Reviewed by: Liv George
5 things you need to know about high school football in West Alabama
Reading time: 5 minutes
This is the final Friday until December without a full slate of high school football games in Alabama.
Before things kick off, we are diving into every area in our state to highlight some of the biggest storylines heading into the season. We started with North Alabama + some of their state championship contenders but now, we’re shifting our focus to West Alabama.
There is no perfect way to split up the state but for convenience purposes, this preview will focus on teams south of Cullman + west of Interstate 65 along with the entire Birmingham metro area.
Keep reading to find out all you need to know before the first official game of the 2024 Alabama high school football season.
1. The impact of reclassification
You’re going to see a few teams in new classifications this season with the new AHSAA realignment and it’s likely going to be enough to have a big impact on the state playoffs.
Spain Park is leaving Class 7A after finishing last season with seven wins despite missing the postseason. The Jaguars immediately become a contender in 6A, entering the season #6 in the preseason ASWA rankings.
Meanwhile, former 6A contender Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa is making the jump up with hopes of proving itself as one of the top programs in the state.
Some other teams in the area that could make some noise in their new class include:
- Chelsea: 7A to 6A
- Briarwood: 6A to 5A
- Center Point: 6A to 5A
- Pleasant Grove: 5A to 4A
2. Will Class 7A, Region 3 reclaim its throne?
After winning four consecutive state championships, Thompson was finally defeated in the playoffs last season by Central-Phenix City. And with how the rest of the season played out, the argument could certainly be made that Region 1 was both better at the top and deeper than Region 3.
But with a new alignment, Region 3 is hoping to reclaim its title as best in the state. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Prattville enters the picture which makes the four playoff spots even more impossible to predict.
While we can likely safely put Thompson in the postseason, there will only be three more openings for:
- Hoover
- Prattville
- Vestavia Hills
- Hewitt-Trussville
- Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
- Oak Mountain
- Tuscaloosa County
Most of those teams are not accustomed to missing the postseason. And while each of them will be expecting their season to extend beyond Week 10, only three of them will make it to the newly-formatted 7A bracket.
3. The Four Horsemen of Class 5A
Four state title contenders in 5A are right in the Birmingham metro, all ranked in the top 7 of the preseason ASWA poll. Those four teams include:
- #1 Ramsay
- #2 Moody
- #6 Leeds
- #7 Briarwood
Ramsay has won 25 games over the last two seasons including a title in 2022 and finishing runner-up in 2023. Meanwhile, Briarwood returns to 5A with high expectations due to the program’s previous 5A success which includes three state championships before it jumped to 6A.
Meanwhile, both sides of the Battle of the Bridge believe this year could be their year. Jerry Hood and Leeds have the experience but Jake Ganus and Moody have been knocking on the door in the region.
The catch? All four of these teams will be on the same side of the postseason bracket. Which means at least two will be eliminated before the semifinals and only one can make it to the Super 7.
4. Gordo, Pickens County set for 100th meeting
One of the most historic rivalries in West Alabama turns 100 this season. Pickens County and Gordo first faced off in 1921 and have played each other every season since 1946. Here’s some of the numbers:
- Gordo leads series 57-39-3
- Gordo has won 10 straight
- 5 combined state championships
The Tornadoes have not defeated the Green Wave in recent years but that hasn’t stopped them from having success, winning 86 games since 2016 including making eight consecutive 1A semifinal appearances.
Meanwhile, Gordo has won 88 games during that span with its own success in the playoffs. However, neither team has won a state championship game. And while that’s certainly the goal for each team, winning this rivalry may be just as important.
The rivalry, which is dubbed the 8-Mile War, is set to be played September 27 at Pickens County this season.
5. Week 1 delivers a trio of massive non-region matchups
You can pick just about any week during the regular season and highlight some intriguing matchups but something about Week 1 stands out. There are three matchups to keep a close eye on during the second week of the regular season (yes, Week 1 is the second week).
Clay-Chalkville at Ramsay, Aug. 29
The defending 6A champion against the defending 5A runner up. These two programs have combined for 20 total playoff victories over the last three seasons and neither of them show signs of slowing down. This one is going to be fun.
Parker at Mountain Brook, Aug. 30
In a rematch of one of the games of the season a year ago, Mountain Brook once again welcomes a talented Parker team. Both sides have high hopes in Class 6A and this will be a perfect early measuring stick to see where they belong in the title chase.
Spain Park at Hoover, Aug. 30
This rivalry may have lost some of its importance with Spain Park no longer being in Class 7A Region 3 but you won’t be able to tell once the teams take the field. Spain Park’s loss to Hoover last season is what kept them out of the playoffs and you can count on the Jaguars looking for revenge while the Bucs hope to prove they are back to their winning ways.
What are you most looking forward to this season in Alabama? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
