Sports Editor

Three games.

Three state championships on the line.

One field.

Richard M. Scrushy Field at Memorial Stadium will get a workout this weekend as Troy and Troy State plays host to the AISA Football Triple Championship today.

With a scheduled AHSAA second round playoff meeting between CHHS and Robertsdale on Thursday night, four football games will have already been played on TSU’s home turf by the time the Trojans take the field at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday against rival Jacksonville State.

At 1 p.m., Marengo and Wilcox Academy will compete for the Class AA championship. That will be followed by the Class AAA title game feauring No. 1 Monroe Academy against Bessemer and the day will conclude at 7 p.m. with the Class A championship; Clarke Prep vs. Calvary Christian.

This year’s schedule of games was rotated from last season, when the A contest was played at noon, followed by the AA at 4 p.m. and the AAA at 7 p.m.

According to AISA Director John Faircloth over 5,000 tickets were sold for last season’s event.

"We started at noon last year and I think there was just too much time between the first and second game," said Faircloth. "We may have lost some fans that maybe would have stayed had the break been shorter. We also want to think about Troy State, because they have an early game the next day and we want to leave time for them to get the field ready."

Faircloth is also hoping for better weather then last season. Last year the six teams slugged it out in drizzling rain and even colder temperatures.

"It was miserable last year, but I think with good weather on Friday we can get maybe eight to 10 thousand fans to the games," he said. "Hopefully some of the local football fans and Troy State fans will come check out some good football."

Faircloth believes the AISA has found a permanent home for its championship games in Troy.

"I think this will become and fixture in Troy," he said. "We’re happy that the leadership at Troy State has allowed us to do this and we’ve been pleased with the hospitality we have received."

Clarke Prep is the only defending state champion returning to Troy this year. The Gators won a 44-37 victory over South Montgomery County Academy to win the Class A title.

"The Class A game (last year) was one of the better contests of the day," said Faircloth.