Anthony Rogers rushed for 176 yards and two TDs as Pike Road rallied to beat Spanish Fort 22-21 in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs on Friday night.

Rogers finished with 23 carries and 229 yards.

PIke Road quarterback Kaleb Foster rushed for 88 yards on 9 carries and had a QB sneak for a touchdown.

Defensively, Mac Ceman had eight tackles and two pass deflections, and Jaylen Jarret had 5 tackles.

Sawyer Wilson and Nemo Hixon scored TDs for Spanish Fort. Brayden Walker finsihed 8-of-19 passing for 132 yards.

The Patriots (7-4) will play at Homewood in the second round. Spanish Fort finished its season at 7-4. The loss was the first opening round playoff loss for the Toros. They had been 14-0.

CLASS 7A

Central-Phenix City 58, Mary G. Montgomery 7

The clock struck midnight for Mary G. Montgomery’s Cinderella season.

Central-Phenix City (9-2) earned a 58-7 victory over the Vikings at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. The Vikings (6-5) made their first playoff appearance since 2022, thanks to a six-game winning streak.

Jaylen Epps threw touchdown passes of 19 and 14 yards to Karmello English in the first half and added a 30-yard TD pass to Daylyn Upshaw in the third quarter. Epps finished 15-of-22 passing for 158 yards.

Zack Simmons added 123 yards on 17 carries, scoring on runs of 25 and 14 yards. Romello Green scored on a 1-yard run, Ethan Paul kicked a 25-yard field goal and Max Johnson scored on a 2-yard run. Monterrius Echols returned an interception for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Central-Phenix City advances to play Enterprise, which beat Baker, in next week’s 7A quarterfinals. Mary G. Montgomery finishes with a winning record for the first time since 2002 under first-year coach Zach Golson.

The Red Devils won a first-round playoff game for the ninth straight season.

Hewitt Trussville 38, Florence 20

The fifth-ranked Huskies started fast and rolled to a first-round victory on Friday behind a near-perfect night from Peyton Floyd.

Floyd was 22-for-25 passing for 193 yards and three touchdowns. The Huskies also added 274 yards on the ground as they took a 28-13 lead into the half.

For Florence, Leo Glover was 11-for-13 passing for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hewitt-Trussville defense limited the Falcons to 44 yards rushing and a 2-for-8 third-down conversion rate.

CLASS 6A

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 38, Calera 0

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa played without its top two offensive weapons in Friday night’s Class 6A first-round playoff game against Calera.

It didn’t matter.

Sophomore quarterback Bryson Kimbrough threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more, and the Patriots’ defense limited Calera to just 74 yards and intercepted two passes in a 38-0 victory.

“We had a lot of guys contribute,” Hillcrest coach Jamie Mitchell said. “That’s going to have to be who we are from here on out – next man up.”

Southern Miss commit and Hillcrest starting quarterback Ethan Crawford suffered a knee injury two weeks ago that required surgery and will force him to miss the rest of the season. Senior running back Jamarian Johnson, the team’s leading rusher, also didn’t play and was on the sideline in a walking boot.

Did you know?: Hillcrest (11-0) earned its first shutout of the season, while Calera suffered its third straight loss.

He said it: “The team rallied behind me. I have to give credit to the defense. It’s a great feeling knowing a lot of teams won’t put a lot of points up on us. It’s a lot of love.” – Kimbrough

Stat sheet: Kimbrough finished 10-of-15 passing for 153 yards and added 55 yards rushing. … Hillcrest’s Jayshon Land ran for 64 yards on 16 carries. … Hillcrest produced 338 yards of total offense, but committed 13 penalties for 105 yards. … Calera senior quarterback Preston Stokes had little time to throw and finished 7-for-13 for 33 yards and two interceptions.

What’s next?: The Patriots advance to play Saraland next week. The season is over for Calera (4-7).

– Nick Robbins

Homewood 35, McAdory 30

The Patriots snapped a 21-all halftime stalemate to advance to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs with the win at Waldrop Stadium in Birmingham. Homewood scored single touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters while McAdory got 9 points in the final period.

Homewood (9-2) will play Pike Road next week in Round 2.

Quarterback Woods Ray led Homewood with 118 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns. Ray also completed 6-of-13 throws for 180 yards and a score.

Mondrell Odell made the most of his 16 carries for 37 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns for the Patriots. Jackson Parris had 3 catches for 115 yards and a TD.

McAdory finished the season at 6-5.

CLASS 5A

Faith Academy 21, Eufaula 15

Jarrett Daughtry threw a 29-yard TD pass to Ty Goodwill late in the fourth quarter as the Rams won on the road.

Daughtry and Goodwill also connected on a 12-yard TD pass earlier in the game.

The other Faith touchdown came on Goodwill’s 46-yard Pick 6. He finished with 10 receptions for 130 yards.

Daughtry was 19-of-28 for 158 yards overall.

After Faith’s go-ahead TD, Eufaula had one more chance but Tyrell Dotson’s interception sealed the win for the Rams.

Christian Burnette rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries, caught 2 passes for 17 yards and made 9 solo tackles, 2 assists, 3 TFL and a sack on defense. Jaeden Simmons contributed 9 tackles and 2 assists.

Faith Academy (9-2) plays Demopolis in Round 2.

