This is the matchup many people have been waiting all season to watch, and it caps the 2023 AHSAA Super 7.

Top-ranked and reigning champ Saraland battles No. 2 and 2021 champ Clay-Chalkville for the Class 6A state title. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. today at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Cougars are 13-0 with a load of college talent that includes Alabama DB/ATH commit Jaylen Mbakwe, Auburn LB commit DJ Barber, WR Mario Craver, Arkansas DB commit Tevis Metcalf and massive Oregon OT commit JacQawn McRoy.

Saraland (14-0) has won 20 straight games. The Spartans’ high-powered arsenal includes reigning Mr. Football and Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams, Texas QB commit KJ Lacey, WRs CD Gill and Dillon Alfred, RB Santae McWilliams, Alabama DL commit Antonio Coleman and Vandy LB commit Jamison Curtis.

“There will be athletes running everywhere,” one opposing coach said about the matchup. “If you want to see Power 5 athletes at every position, this is must-see TV.”

AL.com asked several coaches who are familiar with the teams for some insight into the matchup. Here’s a look at how the championship breaks down:

In the playoffs:

Clay-Chalkville: Def. Cullman 49-7, No. 8 Mountain Brook 17-13, No. 4 Muscle Shoals 44-27 and No. 5 Parker 38-13.

Saraland: Def. McAdory 54-14, Briarwood Christian 51-14, No. 3 Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 31-21 and Pike Road 46-7.

How do you beat Clay-Chalkville?

It sounds simple, but it really is not. “You have to have someone who can stop (Jaylen) Mbakwe,” one coach said. “When he pulls it down, you have to be able to match him athlete for athlete where he can’t reel off a 12 or 15-yard run on a third-and-long.” Saraland should try to make Mbakwe put the ball in someone else’s hands as often as possible. He’s that dangerous.

How do you beat Saraland?

Try to entice the Spartans to run the football. Jeff Kelly’s team has a pair of excellent backs in Santae McWilliams and DeShawn Spencer, but one coach said his team was willing to give up 6, 8, 10-yard runs if it kept KJ Lacey and company from throwing the ball to a bevy of talented receivers. “We wanted them to run the ball and maybe try to shorten the game that way rather than just having them light us up,” the coach said. Another coach said, frankly, you need some good fortune whether it comes in the form of turnovers or special teams plays or something out of the ordinary. Clay needs to steal a possession or multiple possessions if possible. “If you try to go toe-to-toe with Saraland and swap scores, at some point they will pull away,” the coach said.

Player to watch: Clay-Chalkville

Jaylen Mbakwe, senior, QB/DB

Mbakwe will play defensive back at Alabama in college, but his move to quarterback has ignited the Cougar offense this season. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound, five-star senior ran for 5 TDs in a regular-season win at Class 7A Thompson and threw for 5 in a playoff win at Muscle Shoals. Several coaches predicted he will see a lot of time on defense in this game to try to help the Cougars slow down reigning Mr. Football Ryan Williams. If so, how will that affect his offensive production? “This is a one-game scenario. You aren’t leaving your Cadillac parked in the garage,” one coach said.

Player to watch: Saraland

KJ Lacey, junior, QB

Certainly, all eyes will be on the talented Williams, but his teammate may be the key for the Spartans. The Texas commit is completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,081 yards and 40 TDs. He’s been intercepted 8 times. He also has scored 5 rushing TDs, though he is clearly a pass first threat quarterback with receivers like Williams, Dillon Alfred, CD Gill and Jordan Dees. His decisions will be the key for Jeff Kelly’s team.

Stat sheet: Clay-Chalkville

Mbakwe is 128-of-186 passing for 1,855 yards and 21 TDs. He’s been intercepted 7 times. He has rushed 125 times for 905 yards and 20 TDs. Senior WR Mario Craver has 52 receptions for 934 yards and 13 TDs. RB Aaron Osley has rushed for 852 yards and 9 TDs on 138 carries. He also has 2 rushing TDs. Taurus Chambers has 594 yards rushing and 9 TDs on 98 carries. Auburn commit DJ Barber has 139 tackles to lead the defense. Carlos Ivy has 121. Nakarius Allen has 82 tackles, including 20 TFL and 6 sacks. DE Avion Pickett has 58 tackles, 24 TFL and 12 sacks.

Stat sheet: Saraland

Williams has 61 receptions for 1,096 yards and 17 TDs. He also has rushed 26 times for 257 yards and 6 scores and returned a pair of punts for touchdowns. Santae McWilliams has rushed for 1,001 yards and 24 TDs on 156 carries. CD Gill has 41 receptions for 633 yards and 5 TDs. The defense is led by Alabama junior commit Antonio Coleman with 33 solo tackles and 28 tackles for a loss. Vanderbilt LB commit Jamison Curtis has 87 tackles, including 19 for a loss, while senior LB Cam Laffitte has 90 tackles, including 16 for a loss. He also has a pair of defensive touchdowns.

Did you know? Clay-Chalkville

The Cougars are looking for their fourth state championship. Clay won titles in 1999, 2014 and 2021 under three different head coaches. Hal Riddle led the 1999 Cougars to a 12-3 record and the championship. Jerry Hood was the man in charge in 2014. He also led the team to a runner-up finish in 2015. Current coach Drew Gilmer led Clay to the title two years ago.

Did you know? Saraland

Saraland is playing for its fourth state championship in 13 years under Jeff Kelly. The Spartans lost 36-31 in the title game to Clay-Chalkville in 2014 and 26-17 to Bo Nix and Pinson Valley in 2018. They defeated Mountain Brook 38-17 a year ago.

Game within a Game

Watch the play of the linebackers on both sides. For Saraland, Vandy commit Jamison Curtis, junior Isaih Bowie and senior Camron Laffitte don’t get as much credit as they deserve. They funnel everything inside to big Alabama commit Antonio Coleman. Clay-Chalkville is also stellar at linebacker. One coach said Auburn commit D.J. Barber is as good as he’s coached against. The same coach also said seniors Carlos and Rod Ivy are underrated and outstanding.

Wildcard

The play of the offensive lines. The Spartans start five seniors there, including 6-foot-4, 306-pound Daylan Martin, 6-foot-3, 275-pound Brandon Autery and 6-foot, 235-pound Bryceson Broughton Chestang. Clay counters with a huge line that includes 6-foot-8, 365-pound Oregon commit JacQawn McRoy. “Clay is massive up front,” one coach said. “I would expect them to lean on that.”

Wildcard No. 2

Special teams. Coaches expect both Ryan Williams and Jaylen Mbakwe to return kicks and punts at times and either is capable of going the distance at any point.

The coaches

Jeff Kelly is 132-35 in 13 years at Saraland. He is 81-18 in region play and 26-11 in the playoffs. In 20 years overall, including stops at Satsuma and Jackson, Kelly is 179-69. Drew Gilmer is 80-12 in seven years at Clay-Chalkville. He is 37-5 in region play and 19-5 in the playoffs. His teams have made at least the quarterfinals in six of seven years.

Rankings/On the Air

Saraland spent the entire season at No. 1 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A poll. Clay-Chalkville is No. 2. In this week’s AL.com Power 25 rankings, Saraland is No. 2 behind Class 7A Central-Phenix City. Clay-Chalkville is No. 3.

For the second straight year, all seven boys’ championship games and the girls’ flag finals will be televised live over the Alabama Public Television Network. The games are being produced by the NFHS Network. All games will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network and over the AHSAA Radio Network as well.

AL.com prediction

Saraland 35, Clay-Chalkville 28

(Prediction based on insight from coaches)