Four county teams prepare for first round of AHSAA state playoffs

The 2023 regular season is now complete, and four Covington County teams have earned the right to compete in the AHSAA State Football Playoffs with first-round matchups scheduled this week.

Tickets may be purchased on GoFan for $10 plus processing fee or $12 cash at the gate. According to the AHSAA, there will be no reserved seating in any round of the playoffs.

Andalusia vs. Sipsey Valley
Andalusia (9-1) will begin its quest to repeat as the 4A state champion with a home game against Sipsey Valley (6-4) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Bulldogs will make their 29th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 42-25 in the postseason. They have a 16-12 mark in the first round and are 12-3 at home in round one.

The Bears, who first began their football program in 2010, will make their sixth playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 0-5 in the postseason. All five of their first-round games have been on the road.

This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Andalusia fell short at Montgomery Catholic, 27-14, two weeks ago. Sipsey Valley earned a 49-14 home win over Northside last week.

The winner of this game will play Jackson or Cleburne County in the second round next week.

Florala at Sweet Water
Florala (7-3) will travel for the third straight week and head to the western part of the state for a contest at Sweet Water (8-1) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Wildcats will make their 24th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 12-23 in the postseason. They have a 9-14 mark in the first round and are 3-11 on the road in round one.

The Bulldogs will make their 44th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 91-32 in the postseason. They are 32-11 in the first round and are 28-5 at home in round one.

This will be only the second matchup between the two schools. Sweet Water defeated Florala, 43-30, in the first round during the 2004 season.

The Wildcats gave a valiant effort in their regular season finale last week but were defeated at Brantley, 55-46. The Bulldogs had a bye week and routed St. Luke’s on the road two weeks ago, 42-7.

The winner of this game will play Maplesville or Choctaw County in the second round next week.

Opp at St. James
Opp (4-6) will make its way to the capital city for a first-round game at defending 3A state champion St. James (8-2) on Thursday, Nov. 9.

The Bobcats will make their 28th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 12-27 in the postseason. They are 11-16 in the first round and are 3-11 on the road in round one.

The Trojans will make their 27th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 17-25 in the postseason. They are 11-15 in the first round and are 9-6 at home in round one.

The two schools will meet for the ninth time with the series locked in a 4-4 tie. St. James edged Opp, 20-17, in the last matchup during the 2009 season.

Both teams ended the regular season with narrow home wins last week. The Bobcats rallied past Ashford, 50-48, in triple overtime. The Trojans held on and defeated Carroll, 49-48.

The winner of this game will play Randolph County or W.S. Neal in the second round next week.

Straughn vs. Southside Selma
Straughn (9-1) will look for its sixth straight win and fifth 10-win season in school history with a first-round outing against Southside Selma (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Tigers will make their 25th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 17-24 in the postseason. They are 10-14 in the first round and are 8-3 at home in round one.

The Panthers will make their 11th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 2-10 in the postseason. They are 2-8 in the first round and are 0-6 on the road in round one.

The two schools will battle for the third time after playing each other in region play during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Straughn has a 2-0 lead over Southside Selma.

Both teams capped off the regular season with home wins last week. The Tigers completed an unbeaten region slate with a 35-14 win over Providence Christian. The Panthers stepped away from region play and routed county foe Dallas County, 50-18.

The winner of this game will play Thomasville or Dadeville in the second round next week.