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Fyffe to Battle Maplesville in 2025 AHSAA Kickoff Classic
The ACC football Kickoff is set for Tuesday, July 22, through Thursday, July 24, at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Head Football Coaches and student-athletes from all 17 schools will be in attendance. The breakdown of 53rd schools participating in the ACC Kickoff event is below. The exact times each day or television coverage has not yet been announced. Tuesday, July 22 • Commissioner's Forum • California • Miami • SMU 2025 ACC Kickoff
Four high schools, Class 7A Prattville, Class 6A, Pike Road, Class 3A Fyffe and Class 1A Maplesville will kick off the AHSAA 2025 football season competing in the 20th annual Kickoff Classic at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl – which will be aired over the AHSAA TV Network with Alabama Public Television set to carry the games for the first time. The Kickoff Classic storied begins with Prattville vs. Pike Road on Thursday, August 21 at Cramton Bowl at 7 p.m. Fyffe and Maplesville will meet on Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m., at Cramton Bowl. “We will be kicking off our 2025-26 school year with these two exciting games,” said AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon. The four schools playing in the Kickoff Classic have combined to win 17 state championships with Fyffe leading the way with seven since 2014. The DeKalb County Class 3A power led the state in wins (128-9) in the 2010-2019 decade and Maplesville, located in Chilton County, was the winningest school in Class 1A during that period going 121-12 – ranking second overall behind Fyffe. Class 7A Prattville (124-12) had the best winning percentage in the AHSAA from 2000-2009 with a 91.2% winning rate. Pike Road, which became a new high school in 2018, currently ranks10th
overall with a 53-13 record in this decade (2020-2024). All four teams come in with highly successful coaches. Fyffe’s Paul Benefield owns a 360-59-0 career record with seven state championships. He ranks second in most wins among active coaches in the AHSAA behind Central of Clay County’s Danny Horn (363-98-0) and third overall behind Horn and Terry Curtis (361-105-0), who retired as head coach at UMS-Wright after last season. Benefield’s teams had a stretch of 64 straight regular-season wins from 2015-2021 and 51 straight wins overall. His winning percentage (85.9%) is the best of any coach in the AHSAA with more than 200 wins. Maplesville head coach Brad Abbott owns a 57-25 record over five seasons as head coach. Last year’s team finished 12-3 – falling in the Class 1A state finals to Wadley. Pike Road’s Grant Shook, who owns a 49-16 record overall, is in his third year as Pike Road head coach. The Patriots (10-4) reached the 6A semifinals last season for the second straight year under Shook’s direction. He is beginning his third season at Pike Road this year. The Patriots are beginning their ninth year of football – after giving up the sport in 1933. Pike Road is just two wins away from the school’s 100th overall win. Bobby Carr, who coached Carver-
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Fyffe's Everett Deboard (#1) follows blocker Ryder Gipson (#22) during the Red Devils home playoff game against Ohatchee last fall.
back Jamichael Jones and athlete Jordan Holmes; and Prattville defensive standouts Elijah Brown, Ricardo Parker, and Trey Rawlinson. 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). Alabama Public Television, the AHSAA’s broadcast partner for the Super 7 State Football Championships, will be broadcasting the Kickoff Classic. APT will also air all the regular-season and playoff games of the week for the first time, as well as the Super 7 State Championships. The games
will also be aired over the NFHS Network. "We’re excited to showcase four outstanding programs, Pike Road, Prattville, Maplesville, and Fyffe, in this year’s AHSAA Kickoff Classic,” Lawrence said, “This event marks the official start of high school football each year in Alabama, and there’s nothing quite like the energy and excitement that comes with it. This year’s statewide coverage on the AHSAA TV Network and Alabama Public Television will continue to highlight the talent, tradition, and deep community pride that make Friday nights so special across our state. We’re also extremely grateful to the City of Montgomery and the staff at Cramton Bowl for their continued support and hospitality in hosting this event."
