By Gary Lloyd
AUBURN — The stage is set.
No. 1 Clay-Chalkville (14-0) faces No. 3 Saraland (13-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Auburn University campus. The winner will be crowned Class 6A state champion.
How they got here
Clay-Chalkville defeated Scottsboro 85-50 in the first round, then beat Muscle Shoals 35-14 in the second round. The Cougars notched a 38-10 win at Decatur in the quarterfinals and then bested Florence 35-21 in the semifinals.
Clay-Chalkville players hoist the Class 6A North semifinal trophy.
photo by Ron Burkett
Saraland knocked out Bessemer City 37-10 in the first round at home, then traveled to Opelika and won 27-21 in overtime. The Spartans won their quarterfinal game at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 35-20 and then went on the road to beat Spanish Fort 14-10.
Winning streaks
Clay-Chalkville is riding a 14-game winning streak, its best in school history. Saraland has won 10 in a row, its last loss coming Sept. 19 to then-No. 1 Spanish Fort.
Averages
Clay-Chalkville is averaging 49.6 points per game offensively (695 points in 14 games). Saraland is averaging 36.2 points per game offensively (507 points in 14 games). Clay-Chalkville is allowing 21.1 points per game defensively (296 points in 14 games). Saraland is allowing 13.1 points per game defensively (183 points in 14 games).
Key players
For Clay-Chalkville, it’s junior quarterback Tyrell Pigrome. He’s passed for 34 touchdowns, rushed for 21 more and caught one this season. For Saraland, it’s senior quarterback Chris Weaver. A dual-threat QB verbally committed to Louisiana-Lafayette, Weaver makes the Saraland offense go.
For the fans
Tickets can be purchased at www.super7al.com or at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The cost is $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Parking on Auburn’s campus is prohibited before 5 p.m., but fans will be directed to the “Hay Field Lot” at the intersection of South Donahue Drive and Lem Morrison Drive. Free shuttles service will be available to transport fans to the stadium. After 5 p.m. each day, fans can park in the “Hay Field Lot” or find parking in Auburn University campus parking lots. North Park — a private parking deck located off Magnolia Avenue – is available, but the cost is $5 and there’s no shuttle service.
The game will be broadcast live by Raycom through local affiliates, which in Birmingham is WBRC Fox-6. The game will also be broadcast by the AHSAA Radio Network. Each Super 7 team participates in Tiger Walk, following the route from the Athletics Complex down Donahue Drive to Jordan-Hare Stadium. For Class 6A, the visiting team will do this at about 4:45 p.m., and the home team will do so at about 5:15 p.m.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
