This is an opinion piece.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Now it’s time to get down to some serious football business tonight.

By night’s end, we will know the Class 7A championship matchup as well as the semifinal matchups in the other six classes.

One of several fascinating matchups features unbeaten and third-ranked Mary G. Montgomery traveling to unbeaten and top-ranked Central-Phenix City in the 7A South semifinal.

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MGM is a newcomer to this stage. The Vikings had never won a playoff game before their first-round matchup against Dothan. Now, Zach Golson’s team stands one win away from a championship opportunity.

On the opposite side of the coin is Patrick Nix’s Central-Phenix City squad. The Red Devils have played in the last nine 7A semifinals and this team may be the best of them all. Auburn High coach Keith Etheredge told me this week that Central is one of the most complete teams he has played in his three years as the Tigers’ head coach.

The Red Devils beat Auburn twice in a month’s time – 41-20 on Oct. 20 in the regular season and 49-21 in the quarterfinals a week ago. Central has outscored its opponents 514-138 so far this season. Only one team – Opelika in mid-September – has even played the Red Devils as close as 10 points (28-18 Central victory).

Both teams have star power on offense. Central QB Andrew Alford and wide receiver Cam Coleman are Mr. Football contenders. MGM QB Jared Hollins and WR James Bolton are a dangerous combination for the Vikings.

The key tonight may well be MGM’s defense. The Vikings have allowed 104 total points all season and no team has scored more than 14 in a single game against them. They will face their biggest challenge on the road tonight.

The MGM-Central winner will play Thompson or Hewitt-Trussville in the title game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 6.

Top 4 face off

In Class 6A, the top four teams in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings face off in semifinal matchups tonight.

Many believe No. 1 Saraland and No. 2 Clay-Chalkville are destined for a championship matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium in two weeks, but both face huge challenges tonight.

The Spartans, winners of 18 straight games, host No. 3-ranked Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, while the Cougars travel to No. 4 Muscle Shoals. The four teams are a combined 46-0 this season.

The other 6A quarterfinal matchups feature Benjamin Russell hosting Pike Road in the South and Gadsden City traveling to Parker in the North.

Happy Homecoming

Great to see former Spanish Fort stars Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri) and D.J. James (Auburn) accept invitations to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Draine was mainly a wide receiver for the Toros in high school until Ben Blackmon and his staff moved him to quarterback by necessity late in the 2019 season. Draine’s running catapulted Spanish Fort from a 5-4 team in the regular season – that made the playoffs by virtue of a forfeit win over rival Daphne – to the Class 6A runner-up. He finished second in the Mr. Football voting. At Missouri, he turned into one of the nation’s best defensive backs.

James was an all-state defensive back the previous year for an 11-2 Spanish Fort team. He signed with Oregon out of high school, turning down a last-minute offer from Alabama on Signing Day, and ultimately transferred to Auburn. He’ll play his final regular-season game for the Tigers on Saturday against the Tide.

Both will play their last official college games in the Senior Bowl.

One hot recruit

Jackson RB EJ Crowell continues to gain SEC attention as a freshman.

The 5-foot-11, 203-pound star will lead the Aggies against B.T. Washington tonight in the Class 4A quarterfinals.

Crowell already has rushed for 1,573 yards and 24 TDs on 142 carries in 11 games.

This week, he’s added offers from South Carolina, Auburn and two-time reigning national champ Georgia.

The big question

How is Auburn High kicker Towns McGough not committed yet?

The guy had an unbelievable year.

He went 19-of-22 on field goals, including 100 percent on kicks of 56 yards and in. He made six 50-plus yard kicks with a long of 60.

He also was perfect on extra points (48-of-48).

“Somebody is going to get the best I have ever seen,” Auburn coach Keith Etheredge said.

Thought for the Week

“Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” – Psalms 95:2

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.