Round one of the 2010 Alabama High School Athletic Association’s prep football playoffs is in the books, and Cedar Bluff is the only Cherokee County team to survive. The Tigers advance toward Auburn and a date with destiny.

Also joining the Tigers for one more week are area teams Piedmont, Gadsden City, and Fort Payne. 

The boys from the Bluff used a potent offensive arsenal that kept the seventh-ranked Hackleburg Panthers off balance throughout the night, winning 29-6. Unranked Cedar Bluff (9-2) now prepares for the journey to Courtland and a date with the fifth-ranked Raging Chiefs (10-1).   

When the Chiefs and Tigers last met, in 2006, all-state quarterback Jamie Hampton was directing the Tiger attack and Jonathan McWhorter was in his first year as head coach. The Tigers dropped Hubbard 19-14 in round two and went on to Legion Field and the Class 1A title game against Sweetwater.  

The Piedmont Bulldogs had no trouble keeping their state crown untarnished as they brushed off Winston County, 62-29.  Piedmont (10-1) and Cordova (10-1) now prep for a rematch of last year’s 2009 Class 3A state championship overtime thriller, in which the Bulldogs prevailed 35-28.  The Blue Devils defeated Susan Moore 68-33 to earn the trip to Piedmont’s Field of Champions this Friday.      

The Cherokee County Warriors have sent the Deshler Tigers off the 4A exit ramp the last two years of the playoffs.  This year, however, it was Tigers’ turn. Cherokee County did not surrender easily, as Brett Burgess and Tae Rooks had long touchdown runs on the way to a 16-14 halftime lead for the Warriors. The Tigers’ vaunted Wing-T offense began to wear on the Warriors in the second half, though, and Deshler pulled out a 39-24 win. Deshler (9-2) will now face the Fairview Aggies (10-1).  

Class 1A Gaylesville saw their season come to a close at the hands of the tenth-ranked Addison Bulldogs, 35-6. Addison (9-3) will get a rematch with Shoals Christian (6-5) this week.

The Collinsville Panthers suffered their second setback in as many weeks, and both hurt deeply. Last week’s loss to Ragland snuffed out a bid for a perfect regular season and Friday night’s 38-14 home loss to Shoals Christian putting the finishing touches on Collinsville’s outstanding season. The Panthers closed out the year at 9-2.      

The Fort Payne Wildcats rolled on to their eleventh win of the year, easily dispatching J.O. Johnson by a score of 49-18. The Wildcats’ second round opponent will be an eight-win Arab team. The Arabian Knights upset Muscle Shoals 8-7 to earn Friday’s rematch at Fort Payne. (The Wildcats hammered the Knights 45-15 in September.)       

Class 6A Region 7 champion Gadsden City pulled out a 14-7 win over Huntsville in round one. Staring down the Titans come Friday night will be the Oxford Yellow Jackets. The Jackets entered the playoffs as the third seed from Region 7 and promptly booted No. 6 Decatur out of the picture. The Titans and Yellow Jackets tangled earlier in the season, with Gadsden City coming out the victor, 24-12. Oxford (7-4) will travel to the land of the Titans (8-3). 

 

Top 10 teams not advancing to round two of the AHSAA playoffs:

6A: No. 4 Auburn; No. 5 Bob Jones; No. 6 Decatur; No. 7 Phoenix City; 

5A: No. 10 Tallassee

4A: None

3A: None

2A: No. 7 Fyffe; No. 8 Goshen

1A: No. 7 Hackleburg; No. 8 Brantley 

 

2010 Football Playoff Second Round Pairings  (All second round games are scheduled Friday, Nov. 12,  at 7 p.m.)

CLASS 1A

Linden (10-1) at McKenzie (10-0)

Pickens County (7-4) at Maplesville (11-0)

McIntosh (7-4) at Sweet Water (8-3)

Autaugaville (8-3) at St. Jude (10-1), Montgomery

 Lynn (10-1) at Ragland (9-2)

Cedar Bluff (9-2) at R.A. Hubbard (10-1), Courtland

Parrish (8-3) at Marion County (8-3), Guin

Shoals Christian (6-5) at Addison (9-2)

 

CLASS 2A

Southern Choctaw (9-2) at Elba (10-1)

Houston Academy (8-2) at American Christian (10-1), Tuscaloosa

Mobile Christian (8-3) at Leroy (10-1)

Providence Christian (8-3) at Cottonwood (11-0)

Lineville (8-3) at Westbrook Christian (10-0), Rainbow City

Westminster Christian (10-1) at Sulligent (9-2)

Woodland (9-2) at Reeltown (10-1)

Cleveland (9-2) at Tanner (10-0)

 

CLASS 3A

T.R. Miller (8-3) at Trinity (10-1), Montgomery

Handley (10-1) at Gordo (10-1)

Bayside Academy (8-3) at Washington County (9-2), Chatom

Clay County (8-3) at Leeds (11-0)

Cordova (10-1) at Piedmont (10-1)

Pisgah (7-4) at Plainview (7-3), Rainsville

Glencoe (10-1) at Hamilton (11-0)

Lauderdale County (10-1) at Madison Academy (9-2), Huntsville

 

CLASS 4A

Escambia County (10-1) at Jackson (10-1)

Beauregard (8-3) at Bibb County (10-1), Centreville

Straughn (10-1) at Thomasville (11-0)

Jemison (7-4) at Dadeville (11-0)

Oneonta (9-2) at Anniston (9-2)

Fairview (10-1) at Deshler (9-2), Tuscumbia

Cleburne County (9-2) at Fayette County (9-2), Fayette

Central-Florence (10-1) at North Jackson (11-0), Stevenson

 

CLASS 5A

Vigor (7-4) at Eufaula (9-2)

McAdory (9-2) at Pleasant Grove (10-1)

Spanish Fort (9-2) at St. Paul’s (10-1), Mobile

Hueytown (10-1) at Demopolis (8-3)

Cullman (8-3) at Hartselle (10-1)

Athens (6-5) at Russellville (10-1)

Walker (10-1) at Briarwood Christian (10-1), Birmingham

Arab (8-3) at Fort Payne (11-0)

 

CLASS 6A

Foley (8-3) at Daphne (11-0)

Prattville (8-3) at Wetumpka (9-1)

Fairhope (7-4) at Davidson (10-1), Mobile

Carver-Montgomery (8-3) at Stanhope Elmore (9-2), Millbrook

Spain Park (6-5) at Hoover (11-0)

Clay-Chalkville (8-3) at Hewitt-Trussville (9-2)

Vestavia Hills (9-2) at Mountain Brook (9-2)

Oxford (7-4) at Gadsden City (8-3)