James Clemens, Bob Jones and MA enter high school football playoffs tonight

MADISON – One local team gets to stay home this week when the Alabama high school state playoffs begin, while two others are hitting the road.

James Clemens (6-4) finished second in Class 7A, Region 4 and earned the right to host defending state champion Central- Phenix City (7-2). The Red Devils, ranked No. 3 in the state by MaxPreps, placed third in a brutal Region 2 that has four teams in that site’s Top 10.

Meanwhile, 7A Bob Jones (64), which earned the fourth and final seed in Region 4, travels to Auburn (9-0) to play the No. 1 team in both the MaxPreps and Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings.

Also, 4A Madison Academy (6-4) visits Hokes Bluff (8-2).

All games are on Friday at 7 p.m.

Out of the three local playoff teams, perhaps none developed more from start to finish than the Mustangs. After reaching the 3A state championship game last year, the team had to retool with many younger starters and began the season 0-2 overall and 0-1 in 4A, Region 8.

Madison Academy finished with four straight region wins to post a 6-2 region record.

“It’s been a rewarding year in so many different ways,” Mustangs head coach Bob Godsey said. “Just watching young guys grow, watching them grow on and off the field physically and mentally.’’ Madison Academy had to win their last two games to get into the playoffs and did so defeating Plainview 24-16 and Westminster 21-17. “We won two hard-fought, gut-check games the last two weeks,” Godsey said. “Early in the season when we were in those situations, we didn’t do as well. So just really proud of our guys, really proud of our assistant coaches. They’ve done an excellent job and it’s been super rewarding just watching the growth.’’

At Bob Jones, the Patriots likewise had backs to the wall as the season entered the final stretch. The Patriots defeated Albertville 42-7 and Huntsville 54-14 to jockey into position to advance. They also needed Sparkman to lose its final game against Florence. Now, the Patriots face their toughest test in Auburn.

“It’s gonna take a great effort,” Bob Jones head coach Kelvis White said. “They’re a really good football team, wellcoached team and we just gotta go down there and eliminate some mistakes and play to the best of our abilities. We’ve had a good week. We had a week off to prepare so hopefully we can go down there and compete, try to make some plays.’’

Meanwhile, James Clemens earned the right to host a first-round game and drew Central-Phenix City. The Red Devils are the defending state champions but placed third in a brutal Region 2 this year.

Central is ranked No. 3 by Maxpreps. The teams from that same region qualifying for the playoffs are No. 1 Auburn, No. 4 Opelika and No. 8 Enterprise.

Coming off a 24-10 loss to Homewood to end the regular season, Jets head coach Chad McGhehee simply gave his team a warning moving forward.

““We didn’t play very well,” he said. “We can’t play like this going into the playoffs. We have to do better and start fast rather than slow to beat a team like Central-Phenix City.”

CLASS 7A Bob Jones (6-4) at Auburn (9-0)

• Where/when: Duck Samford Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.

• Series: Auburn leads 2-0 (includes a forfeit in 2020 because of Covid-19)

• Playoff history: BJHS 10-30 overall, 8-22 first round. … AHS 33-27, 17-10

• Notes: AHS is ranked No. 1 in 7A. … Both teams were idle last week. … BJHS QB Johnny Jackson recently committed to Kentucky Wesleyan. … AHS had two players selected to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game: WR Peyton Plott, a Georgia Southern commit, and center Hugh Bodiford. … Other AHS commits include CB La’Mychael Gunn (Liberty) and DL Caleb Pitts (Appalachian State). … AHS won the previous game played between the two 42-21 in 2021.

• Up next: Winner plays either Thompson or Daphne

Central-Phenix City (7-2) at James Clemens (6-4)

• Where/when: Madison City Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.

• Series: First meeting

• Playoff history: CPC 52-33, 26-10 first round. … JCHS 3-8 overall, 3-5 first round

• Notes: CPC is the defending 7A champion. … CPC was idle last week, while JCHS lost 24-10 at Homewood. … CPC commits include WR Daylyn Upshaw (Miami), OT Mal Waldrep (Alabama), Edge Makel Green (Troy) and CB Monterrius Echols (Georgia State). … JCHS ATH Ty Doughty committed to the Air Force, and LS Timothy Coleman was selected for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game as were Upshaw and Waldrep.

• Up next: Winner plays either Mary Montgomery or Vestavia Hills

CLASS 4A Madison Academy (6-4) at Hokes Bluff (8-2)

• Where/when: Mike Robertson Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.

• Series: MA leads 2-1

• Playoff history: MA 44-26 overall, 17-12 first round … HBHS 24-25 overall, 10-16 first round

• Notes: MA LB AJ Rice has committed to Miss. State and was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. … The Mustangs defeated the Eagles 57-20 in last season’s 3A first round. … MA finished as 3A runner-up last season, are 3-3 overall in state finals with titles in 2012, ’13 and ’14 and second-place finishes in ’11, ’16 and ’23. … HBHS won a state championship in 2001 and lost in the finals in 1975.

• Up next: Winner plays either West Morgan or Fayette Co. *Sources: ahsfh.org, maxpreps.com, ahsaa. com