High school football playoff preview

BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE LAFAYETTE SUN

CHAMBERS COUNTY — With the regular season now in the record books, teams across Chambers County are preparing for the first round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state football playoffs. Here’s what you need to know about each matchup.

• Chambers Academy vs. Fort Dale Academy - Nov. 7 at Torbert-Allen Field, 15048 U.S. Highway 431 in LaFayette,

In all of Alabama high school football, few teams have been more dominant in their classification than Chambers Academy has since 2018, having won four state championships and 87% of its games. That success has not led to any complacency as the Rebels (9-2) appear poised to win a third-straight state championship and tighten their iron grip on the Alabama Independent School Association.

After finishing first in AISA 3A Region 1, Chambers Academy will host Fort Dale Academy (5-5), which finished fourth in AISA 3A Region 2, in a rematch that the Rebels won 47-0 on Oct. 3. Since then, CA has won every game except for a 38-8 defeat to the Maclay School (Florida) on Oct. 10, while the Eagles have gone 1-3 with their only additional victory being a 33-32 win over Sparta Academy on Oct. 31.

Through 10 games, Fort Dale has scored 25.9 points per game while allowing 27.9 points per game. In comparison, the Rebels have scored 42 points per game while allowing 10.3 points per game through 11 games.

• Lanett High School vs. Zion Chapel High School - Nov. 7 at Morgan-Washburn Stadium, 1301 S. Eighth Ave., in Lanett.

After a late-season collapse forced Lanett High School into a challenging road playoff game that ended in a lopsided loss last year, every returning player knew they needed to rise and meet the program’s championship-winning standard. With the calendar now flipped to November, it appears the No. 6 Panthers (8-2) have done just that following an utterly dominant regular season.

After finishing first in 2A Region 4, Lanett will host Zion Chapel High School (6-4), which finished fourth in 2A Region 3. Notable victories for the Panthers this season include a 41-7 region win over Loachapoka High School on Sept. 5 and a 20-19 region win over defending 2A state champions No. 4 Reeltown High School on Oct. 3. Important victories for the Rebels include a 36-20 win over Pike Liberal Arts Academy on Oct. 3 and a 27-6 win over Calhoun High School on Oct. 24.

Through 10 games, Zion Chapel has scored 23.2 points per game while allowing 20.3 points per game. In comparison, LHS has scored 39.4 points per game while allowing 7.8 points per game.

• Springwood School at Macon-East Montgomery Academy - Nov. 6 at Knight Field, 15396 Vaughn Road in Cecil, Alabama.

In recent years, the Springwood School has become synonymous with gridiron success, having played for two state championships since the Alabama Independent School Association began sponsoring eight-man football in 2022. Despite a regular season that has been difficult at times, the Wildcats (3-7) are back in the hunt and now look to regain their place amongst the division’s elite teams while playing the role of spoiler.

After finishing eighth in AISA 1A, Springwood will travel to face Macon-East Montgomery Academy (10-0), which finished first in AISA 1A, in a rematch that the Knights won 50-8 on Oct. 9. Since then, the Wildcats have lost both of its remaining games — 32-22 against Southern Prep Academy on Oct. 17 and 40-28 against Snook Christian on Oct. 24 — while Macon-East has won all three of their remaining games.

Through 10 games, Springwood has scored 41.6 points per game while allowing 35 points per game. In comparison, the Knights have scored 53.3 points per game while allowing 17.8 points per game.

• Valley High School vs. Shelby County High School - Nov. 7 at Ram Stadium, 130 Sportsplex Drive in Valley.

This time last year, the Valley High School football team was coming to terms with two heartbreaking overtime losses in region play that prevented them from making the playoffs for a second consecutive year. In the 12 months since, the Rams (7-3) have learned their lessons and regained their place in the playoffs after finishing second in 5A Region 4.

Valley will host Shelby County High School (6-4), which finished third in 5A Region 3. Notable victories for the Rams this season include a 37-21 win over Smiths Station High School (7A) on Aug. 29 and a 20-17 region win over Elmore County High School on Oct. 10. Important victories for the Wildcats include a 31-8 win over Sipsey Valley High School on Sept. 5 and a 41-7 win over Jemison High School on Sept. 12.

Through 10 games, Shelby County has scored 29 points per game while allowing 22.6 points per game. In comparison, VHS has scored 28.4 points per game while allowing 21.2 points per game.