Like the Bee Gees, West Alabama ‘Staying’ Alive’

We are slowly but surely running out of West Alabama football playoff games for me to pick, but I'm going to give my best shot on four this week.

Last week I went 3-1 missing on Gordo and my season mark is now 22-4. Here are this week's round three playoff picks:

1A

Wadley at Pickens County

The visitors from East Alabama come to Reform at 11-1 while the Tornadoes of coach Michael Williams are 8-3. PCHS will have its hands full in this one. It hurts me more than it hurts you, Michael, especially as someone who covered you in college and even high school. Wadley advances, 35-21. Hope I'm wrong.

2A

Tuscaloosa Academy at Pisgah

The Knights are rolling and have been since a regular season loss to Lamar County. Preston Lancaster is one of our state's top quarterbacks. TA is 10-2 and Pisgah ill host at 11-1. I have faith in coach Josh Wright and his team. Once I found out Pisgah was on Sand Mountain my confidence increased. They are better in that area of the state at beauty pageants than football. Do they still have that truck on the side of U.S. 231 advertising Friday night midget wresting?

You can't make it up. I say TA wins this one 34-20 to advance.

5A

Eufala at Demopolis

Eufala is good and comes in at 9-3. "Demop" is better and is hosting at 10-2. This game will go better for first-year Tigers coach Lance Tucker than a certain Iron Bowl he started against a different set of Tigers did back in 1997. Demopolis takes it and advances, 28-24.

[Fun Fact: I was the play-by-play announcer when Tucker was a Fayette County eighth grader playing on legendary dad Waldon's varsity.]

6A

Hillcrest at Saraland

Like last year, it's been a dream season for these two 6A powers. The Patriots of coach Jamie Mitchell takes his team to North Mobile County at 12-0 as does Spartans coach Jeff Kelly, a former Southern Miss quarterback who faced Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

I say that to say this: Kelly has the best team in the state regardless of classification, and will in but a few weeks be back at Bryant-Denny to defend a 6A title. Alabama WR pledge Ryan Williams Jr. is the state's most explosive player and Texas QB commit K.J. Lacey has a cannon for a right arm. Saraland for the second straight year will eliminate the visitors form Patriot Parkway, 35-20.