2023 Super Seven 2A Football Championship
The 2023 Super Seven Championship Games
2A Reeltown vs. Fyffe
We all know that past performances have little, if any, bearing on the game at hand. Still, from a historical standpoint, we do like to reminisce just a bit. With that in mind, there are three games in the 2023 AHSAA (Alabama High School Athletic Association) Super 7 that feature teams with past histories. Let's take a glance at these games starting with Class 2A where the Fyffe Red Devils (14-1) and the Reeltown Rebels (13-0) have met twice. Certainly, neither of these schools are a stranger to the championship atmosphere.
Reeltown has played for a coveted blue map trophy nine times. The were crowned as the state's best in 1987 (2A), 2001 (1A) and 2009 (1A). As for the Red Devils, Fyffe made their first championship appearance in 2007 (2A). The Red Devils then waited seven years before returning and capturing their first of six crowns. In total Fyffe is 6-2 when playing for a state championship. Five of those six wins were in Class 2A while the other was a Class 3A plaque in 2020.
The first time Reeltown and Fyffe squared off was on a cold November evening in 2014 at (then) Long-Ridgeway Stadium on Sand Mountain. It was in the second round of the Class 2A postseason that Fyffe's defense pitched just the third playoff shutout in school history (1984, 2004, 2014) racing past the Rebels by a final score of 34-0. The 2014 Fyffe squad was led by quarterback Will Masburn and tailback Austin Stiefel. The Red Devils went on to set a team record for points scored in a season (751) which still stands.
Reeltown placed four athletes on the ASWA (Alabama Sports Writers Association) first team defense and the 34 points surrendered by the Rebels ended up being the second lowest offensive output by Fyffe in 2014. Three weeks later the Red Devils won their first state championship defeating Ed Rigby's Elba Tigers 28-17. Stiefel was named MVP of the state championship game and won 2A Back of the Year honors.
In contrast to 2014 and Fyffe's high powered offense, the 2019 Red Devil defense smothered opponents surrendering just 2.9 ppg. On their journey to Jordan-Hare, there was only one time that an opponent reach double digits in points and nine times Fyffe foes failed to put a single point on the scoreboard. The Red Devils would have had a tenth shutout had it not been for the Rebel's Eric Shaw 90-yard kickoff return making it 28-7 at the end of the first quarter in the championship game.
AL.com writer Jimmy Wigfield penned "The No. 1-ranked Red Devils stamped cleat marks through, over and around Reeltown from the first whistle of Friday's Super 7 Class 2A championship game, winning their 30th straight game and fourth state championship in six years by routing the Rebels 56-7 at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium."
A couple of sidenotes. The 514 points scored by the 2019 Reeltown squad set a new team record which was eclipsed this season. Fyffe placed seven players, all juniors, on the ASWA all-state team. As far as championship contests are concerned, the 56 points scored by Fyffe is tied for 4th with Mars Hill Bible (2020). The 28 first quarter points in a finals game by the Red Devils is tied with Madison Academy (2014) and Hoover (2001) as the most points in a single period. Reeltown set a Class 2A record with lost four fumbles.
Fyffe QB, and MVP, Zach Pyron rushed for 171 yards & 3 touchdowns while Ike Rowell ran for 121 yards & a score. Zach Pyron was 1-2 passing for 20 yards. That 20 yard TD toss went to Brody Dalton for a touchdown. Dalton also converted 6 of 7 extra points. Reeltown's Eric Shaw signed with South Carolina and since transferred to Troy while Zach Pyron finished his high school career at Pinson Valley and is now at Georgia Tech.
For insight and analysis of this Friday's 2A title game simply click on the tab for the Barber Shop Guru's and see what insights they have to offer.
Kurt Duryea
AHSFHS.org
Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History
Demopolis scored a record 761 points during the 2004 season. The Tigers finished the season 15-0.
Demopolis scored a record 761 points during the 2004 season. The Tigers finished the season 15-0.