Troy University welcomes state championships

Published 3:00 am Thursday, November 17, 2016

Veterans Memorial Stadium and Troy University will once again be the host site of the 2016 AISA State Championships on Friday afternoon.

Three different classes and six teams will make up the field this year. Marengo will take on Chambers in the Class A championship at noon to begin the day, followed by the Class AA championship between Autauga and Escambia at 3:30. Monroe Academy and Bessemer will have the nightcap in the Class AAA championship beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“We are excited as an institution to host the event,” said Troy Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain. “We have been hosting it for several years now. I think it has worked really well and I think it has been a great experience for everyone involved.”

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Marengo finished the regular season with an 8-1 record and defeated both Crenshaw and Abbeville in the playoffs by a combined score of 95-34.

Chambers finished the regular season a perfect 10-0 before handling both Southern Academy and Lowndes Academy in the post season.

The Class AA final will be a rematch for Autauga and Escambia. The two teams met in late October with Autauga coming out on top 41-34. Autauga finished the regular season undefeated and got passed Kingwood and Lakeside in the playoffs by a combined score of 115-0.

The loss to Autauga was one of four losses for Escambia in the regular season. After losing two in a row to end the season, they got past Evangel Christian and Clarke Prep to advance to the championship.

The Class AAA championship will also be a rematch game. Bessemer defeated Monroe at the beginning of the season 21-7. After losing one game on the year to Autauga, Bessemer has also made quick work of the playoffs by defeating both Northside and Lee Scott.

The loss to Bessemer was the only loss of the year for Autauga. They rattled off nine straight wins to finish the year with a 9-1 record and defeated both Tuscaloosa and Glenwood in the post season.

The hope for Troy University this year is that the experience by the teams and their fans is a positive one.

“I hope the opportunity to play on a college campus and in a college stadium is a great experience and one that the fans and student athletes enjoy,” McClain said.