Central Red Devils face a familiar opponent in the state football championship game
This is all familiar territory for the Central Red Devils: once again region champions, once again competing for the Alabama 7A state championship, once again in a season in which it was sort of expected that they’d be playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium once again.
The Red Devils were ranked No. 38 in High School Football America’s Preseason 100 this year, and were one of two teams from Alabama featured in the rankings (Hoover, at No. 26). Last season, the No. 1-seeded Red Devils beat No. 2-seed Thompson 52-7 to cap an unbeaten season and the Class 7A title.
“We’ve been there before, so we know what the process is going to be and how we’re going to handle it,” Central quarterback Tucker Melton said. “It’s the same vibe this year, just trying to go in and stick with the process.”
“The process” has yielded the Red Devils nothing but positive results.
Since beating Cedar Grove in late August, the Red Devils haven’t played a close game, and won the region with a statement 34-7 win over Auburn on Oct. 25. The Auburn game was the Red Devils’ closest game since their Aug. 31 win over Cedar Grove, until their 24-6 home win over Prattville in the 7A playoffs.
It’s tough to beat the same team twice. The Red Devils already beat both Prattville and Auburn (in the 7A semifinals) twice this season. They’ll face a familiar opponent when they face Thompson in the championship game of the high school football playoffs Wednesday night at Jordan-Hare.
A pregame celebration
Much like last year, Central held a send-off for its champion football team. Hundreds lined the school’s parking lot, cheered and held signs as the team made its way to its busses. Special permission was granted by the City of Phenix City for the public to line Dobbs Drive and Opelika Road.
Phenix City public schools will dismiss early Wednesday, according to the Board of Education, to allow individuals to travel to Auburn for the Red Devils’ game against Thompson (8 p.m. EST, Jordan-Hare Stadium).
Last year, the Red Devils, ranked No. 1 in Alabama Class 7A, trounced the No. 2 Warriors 52-7 in the 7A state championship, capping off an undefeated season and bringing home their first state title in a quarter century.
The second-ever meeting between the schools will carry just as much weight as the first. Both teams enter the title game with 11-1 records, both boast region championships, neither have lost a game in over a month.
“If you’re going to go out, let’s go out making history,” Central coach Jamey DuBose told the team’s seniors, who have a chance to end their high school careers by winning two consecutive state championships. “That’s something that you’ll be remembered for a long time.”
The trip to Auburn will be nearly identical to the one Central made a year ago. The Red Devils are staying at the same hotel as last year and most of the players were on last year’s state title-winning squad. The only thing that’ll change this year is the locker room: Central was the “away” team last year and will be the “home” team this time around.
“Enjoy the moment,” DuBose told his players in the team’s final meeting before embarking for Auburn. “Then we’ll seize the moment tomorrow.”
