PIEDMONT — It’s said that in football, defense wins championships.
And Piedmont High School is following the recipe as they roll through the AHSAA football playoffs.
The Bulldogs (12-0) will take their top defense back into action Friday when Gordo (10-1) visits for a Class 3A third-round playoff game.
Unbeaten Piedmont has given up just 9.2 points a game this season – the lowest total among all 3A schools – and the Bulldogs are among just seven schools in all classifications giving up less than 10 points per game.
Meanwhile, Mars Hill Bible (12-0) is among six defending state champions that advanced to the third round.
The 3A Panthers are averaging 52.4 points per game and are the fourth-highest scoring team in the state with 629 points – one of five schools still competing that have scored 600 or more points.
Mars Hill Bible hosts Geraldine (11-1) on Friday in Killen.
Friday’s schedule (all games at 7 p.m.)
- Class 1A
Addison (11-1) Marion County (9-3) in Guin
Hubbertville (12-0) at Wadley (11-0)
Southern Choctaw (9-3) at Maplesville (12-0)
Leroy (12-0) at McKenzie (12-0) - CLASS 2A
Pisgah (10-2) at Southeastern (10-2)
Tuscaloosa Academy (9-3) at Coosa Christian (10-2) in Gadsden
Lanett (10-2) at Luverne (12-0)
Reeltown (9-3) at Providence Christian (9-3) in Dothan - CLASS 3A
Geraldine (11-1) at Mars Hill Bible (12-0) in Killen
Gordo (10-1) at Piedmont (12-0)
Glenwood (11-2) at Southside-Selma (12-0)
Montgomery Academy (11-1) at Bayside Academy (11-1), Daphne - CLASS 4A
Plainview (12-0) at Good Hope (10-2)
Anniston (12-0) at Deshler (11-1) in Tuscumbia
W.S. Neal (9-3) at Jackson (10-2)
Bullock County (9-3) at St. Michael Catholic (13-0) in Fairhope - CLASS 5A
Scottsboro (8-4) at Fairview (12-0)
Briarwood Christian (7-5) at Moody (10-2)
Central-Clay County (12-1) at Vigor (10-2) in Pritchard
Williamson (12-0) at Montgomery Catholic (8-4) - CLASS 6A
Muscle Shoals (11-0) Mountain Brook (9-3
Homewood (11-1) at Clay-Chalkville (13-0)
Hueytown (6-5) at Benjamin Russell (11-1) in Alexander City
Sarland (11-0) at Pike Road (10-2) - CLASS 7A
Opelika (9-3) at Auburn (10-2)
Thompson (9-3) at Central-Phenix City (11-1)
