It’s now officially the mid-point of the 2023 high school football season.

With that in mind, it’s time for a mid-season report card of sorts.

Here are a few storylines as we enter the second half.

They are who we thought they were

No. 1 Saraland and No. 2 Clay-Chalkville appear to be steamrolling toward a possible meeting in the Class 6A championship game in Tuscaloosa.

Saraland has won 29 of its last 31 games overall entering tonight’s home game against Class 7A Foley. The reigning 6A champs have outscored their opponents 247-46 this year. The only close game was a 31-30 overtime victory over Tennessee power Lipscomb Academy in a nationally televised opener.

Clay-Chalkville won the 2021 title and appears ready to compete again this year after a surprising first-round playoff exit in 2022. Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe scored five touchdowns Thursday night in a dramatic 36-33 win over Thompson to keep the Cougars undefeated.

Alabama commit Ryan Williams vs. Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe for a state title? Yes, please.

Defending champs Thompson, Ramsay, Andalusia and Leroy are all No. 1 in their classes as well.

They aren’t who we thought they might be

At least not yet.

Perennial powers Hoover and UMS-Wright have struggled out of the gate.

The Class 7A Bucs are 1-4 entering tonight’s showdown with Class 6A Mountain Brook and have dropped out of the top 10 rankings for the first time in 23 years. They are 1-2 in Region 3 play with No. 1 Thompson still remaining on the schedule.

UMS is 2-3 overall, 1-2 in Class 5A, Region 1. The Bulldogs have scored just 45 points in five games with a high of 16 (in a 16-14 win at T.R. Miller). Terry Curtis’ team is open this week but has tough tests remaining against B.C. Rain, Citronelle, Faith Academy and Williamson.

The Bulldogs haven’t missed the playoffs in Terry Curtis’ 25 years as head coach.

The Chase is on

Speaking of Terry Curtis, the chase is on again to be the AHSAA’s all-time leader in career victories.

Curtis passed former Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson on the list a year ago and is No. 1 with 350 wins. However, Central-Clay County’s Danny Horn and Fyffe’s Paul Benefield are in “hot pursuit” as Roscoe P. Coltrane would say of them Duke boys.

Horn can tie Anderson for second on the list tonight at 346 if Central-Clay County can win at Alexandria. Benefield is fourth on the list with 340. He could get No. 341 tonight against Plainview.

Curtis, Horn and Benefield have combined to win 22 state titles. Curtis and Horn have eight each. Benefield has six.

Retired coach Waldon Tucker is fifth on the all-time list with 322 wins. The next active coach is Westbrook Christian’s Steve Smith with 285 followed by Plainview’s Dale Pruitt with 281.

New Kids on the Block

A couple of historically mediocre programs have emerged as state title contenders in different classes this year.

Mary G. Montgomery is off to a 5-0 start and ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 7A. Zach Golson’s Vikings gave us a hint of this last year when they won six games in a row and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They’ve never won a playoff game (0-8). With South Alabama QB commit Jared Hollins behind center, there are signs this team could change that.

Class 5A Gulf Shores is 6-0 following Thursday night’s 37-14 rout of Murphy and ranked No. 2 in the state. It’s the best start in Dolphins’ history. Coach Mark Hudspeth led Gulf Shores to its first two playoff victories ever a year ago, and the Dolphins are looking for more than a quarterfinal appearance this year.

Other teams off to stellar starts include Vigor, Baker, West Morgan, Bayside Academy, Mobile Christian, Pisgah, Sulligent and St. Luke’s.

A bigger cause

Two head coaches have been or will soon be deployed.

Jackson-Olin’s Jamal Bess, nearing the end of a six-year stint in the Army reserves, was deployed overseas in August.

Jason Massey, coach of reigning state champion Leroy, is expected to leave early next month on deployment. He is in the national guard. His Bears continue to be ranked No. 1 in the state.

Bess has missed the entire season. Massey is expected to miss the rest of it.

Prayers for a safe return for both coaches and sincere appreciation for their service.

Tough injuries

A pair of top senior recruits are missing time with injuries.

Moody DB and Auburn commit A’mon Lane had surgery earlier this month after suffering a dislocated kneecap. He hopes to return to the Blue Devils for the playoffs.

The news might not be as positive for Alabama commit Sterling Dixon. The Spanish Fort linebacker injured his shoulder in last week’s win over Theodore. At last check, he was awaiting an MRI. His return this season seems in doubt.

Dixon missed most of his sophomore season at Mobile Christian with the same injury. He was the 3A Lineman of the Year for the Leopards a year ago and is currently the Toros’ leading tackler.

Do you know?

A few names you need to know in the state if you don’t already.

Andrew Alford, QB, Central-Phenix City: Alford has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,411 yards and 20 touchdowns. The junior been intercepted just once.

Kamore Harris, RB, B.B. Comer: The senior has rushed for 548 yards and 12 touchdowns through five games. He’s also an anchor on defense.

Jacob Cornejo, RB, Cherokee County: The senior has rushed for 1,060 yards on 110 carries in five games – an average of 212 yards per game. He gained almost half of that (420 yards) and scored two touchdowns in a win over Oneonta two weeks ago.

DJ Butler, RB, Davidson: The Coastal Carolina commit has rushed for 851 yards and 9 touchdowns and thrown a pair of TD passes. His stats may continue to pile up now that the Warriors have gone to the single-wing attack with Butler as the trigger man.

Checking the recruiting rankings

Only two seniors among the top 20 state recruits (according to the 247 composite rankings) have yet to commit.

They are Hoover LB Bradley Shaw (No. 9) and Clay-Chalkville wide receiver Mario Craver (No. 18).

Auburn leads the way with eight commitments in the top 20 and another (Pike Road’s Malik Blocton) at No. 21. That’s a huge jump for Hugh Freeze and company. A year ago, Auburn had only three commitments and eventual signings in the top 20 – Highland Home DE Keldric Faulk, Montgomery Catholic RB Jeremiah Cobb and Munford DB Sylvester Smith.

Alabama has commitments from four top 20 players. Texas A&M, Tennessee, Miami, Oregon, Mississippi and Arkansas have one each.

Quest for 5

Despite last night’s loss to Clay-Chalkville, Thompson’s quest for its fifth straight Class 7A state title is still on track.

The Warriors are 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Region 3 play. They travel to No. 6 Hewitt-Trussville (4-1, 3-0) next week in what should be another good test.

The Huskies could be a threat to end Thompson’s title run, but the most likely challenger may be Central-Phenix City. The Red Devils are 5-0 and have outscored the competition 230-49. Patrick Nix’s team already has a pair of impressive top 10 wins over Hewitt (48-24) and Enterprise (48-7).

Central is idle this week and could move to No. 1 in the ASWA Class 7A rankings next week following Thompson’s first loss of the season. Auburn, last year’s runner-up, is a threat as well. The Tigers are ranked No. 3 this week, but face 5A No. 1 Ramsay tonight.

Other “newcomers” who could pose a challenge include Vestavia Hills, Mary G. Montgomery, Dothan, Enterprise and Baker.

Thought for the Week

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

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.