulldogs keep this one close.
Class 2A
Reeltown (10-3) at Lanett (11-2)
Amelia’s Pick: Reeltown 27, Lanett 24 — Both teams seem to be pretty evenly matched offensively and defensively, but I see Reeltown clinching another state bid after last year’s title win.
Jaeden’s Pick: Reeltown 28, Lanett 21 — Reeltown has been there down that and that kind of swagger will give it the edge here. Who doesn’t want to see a Reeltown and Coosa Christian state title game.
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Max’s Pick: Reeltown 21, Lanett 14 — Reeltown has played for the state title the last two seasons and that kind of experience helps them get back there in a pretty evenly matched semifinal game.
Coosa Christian (11-2) at Pisgah (11-2)
Amelia’s Pick: Coosa Christian 31, Pisgah 10 — I’ve seen Coosa Christian handle Tuscaloosa Academy twice in person now, and with a weapon like four-star Kylen Johnson, the Conquerors have a clear shot at a state bid.
Jaeden’s Pick: Coosa Christian 28, Pisgah 7 — Pisgah doesn’t have the firepower to slow Kylen Johnson, Coosa Christian will finally have a shot at the state title after battling eligibility issues.
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Max’s Pick: Coosa Christian 21, Pisgah 7 — It’s hard to bet against a Rush Propst led team this late in the year, especially when he has a talent like Kylen Johnson (33 total TDs, 9 INTs on defense).
Class 1A
Leroy (13-0) at Maplesville (13-0)
Amelia’s Pick: Maplesville 21, Leroy 14 — Nobody has scored a point against Maplesville’s defense since September, and the Red Devils are on track to getting revenge from a runner-up state title finish last season.
Jaeden’s Pick: Leroy 28, Maplesville 21 — Don’t count out Leroy, there has to be an upset out of the 22 teams playing on Friday. This has upset alert all over it.
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Max’s Pick: Maplesville 28, Leroy 17 — Maplesville is one of the best small-school programs and return to the state title game to try and avenge its loss.
Wadley (12-0) at Addison (12-1)
Amelia’s Pick: Wadley 28, Addison 10 — After nearly getting caught by Hubbertville, Wadley should come out sharper this week as the defending state champion looks to secure another title-game bid.
Jaeden’s Pick: Wadley 31, Addison 21 — Auburn commit Jaquez Wilkes will make sure Wadley punches its ticket to the state title, and punch it with ease over Addison.
Max’s Pick: Wadley 35, Addison 14 — Wadley got a scare from Hubbertville, but the Bulldogs will respond and make another title game appearance.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Picking every AHSAA football playoff semifinal round game
