High School FootballWednesday, November 4
Birmingham-area football teams open the state playoffs Friday night
The Daily Birmingham team
If you follow Friday night football, the road to the State Championships in Mobile begins this week. Vestavia Hills (7-2) hosts Huntsville (4-6), and the Rebels are the heavy favorite if starting quarterback Charlie Taaffe returns after missing their Oct. 23 finale. Hoover (4-6) is the favorite at Bob Jones (5-5), and the Bucs could get quarterback Kaleb Freeman back.
Six local first-round games kick off Friday at 7 p.m.
- HuntsvilleVestavia Hills
- TheodoreHomewood
- HooverBob Jones
- Spain ParkBuckhorn
- John CarrollRandolph
- AustinClay-Chalkville
Sources: VestaviaVoice.com, 280 Living, HooverSun.com
- Homewood: eight straight wins, 7-0 in Class 5A, Region 4
- Spain Park: No. 5 seed in Class 6A, Region 3
- Clay-Chalkville: won Class 5A, Region 6 at 6-0
- John Carroll: lost 25-21 to Randolph two weeks ago
Briarwood (10-0) won't play this week. St. John Paul II forfeited, citing not having enough active players and the "health and safety of our young men," so Briarwood advances to the second round.
Wins Friday would send local teams to these second-round games
| Team | Second-round opponent |
|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills | Sparkman |
| Homewood | Winner of Pike Road, Bessemer City |
| Hoover | Thompson |
| Spain Park | Prattville |
| Clay-Chalkville | Winner of Douglas, Mortimer Jordan |
| Briarwood | Winner of Randolph, John Carroll |
Sources: VestaviaVoice.com, 280 Living, HooverSun.com
Sources: VestaviaVoice.com, 280 Living, HooverSun.com