TUSCALOOSA – T.J. Caraway completed 16-of-26 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Baldwin County School System Unified football team to a 20-6 win over Vestavia Hills High School Wednesday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Unified game, which partners the AHSAA and Special Olympics Alabama, kicked off the 2017 AHSAA Super 7 State Football Championships.
     Jacob Bankster caught seven passes for 41 yards and a 15-yard touchdown for Coach Mike Connor. Bandits teammate Jared may had six catches for 44 yards and a 1-yard TD reception, and Chad Reno caught two passes, one covering 14 yards for the final Baldwin County TD. Reno also caught a pass for the conversion.
Smith finished 7-of-18 passing for 87 yards. Weyman Prater was the leading receiver with three catches and 28 yards.
    Leading Baldwin County on defense was May with six tackles and two interceptions. Prayter had eight for the Rebels, and Turner Parker had six. Baldwin County had three picks with Bankster getting the final one. Prater also had an interception for Vestavia.
      Vestavia Hills scored in the first half on a 35-yard pass from Thad Smith to Britton Rembert. The Rebels of Coach Terry Tingle trailed just 7-6 at the half. 
     The 62^nd annual AHSAA football playoffs will feature seven finals with Hoover (10-3) facing McGill-Toolen Catholic (13-0) in the 7A finals Wednesday night. Thursday’s schedule kicks off with the 3A championship at 11 a.m. between Randolph County (13-1) and Hillcrest-Evergreen (13-1), followed by Sweet Water (12-1) and Pickens County (12-2) at 3 p.m., in the 1A  finals and Briarwood Christian (14-0) vs. St. Paul’s Episcopal (13-1) in the 5A finals at 7.
      The Super 7 Championships conclude Friday with UMS-Wright (12-2) facing Fayette County (12-2) in the 4A finals at 11 a.m.; Lanett (14-0) vs. Leroy (12-2) in the 2A championship at 3 p.m.; and Wetumpka (13-1) playing Pinson Valley (14-0) in the 6A title game at 7.