Each week this season AHSFHS.org will post games of the week provided by our forum friends better known as the "Barber Shop Gurus". Welcome TheMUBM, Kodyaufan2 and Sloth Nationzz as they analyze games of their choice and even give us a prediction for each contest.

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TheMUBM Week 14 Games

Last Week:  2-2    Season Total:  45-11

(#3)  Mary Montgomery (9-2) at  (#4)  Central Phenix City (10-3)  at Garrett-Harrison Stadium Mary Montgomery   Central Phenix City 9-2 (7-0)  Record 10-3 (5-2) 7A-R1  Class/Region 7A-R2 #3  ASWA Ranking #4 91.4  Power Rating 104.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Central Phenix City as a 15 point favorite. Last Meeting:   The Central Phenix City Red Devils defeated Mary Montgomery by a score of 21-7 in the semi-finals of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Central Phenix City and Mary Montgomery have met 2 times on the field.... Central Phenix City holds a 2-0 edge in the games played. Comments:    Mary Montgomery is in the midst of a record breaking season for the school, and they are coming off a big 13-10 win over Enterprise which took some late game magic. Central Phenix City continued business as usual destroying region foe Auburn 49-21 last Friday night.     Mary Montgomery held Enterprise to 136 total yards. They could certainly use another performance like that against a CPC team who is averaging 46.7 points per game. Ben Hollins was 16-29 for 193 yards. Definitely not his best performance of the year, but a lot of that is Enterprises defense.     Central Phenix City QB Andrew Alford threw for 429 yards and 4 TD's against Auburn. aided by Cam Coleman who caught 10 himself for 207 yards. Auburn never really was in the game. Pat Nix really seems to have this CPC team clicking on all cylinders.     The dream season comes to an end. It's been a fantastic ride for MGM and one that I am sure fans will not forget for a long time. However, CPC is just heads and shoulders above the rest of the south.   Prediction:  CPC 42 Mary Montgomery 17

Geraldine (9-3) at  Lauderdale County (8-4)  at Robert Earl Grisham Stadium Geraldine   Lauderdale County 9-3 (5-2)  Record 8-4 (6-1) 3A-R8  Class/Region 3A-R7 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 72.3  Power Rating 67.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Geraldine as a 3 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Geraldine Bulldogs defeated Lauderdale County by a score of 55-20 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Lauderdale County and Geraldine have met 5 times on the field.... Lauderdale County holds a 4-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Geraldine comes in with 1 loss on the season to Sylvania and having just upset Gordo 42-34. Lauderdale County comes in perfect on the season and having survived a pesky Piedmont team 35-30.

Geraldine is a run first team, but they can pass when need be. They have relied heavily on do everything back Carlos Mann this season, including 4 TD's against Gordo. QB Colvin can also take off and run with it and eat up big chunks of yardage. And as I said, they are deceptively effective when they do choose to pass.

Lauderdale County seems to have a pretty similar philosophy as Geraldine, although they operate from completely different offensive sets. Lauderdale County fell behind Piedmont three times Friday but didn't panic and resumed the lead.

I have praised the Tiger defense all year and I think they'll be ready to go Friday night, but I think Mann's quickness may give them some trouble. I could probably flip a coin on this one and choose a team, but I'll give the edge to Geraldine because their schedule has been a little tougher, largely due to being in a brutal region and this is their second year in a row to make it to the quarterfinals.

Prediction:  Geraldine 14 LCHS 7

Locust Fork (8-3) at  (#5)  Fyffe (9-3)  at Paul Benefield Stadium Locust Fork   Fyffe 8-3 (6-2)  Record 9-3 (7-0) 3A-R6  Class/Region 3A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking #5 72.9  Power Rating 69.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Locust Fork as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Fyffe Red Devils defeated Locust Fork by a score of 63-33 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Fyffe and Locust Fork have met one time on the field.... Fyffe holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Locust Fork, the highest scoring team in AHSAA, comes in undefeated and off a blowout win over Sulligent 54-21. Fyffe just keeps Fyffeing, after blasting Lexington 57-24.

