Bulldogs hit road for top-three matchup; Straughn will host Thomasville in second round

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

After two Covington County teams survived the first round of the AHSAA State Football Playoffs, both will face a tough test against quality opponents in the second round.

Like round one, tickets will again be set for $10 plus processing fee through GoFan or $12 cash at the gate. The AHSAA sets ticket prices for the playoffs each round and does not allow any reserved seating.

Andalusia at Jackson
Andalusia (10-1) will travel nearly two hours west for a top-3 matchup at Jackson (10-0) and look to take the upper hand in the series on Friday, Nov. 17.

The third-ranked Bulldogs will play in the second round for the 16th time in school history, including the last eight years. They are 12-3 all-time in the second round and are 5-2 on the road in round two.

The second-ranked Aggies will play in the second round for the 21st time in school history. They are 12-8 all-time in the second round and are 6-4 at home in round two.

This year’s matchup will be the 13th contest between the two teams in a series that began in 1976. It will be the third time they have met in the playoffs and second straight year they square off in the postseason. The series is currently locked in a 6-6 tie.

Both teams opened the playoffs last week with resounding victories at home. Andalusia took down Sipsey Valley, 43-6, while Jackson handled Cleburne County, 44-7.

The winner of this game will play Handley or B.T. Washington in the quarterfinals next week.

Straughn vs. Thomasville
Straughn (10-1) will host its fifth straight game and hope the third time is a charm when it takes on Thomasville (9-1) in a battle of Tiger heavyweights on Friday, Nov. 17.

SHS will play in the second round for the 11th time in school history. They are 5-5 all-time in the second round and are 3-1 at home in round two.

THS will play in the second round for the 24th time in school history. They are 11-12 in the second round and are 6-10 on the road in round two.

This year will see the teams play each other for the third time overall, all in postseason play. Thomasville holds a 2-0 lead after the first-ever meeting in the second round in 2010. The two teams also met each other last year in the first round, but Straughn will host for the first time in the series this year.

Both teams began the playoffs with home wins last week. SHS battled back and blew out Southside Selma, 45-14. THS hosted Dadeville and picked up a 28-0 shutout.

The winner of this game will play St. James or Randolph County in the quarterfinals next week.