Big challenge for Patriots on Friday
The Homewood Patriots face perhaps their biggest challenge of the year as they travel to unbeaten Clay-Chalkville in round two of the AHSAA Class 6A state playoffs.
The Patriots (9-2) easily beat Lee of Huntsville 49-14 and seem to be clicking offensively as well as they have all season.
Clay-Chalkville (11-0), the defending state champion, rolled over Cullman 48-14. The Cougars have won a state-best 26 straight games. They are led by quarterback Ty Pigrome, who holds at least one SEC offer, and wide receivers T.J. Simmons, an Alabama commitment, and junior Nico Collins, another Alabama commitment. The Cougars are averaging 51.5 points per game, but have been susceptible defensively against better teams. They allowed 40 points in a 41-40 win over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 27 to Gardendale in a 52-27 win, and 35 to Hewitt-Trussville in a 53-35 win over the Huskies.
Coach Ben Bergsuon knows what he's up against.
“They’re so athletic,” he said of the Cougars. “They’ve got to be the most athletic team in the state.
“We’ll have to have the best week of practice we’ve ever had and play the best game we’ve ever played to have a chance. But as they say, if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.”
The Patriots and Cougars have one common opponent. Clay beat Minor 49-15 in the Tigers’ first game of the year and the Pats beat Minor 20-15 in the first week of October.
If the Patriots win, they would meet the winner of Minor-Muscle Shoals. The Pats would host Minor and travel to Muscle Shoals, which is unbeaten.
Kickoff at Cougar Stadium is 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. Parking is $5. Clay-Chalkville High, a Jefferson County school, is in the city limits of Clay off Deerfoot Parkway and accessible from Interstate 59 at Exit 143.
Here is this week’s complete playoff schedule. Last week’s scores follow.
AHSAA 50th Annual State Football Playoffs
Second Round Pairings
CLASS 1A
Georgiana (10-1) at Billingsley (6-5)
Maplesville (9-1) at Marengo (7-4)
Linden (8-2) at Notasulga (9-2)
Brantley (9-2) at Verbena (8-3)
Victory Christian (8-2) at Berry (9-2)
Spring Garden (8-3) at Decatur Heritage (10-1)
Hackleburg (10-1) at Cedar Bluff (10-1)
South Lamar (7-4) at Wadley (9-1)
CLASS 2A
Mobile Christian (10-1) at G.W. Long (10-0)
Fayetteville (9-2) at Flomaton (9-2)
Pickens County (8-3) at Elba (10-1)
Providence Christian (8-2) at Washington County (9-2)
Ranburne (9-1) at Tanner (11-0)
Fyffe (9-1) at Red Bay (11-0)
Sulligent (8-3) at Cleveland (11-0)
Falkville (9-2) at Randolph County (11-0)
CLASS 3A
Bayside Academy (8-3) at Daleville (10-1)
Gordo (11-0) at Opp (8-3)
American Christian (10-1) at Hillcrest-Evergreen (6-5)
Pike County (9-1) at T.R. Miller (9-2)
Oakman (8-3) at Piedmont (10-1)
North Sand Mountain (7-4) at Madison Academy (10-1)
Lauderdale County (8-3) at New Hope (7-4)
Winfield (10-1) at Colbert County (8-3)
CLASS 4A
Andalusia (10-1) at Dadeville (6-5)
Munford (8-3) at Straughn (5-5)
Montevallo (9-2) at Leeds (9-2)
Trinity Presbyterian (8-3) at UMS-Wright (11-0)
Fayette County (7-4) at Cleburne County (9-2)
North Jackson (7-4) at Brooks (10-1)
Cherokee County (7-4) at Hamilton (5-6)
Cordova (11-0) AT West Limestone (8-3)
CLASS 5A
St. Paul’s Episcopal (9-2) at Greenville (11-0)
Demopolis (9-2) Vigor (7-4)
Helena (9-2) at Beauregard (10-0)
Eufaula (9-2) at Jackson (11-0)
Pleasant Grove (8-3) at Alexandria (9-1)
Russellville (10-1) at Parker (7-4)
Guntersville (11-0) at Hayden (8-3)
Mortimer Jordan (10-1) at Wenonah (10-0)
CLASS 6A
Blount (10-1) at Bessemer City (7-4)
