High school football has weathered a pandemic and a hurricane, and playoffs are finally here

By: Brett Greenberg

The Tuscaloosa News - The first round of high school football playoffs begins Thursday, but the challenges for the 2020 season are not over. This year's regular season included scheduling changes due to a pandemic and the remnants of a hurricane sweeping across the state.

Teams like Hillcrest, Gordo, Northside and American Christian Academy, whose head coach currently has COVID-19, have made it through the gauntlet that is the regular season and are preparing for round one.

Said Hillcrest's Sam Adams, "Nothing changes from the regular season. Every game from now is against a top-notch opponent, and for us it's McGill-Toolen, who has an explosive running back and a sound defense."

Gordo's Ryan Lolley credits his squad with staying focused.

"All the credit goes to our players, principal, administration and coaching staff," he said. "They all put a plan in place, and our players followed allowing us the opportunity to win a playoff game."

ACA, the top-ranked team in Class 4A, will be with head coach Chris Smelley when it hosts Geneva in Friday's first round, days after he completed his quarantine.

"We were hopeful of a season," said Rob Cain, ACA's athletics director. "We changed our gameday protocols, which allow us for a chance to extend our season."

Northside will host Deshler.

"I had my doubts that we would get to this point of the season," said Chris Hilliker, coach of the Rams. "Our players and coaches have done a good job of handling the social distancing and other protocols."

Here is a look at the first-round playoff schedule for area teams:

West Alabama

AHSAA

Thursday, Nov. 5

Brooks (6-4) at Gordo (9-1)*

*Game will be played at Pickens County High School

Friday, Nov. 6

Class 6A

McGill-Toolen Catholic (7-2) at Hillcrest (8-2)

Northridge (8-2) at Saraland (8-2)

Class 5A

Rehobeth (6-4) at Demopolis (10-0)

Class 4A

Dale County (7-3) at Bibb County (8-2)

Deshler (6-4) at Northside (8-2)

Geneva (4-6) at American Christian Academy (10-0)

West Blocton (6-4) at Alabama Christian (8-2)

Class 3A

Greensboro (6-4) at Opp (7-3)

Sylvania (6-4) at Winfield (9-1)

Class 2A

Hatton (5-5) at Aliceville (5-4)

Lamar County (4-6) at Mars Hill Bible (8-2)

Class 1A

Hubbertville (7-2) at Cedar Bluff (6-4)

Marengo (5-4) at Linden (10-0)

Sumiton Christian (6-4) at Berry (8-1)

Woodville (5-5) at Pickens County (7-3)

AISA

Class A

Pickens Academy (5-5) at Crenshaw Christian (7-3)