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The 2023 regular season is now complete, and four Covington County teams have earned the right to compete in the AHSAA State Football Playoffs with first-round matchups scheduled this week.

Tickets may be purchased on GoFan for $10 plus processing fee or $12 cash at the gate. According to the AHSAA, there will be no reserved seating in any round of the playoffs.

Andalusia vs. Sipsey Valley
Andalusia (9-1) will begin its quest to repeat as the 4A state champion with a home game against Sipsey Valley (6-4) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Bulldogs will make their 29th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 42-25 in the postseason. They have a 16-12 mark in the first round and are 12-3 at home in round one.

The Bears, who first began their football program in 2010, will make their sixth playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 0-5 in the postseason. All five of their first-round games have been on the road.

This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Andalusia fell short at Montgomery Catholic, 27-14, two weeks ago. Sipsey Valley earned a 49-14 home win over Northside last week.

The winner of this game will play Jackson or Cleburne County in the second round next week.

Florala at Sweet Water
Florala (7-3) will travel for the third straight week and head to the western part of the state for a contest at Sweet Water (8-1) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Wildcats will make their 24th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 12-23 in the postseason. They have a 9-14 mark in the first round and are 3-11 on the road in round one.

The Bulldogs will make their 44th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 91-32 in the postseason. They are 32-11 in the first round and are 28-5 at home in round one.

This will be only the second matchup between the two schools. Sweet Water defeated Florala, 43-30, in the first round during the 2004 season.

The Wildcats gave a valiant effort in their regular season finale last week but were defeated at Brantley, 55-46. The Bulldogs had a bye week and routed St. Luke’s on the road two weeks ago, 42-7.

The winner of this game will play Maplesville or Choctaw County in the second round next week.

Opp at St. James
Opp (4-6) will make its way to the capital city for a first-round game at defending 3A state champion St. James (8-2) on Thursday, Nov. 9.

The Bobcats will make their 28th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 12-27 in the postseason. They are 11-16 in the first round and are 3-11 on the road in round one.

The Trojans will make their 27th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 17-25 in the postseason. They are 11-15 in the first round and are 9-6 at home in round one.

The two schools will meet for the ninth time with the series locked in a 4-4 tie. St. James edged Opp, 20-17, in the last matchup during the 2009 season.

Both teams ended the regular season with narrow home wins last week. The Bobcats rallied past Ashford, 50-48, in triple overtime. The Trojans held on and defeated Carroll, 49-48.

The winner of this game will play Randolph County or W.S. Neal in the second round next week.

Straughn vs. Southside Selma
Straughn (9-1) will look for its sixth straight win and fifth 10-win season in school history with a first-round outing against Southside Selma (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 10.

The Tigers will make their 25th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 17-24 in the postseason. They are 10-14 in the first round and are 8-3 at home in round one.

The Panthers will make their 11th playoff appearance in school history with an all-time record of 2-10 in the postseason. They are 2-8 in the first round and are 0-6 on the road in round one.

The two schools will battle for the third time after playing each other in region play during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Straughn has a 2-0 lead over Southside Selma.

Both teams capped off the regular season with home wins last week. The Tigers completed an unbeaten region slate with a 35-14 win over Providence Christian. The Panthers stepped away from region play and routed county foe Dallas County, 50-18.

The winner of this game will play Thomasville or Dadeville in the second round next week.