Benjamin Russell (10-1) at McAdory (10-1)
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (8-3) at Opelika (11-0)
Spanish Fort (11-0) at Northridge (9-2)
Homewood (9-2) at Clay-Chalkville (11-0)
Muscle Shoals (11-0) at Minor (7-4)
Austin (8-3) at Briarwood Christian (5-6)
Gardendale (9-2) at Walker (9-2)
CLASS 7A
Auburn (7-4) at McGill-Toolen (10-1)
Lee-Montgomery (8-3) at Central-Phenix City (8-3)
James Clemens (10-1) at Spain Park (10-1)
Vestavia Hills (9-2) at Hoover (9-2)
First Round Results
CLASS 1A
Billingsley 53, Millry 28
Georgiana 34, Keith 0
Marengo 30, Loachapoka 26
Maplesville 49, Kinston 12
Linden 38, McKenzie 28
Notasulga 22, Chickasaw 7
Brantley 35, A.L. Johnson 12
Verbena 21, J.U. Blacksher 13
Victory Christian 33, Woodville 19
Berry 38, Vina 14
Spring Garden 39, Talladega County Central 16
Decatur Heritage 29, Meek 28
Hackleburg 49, Hubbertville 34
Cedar Bluff 47, Ragland 26
South Lamar 54, Phillips 42
Wadley 50, Valley Head 0
CLASS 2A
Mobile Christian 43, Luverne 19
G.W. Long 55, Francis Marion 0
Flomaton 26, New Brockton 20
Fayetteville 35, Ariton 26
Pickens County 38, Samson 32
Elba 46, Sweet Water 14
Providence Christian 17, Thorsby 6
Washington County 39, Goshen 0
Ranburne 35, Gaston 7
Tanner 73, Phil Campbell 7
Fyffe 50, LaFayette 15
Red Bay 56, Addison 15
Sulligent 63, Cold Springs 27
Cleveland 23, Reeltown 20
Falkville 35, Hatton 34
Randolph County 70, Collinsville 7
CLASS 3A
Bayside Academy 42, Fultondale 10
Daleville 40, Greensboro 18
Opp 49, Midfield 20
Gordo 42, Wicksburg 14
American Christian 38, Slocomb 13
Hillcrest-Evergreen 35, Montgomery Academy 7
Pike County 14, Aliceville 6
T.R. Miller 67, Central-Coosa 16
Oakman 37, Plainview 19
Piedmont 34, Lexington 0
North Sand Mountain 27, Susan Moore 13
Madison Academy 56, Weaver 21
Lauderdale County 22, Walter Wellborn 7
New Hope 28, Winston County 13
Colbert County 20, Glencoe 7
Winfield 34, Geraldine 7
CLASS 4A
Dadeville 54, Thomasville 53 (2 OT)
Andalusia 48, West Blocton 0
Munford 20, W.S. Neal 0
Straughn 7, Bibb County 6
Montevallo 21, Saint James 7
Leeds 43, Clarke County 0
Trinity Presbyterian 14, Northside 7
UMS-Wright 20, Handley 8
Fayette County 49, DAR 38
Cleburne County 31, Wilson 12
North Jackson 28, Haleyville 6
Brooks 35, Jacksonville 21
Cherokee County 45, Deshler 26
Hamilton 29, Priceville 28
West Limestone 42, Saks 36
Cordova 33, Oneonta 14
CLASS 5A
St. Paul’s Episcopal 42, Sylacauga 17
Greenville 42, Dallas County 15
Vigor 26, Central-Clay County 14|
Demopolis 48, Charles Henderson 13
Helena 24, Sidney Lanier 7
Beauregard 44, Williamson 20
Eufaula 48, Calera 27
Jackson 35, Tallassee 7
Pleasant Grove 35, Madison County 14
Alexandria 41, West Point 21
Parker 27, Etowah 21
Russellville 10, Anniston 7
Hayden 19, East Limestone 0
Guntersville 14, Ramsay 6
Mortimer Jordan 46, Lawrence County 20
Wenonah 48, Randolph 0
CLASS 6A
Blount 41, Chelsea 28
Bessemer City 28, Park Crossing 24
Benjamin Russell 41, Saraland 10
McAdory 35, Wetumpka 3
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 36, Northview 15
Opelika 51, Daphne 0
Northridge 48, Dothan 21
Spanish Fort 24, Pell City 10
Homewood 49, Lee-Huntsville 14
Clay-Chalkville 48, Cullman 14
Minor 37, Albertville 35
Muscle Shoals 36, Huffman 0
Austin 35, Pinson Valley 7
Briarwood Christian 30, Fort Payne 26
Gardendale 38, Hartselle 14
Walker 35, Scottsboro 9
CLASS 7A
Auburn 45, Theodore 15
McGill-Toolen 30, Enterprise 13
Lee-Montgomery 37, Murphy 21
Central-Phenix City 34, Foley 14
James Clemens 22, Hewitt-Trussville 0
Spain Park 31, Hazel Green 7
Hoover 38, Buckhorn 7
Vestavia Hills 28, Bob Jones 17