Gulf Shores 42, Carroll 0

Ronnie Royal accounted for three touchdowns as Gulf Shores rolled to a Class 5A first-round win.

Royal scored on a run, threw a TD pass and caught a TD pass.

He rushed for 144 yards on eight carries and caught four passes for 114 yards and a TD. He was 1-for-1 passing for 31 yards and a score.

Brendon Byrd finished 13-of-18 passing for 232 yards and 2 TDs.

Braden Jackson and JR Gardner also had TD receptions. Gardner rushed for 78 yards and a score on 12 carries.

Otto Brewer led the defense with nine tackles and three sacks.

Gulf Shores (10-1) earned the school’s first playoff win since 2009. The Dolphins will play Central-Clay County next week.

Carroll finished 5-6.

Ramsay 61, Southside-Gadsden 25

Class 5A’s fourth-ranked Rams poured it on the Panthers in their first-round matchup.

Ramsay’s Tremell Washington led the way going 8-for-12 passing for 173 yards and three touchdowns and added another rushing touchdown. Three of Washington’s touchdowns came in the first half as the Rams built a 34-13 lead.

The Rams extended their lead to 48-13 in the third quarter with Washington’s final touchdown and then an Interception return for a touchdown by Quinton Reese.

Ramsay tallied 491 yards in a balanced offensive attack and its defense forced five turnovers (two interceptions and three fumbles). All of that helped to overcome a sloppy night that saw the Rams penalized 14 times for 110 yards.

Southside was led by Gauge NeSmieth, who was 23-for-31 passing for 237 yards and three touchdowns and the pair of interceptions.

Pleasant Grove 43, Alexandria 14

The drive for a fourth straight state championship game berth is alive and well for Pleasant Grove after the Spartans trounced Alexandria on Friday at Spartan Stadium.

Third-ranked Pleasant Grove (9-1) won its seventh straight in eliminating the Valley Cubs (5-5). The Spartans travel to Russellville for a second-round game next week.

Eric Handley completed 13-of-16 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns – one to leading receiver Clarence Taylor, who had 5 catches for 177 yards and a 76-yard touchdown. Handley also had a 31-yard TD pass to Davey Lavender and a 12-yard throw to Aaron Tift.

The Spartans rolled up 433 total yards with 138 coming on the ground. Leading rusher Collin Moore had 50 yards and a pair of TDs – from 37 and 12 yards – on 3 carries. Pleasant Grove held the visitors to 165 yards, 109 on the ground with Ty Brown leading the team with 49 yards on 8 attempts.

Pleasant Grove’s defense picked up a score with 6:51 left in the opening period by smothering an Alexandria runner’s fumble in the end zone.

The Valley Cubs scored on a DeMarkus Williams pass interception and on a 27-yard Ty Barker-to-Antonio Ross pass play.

CLASS 4A

Montgomery Catholic 41, Bayside Academy 13

Auburn running back commit Jeremiah Cobb rushed for 205 yards on 19 carries as No. 1-ranked Catholic cruised into the second round in Class 4A.

Caleb McCreary was 14-of-20 passing for 219 yards and five TDs.

Luke Harkless had six receptions for 62 yards and three TDs, while Josh Palmer had 7 receptions for 146 yards and two TDs. Courtney Williams also had a TD reception.

Jaden Jones led the defense with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Damien Rankins had eight tackles and a sack.

The Knights (11-0) have outscored the competition 609-93 this season, and they play Jacksonville in the second round. Bayside finished 6-5.

CLASS 2A

Vincent 36, Luverne 35

Blake Allums connected with Zac Carlisle for a 22-yard touchdown with 52 seconds to go, as Vincent earned its first playoff win since 2011.

The road victory at Glenn Daniel Stadium also gives the Yellow Jackets their first 10-win season in school history for a program that started playing football in 1928.

Vincent has won six straight games.

Ariton 61, Chickasaw 22

Andyn Garris had a big night throwing and Jordan Smith had a big night running as Ariton got the first round victory in the Class 2A playoffs.

The No. 2-ranked Purple Cats improved to 10-1.

Garris was 21-of-25 for 317 yards passing, including touchdown passes of 57, 9, 16, and 15 yards.

Landon Tyler was on the receiving end of the 57- and 16-yard touchdown passes. Isaiah Johnson caught the 9-yard touchdown pass and Trevor McLaughlin caught the 15-yard touchdown pass.

G.W. Long 19, St. Luke’s 16

Bryson Hughes threw for 152 yards with a touchdown, scored on an 8-yard run and made seven tackles defensively as the home team Rebels advanced to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Rebels improved to 8-3.

Hughes was 13-of-23 passing, which included a 40-yard touchdown pass to Daylon Henderson.

Brayden Whitehead had a 16-yard touchdown run and 68 yards rushing.

Hayes Horne had six catches for 38 yards and rushed for 27 yards. Jakiire Redding had three catches for 51 yards.

G.W. Long led 13-0 early and 19-10 at halftime.

St. Luke’s pulled within 19-16 in the third quarter, but the extra point attempt was blocked by Austin Kerchner.

Tanner Johnston had an interception late in the game on St. Luke’s final possession.

Whitehead had six tackles with an interception, Blayne Wood and Horne each had six tackles, Austin Kerchner had an interception and a tackle for loss and Hunter Kerchner had an interception.

–– Dothan Eagle

This post will be updated