10 must-see high school spring football games in 2023
Here is a quick look at some interesting statewide spring football matchups this month.
Bryan Moore and Hartselle will take on Huntsville in a spring football game later this month. (Bob Gathany | [email protected])Al.com
Hartselle at Huntsville
Time/Date: 7 p.m., May 18
Location: Milton Frank Stadium, Huntsville
The skinny: Bryan Moore’s Hartselle team went 12-1 in 2022, losing to eventual state runner-up Mountain Brook in the 6A quarterfinals. Moore is 29-6 in three years at Hartselle. Huntsville went 6-5 a year ago, making the 7A playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes watches warmups at the Spain Park at Pelham high school football game in Pelham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Prattville at Spain Park
Time/Date: 7 p.m., May 19
Location: Spain Park
The skinny: Two teams with hopes of returning to the 7A playoffs in 2023 square off. The Lions went 6-4 a year ago. Spain Park went 3-7 under new coach Tim Vakakes. The Jaguars feature highly-rated 2025 EDGE Jared Smith.
Montgomery Catholic’s Caleb Mccreary throws the ball during the Andalusia at Montgomery Catholic high school football 4A playoff semifinal game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Homewood at Montgomery Catholic
Time/Date: 6 p.m., May 12
Location: Montgomery Catholic
The skinny: Electric running back Jeremiah Cobb is headed to Auburn, but Catholic still has plenty of offensive firepower, including Troy QB Caleb McCreary at quarterback. The Knights went 13-1 in 2022 and are 26-2 in two seasons under Kirk Johnson. Homewood is coming off a 10-3 season. The Patriots came up half a yard short of upsetting eventual 6A champion Saraland in a 57-56 quarterfinal OT loss.
Hoover’s Bradley Shaw tackles Thompson’s Michael Dujon during an AHSAA Class 7A semifinal playoff game at Hoover Met Stadium in Hoover, Ala., Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Parker at Hoover
Time/Date: 6 p.m., May 18
Location: “The Ship,” Hoover High School
The skinny: The Bucs won the tough 7A, Region 3 in Wade Waldrop’s first season replacing Josh Niblett before losing a rematch with rival Thompson in the state semifinals. The defense should again be strong led by Top 10 2024 recruit Bradley Shaw at linebacker. Parker also features a Top 10 recruit in DL Jeremiah Beaman and added Pinson Valley transfer and Arkansas commit Tevis Metcalf to the secondary.
Auburn High head coach Keith Etheredge celebrates a victory over the the Central High-Phenix City Red Devils during the third round of AHSAA playoffs Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
Carver-Montgomery at Auburn
Time/Date: 7 p.m., May 18
Location: Duck Samford Stadium, Auburn
The skinny: Two perennial playoff teams in their respective classes meet in Auburn. Carver most replace Alabama signees James Smith and Qua Russaw on defense. Auburn must replace OL Bradyn Joiner and QBs Clyde Pittman and Davis Harsin, among others. The Tigers are 22-5 in two years under Keith Etheredge and finished as the Class 7A runner-up last year.
Former St. Paul’s and Pell City coach Steve Mask takes over the Theodore program for Eric Collier. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Jackson at Theodore
Time/Date: 6 p.m., May 18
Location: C.A. Douglas Field, Theodore
The skinny: The unofficial debut of four-time state champion and Hall of Fame coach Steve Mask on the Theodore sideline. The Bobcats also return plenty of talent from a state semifinal team, including linebacker Bobby Pruitt. Class 4A Jackson went 8-3 a year ago. The Aggies feature 6-foot-3 2026 QB Landon Duckworth.
New McGill-Toolen football coach David Faulkner poses with members of the Yellow Jacket football team following his introductory press conference on Monday. (Ben Thomas | [email protected])
McGill-Toolen at Vigor
Time/Date: 5 p.m., May 20
Location: Vigor High School
The skinny: The Wolves will play a football game on-campus for the first time in school history as Vigor opens its new stadium. Marcus Cook’s team will be trying to get back on track in 2023 after slipping to 5-4 and missing the playoffs in Class 5A one year after winning the 4A state title. Meanwhile, former Enterprise and Fairhope coach David Faulkner takes over at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.
Vestavia Hill’s defensive end Jordan Ross (5) sacks Chelsea’s Carter Dotson (14) during a game at Vestavia Hills High school in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Vestavia Hills at McAdory
Time/Date: 6 p.m., May 10
Location: McAdory Stadium
The skinny: Vestavia Hills features EDGE Jordan Ross, the top-ranked senior recruit in the state according to the updated 247 player rankings. The Rebels went 7-5 a year ago in Robert Evans’ debut as head coach and lost in the second round of the 7A playoffs to Thompson (21-12). McAdory lost in the first round of the 6A playoffs to Homewood in 2022, capping a 6-5 season.
Mountain Brook’s Cole Gamble breaks free against Saraland during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 6A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
Mountain Brook at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Date/Time: 6 p.m., May 11
Location: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
The skinny: Last year’s state runners-up travel to Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in a matchup of top 10 Class 6A teams. The Spartans feature bruising running back Cole Gamble and are coming off a 12-3 season. Hillcrest’s 2022 hopes were derailed by an injury to star QB Ethan Crawford. The Patriots still finished 11-1, losing to eventual champion Saraland in the second round.
Enterprise head football coach Ben Blackmon. (Tom Deck | [email protected])
Enterprise at Saraland
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. May 18
Location: Spartan Stadium, Saraland
The skinny: A rare afternoon special at Saraland. The Spartans won their first state title a year ago behind a sensational sophomore class that included eventual Mr. Football Ryan Williams, all-state QB KJ Lacey, RB Santae McWilliams and DL Antonio Coleman. Enterprise got hot late in the season under first-year coach Ben Blackmon and reached the second round of the playoffs before losing at Central-Phenix City. Spartan Stadium will be a familiar location for Blackmon, whose Spanish Fort team played there regularly in his time with the Toros.
Other scheduled spring football games:
May 11
Ocean Springs at Baker, 6 p.m.
Pisgah at Guntersville, 7 p.m.
May 12
Pascagoula at Fairhope, 6 p.m.
Sparkman at Hueytown, 7 p.m.
May 13
Hewitt-Trussville at Charles Henderson, 6 p.m.
Jamboree at Troy University (Carver-Birmingham, Monroe County, Luverne)
May 18
Buckhorn at James Clemens, 7 p.m.
Center Point at Briarwood, 5:30 p.m.
St. Stanislaus, Miss., vs. Mobile Christian, 3 p.m. (at So. Miss)
May 19
Biloxi at Faith Academy, 6 p.m.
Callaway vs. Daphne, 4:30 p.m. (at So. Miss)
Dallas County at Fairfield, 5 p.m.
Mary G. Montgomery vs. Hancock, 7 p.m.
Satsuma at Washington County, 7 p.m.
Southside-Gadsden at Minor, 6 p.m.
Stanhope Elmore at Calera, 7 p.m.
May 20
Benjamin Russell at Gardendale, 2 p.m.
Greene County vs. Murphy, 2:30 p.m. (at So. Miss)
Randolph at Brooks, 4 p.m.
Jamboree at Gordo (Pelham, B.C. Rain, Central-Tuscaloosa, Gordo), 2:30 p.m.
(Editor’s Note: If you have a spring game, you would like added to this list, email [email protected] with time, date and location).