Dino Embry likes to throw the ball up top to White and Boatright. I don't think Fyffe has seen a team this year who can do that as well as Locust Fork. That being said, Locust Fork also has a pretty solid running game, using Boatright occasionally in a wildcat formation and then also just letting Embry run with it.

While Fyffe hasn't seen anything like the Locust Fork passing game this season, I can promise that Locust Fork has not seen anything like Logan Anderson this year. This kids motor never stops running. He is an absolute beast on offense who you can not arm tackle, and he is a disruptor on defense.

I have went back and forth on this one. I just worry about a team that hasn't been there before like Locust Fork, and who hasn't played the strongest schedule against a Paul Benefield coached team. At the end of the day, I had Fyffe in my final 4, so I am sticking with Fyffe.

Prediction:  Fyffe 41 Locust Fork 38

(#1)  Wadley (13-0) at  Pickens County (4-7)  at G.S. Spruill Stadium Wadley   Pickens County 13-0 (5-0)  Record 4-7 (4-3) 1A-R6  Class/Region 1A-R5 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 59.2  Power Rating 44.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Wadley as a 13 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Pickens County Tornados defeated Wadley by a score of 18-14 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Pickens County and Wadley have met 3 times on the field.... Pickens County holds a 2-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Wadley comes in trying to find their offense, after only averaging a paltry 71.5 points in the first two games of the playoffs and coming off an 81-27 victory over South Lamar. It's the playoffs so naturally Pickens County is playing longer than most would've thought. The Tornadoes come in off a 32-29 nail biter over Winterboro.

RB Jacquez Wilkes rushed for 187 yards and 3 TDs against South Lamar, while his backfield counterpart Cortavion Lynch went for 190 and 3 TDs. If this tandem keeps this up, they may just run roughshod over everyone.

Pickens County doesn't really play football it seems until the playoffs arrive. This would seem like a tall task considering the same team that Wadley just destroyed got by Pickens County earlier this year 21-20. But when you have kids like WR Santonio Jones, who has more moves than someone playing Dance Dance Revolution, then you always have a chance.

Wadley just seems to be locked in a zone right now. I really thought Coosa would run away with 1A North, but I am not so sure now. I think this one may be competitive for awhile, but Wadley pulls away.

Prediction:  Wadley 42 Pickens County 20

kodyaufan2 Week 14 Games

Last Week:  4-0    Season Total:  38-12

Hillcrest Tuscaloosa (6-4) at  (#1)  Saraland (13-1)  at Spartans Stadium Hillcrest Tuscaloosa   Saraland 6-4 (3-4)  Record 13-1 (8-0) 7A-R3  Class/Region 6A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking #1 94.6  Power Rating 105.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Saraland as a 13 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Saraland Spartans defeated Hillcrest Tuscaloosa by a score of 31-21 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Saraland and Hillcrest Tuscaloosa have met 5 times on the field.... Saraland holds a 3-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is one of several matchups this week between unbeaten teams. On paper, it might seem to be the biggest matchup of the bunch, but this could be the biggest test Saraland has faced from in-state competition so far.

You know the drill with Saraland. They're the most talented team in the state regardless of class. Their closest game against in-state was a 42-13 victory against Theodore late in the regular season. Five star Junior Ryan Williams is their leading receiver with 45 catches for 14 TDs in just 10 games played. Texas QB commit KJ Lacey is one of the top QBs in the state with an outstanding ratio of 32 TDs to just 4 picks. Those are the top players for an offense scoring more than 50 points a game. But don't sell their defense short, as that side of the ball is allowing just 13 points a game. They have almost as much depth on that side of the ball as on offense. Three players on defense have at least 4 sacks this season, and none of them are Alabama DL commit Antonio Coleman.

