Reviewed by: Liv George
5 things you need to know about high school football in East Alabama
Reading time: 5 minutes
It’s officially game week for many high school football teams in Alabama. Week 0, as it’s known, will kick off with some games Thursday night before a full slate of games Friday.
We have already done a quick preview for two areas in the state—North and West—but now it’s time to take a look at East Alabama, which is home to the reigning 7A champion Central-Phenix City.
But the Red Devils aren’t the only program worth keeping an eye on this fall. Keep reading to find out five things you should about the area before kickoff.
1. Is it too soon to crown 7A, Region 1?
We talked last week about how good 7A Region 3 is, and for good reason. Historically, the central Alabama region has been the most dominant and most difficult.
The tide started to turn a bit in recent years but with Thompson winning four consecutive state titles, it was hard to argue against. However, now that Central-Phenix sits on top of the high school football world, maybes it’s time to revisit who is the best of the best.
After realignment, this year’s 7A Region 1 features:
- Central-Phenix City
- Enterprise
- Auburn
- Dothan
- Opelika
- Carver Montgomery
- Smiths Station
- J.A.G.
Five of those teams received votes in the ASWA preseason including four being ranked in the top six. It’ll be a battle just to get a playoff spot for many of these teams who have aspirations of winning a blue map.
2. Calling for any and all 6A contenders
Class 6A may be the deepest and most competitive classification in the state. But in the preseason, it’s not clear how many contenders are sitting east of Interstate 65.
In the ASWA preseason poll, Oxford is ranked 6th and Pike Road is 7th. Then, Benjamin Russell received a single vote. But of the 16 teams in the poll, those are the only three teams in this area.
And while those three may be your best bets, that doesn’t mean some other programs can’t surprise us. Some others who could end up as region champions or beyond include:
- Percy Julian
- Gadsden City
- Southside Gadsden
- Wetumpka
3. Can Montgomery Catholic rebuild?
After years of knocking on the door, Montgomery Catholic finally completed a perfect season, going 15-0 and winning the 2023 state championship. There’s no denying how much talent graduated from that title-winning team but this program has proven itself as more than a one-hit wonder.
The Knights are fourth in the preseason poll, receiving a pair of first-place votes from the panel of 19 voters.
But the other hurdle: Catholic is moving up to Class 5A. A new region and a new playoff path could put a dent in their plans.
Regular 5A powerhouse Central Clay County is also back for another year under Danny Horn. And you better believe they’ll be ready for redemption after losing in the first round last season.
4. Small school powerhouses
You’re also going to see a lot of familiar names in the smaller classifications throughout the season.
In Class 4A, Handley has won 42 games including 10 playoff games over the past four seasons. The Tigers, ranked seventh in the preseason poll, won the state title back in 2020.
Trinity will be one of the frontrunners in Class 3A after an 11-win season in over a decade last season. The Wildcats are heavy favorites to win their new region but they will also test themselves in non-region play including games against Saint James and Reeltown.
Speaking of Reeltown, the 2023 2A runner-up leads a group of teams from the area that will be thrilled to see Fyffe out of the picture this season. But now, it’s all about who can come out of the loaded field that includes:
- Coosa Christian – preseason #2
- Highland Home – #3
- Cottonwood – #5
- Reeltown – #9
5. Plenty of Mr. Football candidates to watch
With the state’s first-ever two-time Mr. Football (Ryan Williams) reclassifying, the race for the 2024 award is wide open. And there are plenty of stars playing in east Alabama that you will want to watch before the end of the year.
Running back Anthony Rogers has bounced around schools but arrives in Montgomery where he will be in the spotlight under new coach Bobby Carr.
Central-Phenix City may have lost wide receiver Cameron Coleman but quarterback Andrew Alford is back and is expected to have another big year with the Red Devils.
Down in Class 1A, Auburn commit Alvin Henderson will be racking up yards and stats for preseason #1 Elba.
There’s way more than we have time to list but the point is: Get out and see some of these kids play football. You won’t regret it.
What are you most looking forward to this season in Alabama? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
