As the calendar flips to September, we are officially two weeks into the 2022 Alabama high school football season – a fortnight replete with upsets, impressive performances, and more. What are some of the biggest takeaways from this period?
Slow Starts from Defending State Champions
Aside from Clay-Chalkville and Autauga, the defending state champions from 2021 are off to slow starts, with Thompson, Pike Road, and Pike Liberal Arts all sitting at 0-2. Piedmont, Clarke County, Sweet Water, and Lowndes also are winless, having dropped their first contests, while Vigor is currently 1-1.
Montgomery Catholic Emerging as Favorite in 4A
Before falling in the 3A state semifinals a year ago, Montgomery Catholic was one of the more dominant teams in the state. Having reclassified to 4A in the offseason, the Knights again have proven to be a formidable opponent through the season’s first two weeks.
Montgomery Catholic (2-0) has wins over 6A’s McGill-Toolen and 3A’s Alabama Christian and is outscoring opponents a combined 105-28. Led by the QB/RB duo of Caleb McCreary and Jeremiah Cobb, the Knights are quickly emerging as the favorite in Class 4A as they enter region play this week.
Early Favorite for Mr. Football
On the topic of the Knights, has Cobb emerged as the early favorite to be named Mr. Football at season’s end? While the award has not gone to a running back since Asa Martin back in 2017, Cobb, an Auburn commit, has dominated on the ground the first two weeks of the 2022 Alabama high school football season, rushing for a combined 443 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Clay-Chalkville Sits Atop 6A
Class 6A is one of the deepest classifications in Alabama high school football in 2022, but one team has set itself apart after two weeks. Defending state champion Clay-Chalkville, despite having lost some key players from an offense that averaged 45+ PPG a year ago, appears not to have skipped a beat, as evident by two dominant wins over Briarwood Christian and Hueytown.
Notable 0-2 Teams
Defending state champions Thompson and Pike Road are two of a few notable teams off to 0-2 starts. Another prominent name in Class 6A, 2021 state runner-up Hueytown, is also 0-2 after early-season losses to Ramsay and Hueytown. 7A’s James Clemens also is off to an 0-2 start, with losses to a pair of 6A teams, Gardendale and Mountain Brook.
