Matchups of unbeaten schools top AHSAA state football North semifinals

HUNTSVILLE — And then there were four.

That’s how many unbeaten area schools remain in the AHSAA state football semifinals.

Leading the lineup of this week’s action involving North Alabama teams, is a battle of the unbeatens in Class 3A as Piedmont (13-0) visits Mars Hill Bible (13-0).

In 6A, defending state champion Muscle Shoals (12-0) is primed for its 6A semifinal battle at Clay-Chalkville (13-0).

Across the state in Jackson County, Scottsboro, at 9-4 with the most losses of any semifinal school, hosts Moody (12-2) in a Class 5A semifinal.

Meanwhile, the dean of coaches, Plainview Dale Pruitt is leading his unbeaten Bears (13-0) against undefeated Anniston (13-0) in the Class 4A semifinals.

A native of Rainsville, Pruitt is in his 44^th year as a head coach and in his 30^th season as the Plainview head coach. He captured the 300^th victory of his AHSAA coaching career last Thursday night against Good Hope.

Pruitt is 300-147 in the AHSAA (279-102 at Plainview) and an overall 332-170 record including his years coaching outside the state.

In Fairhope, former Athens High star and NFL quarterback Philip Rivers is taking an unbeaten St. Michael Catholic (13-0) into the Class 4A South semifnals against defending state champion Jackson (11-2) .

The host Cardinals, featuring junior quarterback and coach’s son Gunner Rivers, won the regular-season region game 49-39 on Oct. 3. The game will be featured as the AHSAA Network/Alabama Public Television/WOTM Game of the Week.

Semifinal pairings
(All games are Friday at 7 p.m.)

• CLASS 1A
  Wadley (12-0) at Addison (12-1)
  Leroy (13-0) at Maplesville (13-0)
• CLASS 2A
  Coosa Christian (11-2) at Pisgah (11-2)
  Reeltown (10-3) at Lanett (11-2)
• CLASS 3A
  Piedmont (13-0) at Mars Hill Bible (13-0)
  Southside-Selma (13-0) at Bayside Academy (12-1) in Daphne
• CLASS 4A
  Anniston (13-0) at Plainview (13-0) in Rainsville
  Jackson (11-2) at St. Michael Catholic (14-0) in Fairhope
• CLASS 5A
  Moody (11-2) at Scottsboro (9-4)
  Vigor (11-2) at Williamson (13-0) at Ladd-Peebles Stadium
• CLASS 6A
  Clay-Chalkville (14-0) at Muscle Shoals (12-0)
  Benjamin Russell (12-1) at Saraland (12-0)
• CLASS 7A
  Super 7 state finals
  Thompson (10-3) vs. Opelika (10-3), Dec. 3, 7 p.m.