Hillcrest boasts the top scoring defense in 6A at just 7.1 points allowed per game, so they may be the best hope at slowing down this Saraland offense. Last week they held a high-scoring Helena offense to just 7 points in a 42-7 victory. The top players on that side of the ball are Ole Miss safety commit Travaris Banks and edge rusher TJ Grant. A big factor in their win last week was the multiple fumbles the defense forced. They'll need to force several this week to win. Hillcrest averages 40 points a game on offense, but they were pretty well held in check by St. Paul's a couple weeks ago, and Saraland is a completely different animal.

It's the #1 offense in 6A vs the #1 defense in 6A in a battle of unbeatens. This one was a 56-31 shootout in the 2nd round a year ago, but I don't see Hillcrest being able to score that many this time around. If they can force several turnovers, they can stay in the game, but I don't see Saraland giving them that opportunity.

Prediction:  Saraland 41, Hillcrest 16

Westminster Christian (6-5) at  Brooks (10-3)  at E.D. Redding Stadium Westminster Christian   Brooks 6-5 (5-3)  Record 10-3 (6-2) 4A-R8  Class/Region 4A-R7 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 58.5  Power Rating 58.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Brooks as a 2 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Westminster Christian Wildcats defeated Brooks by a score of 48-27 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Brooks and Westminster Christian have met one time on the field.... Westminster Christian holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    If you like points you're going to enjoy this one, as it's as close to a guaranteed shootout as you're going to find. Brooks is one of the Cinderella stories of the playoffs so far after knocking out Fluff Bothwell and Oneonta in the 1st round, but now they'll face another top player in Westminster QB Brandon Musch.

Everyone assumed the season would come to an end in the 1st round when Brooks quickly feel behind by three scores to Oneonta, but a furious rally saw them outscore Oneonta 42-7 down the stretch to pull off a stunning 56-42 victory. They followed that up by knocking off Priceville 70-42 last week. RB Omar Joyner is red-hot right now coming off a performance that saw him put up 320 yards and 5 TDs on 19 carries last week. This team can throw it around too, as QB Garrett Burrough threw for 174 yards and 3 TDs in their 1st round game. Defensively, there's no sugar-coating that they struggle on that side of the ball, especially against the run. No team left in the playoffs in 4A has allowed more points per game than Brooks at 34.6.

Westminster QB Brandon Musch's career has been one for the record books. He currently sits at second on the all-time touchdowns list in the state at 187, only behind former Piedmont QB Jack Hayes. He has scored 107 of those through the air and the other 80 on the ground. Every week he seems to eclipse the 100 yard mark in both passing and rushing. This year he has over 1600 passing yards with 26 TDs and over 1900 rushing yards with 30 TDs. Like with Brooks, there's just not much to say about them defensively, as they've struggled on that side of the ball.

Both offenses average over 40 per game, and both defenses allow more than 30 per game. Adding to the intrigue of this one is that I don't think most people had either of these teams making it this far, me included. Both teams are playing well, so it should be a fun one.

Prediction:  Brooks 56, Westminster 54

Locust Fork (8-3) at  (#5)  Fyffe (9-3)  at Paul Benefield Stadium Locust Fork   Fyffe 8-3 (6-2)  Record 9-3 (7-0) 3A-R6  Class/Region 3A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking #5 72.9  Power Rating 69.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Locust Fork as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Fyffe Red Devils defeated Locust Fork by a score of 63-33 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Fyffe and Locust Fork have met one time on the field.... Fyffe holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is a game people have been looking forward to for weeks, before the brackets were even official. Locust Fork is the highest scoring team regardless of class at 54.3 points per game. Fyffe is simply the best program in the state not named Thompson, and the road to the state championship always goes through them.

Fyffe RB Logan Anderson is now back to full strength after nursing a lingering injury for most of the regular season, and Fyffe just plays more confidently with him in the game. We know who they are and what they do. They've going to run the ball on pretty much every play and dare you to stop it. You can count on one hand the number of passes they'll typically throw in a game, although a couple weeks ago they threw several touchdown passes in a game. Defensively they're solid as usual. They did give up 42 to Pisgah, however, so this Locust Fork offense could challenge them.

