Breaking down the AHSAA Class 1A-6A state football championships
High school football championship week has touched down in Birmingham.
After Wednesday’s flag football championships and the Class 7A football title game, the Class 1A-6A championships will begin on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Class 3A title game.
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All matchups will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
Here’s what to know about the state championship games from Class 1A through Class 6A:
CLASS 6A
SARALAND (13-0) VS. CLAY-CHALKVILLE (14-0)
Day/time: Friday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.
Road to the championship: Saraland beat Wetumpka 49-24, Spain Park 35-31, Pike Road 56-32 and Benjamin Russell 38-21; Clay-Chalkville beat Jackson-Olin 49-26, Gadsden City 44-7, Homewood 35-17 and Muscle Shoals 30-13.
Final ASWA rankings: Clay-Chalkville was ranked No. 1 in Class 6A; Saraland was ranked No. 2.
Last AHSAA state championship: Clay-Chalkville beat Saraland in 2023 for the Class 6A championship; Saraland beat Mountain Brook in 2022 for the Class 6A championship.
Coaches: Jeff Kelly (158-37 in 15 years at Saraland, 205-71 in 22 years overall); Stuart Floyd (23-3 in two years at Clay-Chalkville, 25-11 in three years overall).
The skinny: This will be the first matchup between the two teams since the 2023 Class 6A state championship that saw Clay-Chalkville pull out a wild 31-28 victory. This will pit the top-two scoring offenses in Class 6A against each other, with the Cougars at No. 1 (45.6 points per game) and Saraland at No. 2 (41.9 points per game). Spartans quarterback Jamison Roberts has gone 192-for-264 passing so far this season with 3,104 yards, 34 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s also run for 641 yards and 21 touchdowns, with running back PJ Brown adding 862 yards and nine touchdowns on 115 carries for the Spartans behind an offensive line led by Ashton Bailey and JoJo Pasquil. Saraland star wide receiver and Duke commit Deshawn Spencer has 84 catches for 1,584 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with 48 rushes for 458 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Alcorn State commit Ayindae Pugh leads the defense with 90 tackles along with 12 TFLs and four pass breakups, while Blair Evans has 24 tackles for loss and seven hurries on the season. For Clay, Alabama State quarterback commit Aaron Frye has thrown for 1,982 yards, 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season while running for 1,133 yards and 17 touchdowns on 127 carries. Joshua Woods leads the team with 1,465 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Star wide receiver Corey Barber has hauled in 68 catches for 1,130 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cougars and has also run the ball for 113 yards and two more touchdowns. Four Cougars have double-digit TFL marks, led by 20 from Colton McIntyre and 19 from Keith Richmond. Cincinnati commit Xavier Starks has defended 17 passes at safety and South Alabama commit Deon Callins has added 14 PDs.
CLASS 5A
VIGOR (12-2) VS. MOODY (12-2)
Day/time: Thursday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.
Road to the championship: Vigor beat Charles Henderson 40-16, Northside 49-28, Central-Clay County 14-0 and Williamson 28-21; Moody beat Corner 49-21, Priceville 60-14, Briarwood 51-21 and Scottsboro 35-10.
Final ASWA rankings: Moody was ranked No. 2 in Class 5A; Vigor was ranked No. 3.
Last AHSAA state championship: Vigor beat Oneonta in 2021 for the Class 4A championship; Moody has never won a state championship.
Coaches: Renardo Jackson (12-2 in first season at Vigor, 15-29 in four years overall); Jake Ganus (43-10 in four years at Moody).
The skinny: Thursday will be the first matchup between the two Class 5A squads. Moody has the No. 3 scoring offense in Class 5A (39.2 points per game) and will face Vigor’s No. 3-ranked scoring defense (12.9 points per game). Vigor star quarterback Sammy Dunn has thrown for 3,182 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while running for 696 yards and 12 more scores. Dylan Jackson has hauled in 58 catches for 1,372 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead the receiving game, while junior running back Demetris Johnson has 1,081 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Alabama commit Jabarrius Garror has piled up 32.5 tackles for loss and 21 sacks for the Wolves, while Isaac McNeil has 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks; the defenders rank first and second on the team in total tackles, respectively. Defensive back Miguel Wilson has four interceptions. Moody quarterback Jake Lowery has thrown for 3,097 yards, 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for the Blue Devils this season, with wide receiver Jalijah Rutledge hauling in 60 catches for 1,132 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Jo Dozier adding 42 catches for 721 yards and 13 more scores. Running back duo Le’Kamren Meadows (1,215 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Kevin James (886 yards, 11 touchdowns) lead the ground game. West Virginia commit Cam Mallory has 26 tackles for loss and 12 sacks for the Blue Devils, while four-star linebacker Ba’Roc Willis, Western Kentucky commit Henry Smith and senior Joshua Willet all have over 20 TFLs apiece; Smith has 12 sacks on the season. Jagger Ludolf leads the team with 169 total tackles and Kylan Baker has 19 passes defended in the secondary.