Montgomery to a 41-19 win over Vestavia Hills in the 2024 Kickoff Classic, is in his first season at Prattville High School. The Lions (5-5) are just two wins away from claiming the school’s 600th all-time football win. The four schools in this year’s Kickoff Classic have combined for 1,932 wins with Maplesville (634- 349-19) leading the way, followed by Fyffe (603-212- 13), Prattville (598-421-17) and Pike Road (98-49-12). Additionally, all four teams are returning some outstanding players. Among them are returning All- State players: Maplesville tight end/linebacker Aidan Abbott, defensive lineman Von Woods, and athlete Pearce Yeargan; Fyffe running back Ryder Gipson; Pike Road linebacker Brayden Outlaw, running
• Stanford • Virginia
Wednesday, July 23
• Florida State • Georgia Tech • Louisville • Pittsburgh • Syracuse • Wake Forest • Boston College • Clemson • Duke • North Carolina • NC State • Virginia Tech
Thursday, July 24
The 12th annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl will be played on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the historic Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery. The football game will kick off at 9 p.m. (ET) and will be televised by ESPN. "We are thrilled to once again host the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl that places the City of Montgomery in the national spotlight,” commented IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl Executive Director Clay Norrell. “We are excited to build on last year's success with IS4S, and our other community partners." he added. The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl was first played on December 20, 2014. Bowling Green defeated South Alabama 33-28 in the inaugural game. South Alabama defeated Western Michigan 30-23 in last year’s game. The game has had a penchant for close games and exciting finishes, with 10 of the first 11 games decided by one score. Three games have been decided on the final play. The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl matches team from the Mid- American Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. Salute To Veterans Bowl Game
Auburn's Broome Taken by Philadelphia in second round of NBA Draft
Auburn’s Johni Broome, a unanimous first team All-American and the SEC Player of the Year, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth pick of the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The 35th overall pick of the two-day draft, Broome became the first Auburn player drafted by Philadelphia since Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was selected fifth overall in the 1984 draft. "I'm a winner. I get things done offensively and defensively,” Broome said on the ESPN broadcast. “The 76ers got a good one." Broome becomes the seventh draft pick in the last seven years for head coach Bruce Pearl, joining Chuma Okeke (2019, No. 16 overall to Orlando), Isaac Okoro (2020, No. 5 overall to Cleveland), Sharife Cooper (2021, No. 48 overall to Atlanta), J.T. Thor (2021, No. 37 overall to Charlotte),
Walker Kessler (2022, No. 22 overall to Utah) and Jabari Walker (2022, No. 3 overall to Houston). He is the 36th player in program history to have his name called in the draft. “Johni could have been the steal of the second round. At every level, he has exceeded expectations,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “He wasn’t supposed to be good enough to play at a high major and was the SEC Player of the Year and second for national player of the year. He’s an elite competitor, coachable and as Charles Barkley said, he might be the best player in Auburn history based on what he accomplished for the program and university. Philadelphia made a great decision in drafting Johni," added Pearl. The two-time senior All-American from Plant City, FL was honored as the SEC Player of the Year, joining Charles Barkley (1984) and Chris Porter
(1999) as the only Tigers to earn this award from The Associated Press. Broome is the only player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to record 2,500 points, 1,500 rebounds and 400 blocks in his career. A Naismith Trophy award finalist, Broome led the Tigers in scoring (18.6 per game), rebounds (10.8 per game) and was second in assists (2.8 per game). The South Regional MVP averaged 17.3 points on 50.0 percent shooting and 13.3 rebounds, including two double-doubles in Auburn's four wins. His five career double-doubles in the NCAA Tournament are tied with Kentucky's Dan Issell, Shaquille O'Neal of LSU and Auburn's Jeff Moore for the most in SEC history. Broome and former No. 1 overall pick Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984 are the only players to score at least 25 points on 75 percent shooting and grab at least 10 rebounds in the Elite Eight in the last 50 seasons.
Photo by Zach Bland, Auburn Athletics
Duke's Cooper Flagg (#2) guards Auburn's Johni Broome (#4) at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Flagg was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg Leads NBA Draft
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