Locust Fork was a team I locked onto about two or three weeks into the season as one to keep an eye on, but I never could have anticipated they'd have this type of season. They're basically in uncharted waters at this point. They are 12-0 for the first time in school history, and this is just the second time they've ever reached the Quarterfinals, the other being in 1998. Electric QB Dino Embry is just a Junior, so they'll have a chance to be really next year as well, but what a monumental victory this could be for the Hornets. For all the hype their offense is generating, their defense is pretty good too, giving up just 10 points per game.

It's hard to say what exactly it takes to beat Fyffe, because 2A teams never beat them. The last to do so was Sulligent in the 2017 Quarterfinals, which oddly enough is the same school Locust Fork just beat in the 2nd round. I think Locust Fork's offense is similar in strength to Pisgah, so it'll come down to their defense being able to keep Fyffe from marching down the field on long drives. With that said, I'll have to see someone beat Fyffe before I'll believe anyone will.

Prediction:  Fyffe 34, Locust Fork 27

(#4)  Elba (11-3) at  (#9)  Maplesville (12-3)  at Red Devil Stadium Elba   Maplesville 11-3 (6-1)  Record 12-3 (7-0) 1A-R2  Class/Region 1A-R4 #4  ASWA Ranking #9 62.9  Power Rating 45.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Elba as a 15 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Maplesville Red Devils defeated Elba by a score of 28-21 in the semi-finals of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 29 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Maplesville and Elba have met 2 times on the field.... The teams have both won 1 game.

Comments:    It's another heavyweight matchup in 1A, as these teams have won 8 state championship and have 26 semifinal appearances between them.

Maplesville had a disappointing regular season by their standards with a 6-4 record and a 2nd place finish in the region standings. But that difficult schedule has paid dividends in the playoffs, as they upset fellow heavyweight Sweet Water on the road a week ago. QB Nate Norris threw 4 TD passes in that one, two of which went to Aiden Abbott. This is a suffocating defense, and discounting their game with 5A John Carroll, they've only allowed 20 points in a game two other times.

As I wrote last week, the biggest advantage for Elba is they have Alvin Henderson and no one else does. He posted a season high number of carries against Millry, 33, which he took for 326 yards and 5 TDs. What's even more amazing is that actually brought his yards per carry average down. He now has 2,888 rush yards on the season for 52 TDs. According to MaxPreps, he is now tied for the state record for points in a season at 354, sits just 7 rush TDs shy of the single season record of 59, and 9 TDs shy of the total single season TD record. He's also just over 600 rushing yards short of the single season record for Alabama. For Elba to get where they want to go this year, he'll probably need to break most of those.

If Henderson stays healthy, I'm not sure anyone in 1A will stop him. But it was an injury to their star player that ended Elba's postseason early a year ago. Maplesville is a team you can never count out, so if Elba leaves them an opening they'll take advantage of it.

Prediction:  Elba 42, Maplesville 21

Sloth Nationzz Week 14 Games

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  40-12

(#1)  Catholic Montgomery (14-0) at  Jacksonville (6-5)  at Golden Eagle Stadium Catholic Montgomery   Jacksonville 14-0 (6-0)  Record 6-5 (3-3) 5A-R2  Class/Region 5A-R6 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 84.5  Power Rating 78.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Catholic Montgomery as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Catholic Montgomery Knights defeated Jacksonville by a score of 44-20 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Jacksonville and Catholic Montgomery have met 2 times on the field.... Catholic Montgomery holds a 2-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Well both of these teams have made it this far off the back of their quarterback play. Funny enough, both quarterbacks are committed to Troy to continue their football careers. Both are fantastic, Jim Ogle of Jacksonville, and Caleb McCreary of Catholic Montgomery.

