Sports Editor

The AISA championships will get underway in Troy this Friday, with six teams competing for state titles in their respective classifications on Richard M. Scrushy Field at Memorial Stadium.

In Class 1A, the Grady Raiders of South Montgomery County Academy (11-1) will face Clarke Prep (11-1) for the championship at noon. The 4 p.m. game will feature the Macon-East Knights (11-1) and Chambers Academy (9-3) for the 2A title and in Class 3A, Fort Dale Academy (9-3) of Greenville will play top-ranked Morgan Academy (12-0).

Both Pike County (7-5) and Goshen (10-1) managed to make it past the first round of the AHSAA playoffs last Friday night, but now will face tough tests on the road this weekend in second round action.

The Class 3A Bulldogs ran over Springville 34-7 in Brundidge and will travel to face Flomaton (8-3) this Friday night, while 2A Goshen, 28-6 winners over Samson, heads to Washington County to tangle with Leroy (10-1).

Flomaton losses this year have come to Jay, Fla., Washington County and Luverne. Leroy’s only loss of the season came in the first game of the year against Jackson.

Class 5A Hillcrest remained alive by beating Eufaula 28-20 last Friday night in Evergreen. The Jaguars, runner-ups in Region 2, will now have to travel to play Briarwood, a team that won back-to-back state titles in Class 3A before making the jump to 5A this season.

Region 2 Champion Wilcox-Central won their first playoff game ever against a team that has played spoiler to the Jaguars in the past. Wilcox defeated Wetumpka and will play McAdory in Camden this Friday night.

Etowah, winners of the Class 5A title last season, fell to Oxford 31-21 last weekend.

In Class 1A defending champion Courtland, 19-15 winners over Pike County earlier in the year, were also eliminated on Friday night by Talladega County-Central 24-22.

The Luverne Tigers remained in the hunt for the Class 3A championship with 27-26 victory over Frances Marion. The Tigers go to Dadeville this weekend.