This is what we like to call the "Road Trip" section. These are the states best games and the ones I will be attending this year. Each Friday night I will go to what I would consider the states premiere matchup of the week. I will also attend some of those Thursday night games and will list those also. If you want to see the states best football games these are the ones that I recommend you go and see. If some of these are too far to travel to or if it isnt a classification you keep up with I will list some of the other games of huge importance to all classes and all fans. Most people follow a specific team and I have my loyalties to where I graduated (Mortimer Jordan, Go Devils!), as does everyone, but Im a fan of High School Football in general and want to see the best games the state has to offer. So here is my going to be my "Road Trip" for the 2001 campaign:
*Week 1-Homewood vs. Ben Russell: Why would anyone not want to go see this game in week one? It will be pre-season #1 vs. #2, the defending champ against the runner-up, and a rematch of one of the greatest title games in history. No high school football fan will forget the 5OT affair they played last season. They played the first game of last season as well, a matchup in which Ben Russell won in another classic, but the Pats won the big one and we should see another great one this year. I will be there, will you?
*Week 2-Clay County vs. Hazlewood: WOW! Just typing that sends chills up my spine. This game carries a certain mystique that no other game in the state can. These two teams are pretty fierce rivals in their own respect, they dont play that often but when they do it is a contest you will NEVER forget. They played for two state titles in basketball (91,92) they played what is easily the greatest 2A championship game, if not the best ever, in 1995, in the semi-finals in 1992, and last season in the 2nd week of the season. Not only will this be #1 in 1A against #1 in 2A and the defending champs in their respective classes, but two of the greatest dynasties of all-time. Between them there is an amazing 15 football state titles, 19 football state title game appearances, and 34 semi-final football appearances. But it dosent end their if you throw basketball on top of that, you have an overall 20 state titles, and 27 state title appearances. Between them they own almost every team record in the AHSAA record book and have put numerous players into college and the NFL. This should be an incredible experience, espicially since they are playing at Ashland. If you've never seen a game from inside Horn-White stadium, you should.
*Week 3-Decatur vs. Grissom: Now we will go to the Huntsville area to see two 6A powers duke it out for an early season region title. Decatur was ranked #1 for a large part of last seasona and Grissom made the semi-finals. They are big rivals which should make it more interesting. The winner of this game will make a very strong run in the 6A north for a trip to Birmingham. This is a late November calibur game, played in mid-September.
*Week 4-Central Phenix City vs. Opelika: For some odd reason the states 7th biggest rivalry is being played in week 4, but I'm not complaining, its a good thing it isnt played in week 10 or we wouldnt get to see it. This should be for the region title and an epic battle. Both teams went to the 3rd round of the play-offs last season and they both should make good runs in the 6A south again. Two typically strong 6A programs should provide the states best week 4 match-up.
*Week 5-Colbert County vs. Deshler: The defending 3A runner-up and a 4A powerhouse going at it, but more importantly two fierce rivals. Colbert County blew Deshler out last season, but dont count on it this year. Deshler is in the midst of rebuilding but will still state a very strong case for the 4A title. This is one of those games you just cant miss, it has it all; tradition, power, dominance, and great football. Two great dynasties going head to head in a NW Bama match-up sure to make some noise.
*Week 6-Vestavia Hills vs. Hoover: We all remember that 34-31 last second win by Vestavia last year, but that didnt seem to phase Hoover, as they went undefeated the rest of the way en route to the state title. We should see a dandy again this year. Two huge rivals in a huge 6A contest. This is a game that everyone in 6A and all over the state will have their eyes on. This should be a classic and we may see two 5-0 teams ranked #1 and #2 in this game and everyone should be in attendance for this one.
*Week 7-(Thursday Night): Hazlewood vs. Courtland: We get to see 2 great games in week 2 as we travel to Town Creek to see these two tango for the 2nd time this season. They play in week one but we will be at the Homewood/Ben Russell game, so we get a 2nd chance to see this great rivalry. A ton of state titles and a ton of accomplishments between the two. You can bet the better of these two teams are going to make a serious run at Birmingham. This is the most important game in 1A, no question!
*(Friday Night): Dale County vs. Daleville: Well I'm going to drive back to my home in Birmingham late Thursday night and get up really early Friday morning to head to the "Wiregrass" of Alabama. This game is huge for 4A! I really feel the better of these two teams will give T.R. Miller their toughest competition in 4A. This is a huge rivalry and a game I do not want to miss. They played a 28-21 thriller last season. Dale County prevailed last year, but Daleville is on mine and most peoples list of "Top contenders" in 4A. This should be a dandy of a game right here.
*Week 8-R.E. Lee vs. Jeff Davis: "The Battle of Montgomery", not many things in life are certain but in this match-up there are two certainties: one is that your going to see a great football game and two is that one, if not both, of these teams will be a serious contender for the 6A title. This is one of the states best and oldest rivalries and a trip to Montgomery isnt too much to ask to see a game of this magnitude. I promise, come week 8 of the season, I will be sitting at the Crampton Bowl watching this game.
*Week 9-Hewitt-Trusssville vs. Clay-Chalkville: Ah, alas, I wont have to travel very far to watch the states best game. This one will be virtually in my backyard! Hewitt won a great 34-31 thriller last year and these two teams go at it hard everytime they are on opposing sides. Clay-Chalkville won the state title team two years ago, but from what I'm hearing it could be Hewitt's turn. Clay wants to get back to championship status and both teams will get to find out what they are made of, in what could be the region title game and a pivitol match-up for the 6A north play-off picture.
*Week 10-(Thursday Night): Dothan vs. Northview: "On the Road again", just like the song, we have to get on the road again. I wanted to see as many of those famous rivalries as I could and we got lucky with this one being on Thursday night instead of Friday. Most of the big rivals play on Friday night of week 10, but not these guys. So thanks to them we get to see an extra game. Dothan won 33-14 last year and Northview had a down year. Down year or not, this will still be the best game on Thursday night and I want to see it, even if I do have to get up super early the next day.
*(Friday Night): "Clay Bowl" Clay County vs. Lineville: This was ranked as the nations top rivalry by Sports Illustrated AND USA Today in two seperate polls in which the nations 10 best rivalries were determined. I almost always go to this game and I will again this year. Though I will have to get to the stadium around 4 or 5 in the morning to stand in line, it will be great. By 8 or 9 in the morning there will be thousands standing outside the gates watching the festivities and talking about the game. Words cant really begin to describe this game and how incredible it truly is. Just come and see if you've never been, its unreal, there is no other game in the state or the country that comes close to comparing with this one. Oh and by the way, it will very likely be two unbeaten teams, #1 vs. #2 and the winner of this game will probably go to Birmingham as history proves. In the past 7 seasons since 1994, one of these two have been in the title game, 7 times. I could've picked several games to have gone to, but NO WAY would I have missed this one! |
