With defending AISA Class 2A state champion Autauga having reclassified to 3A in the offseason, the classification will now crown a new football state champion at season’s end for the third year in a row. Which team could that be, and who are some of the favorites in AISA Class 2A entering the 2022 Alabama high school football season?
The Favorite: Escambia
The 2021 AISA Class 2A runner-up, Escambia lost only two games during the entirety of last season, both of which came to Autauga. With the Generals having reclassified to 3A, the Cougars are now arguably the clear favorite to win a state title this season, led by what should be an exciting Escambia offense once again.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Chambers
Looking back at last season, the Rebels lost only two games, one of which came to Escambia 37-13 in the AISA Class 2A state semifinals. Chambers will have to replace some key names in 2022, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but the Rebels should be a state title contender once again this season, led by one of the AISA’s top returning linebackers in Gavin Kight.
Teams to Watch For: Patrician, Macon-East, Edgewood
The most notable football team to watch for in AISA Class 2A in 2022, aside from Escambia and Chambers, is Patrician. The Saints return multiple key names off a 2021 team that reached the state semifinals. Both Macon-East and Edgewood also made playoff appearances a year ago, with the Knights and Wildcats both falling in the first round.
Top Offensive Names Returning
- OL Jack Gibson (Patrician)
- RB Josh Bonner (Banks)
- OL Bryson Boone (Edgewood)
- RB Gabe Spencer (Macon-East)
- WR Maliki Haynes (Escambia)
- QB Deonte Powell (Macon-East)
- WR Sanders Manning (Macon-East)
- QB Austin Champion (Edgewood)
- RB Bradley Boone (Edgewood)
- QB LeCharles Gardner (Banks)
A notable amount of talent at the running back position returns for the 2022 season, a group headlined by Banks’ Josh Bonner and Macon-East’s Gabe Spencer. Speaking of the Knights, Macon-East has the potential to have one of the top offenses in AISA Class 2A during the fall, as Spencer returns alongside others such as quarterback Deonte Powell and wide receiver Sanders Manning.
Top Defensive Names Returning
- DB Tate Boykin (Patrician)
- DL De’Marion Daniels (Banks)
- DL Jay Lindsey (Patrician)
- LB Clark Ezell (Patrician)
- LB Gavin Kight (Chambers)
- DB Dalton Nickels (Macon-East)
- LB Thaddeus McKinney (Macon-East)
- LB Luke Tolbert (Chambers)
- DB Jacob Wilson (Macon-East)
- LB Hunter Timmerman (Macon-East)
One of the biggest defensive names returning in 2022 is Chambers linebacker Gavin Kight, who totaled over 100 tackles for the Rebels a year ago. Both Patrician and Macon-East in particular also return a notable amount of defensive production from last season.
Notable New Teams: Abbeville Christian, Clarke Prep, Hooper, Pickens
AISA Class 2A sees a total of four new teams reclassify for the 2022 season. Both Hooper and Clarke Prep, who made a playoff appearance last season, move down from 3A. Abbeville Christian and Pickens move up from 1A, with the Pirates also coming off a playoff appearance last year.
AISA Class 2A 2022 Final Four Prediction: Chambers, Escambia, Macon-East, Patrician
While one or two teams could potentially reach the state semifinals in the place of one of these teams, it feels like these could be the top four entering the year. If these four do reach the semifinal round as well, it would likely mark two intriguing matchups with a chance to play in the state title game up for grabs.
AISA Class 2A 2022 State Champion Prediction: Escambia
You could make an argument that any of the teams from the Final Four prediction will have a chance to win a state title this year, but I’ll go with Escambia. The Cougars should be talented once again and have a chance to avenge last season’s state title game loss in 2022.
