Super 7 Primer: Here is what you need to know entering this week’s HS championships

The Super 7 returns to Birmingham this week for the first time since 2008.

The games will no longer be played at historic Legion Field, where they were for a dozen years.

This week’s games will be played at the new Protective Stadium, which joins Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium and Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium on a rotating basis to crown the AHSAA’s state football champs.

Here is a brief look at what you need to know this week.

The Schedule

Wednesday

Girls Flag Football

Hewitt-Trussville (10-0) vs. Smiths Station (10-2), 3 p.m.

Class 7A

Thompson (12-1) vs. Central-Phenix City (13-0), 7 p.m.

Thursday

Class 3A

Piedmont (12-2) vs. Montgomery Academy (11-3), 11 a.m.

Class 1A

Wadley (13-1) vs. Sweet Water (13-0), 3 p.m.

Class 5A

Pleasant Grove (12-1) vs. Pike Road (13-0), 7 p.m.

Friday

Class 4A

Oneonta (13-1) vs. Vigor (13-1), 11 a.m.

Class 2A

Cleveland (12-2) vs. Clarke County (12-2), 3 p.m.

Class 6A

Clay-Chalkville (14-0) vs. Hueytown (13-1), 7 p.m.

TV/Radio coverage

All eight games will be televised live by the AHSAA TV Network and live-streamed over the NFHS Network. The AHSAA Radio Network will also broadcast all the games over its statewide network or radio affiliates as well as over the internet.

Tickets

All tickets for the 2021 AHSAA Super 7 will only be available for purchase in advance and online through the AHSAA’s digital ticketing partner, GoFan, by visiting https://gofan.co/AHSAA and will be $15 plus applicable GoFan fees.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the gate and online through Ticketmaster beginning Wednesday. All tickets will be a digital ticket produced on the purchasers smartphone and no print at home tickets will be allowed.

All general admission tickets for the 2021 Super 7 are being sold by individual game and the 2021 game schedule has been modified to accommodate all fans exiting the stadium in between games.

New place, new faces

Five schools who have never won a state football title will play in Birmingham this week.

They are Hueytown (6A), Pike Road (5A), Clarke County (2A), Cleveland (2A) and Wadley (1A).

In fact, not only have those schools not won a state title, they’ve never been to the Super 7 at all.

That changes this week.

Familiar foes

There are, however, some familiar foes returning to Birmingham.

In Class 7A, Thompson has won the last two state titles and played for the last three. The Warriors’ opponent, undefeated Central-Phenix City, is playing in its third title game in four years. The Red Devils won the crown in 2018.

In Class 6A, Clay-Chalkville made back-to-back trips in 2014 and 2015. The Cougars won the title under Jerry Hood in 2014 and lost to Spanish Fort the next year.

In Class 5A, Pleasant Grove is making its third straight trip to the Super 7. The Spartans lost both of the previous years to Central-Clay County in 2019 and St. Paul’s in 2020.

Both of the Class 4A representatives have been to the top of the mountain before. Oneonta went three straight times from 2011-2013, winning the title in the last of those years. Vigor went to the 5A title game in 2018, losing to Central-Clay County. The Wolves won titles in 1987, 1988 and 2008.

In Class 3A, Piedmont has been a mainstay in the last decade. The Bulldogs have been to the Super 7 five times since 2015, winning state titles in 2015, 2016 and 2019. The also won the title in 2009 – all in 3A. Their opponent, Montgomery Academy, is returning to the title game for the first time since 1987. The Eagles won the 1A crown that year under Jack Tatum.

Finally, in Class 1A, Sweet Water is back. The Bulldogs have 10 state championships on their resume, the last one coming in 2017.

Still perfect

Four teams will come to Protective Stadium looking to complete perfect seasons.

Central-Phenix City (13-0), Clay-Chalkville (14-0), Pike Road (13-0) and Sweet Water (13-0) all have unblemished records.

The final rankings

Only two teams that were ranked No. 1 in their classification in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association prep rankings will play for a title.

Class 6A No. 1 Clay-Chalkville and Class 5A No. 1 Pike Road held those spots at the end of the regular season.

Here’s how each of the teams in the Super 7 ranked in the final 2021 ASWA poll:

7A: Thompson (2), Central-Phenix City (3)

6A: Clay-Chalkville (1), Hueytown (7)

5A: Pike Road (1), Pleasant Grove (2)

4A: Oneonta (NR), Vigor (3)

3A: Piedmont (4), Montgomery Academy (NR)

2A: Cleveland (7), Clarke County (2)

1A: Wadley (8), Sweet Water (2)

Public vs. Private?

Not this year.

Private school critics won’t have a lot to complain about this year.

Only one school in 14 finalists is private – Montgomery Academy in 3A.

Madison Academy and Mars Hill both lost in the semifinals Friday night.

Last year, two of the seven titles were won by private schools – St. Paul’s in 5A and Mars Hill in 2A.

Prospect watch

Some of the state’s top recruits will be on display this week.

Here are some of the highest ranked juniors and seniors who will be competing for state titles.

Class of 2022

Rankings per 247 composite rankings

1. Jeremiah Alexander, EDGE, Thompson (Alabama commit)

3. Khurtiss Perry, DL, Pike Road (Uncommitted)

5. Tre’Quon Fegans, DB, Thomson (Alabama)

17. JQ Hardaway, DB, Central-Phenix City (Cincinnati)

22. Marquarius White, WR, Clay-Chalkville (Tennessee)

23. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Pike Road (Ole Miss)

27. Khalib Johnson, QB, Clay-Chalkville (Louisville)

28. Ryan Peppins, WR, Thompson (Utah)

29. Conner Harrell, QB, Thompson (North Carolina)

Class of 2023

2. Tony Mitchell, DB, Thompson (Uncommitted)

4. Peter Woods, DL, Thompson (Uncommitted)

9. Tomarrion Parker, DL, Central-Phenix City (Uncommitted)

10. Karmello English, WR, Central-Phenix City (Uncommitted)

The state’s top coaches

Some of Alabama’s top coaches will lead their teams this week.

The 14 head coaches involved have combined to win 21 state titles.

Thompson’s Mark Freeman leads the way with 8 titles – two at Thompson, two at Spanish Fort and four at AISA Bessemer Academy.

Clarke County coach Stacy Luker, elected to the AHSAA Hall of Fame earlier this month, has five titles – all at his alma mater, Sweet Water. Piedmont coach Steve Smith has four titles with the Bulldogs.

The other titles belong to Central-Phenix City’s Patrick Nix (2 at Pinson Valley), Sweet Water’s Pat Thompson (1) and Montgomery Academy’s Robert Johnson (1).