Catholic struggled with penalties last week against TR Miller. Jacksonville played a very good Bibb County team and came out with the victory. It is a long drive from Montgomery to Jacksonville, can Catholic continue their winning ways? Or will Jacksonville and Jim Ogle put the Knights out of the playoffs?

The winner will most likely face Jackson, unless the Cinderella story of BTW Tuskegee will continue.

I think Catholic will get the victory, and get ready for a road trip out to Jackson. Give me the knights in a great offensive game.

Prediction:  Catholic Montgomery 42 Jacksonville 31

Mobile Christian (3-7) at  Trinity (8-4)  at Ragsdale-Boykin Field Mobile Christian   Trinity 3-7 (3-3)  Record 8-4 (5-2) 4A-R1  Class/Region 3A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 75.2  Power Rating 59.7 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Mobile Christian as a 14 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Mobile Christian Leopards defeated Trinity by a score of 42-21 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Trinity and Mobile Christian have met 2 times on the field.... Mobile Christian holds a 2-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    In Class 3A this season the Mobile Christian Leopards have done well against all of the competition put in their way. Trinity has done similar outside of one game against the defending champions. The last time Mobile Christian lost a game was last year's semi final against Saint James, when they got ran out of their home stadium 35-7.

However since then they have been a team on a mission. Trinity has been great since losing to Saint James. Trinity's season came to an end last year against the Leopards down in Mobile. Now they get them at their home stadium.

Will the Leopards continue their march toward a state title? Or will Trinity get revenge for last year's game?

I think Mobile Christian will struggle the most they have this season, however I think they will win off a walk off field goal. Give me the Leopards to punch their ticket to a semi-final game, and at home.

Prediction:  Mobile Christian 24 Trinity 21

St. James (6-5) at  (#3)  Thomasville (11-1)  at Anderson Field St. James   Thomasville 6-5 (6-1)  Record 11-1 (7-0) 4A-R3  Class/Region 3A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking #3 65.3  Power Rating 63.7 AHSFHS Power Ratings have the teams as even.

Last Meeting:   The St. James Trojans defeated Thomasville by a score of 28-26 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Thomasville and St. James have met 2 times on the field.... St. James holds a 2-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Another rematch from last year's playoffs. Thomasville made the trip last year to Montgomery and left with a 40-15 loss to the eventual champions. However, Thomasville has looked really good this season. They went on the road and beat a good Straughn team last week. They will host Saint James on Friday.

Saint James has smashed their first round opponents, in Opp and Randolph County. However Thomasville is much better than those two teams. But can Thomasville stop KJ Jackson and the Trojans?

No 3A team has done so for the past two seasons. Thomasville's Wing-T offense could keep them off the field, but can they play keep away?

I think the Trojans will win once again, and punch their ticket to a semi final date down in Mobile to face the same team they played last year. Give me Saint James in a close high scoring match.

Prediction:  Saint James 35 Thomasville 27

Eufaula (6-6) at  Demopolis (7-4)  at Tiger Stadium Eufaula   Demopolis 6-6 (4-2)  Record 7-4 (6-0) 5A-R2  Class/Region 5A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 70.4  Power Rating 67.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Eufaula as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Eufaula Tigers defeated Demopolis by a score of 20-17 in the third round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Demopolis and Eufaula have met 3 times on the field.... Eufaula holds a 3-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Demopolis has proven many wrong so far this postseason. Including this writer currently. I wasn't sure if they could beat Carroll or B.C. Rain. But they have, and I was impressed. But Eufaula has been playing lights out in the last few weeks.

Including their big victory over Faith Academy last week. Can Demopolis keep their story alive? They are facing one of the hottest teams in 5A currently.

The winner of this game will most likely be facing the Gulf Shores Dolphins. Who will punch their ticket to a state semi final? It has been a long time since either one has made it this far in the playoffs.

I think Eufaula will continue their march toward a title game appearance. Demopolis gets knocked.

Prediction:  Eufaula 21 Demopolis 14