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PAGE 4B August 2025
Photo Courtesy of Cheryl Boydston, ABC Photography
Fyffe Red Devils
Fyffe High School football coach Paul Benefield has built the Red Devils' program into one of the AHSAA’s most successful and consistent programs, winning seven state titles. But with 360 career wins, Benefield also understands past winning doesn’t mean guaranteed future success. “I have a feeling our team is about to get woke up,” Benefield said during a press conference in Montgomery for the 2025 Kickoff Classic. “We know this game is going to be tough.” Fyffe opens the season on Friday, August 22 against Maplesville in the second game of the AHSAA Kickoff Classic at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The first game of the Kickoff Classic is set for Thursday, August 21, and features Prattville vs. Pike Road. Maplesville is coming off a Class 1A runner-up finish, having fallen 37-7 to Wadley in the title game in 2024. Fyffe finished 9-3 last season, reaching the third round of the Class 3A state playoffs. It marked the first time the program did not reach 10 wins since 2010. Fyffe was the state’s winningest team from 2010-24, going 191-15, and Maplesville was No. 2 with a 170-29 record during the same time span. Benefield and Maplesville coach Brad Abbott voiced respect for the other program’s past success. “We’re going to have a big challenge, but we’re looking forward to it,” Abbott said. WOTM TV and Alabama Public Television, the AHSAA’s broadcast partners for the Super 7 State Football Championships, will broadcast the Kickoff Classic on television. The games will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network. APT has also joined the AHSAA TV Network’s Game of the Week series, which will feature one game on Thursday night each week during the regular season and a Friday night playoff game in November leading up to the AHSAA Super 7 State Championships. The Kickoff Classic opener on Thursday, August 21, features the Prattville High School debut of coach Bobby Carr, who has more than 250 career wins but enters his second season in the AHSAA. Carr coached at Carver- Montgomery last season before moving to Prattville. Pike Road, Fyffe and Maplesville are making their second appearance in the Kickoff Classic, which was first played in 2006. Prattville is making its seventh appearance – the most of any school. The Lions are 3-3 in the Classic with one game rained out (2008). Each team had selected players representing their teams at AHSAA Kickoff press conference including: • MAPLESVILLE: WR/LB Aidan Abbott; WR/LB Eli Hubbert; QB/DB Pearce Yeargan. • FYFFE: RB/LB Ryder Gipson; OC/DL Noah Gunn; OG/DT Weston Gunn. • PRATTVILLE: DL Jake McConnell; RB J.J. Williams; RB Tristan Blackmon; DL Callahan Minor. • PIKE ROAD: DB Jordan Holmes; LB Miles Khatri; LB Braylon Outlaw; RB Ja’Michael Jones. Fyffe To Open 2025 Season at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery
Photo Courtesy of Cheryl Boydston, ABC Photography
Fyffe Cheerleaders
Guntersville Cheerleaders Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Photo Courtesy of Andy Vance Sylvania Cheerleaders
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