This is the first week of November, which means it’s time for postseason action in AHSAA football. Teams in the state wrapped up their last regular-season games last Friday. Now, athletes and coaches are turning their focus to winning the Blue Map Trophy. Several teams from West Alabama are aiming to make deep runs in the postseason as the first round of the playoffs starts on Friday, November 7th. Below, we will list each team in the area, along with their first-round playoff matchups across all classifications.
Berry-Fayette (7-2) vs. Fayetteville (8-2)
The Wildcats will host the first round of the 1A AHSAA state playoffs, where they will face off against Fayetteville (8-2), the third seed from Region 6, marking the first time these two teams have met.
Berry is currently led by longtime head coach Danny Raines, who returned to the program last season after leaving in 2016. This marks his 16th season with the team. The Wildcats finished the regular season ranked second in Region 5 and are aiming for another deep playoff run, similar to last year when they reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Wadley, who went on to become the 1A AHSAA State champions.
Tuscaloosa Academy Knights (7-3) vs. Susan Moore (3-7)
The Knights will be facing Susan Moore, the fourth seed from Region 6, for the second consecutive postseason. Last season, in the second round of the 2024 AHSAA state playoffs, Tuscaloosa Academy defeated Susan Moore 34-9. The Knights advanced to the state championship game, where they lost 49-13 to Reeltown.
Tuscaloosa Academy is currently led by Josh Wright, who is in his fifth season at the school. Under his leadership, the Knights have achieved their third consecutive Region 5 championship. Wright has guided the team to eight playoff victories, and in the last three seasons, the Knights have reached at least the quarterfinals. This year, with new junior quarterback Mark Norris, Tuscaloosa Academy aims to return to the State Championship game and seek redemption.
Winfield (8-2) vs. Glencoe (7-3)
The Pirates, who finished second in Region 5 behind Gordo, are set to face Glencoe, the third seed from Region 6. This matchup will be the third encounter between the two teams, with their overall record tied at 1-1. In their previous meeting during the first round of the 2010 AHSAA State playoffs, Glencoe secured a 21-9 victory.
Winfield is led by head coach David McKinney, who is in his 13th season with the program and aims to avenge last season’s quarterfinal loss to Mars Hill with a strong postseason run this year.
Gordo (8-1) vs. Water Wellborn (5-4)
Gordo, who won Region 5, will host Round One against Water Wellborn, the fourth seed out of Region 6. The last time these two teams met was in the first round of the 2010 AHSAA State playoffs, where the Greenwave dominated with a 55-8 victory.
The Greenwave is led by first-year head coach Chris Chambless, who aims to secure his first playoff victory as the head coach of Gordo.
Hale County (7-3) @ Lee-Scott Academy (8-2)
Hale County, which finished third in Region 3, will travel to Auburn to take on Lee-Scott Academy, the number two seed in Region 4.
The Wildcats are led by Ryan Locke, who is in his fourth season with Hale County. He has managed to bring the Wildcats back to the postseason for the second consecutive season. This time, they are looking to deliver the first playoff win under his tenure and the first playoff win for the program since 2013 when the Wildcats took down Houston Academy 22-16 in the first round of the 2A AHSAA State playoffs.
Fayette County (6-4) @ Alexandria Valley (9-1)
Fayette County finished the 2025 regular season ranked third in Region 5 and will be traveling to Alexandria, Alabama, to face the Cubs, who secured the second seed from Region 6. Fayette has won both previous matchups against Alexandria. The last encounter took place during the first round of the 2010 4A AHSAA state playoffs, where the Tigers defeated Alexandria Valley with a score of 27-24.
Fourth-year head coach Jared Porter leads the Tigers, as he and his team seek the program’s first playoff win since 2018, when Fayette defeated Randolph 26-8 in the first round of the 4A AHSAA State Playoffs.
Bibb County (7-3) @ Handley (9-1)
Bibb County, which finished fourth in Region 4, will travel to Roanoke, Alabama, to face Handley, the number one seed from Region 3. The two teams have met twice in their history, with Handley winning both games. Their last matchup occurred in the second round of the 2021 4A AHSAA State Playoffs, where Handley defeated Bibb County 28-14.
The Choctaws, led by 11th-year head coach Matt Geohaga, are aiming for their third consecutive win in their first-round playoff game. In 2024, the Choctaws secured victory in round one against Opp with a score of 49-14. Similarly, in 2023, they triumphed over Montgomery Academy with a score of 56-6. However, the team was eliminated in the second round in both years.
American Christian Academy (6-4) vs. Tallassee (6-4)
ACA, which finished first in Region 4 with all six of its wins during the regular season coming in region play, will host Tallassee, the fourth seed from Region 3.
The Patriots are led by first-year head coach Austin Grammer, who is seeking to bring American Christian Academy its first playoff win since 2022, when the Patriots took down Munford 16-13 in the first round of the 4A AHSAA State playoffs.
Northside (10-0) vs. Beauregard (3-7)
Northside is having a historic season with the Rams, going undefeated in the regular season for the first time in program history, while also clinching a Region 5 championship. They will be hosting Beauregard, the fourth seed from Region 4, with all three of their wins this season coming from region play.
The Rams, led by head coach Robbie Jones, are seeking their first playoff victory in his four-year tenure and the program’s sixth overall. Their last playoff win occurred in 2021 when they defeated Madison Academy 35-31 in the first round.
Sispey Valley (6-4) @ Central Clay County (9-1)
Sipsey Valley finished the regular season ranked fourth in Region 5, which will set them up to travel to Lineville, Alabama, to take on the Region 5 champions, Central Clay County.
The Bears are led by head coach Joey Milligan, who is in his fourth season with the program. He has brought them to the playoffs each of his four seasons, although the previous three playoff trips ended in first-round exits. Milligan and the Bears will be seeking the program’s first playoff win this Friday.
Demopolis (6-4) vs. Elmore County (7-3)
Demopolis, which finished the season ranked second in Region 5, will host Elmore County, the third seed from Region 4. These two teams have faced off against each other once, in the first round of the 5A AHSAA State Playoffs in 2022, when Demopolis cruised to a commanding 48-28 lead.
The Tigers are currently led by first-year head coach Ricky Woods, who aims to secure his first playoff victory as the program’s head coach.
Central-Tuscaloosa (7-2) @ Benjamin Russell (9-1)
Central had a terrific 2025 season, which was enough to secure fourth place in Region 4, earning the Falcons their first playoff berth since 2018. They will be traveling to Alexander City, Alabama, to face off against Benjamin Russell, who are the champions of Region 3. The last time these two teams played each other was in week two of the 1979 regular season, where Central came away with a 26-17 victory.
The Falcons are led by head coach Demario Pippen, who is in his third year with the program. He has significantly turned the team around, giving Central its first season above .500 since 2014, when they finished with a 6-5 record. Central aims to win its first playoff game since 2008, when the Falcons defeated Pleasant Grove in the first round of the 5A AHSAA State playoffs.
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