One Defending Champ Survives Quarterfinals To Advance To AHSAA Playoff Semifinal Round

        Sweet Water edged Pickens County 38-36 and became the only defending state champion advancing to this week's semifinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state football playoffs Friday (Nov. 25). All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
        The Bulldogs (10-3) now face Region 1 rival Linden (12-1) at Marengo High School at Dixons Mills.
       Three defending champions were eliminated in the third round. Last year's 2A champ Leroy fell 28-3 to American Christian, 3A winner Leeds to Clay County 17-10, and 5A champ Spanish Fort to Vigor 12-9.

     American Christian (12-1) will host Elba (13-0) in the 2A semis, Clay County (12-1) travels to Roanoke to take on Region 3 rival Handley (13-0) in 3A, and Vigor (11-2) travels to Hueytown (13-0) in the 5A semis.

         Seven unbeaten teams advanced to the semifinal round: Class 1A Ragland (13-0); Class 2A Elba (13-0) and Tanner (13-0); Class 3A Handley (13-0); Class 4A Jackson (13-0); and Class 5A Hueytown (13-0) and Hartselle (13-0). No undefeated teams remain in Class 6A.
          The Super 6 state finals will be Dec. 1-2 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The schedule will feature the Class 3A finals at 11 a.m., Class 1A finals at 3 p.m. and Class 5A finals at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Friday’s schedule has the Class 4A finals at 11 a.m., the Class 2A championship game at 3 p.m., and the Class 6A finals at 7 p.m.