CLASS 4A
JACKSON (12-2) VS. ANNISTON (14-0)
Day/time: Friday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.
Road to the championship: Jackson beat Ashford 34-0, Handley 42-28, W.S. Neal 50-7 and St. Michael 44-23; Anniston beat Fultondale 49-8, Madison Academy 44-12, Deshler 31-7 and Plainview 32-29.
Final ASWA rankings: Jackson was ranked No. 2 in Class 4A; Anniston was ranked No. 4.
Last AHSAA state championship: Jackson beat Cherokee County in 2024 for the Class 4A championship; Anniston beat Shades Valley in 1994 for the Class 6A championship.
Coaches: Cody Flournoy (68-21 in seven years at Jackson, 79-31 in nine years overall); Rico Jackson (27-10 in three years at Anniston, 85-69 in 14 years overall).
The skinny: The two squads have never faced off before. Anniston has allowed just 11.2 points per game on defense, which ranks atop Class 4A; Jackson’s defense ranks No. 3 (12.4 points per game allowed). Alabama commit and Mr. Football contender EJ Crowell has piled up 2,324 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground for Jackson. South Carolina commit Landon Duckworth has thrown for 2,160 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions, with No. 1 receiver De’Corius Jackson accounting for 832 yards and four touchdowns; North Carolina commit Jamarrion Gordon and senior Isaiah Gladney each have six receiving touchdowns. West Alabama commit AJ Hayes leads Jackson with 21 tackles for loss, while Jayden Tate and Donnivan Bozeman have 19 each. Gordon has five interceptions and Keegan Chapman has nine pass breakups. Anniston running back Jabari Williams has piled up 1,729 yards and 24 touchdowns, while quarterback Damon Pope has run for 1,157 yards and 10 scores behind an offensive line led by FBS prospects Sharontae Bailey and Adyn Goodson. Pope has also thrown for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns. A skilled secondary is led by seniors Kyree Lewis, who has 61 tackles, eight pass breakups and five interceptions, and Elijah Lanier, who has 49 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions with two returned for touchdowns. Senior defensive end Charles Thomas has 81 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks for Anniston, while Jalyne Henderson has 79 tackles, seven sacks and five tackles for loss.
CLASS 3A
MARS HILL BIBLE (14-0) VS. BAYSIDE ACADEMY (13-1)
Day/time: Thursday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m.
Road to the championship: Mars Hill Bible beat Whitesburg Christian 70-14, Winfield 42-6, Geraldine 42-0 and Piedmont 48-16; Bayside Academy beat Houston Academy 46-7, Randolph County 47-7, Montgomery Academy 30-13 and Southside-Selma 51-20.
Final ASWA rankings: Mars Hill Bible was ranked No. 1 in Class 3A; Bayside Academy was ranked No. 5.
Last AHSAA state championship: Mars Hill Bible beat Houston Academy in 2024 for the Class 3A championship; Bayside Academy has never won a championship.
Coaches: Darrell Higgins (106-27 in 10 years at Mars Hill Bible); Barrett Trotter (30-8 in three years at Bayside Academy).
The skinny: Thursday will mark the first matchup between the two squads, with Mars Hill going for its fourth state title and Bayside hunting its first. The Panthers are led by their pair of record-setting running backs, with UAB commit Hudson Higgins running for a school-record 1,986 yards and 28 touchdowns and Troy commit Jaxon Penn adding 1,782 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Lawson Frederick has thrown for over 1,000 yards this season, with Division I prospect Isaiah Owens hauling in 18 catches for 584 yards and five touchdowns. Defensive end Samuel Swinney has piled up 27 tackles for loss, 14 hurries and six sacks so far this season, while linebacker Jessie Parker leads the Panthers with 168 total tackles. Penn leads the defense with six interceptions. Bayside Academy quarterback Davis Barnett has an impressive 3,179 yards, 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions passing heading into the Class 3A title game, with leading receiver Walker Collins accounting for 806 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brennen Yamane has logged 788 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground while hauling in 19 catches for 189 yards and two more scores. Wake Forest commit Monroe Partin has 120 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions on defense, along with 37 catches for 555 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. Noah Cain has six interceptions for the Admirals.
