The problem with 6A is that
there should really be a top 20. So many excellent teams and only ten
spots to fill makes this very difficult. Our apologizes to the teams not
mentioned above. I am sure you are very deserving. It is hard to explain
how anyone picks a top ten and omits Theodore, St. Paul's, Homewood and
others but somehow we managed to get it done.
Saraland will be the team to beat in 6A. Make no mistake about it.
Behind QB KJ Kacey, Santae McWilliams, Ryan Williams and star players
everywhere the offense
would appear to be unstoppable in 2023. The crazy thing is that all
three will just be juniors this season. If Coach Kelly can find some
defense this team will almost be unbeatable.
Clay-Chalkville will
also be loaded
this season and primed to recapture that state crown that eluded them
last year. Behind QB Jaylen Mbakwe and DJ Barber on defense the
Cougars just may represent the north in Tuscaloosa in December. The
Cougars must maneuver a very difficult schedule as they play Briarwood,
Hueytown and Thompson in non-region games.
Another threat in the north will come from Mountain Brook as the
Spartans return RB Cole Gamble after his great season last year. Clark
Sanderson will also be back at the WR slot.
Benjamin Russell returns a top notch QB in Gabe Benton and Malcolm
Simmons at running back. The two accounted for over 3,500 yards of
offense in 2022. Also back will be wide out Chris Foster.
Other contenders are Parker who returns a ton of talent on defense but
will certainly need to find a way to score more points if they wish to
get past the second round. Another team to watch this year will be
Carver Montgomery. The Wolverines lost a lot of talented players but
should represent the Montgomery area well in 2023.
Teams a
little off the radar but could pose a threat are McGill-Toolen, Pike
Road, Theodore, Oxford and Homewood. Gadsden City came on strong at the end of
last season and could be a team to watch in 2023.
The most competitive region once again will be region one. With so many teams
making the playoffs with losing records it seems a shame that a couple of very good teams
from region one will be sitting home in November. The weakest region is eight. Only Fort Payne
(7-5) and Gadsden City (8-3) finished with a winning record in 2022.
Playoff Teams
Region 1
Region 2
Saraland
Carver Montgomery
Spanish Fort
Pike Road
Theodore
Wetumpka
St. Paul's
Sidney Lanier
Region 3
Region 4
Benjamin Russell
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa
Homewood
Northridge
Pelham
McAdory
Helena
Hueytown
Region 5
Region 6
Mountain Brook
Clay-Chalkville
Parker
Oxford
Gardendale
Center Point
Jackson-Olin
Pinson Valley
Region 7
Region 8
Hartselle
Fort Payne
Muscle Shoals
Gadsden City
Cullman
Buckhorn
Decatur
Hazel Green
Most
Difficult Schedules 2023
The toughest overall schedule belongs to
the team with the longest losing streak in the state at Columbia. It
actually isn't as difficult as it seems just looking at the won/lost records
of their opponents as four of their five non-region games are against teams
from lower classification. Jackson-Olin will play six teams that reached the
playoffs in 2022.
Pell City opens with a game
against Moody and then will play Leeds, Clay-Chalkville and Center Point the
following three weeks. They will have a difficult time getting off to a good
start.
St. Paul's and Saraland both have very
difficult non-region schedules. Saraland opens against Lipscomb Academy one
of the best teams in Tennessee while St. Paul's plays UMS-Wright and Faith
Academy.
Toughest Overall
Columbia
69-40
Jackson-Olin
71-45
Pell City
63-45
St. Paul's
68-48
Oxford
62-45
Cullman
65-47
Pike Road
61-46
Muscle Shoals
55-42
Athens
64-49
McGill-Toolen
65-51
Toughest Non-Region
St. Paul's
23-4
Saraland
20-4
Hueytown
30-8
McGill-Toolen
18-6
Gadsden City
43-15
Pike Road
34-13
Central Tuscaloosa
23-10
Pinson Valley
24-11
Fort Payne
43-19
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa
24-11
Most
Victories 2010-2022
The top three winningest programs
in 6A the past thirteen seasons reside in region one. Current region one teams
have also laid claim to nine state titles during that time. With thirteen teams that
have won at least 100 games 6A has been very competitive with a lot of very
good teams.
Titles
Spanish
Fort
147-31
82.6%
3
St.
Paul's
138-35
79.8%
4
McGill-Toolen
123-35
77.8%
1
Muscle
Shoals
127-34
78.9%
Clay-Chalkville
134-35
79.3%
1
Briarwood
117-48
70.9%
McAdory
110-46
70.5%
Oxford
112-46
70.9%
1
Pinson
Valley
114-46
71.3%
3
Hartselle
116-39
74.8%
1
Saraland
121-42
74.2%
1
Mortimer Jordan
87-65
57.2%
Mountain Brook
116-44
72.5%
Hillcrest Tuscaloosa
111-46
70.7%
Homewood
99-52
65.6%
Last 25 seasons (1998-2022)
While Briarwood Christian won the most games during the past
twenty-five seasons they are practically tied with Spanish Fort in winning
percentage. The Toros of Spanish Fort did not begin varsity football until
2006 and have still won 173 games.
