Trojans top undefeated Austin; Round 1 preview

After topping Hartselle to win the Class 6A, Region 7 title, the Muscle Shoals Trojans No. 1 seed in the postseason was assured.

However, Muscle Shoals had one major task left in the regular season — traveling to play undefeated Class 7A, Region 4 champ Austin.

At least, the Black Bears WERE undefeated. After trailing 22-0 late in the second quarter, the Trojans scored 29 unanswered points to topple the larger team.

Kade Clemmons connected with Anderson Flippo on a touchdown pass that finally got the Trojans on the board just before halftime.

Clemmons ran in a 2-point conversion to make it 22-8.

A 35-yard touchdown pass from Clemmons to Trey Love would later tie the game at 22-22, and Christian Pritchard scored what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown on a 70-yard punt return.

The Trojans’ defense managed to hold Austin scoreless the rest of the second half for the win.

The win puts MSHS at 7-2 overall on the season. The Trojans will host 3-7 Mortimer Jordan in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

This will be the first meeting of the two teams on the gridiron since 2013, a 55-6 win for Muscle Shoals, which was also a first-round postseason matchup.

The 2013 game was the first-ever meeting of the two in football.

Colbert County

The Indians (5-5) had an open date to finish the 2024 regular season and will now travel to face Class 3A, Region 5 winner Winfield as the Region 7 No. 4 seed.

The Pirates are 9-1 and sure to be a tough opponent. The game is a repeat of the first-round matchup in 2023, where Winfield defeated Colbert County 43-21.

Cherokee

The Indians made the postseason for the first time since 2018, but coming in as the No. 4 seed from Class 1A, Region 7, that means they will face 1A, Region 5 winner Lynn (9-1).

The Bears last faced Cherokee on the gridiron in 2021, a 41-0 victory for Lynn.