Fifty-two teams remain in the chase for an AHSAA state football championship.

The quest enters Round 3 this week with the final destination set for Bryant-Denny Stadium on Dec. 6-8.

RELATED: See the complete Round 3 pairings

Here are 10 storylines entering this week’s playoff games:

MGM does it again

After failing to win a playoff game in eight previous tries in the school’s history, Mary G. Montgomery has won two in two weeks – both in comeback fashion.

Zach Golson’s undefeated Vikings rallied to beat Dothan in Week 1 and scored 13 points in the final six minutes Friday night to topple Enterprise.

Both of those games were at home. This week, MGM (12-0) travels to play No. 1-ranked Central-Phenix City (11-0) in the Class 7A state semifinals.

It’s the Vikings’ first semifinal appearance. It’s the ninth straight for the Red Devils.

Another Region 3 rematch

Four-time reigning 7A champ Thompson is back in the semifinals again, but this time with a different opponent.

The 10-1 Warriors have become accustomed to playing rival Hoover for the second time at this point in the season. This year, they will get Josh Floyd, Peyton Floyd and Hewitt-Trussville (9-3).

The game will be in Alabaster.

Thompson won the regular-season matchup between the two 40-14 on Oct. 6.

The winner plays either No. 1 Central-Phenix City or No. 3 Mary G. Montgomery in the Class 7A state title game.

Still playing, still winning

Class 5A No. 1 Gulf Shores may be the hottest team in the state in any class.

The Dolphins drilled Charles Henderson 41-0 on Friday night in the second round to earn a trip to play Headland in the third round. Mark Hudspeth’s team also reached the quarterfinals a year ago before losing at home to Faith Academy.

Gulf Shores remains under AHSAA investigation after another school turned the Dolphins in for alleged violations last month. However, superintendent Matt Akin and Gulf Shores attorney Nash Campbell have told AL.com that have not received any updated word on the investigation from the AHSAA.

Wait, wait, wait

Speaking of hot teams … The Class 6A No. 1 Saraland Spartans.

Jeff Kelly’s team has now won 18 games in a row and most haven’t been close.

The Spartans have won their two playoff games by a combined score of 105-28, including Friday night’s 51-14 win over Briarwood Christian.

For the season, Saraland has outscored the competition 649-161.

The Spartans likely face their toughest test this week against unbeaten and No. 3-ranked Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. The Patriots are 12-0 following a 42-7 win over Helena on Friday night.

The two teams met in the second round a year ago in Tuscaloosa with Saraland winning 56-31 on the way to the 6A state title.

Running wild

Elba has moved into the Class 1A quarterfinals behind the running of Alvin Henderson.

The junior carried a season-high 33 times in Friday’s win over Millry, rushing for 326 yards and five touchdowns.

Last year’s Class 1A State Back of the Year winner now has a season total to 2,864 yards rushing with 52 total TDs. The state record is 53 (North Jackson’s Lee Witherspoon in 2018).

Henderson, who is uncommitted, and Elba travel to 8-4 Maplesville for the quarterfinals on Friday.

Quests for perfection

Eighteen teams are still unbeaten heading into Week 3.

They are:

Class 1A: Leroy (11-0), Elba (12-0)

Class 2A: B.B. Comer (12-0), Reeltown (11-0), Locust Fork (12-0)

Class 3A: Mobile Christian (12-0), Lauderdale County (12-0), Madison Academy (12-0)

Class 4A: Montgomery Catholic (12-0), Jackson (11-0), West Morgan (12-0)

Class 5A: Gulf Scores (12-0)

Class 6A: Saraland (12-0), Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (12-0), Muscle Shoals (11-0), Clay-Chalkville (11-0)

Class 7A: Mary Montgomery (12-0) and Central-Phenix City (11-0)

There are three matchups pitting two unbeaten teams against each other in Week 3. In Class 6A, Saraland hosts Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, while Clay-Chalkville travels to Muscle Shoals. In Class 7A, No. 1 Central-Phenix City hosts No. 3 Mary G. Montgomery.

Where are the football powerhouses?

Hoover, T.R. Miller, UMS-Wright and Sweet Water came into the second round ranked 1-4 for most playoff wins in AHSAA history.

The Bucs lead the way with 107 followed by T.R. Miller with 95 and UMS and Sweet Water with 92 each.

All four lost on Friday night.

Benefield and the Amazing Red Devils

Fyffe improved to 11-1 with a 57-24 win over Lexington, the Red Devils’ 11th straight win since opening the season with a loss to Geraldine.

Friday’s win was the school’s 67th playoff victory.

Benefield’s team is 24-1 in the playoffs since 2018 and 40-3 since 2014 with six state titles.

Fyffe hosts undefeated Locust Fork on Friday.

Musch’s march

Westminster Christian QB Brandon Musch hopes to keep his record-setting career going this week when his team travels to Brooks in the Class 4A quarterfinals.

On Friday, Musch ran for 193 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 111 yards two more scores for the Wildcats, who rallied from a 21-7 first-half deficit to defeat Deshler 39-35.

For his career, he has passed for 107 touchdowns and run for 80.

Six champs remain

Six of the seven AHSAA 2022 state champions are still alive this year.

The only reigning champ out of the running is Andalusia. The Bulldogs were beaten by Jackson on Friday night.

The other defending champs are Leroy (1A), Fyffe (2A), St. James (3A), Ramsay (5A), Saraland (6A) and Thompson (7A).

The Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama High School Football Historical Site contributed to this report.