The 2022 Alabama high school football season finally gets underway this week. With a loaded Week 0 on deck across the state, we offer a look at some of the top matchups to watch for, along with our picks to win each of those contests.
Thompson vs. Buford (GA)
Three-time defending Class 7A state champion Thompson kicks off their 2022 season with a trip to Georgia, where a matchup with defending GHSA 6A state champion Buford awaits in the Freedom Bowl in Milton. A matchup featuring two of the best teams in Alabama and Georgia, this will be a tough test for what is a new-look Warriors offense facing off against a Wolves defense led by two of the nation’s top 2024 prospects in KJ Bolden and Eddrick Houston.
Prediction: Thompson 17, Buford 21
Hoover vs. Auburn
There are two high school Week 0 matchups featuring a pair of Alabama Class 7A heavyweights; the first is this one in Montgomery, where Hoover takes on Auburn at the Crampton Bowl. Both the Buccaneers and Tigers are coming off 7A state semifinal exits a year ago. This neutral site matchup features the No. 4 team in our Alabama Class 7A-4A Preseason Top 25 rankings taking on the No. 6 team.
Prediction: Hoover 28, Auburn 24
Central-Phenix City vs. Hewitt-Trussville
The second of those two 7A heavyweight matchups, Hewitt-Trussville travels to Phenix City to take on the Red Devils in yet another Top 10 showdown from our preseason 7A-4A Top 25. Central-Phenix City, the 2021 Class 7A state runner up, begins the year with one of the state’s most talented overall teams, while Hewitt-Trussville is certainly not lacking for talent either led by defensive lineman Hunter Osborne.
Prediction: Central-Phenix City 31, Hewitt-Trussville 17
Clay-Chalkville vs Briarwood Christian
Defending Alabama 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville opens the 2022 season with a home matchup against Briarwood Christian in what is a rematch of a 56-21 Cougars second-round playoff win a year ago. The Lions, led by five-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina, could present a Week 0 challenge for the Cougars, who went undefeated a year ago.
Prediction: Clay-Chalkville 35, Briarwood Christian 24
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa vs. Pike Road
This is the other high-profile Class 6A high school matchup in Alabama Week 0. Pike Road, the defending 5A state champion, opens its new assignment to Class 6A with a road test against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. The Patriots reached a 6A state semifinal a year ago and return one of the classification’s top quarterbacks in senior Ethan Crawford.
Prediction: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 24, Pike Road 28
Opelika vs. Callaway (GA)
Opelika travels to Georgia to take on a Callaway team that the Bulldogs have faced a few times in recent years, including a 30-21 season-opening loss a year ago. This will be a stiff test for the Bulldogs – Callaway was one of the top AA teams in Georgia a year ago en route to the state semifinals.
Prediction: Opelika 24, Callaway 21
James Clemens vs. Gardendale
James Clemens has two tough tests right out of the gate this season in Class 6A, starting with a home contest against Gardendale, followed by a road trip to Mountain Brook. The Week 0 meeting between the Jets and Rockets could be one of the best high school contests in Alabama. It features two of the state’s top players at their position in quarterback Gio Lopez and defensive lineman Kelby Collins.
Prediction: James Clemens 21, Gardendale 24
St. Paul’s Episcopal vs. UMS-Wright
St. Paul’s Episcopal’s time in Class 6A will begin with a rematch from a year ago, when the Saints fell to UMS-Wright on the road 24-13. Now they’re the hosts of a can’t-miss showdown between two of the top teams in the Mobile area.
Prediction: St. Paul’s Episcopal 17, UMS-Wright 20
Montgomery Catholic vs. McGill-Toolen
One of the state’s more intriguing Week 0 matchups could be this one between 4A’s Montgomery Catholic and 6A’s McGill-Toolen. The Knights, led by the state’s top running back, Jeremiah Cobb, reclassified from 3A during the offseason and will be taking on a McGill-Toolen team that reached the second round of the 6A playoffs a year ago.
Prediction: Montgomery Catholic 20, McGill-Toolen 30
