The first football playoff games in Alabama were held in
1966. The top four ranked football teams would matchup against each other with
the winners appearing in the state championship game. The rankings were
determined by a points system which allocated a maximum of 80 points to
teams playing at least eight 4A opponents. Points were subtracted for a
loss or a tie.
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The Sidney Lanier Poets had clinched the top spot with a perfect
10-0 record. The second spot went to Robert E. Lee of Montgomery with a 9-1
record.
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Huntsville moved into the third slot when Banks lost to a
powerful Jones Valley team on the final weekend of the regular season. Shades
Valley (8-2) locked up the final spot by jumping four spots in the rankings
after Etowah lost to Gadsden.
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The first round saw the Montgomery teams show
their force with convincing wins. Lee defeated Huntsville 46-7 and
Sidney Lanier crushed Shades Valley 47-7. The championship game set up a
rematch between the Generals and the Poets. Both teams had been ranked
one and two all season only switching positions after Lanier defeated
Lee 10-0 in the regular season finale.
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A crowd of over 25,000 fans and many more on live television witnessed
history as Lanier scored nine first half points while shutting out the Generals.
A great catch by Auburn great Terry Beasley produced the only second half points
for either team and Lanier held on to win 9-7.
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A lot has changed over the years with the football playoff format evolving along
the way into what it is today. The AHSAA has created a spectacular event with
the Super Six that is the focal point of every season. Since that first football
championship game every team begins their season with aspirations of making it
to Birmingham and the Super Six.
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