The 2023 Super 7 Alabama high school football championships are being played Wednesday through Friday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. For the first time, the Super 7 will open with a pair of girls flag football championships.
Montgomery Catholic will play Wenonah for the 1A/5A championship on Wednesday. Central (Phenix City) will play Vestavia Hills for the 6A/7A title after the opener.
Below are previews of the seven boys’ championship games.
CLASS 7A – Thompson (11-1) vs. Central-Phenix City (12-0), 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 6
Thompson, ranked No. 54 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, is looking for its fifth straight 7A state title. No school has ever won five consecutive titles. Central enters the game ranked No. 28.
Both teams feature outstanding quarterbacks. Central is led by junior Andrew Alford with 44 touchdown passes against only two picks. Freshman Trent Seaborn is looking for his second straight state title after starting as an eighth grader. Seaborn has 25 TD passes with only five interceptions.
CLASS 6A – Clay-Chalkville (13-0) vs. Saraland (14-0), 7 p.m. Friday, December 8
Defending 6A champ Saraland enters the game No. 29 in the HSFA 300. Clay-Chalkville is No. 53 in our national rankings.
There’s plenty of Power 5 talent in this one with Saraland being led by reigning Alabama Mr. Football Ryan Williams. The junior wide receiver will be play on the field where he’s expected to play his college football. Williams gave his verbal to Alabama during his sophomore season. Williams is the favorite target of QB KJ Lacey, a Texas commit.
C-C is led by one of the best athletes in the state, Jaylen Mbakwe, a Crimson Tide commit. While he will play defensive back for Alabama, he’s currently the Cougars quarterback.
Mbakwe was hurt in last week’s win against Parker, but is expect to be ready for the title game.
CLASS 5A – Ramsay (12-2) vs. Gulf Shores (14-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, December 7
Ramsay is looking for a repeat in 5A. Gulf Shores is playing in its first state championship game.
CLASS 4A – Cherokee County (13-1) vs. Montgomery Catholic (14-0), 11 a.m. Friday, December 8
A good offense versus a good defense is the best way to some this one up. Montgomery Catholic is allowing only 5.2 points per game on defense. Cherokee County’s offense is averaging 43.3 points per game.
CLASS 3A – Madison Academy (14-0) vs. Mobile Christian (14-0), 11 a.m. Thursday, December 7
This is a battle of 14-0 teams. Madison Academy’s offense is averaging nearly 50 points a game (49.4), while Mobile Christian, looking for its first AHSAA state title, is giving up only 8.9 points per game on defense.
CLASS 2A – Fyffe (13-1) vs. Reeltown (13-0), 3 p.m. Friday, December 8
Fyffe is the defending state champ under legendary Paul Benefield, who has 350 all-time coaching victories. That’s the third most all-time in the state. Reeltown last won a state title in 2009.
CLASS 1A – Coosa Christian (5-5) vs. Leroy (13-0), 3 p.m. Thursday, December 7
Coosa Christian forfeited four games, earlier in the season, after using ineligible players. Since then, the Conquerors have won eight straight.
Leroy, the reigning 1A champ, has been without its head coach Jason Massey, who was deployed with his National Guard unit after a 4-0 start to the season. Chan Lowe is 9-0 as his replacement.
