By Cole Frederick
Two teams from the Gadsden area advanced to Round 2 of the AHSAA state playoffs, and they will both take on their Round 2 opponents on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Etowah defeated Wilson 21-14, and Westbrook breezed past Victory Christian 52-14 in their respective playoff openers.
For the Blue Devils, it was their first playoff victory since 2022, and first-year head coach Davin Hawkins said he was impressed with his team’s maturity in the win over Wilson.
“The most impressive aspect of our performance was our ability to maintain our composure throughout the ups and downs of the game,” Hawkins said. “Our players remained focused, handled adversity well, and continued to compete regardless of the circumstances. That level of maturity is critical as we move deeper into the playoffs.”
Hawkins added that his team has grown in all three phases of the game over the course of the season, and their commitment to execution has allowed them to become a more complete football team.
“Last week’s victory should reinforce the confidence we have in ourselves and the way we prepare and play,” he said. “Our players need to understand that when we execute our game plan, play with discipline, and compete at the level we are capable of, we can compete with anyone. Our focus is on carrying that confidence forward while continuing to improve each day.”
The Blue Devils face a significant challenge this Friday as they travel to take on Class 3A, No. 1 Plainview. The Bears are undefeated this season, and head coach Dale Pruitt is seeking his first state championship in his 40th season as head coach.
Despite the difficulty of the opponent, Hawkins said his team must continue focusing on themselves and eliminating distractions.
“Our biggest challenge is maintaining our focus on ourselves and not becoming distracted by our opponent,” Hawkins said. “We believe in preparing to the best of our ability, controlling the things within our control, and executing our assignments. If we remain committed to that approach, we will put ourselves in a position to be successful.”
Hawkins added that his team must eliminate self-inflicted mistakes and have more attention to details and assignments. He also said that advancing to the quarterfinals would represent another step toward “restoring the standard and tradition of excellence that Etowah football has always been known for.”
“This program has a long history of success, and we want our players, school, and
community to take pride in that tradition,” Hawkins said. “Our goal is to establish the expectation that competing at this level is where Etowah belongs, and that it is time to bring that standard back.”
Westbrook takes on a familiar foe in Round 2 of the playoffs. The Warriors host Class A Region 4 opponent Whitesburg Christian this Friday night, and they defeated the opposing Warriors 31-21 on Oct. 23.
Steve Smith’s team improved to 11-0 with the rout over Victory Christian, and they are three wins away from completing the perfect season and winning a state title.
Three teams from the Gadsden area lost in the first round of the state playoffs last week. Coosa Christian fell to Tuscaloosa Academy 37-7. The Conquerors finished with a 3-7 record in head coach Alaric Williams’ first season. Hokes Bluff dropped its first round playoff game to Lauderdale County 49-14, and the Eagles finished the 2026 campaign with a 6-5 record.
Gadsden City lost to Hewitt-Trussville 38-35 in a shootout in Trussville. Titan quarterback Sam Sollie threw for 249 yards and five touchdowns, and Dylan Perry hauled in three passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Jakari Harris rushed for 82 yards and added four catches for 37 yards and a score for Gadsden City. Husky quarterback Jack Floyd rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns, and he added another 124 yards through the air. The Titans finished the season 5-6.
