All county teams in playoffs for first time since ’96
Published 4:14 pm Monday, November 2, 2009
All four Butler County high school football teams will play in the post-season for first time since 1996.
Unbeaten Greenville (10-0) hosts Moody (6-4) in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs; McKenzie (9-1) hosts Fruitdale (5-4), and Butler County Magnet School (5-5) travels to play Brantley (9-1) in the Class 1A playoffs; and Fort Dale Academy (8-1) will host Prattville Christian (7-4) in the opening round of the AISA state playoffs.
All games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.
Coaches are undoubtedly hoping this year’s sweep into the playoffs will pay off better then 13 years ago: Only McKenzie and Butler County Magnet (then-Georgiana) advanced to the second round in 1996. Greenville lost to Wetumpka 22-0, and Fort Dale fell 34-0 to Pickens Academy in the first round.
Both McKenzie and Butler County Magnet each lost in the second round, to Maplesville (38-22), and Cottonwood (33-6), respectively.
Greenville is guaranteed at least two playoff games at home should the Tigers be able to win on Friday night against Moody. A win and Greenville will face the winner of Shelby County-Demopolis in the second round, however the Tigers are dealing with issues at quarterback. Starting senior Ryan Smith sat out Friday night’s win over Hillcrest-Evergreen due to illness. Back-up Kent Riley also left the game with an injury in the second half.
The Tigers are one of 13 undefeated teams in AHSAA playoffs.
Both McKenzie and Butler County Magnet face uphill battles in the Class 1A playoffs. Butler County Magnet faces Brantley in the first round, while a McKenzie victory on Friday night will likely send the Tigers on the road to play Sweet Water, winners of the last three Class 1A state titles.
This year’s AHSAA Super Six will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 3-4. Next year it will be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.
Fort Dale beat Prattville Christian Academy 52-6 in the first game of the year and will host the winner of the Bessemer-Lee-Scott game next week. A win there, will send the Eagles to its second consecutive Class AAA state championship game in Troy on Nov. 20.