Super 7 returns to Protective Stadium in Birmingham

By JOSH BEAN | For the AHSAA

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Thompson High School’s Warriors have lost three games – by a combined three points, all in overtime – during the regular season.
    But the Warriors (10-3) have reeled off four straight double-digit wins and advanced to the Class 7A championship game for the seventh straight season.
     “At the end of the day, I thank the Lord for where this team is,” Thompson coach Mark Freeman told AL.com after the semifinal victory over Enterprise. “It’s been an unusual year and unusual journey. It’s a weird team as far as the things we’ve gone through. I don’t understand, but I know those three (losses) are coming back to help us right now, and I thank God for the journey.”

    Central-Phenix City (10-2), coached by Patrick Nix, also took an unusual path to the championship game after losing twice in a three-week span in October. Like Thompson, the Red Devils have won four straight and qualified for the Class 7A title game for the second straight season.
    It will be a championship rematch when Thompson (10-3) and Central (10-2) meet in Wednesday’s Class 7A championship game, with kickoff set for 7 p.m., at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. The rematch caps the first day of the Super 7 championships, with two girls’ flag title games set to be played earlier in the day.
    The Red Devils earned a 21-19 victory over Thompson in the 2023 title game, as the Warriors misfired on a fourth-quarter 2-point conversion and missed a late field goal attempt.

    The Class 7A championship game features two of the state’s top quarterbacks – Thompson sophomore Trent Seaborn, one of the nation’s elite quarterback prospects in the Class of 2027; and Central-Phenix City’s highly regarded Andrew Alford. Thompson’s defense also features Auburn commits Jared Smith at outside linebacker and Anquon Fegans at defensive back, as well as Tulane commit Nikolas Alston on the defensive line.

     Central offensive lineman Mal Waldrep is committed to Alabama and outside linebacker Makel Green is committed to Troy, while junior pass rusher Tristan Lyles is ranked among the state’s top prospects in the Class of 2026.
    Thompson and Central have played four times, all in 7A championships games since 2018. Central won in 2018 and 2023, and Thompson won in 2019 and 2021.

    All of the Super 7 matchups will be televised live over the Alabama Public Television Network and live video streamed over the NFHS Network. The AHSAA Radio Network will also provide coverage.

    Tickets for all games can be purchased online through GoFan at https://gofan.co/app/school/AHSAA.

Here are a few other Super 7 notes:

• Two teams – Moody in Class 5A and Tuscaloosa Academy in Class 2A – are playing for an AHSAA state football championship for the first time.
• Houston Academy, in Class 3A, is playing in the championship round for the first time since 1973.
• Parker, in Class 6A, is playing for a state football championship for the first time since 1980.
• Cherokee County, in Class 4A, is playing in the championship game for the third straight season after falling to Andalusia in 2022 and Montgomery Catholic in 2023.
• Montgomery Catholic won the Class 4A title last season and will play Thursday in the Class 5A championship game – and is riding a 28-game winning streak. The Knights are 54-2 with Kirk Johnson as its head coach.
• Saraland is playing in the Class 6A title game for the third straight season, having won the title in 2022 and losing to Clay-Chalkville in 2023.
• Central-Phenix City’s girls’ flag football team is undefeated and ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today and is riding s 36-game winning streak.
• Only four teams can complete undefeated seasons this week – Wadley (12-0) in 1A, Montgomery Catholic (13-0) in 5A, Saraland (13-0) in 6A and Central-Phenix City’ (18-0) in Class 6A-7A flag.
• Wadley (12-0) averages 55.5 points per game entering Thursday’s championship game against Maplesville (12-2).
• Reeltown (13-1) in Class 2A is playing in the championship game for the second straight season after falling to Fyffe last year. The Rebels opened the season with a Kickoff Classic loss to Class 3A and has since won 13 in a row.

Here’s the complete Super 7 schedule:

AHSAA SUPER 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL FINALS
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
Wednesday, Dec. 4
CLASS 1A-5A FINALS
Moody (17-2) vs. Montgomery Catholic (16-4), Wed., Dec. 4, 11 a.m.
CLASS 6A-7A FINALS
Central-Phenix City (18-0) vs. Spain Park (14-4-1), Wed., Dec. 4, 3 p.m.

AHSAA SUPER 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS’ STATE FOOTBALL FINALS
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
Wednesday, Dec. 4
CLASS 7A FINALS
Central-Phenix City (10-2) vs. Thompson (10-3), Wed., Dec. 4, 7 p.m.

AHSAA SUPER 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS’ STATE FOOTBALL FINALS
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
Thursday, Dec. 5
CLASS 3A FINALS
Mars Hill Bible (13-1) vs. Houston Academy (13-1), Thursday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.
CLASS 1A FINALS
Wadley (12-0) vs. Maplesville (12-2), Thursday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m.
CLASS 5A FINALS
Moody (11-2) vs. Montgomery Catholic (13-0), Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

AHSAA SUPER 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS’ STATE FOOTBALL FINALS
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
Friday, Dec. 6
CLASS 4A FINALS
Jackson (13-1) vs. Cherokee County (13-1), Friday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.
CLASS 2A FINALS
Tuscaloosa Academy (12-2) vs. Reeltown (13-1), Friday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.
CLASS 6A FINALS
Parker (13-1) vs. Saraland (13-0), Friday, Dec. 6,  7 p.m.