The 2023 Alabama high school football playoffs have arrived, with the first round of AHSAA action taking place Friday night. Here are our predictions for this week’s biggest games in Classes 4A-7A.
Class 7A
The first-round Class 7A slate is headlined by a few intriguing matchups, with perhaps the biggest being Auburn’s game at Baker. A few other games also could potentially be decided by one possession, including Mary G. Montgomery vs. Dothan and James Clemens vs. Hoover.
- Central-Phenix City 48, Davidson 14
- Baker 24, Auburn 27
- Mary G. Montgomery 30, Dothan 27
- Enterprise 33, Daphne 17
- James Clemens 24, Hoover 28
- Hewitt-Trussville 30, Bob Jones 14
- Thompson 49, Florence 14
- Austin 17, Vestavia Hills 35
Class 6A
Class 6A also provides some intriguing matchups in the first round of the 2023 Alabama playoff high school playoffs, some of which could be one-possession games. Included in this group to watch are Hueytown vs. Theodore and Gadsden City vs. Gardendale, among others.
- Saraland 45, McAdory 10
- Carver-Montgomery 30, Briarwood Christian 17
- Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 33, St. Paul’s Episcopal 20
- Helena 28, Wetumpka 17
- Benjamin Russell 33, Sidney Lanier 14
- Hueytown 27, Theodore 24
- Pike Road 35, Homewood 17
- Spanish Fort 38, Bessemer City 17
- Parker 42, Mae Jemison 14
- Oxford 34, Athens 20
- Gadsden City 24, Gardendale 21
- Hartselle 33, Center Point 21
- Muscle Shoals 28, Pinson Valley 17
- Fort Payne 21, Mortimer Jordan 17
- Clay-Chalkville 45, Cullman 10
- Mountain Brook 35, Buckhorn 14
Class 5A
Class 5A provides one of the state’s most compelling first-round contests as Central-Clay County and UMS-Wright collide. That’s not the only big game in 5A, either: Leeds vs. Arab also is a must-see matchup.
- Gulf Shores 38, Beauregard 14
- Charles Henderson 28, Marbury 13
- Central-Clay County 30, UMS-Wright 21
- Holtville 24, Headland 27
- Demopolis 27, Carroll 17
- Valley 30, B.C. Rain 14
- Eufaula 28, Shelby County 17
- Faith Academy 30, Elmore County 17
- Ramsay 45, West Point 10
- Leeds 30, Arab 28
- Russellville 28, Fairfield 24
- Scottsboro 21, Moody 30
- Guntersville 30, Springville 14
- Fairview 30, John Carroll Catholic 17
- Southside-Gadsden 24, Boaz 17
- Pleasant Grove 45, Lawrence County 13
Class 4A
In 4A, the first round of the 2023 Alabama playoff high school playoffs has a few matchups that stand out, with Handley vs. St. Michael Catholic among the biggest. T.R. Miller vs. Anniston also could be an intriguing matchup, as could Bibb County vs. Montgomery Academy.
- Jackson 38, Cleburne County 14
- Andalusia 30, Sipsey Valley 13
- Handley 35, St. Michael Catholic 17
- American Christian 27, Booker T. Washington 24
- Bibb County 24, Montgomery Academy 21
- Jacksonville 30, Bayside Academy 20
- Montgomery Catholic 45, West Blocton 13
- T.R. Miller 17, Anniston 20
- Dora 21, Priceville 14
- Oneonta 30, Brooks 17
- Westminster Christian 24, Oak Grove 17
- Deshler 24, Fultondale 17
- West Morgan 33, Etowah 14
- Randolph 27, Corner 17
- Cherokee County 35, Central-Florence 14
- Haleyville 28, North Jackson 17
