Top five Montgomery-area high school football matchups to circle on your calendar in the 2024 season
With seven months until the start of the 2024 football season, it's never too early to mark your calendars for some marquee high school football matchups.
Several programs in the Montgomery area released their 2024 football schedules after the new AHSAA region alignments. Here are the top five games to keep an eye out for this fall season:
Carver vs Vestavia Hills (AHSAA Kickoff Classic)
Date: Friday, Aug. 23
Analysis: Now that Carver has merged together with Sidney Lanier, The Wolverines has moved up to the 7A classification for the 2024 season. Headlining the Cramton Bowl on the second night of the Kickoff Classic is a huge deal and will make for a huge turnout. Now in a tougher classification, the Wolverines' schedule would be a lot more challenging compared to last year's. This opening matchup against Vestavia Hills will give Carver their first taste of 7A competition in preparation for the season ahead.
St. James vs Montgomery Catholic
Date: Friday, Aug. 23
Analysis: Two of the city's finest programs will go head-to-head the opening week of the high school football season. With less than five miles between these neighboring programs, this game will set up the landscape for the River Region power rankings. Both teams will be playing with new quarterbacks under center, helping to even the playing field.
Pike Road vs Enterprise
Date: Friday, Aug. 30
Analysis: Enterprise has been trending after acquiring the recent transfer of four-star defensive lineman Zion Grady from Charles Henderson. Joining an already loaded defense with four-star linebacker Eric Winters, this will be a stellar matchup against the explosive Pike Road offense. Returning offensive threats Cason Myers, Jordan King and Ja'Micheal Jones are all expected to have major years for Pike Road in 2024.
Charles Henderson vs Montgomery Catholic
Date: Friday, Sep. 20
Analysis: This will be a new division rivalry as both teams are now paired in the same Class 5A region in the new alignments. Catholic being the reigning state champions will have a target on their backs, and Charles Henderson is a program looking to knock them off. A game with heavy playoff implications like this will be one to circle on your calendars.
St. James vs Trinity
Date: Friday, Oct. 13
Analysis: Even though they're both in separate classifications now, this rivalry will always be a staple on these programs' schedules. After defeating Trinity to claim their final Class 3A Region 3 title, St. James moved up to the Class 4A. However, despite the upgrade, Trinity is no pushover and will treat this game like it's the postseason because of the rivalry's deep history.
Jerry Humphrey III is a sports writer for the Montgomery Advertiser who covers area high school sports, Auburn recruiting and Alabama State athletics. Follow him on Twitter @jerryhump3.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Top five Montgomery-area high school football matchups to watch in 2024