CLASS 2A
LANETT (12-2) VS. COOSA CHRISTIAN (12-2)
Day/time: Friday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m.
Road to the championship: Lanett beat Zion Chapel 42-6, Ariton 34-14, Luverne 35-16 and Reeltown 35-19; Coosa Christian beat Isabella 56-14, Lexington 49-16, Tuscaloosa Academy 17-0 and Pisgah 44-36.
Final ASWA rankings: Coosa Christian was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A; Lanett was ranked No. 5.
Last AHSAA state championship: Lanett beat Mars Hill Bible in 2019 for the 1A championship; Coosa Christian has never won a championship.
Coaches: R.J. McDonald (17-8 in two years at Lanett); Rush Propst (12-2 in one year at Coosa Christian, 308-119 in 33 years overall).
The skinny: This will be the first state championship game appearance for Lanett since its 2019 title, while Coosa was last in a title game in 2023, falling to Leroy in the 1A championship. Lanett has the No. 1 defense in Class 2A (9.5 points per game), while Coosa Christian ranks No. 3 in scoring defense (14.4 points per game) and No. 4 in scoring offense (40.3 points per game). Nadarious Morgan has led Lanett’s run game with 1,338 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground, with RJ Tucker adding 710 yards and eight more scores. Lanett quarterback Fred Broughton has thrown for 1,628 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions for the Panthers, also running for 471 yards and six more scores. JaQuez Johnson leads the receivers with 22 catches for 813 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jeremiah McGilberry has put together a monster year on defense with 103 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks for Lanett. Braylon Chambers has 22 TFLs and 7.5 sacks and Eddie Mitchell has 7.5 tackles for five TFLs. For Coosa, four-star athlete Kylen Johnson has run for 1,145 yards and 17 touchdowns while hauling in 43 catches for 700 yards and nine more touchdowns on offense; he’s also totaled 76 tackles, 21 pass breakups, nine interceptions and four tackles for loss on defense. Quarterback Mac Long has thrown for 1,947 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while running for 288 yards and nine more scores. Grayson Malone hauled in 28 catches for 481 yards and four touchdowns on offense, adding 125 tackles, six interceptions, five pass breakups and five TFLs on defense.
CLASS 1A
MAPLESVILLE (14-0) VS. WADLEY (13-0)
Day/time: Thursday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m.
Road to the championship: Maplesville beat R.C. Hatch 58-0, McIntosh 48-0, Southern Choctaw 42-0 and Leroy 59-18; Wadley beat South Lamar 56-8, Meek 52-6, Hubbertville 62-38 and Addison 22-14.
Final ASWA rankings: Wadley was ranked No. 1 in Class 1A; Maplesville was ranked No. 2.
Last state championship: Wadley beat Maplesville in 2024 for the Class 1A championship; Maplesville beat Pickens County in 2016 for the Class 1A championship.
Coaches: Dake Rivers (13-0 in one year at Wadley); Brad Abbott (71-20 in seven years at Maplesville, 116-53 in 14 years overall).
The skinny: This will be a rematch of last season’s Class 1A championship, which saw Wadley pull away for a 37-7 victory. Maplesville has the top-scoring defense in the state, allowing just 3.2 points per game with 10 shutouts. The defense will face a Wadley offense that’s averaging over 49 points per game. Maplesville quarterback Pearce Yeargan has thrown for 1,662 yards, 18 touchdowns and two interceptions this season while running for 348 yards and seven more scores; Aidan Abbott leads the team with 476 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Four-star prospect Nehemiah McCary has run for 1,459 yards and 31 touchdowns and Jediah Works has added 1,141 yards and 21 more scores to lead a stout Maplesville run game. Eli Hubbert has 109 tackles and 16 tackles for loss on the season for the Red Devils and Luke Gray has 89 tackles and five TFLs, while Ethan Rencher has six interceptions. Auburn commit Jaquez Wilkes leads Wadley’s high-scoring offense with 2,094 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground, with Cortavion Lynch racking up 1,262 yards and 17 touchdowns behind an offensive line led by Jabari Burns and Dekevion Staples. Wadley receiver Frisco Robertson has racked up 519 yards and six touchdowns, adding 10 rushes for 107 yards and three more scores. Wilkes also keys the defense with 122 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions. Jabari Burns has 16 TFLs and five sacks, while Ly Robertson has 14 TFLs and five sacks of his own; Robertson and Demarious Spradding have four interceptions each.