By Staff
from staff reports
Twelve teams have emerged from the original playoff field of 192 to advance to the first-ever Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 6 state football championships. The games are set to be played at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium Dec. 3-4.
The two-day championship event kicks off  Thursday with three finals scheduled, followed by three more on Friday.
Thursday’s schedule has Cordova (13-1) playing Piedmont (12-2) in the Class 3A championship game at 11a.m., followed by the Class 1A finals between Brantley (13-1) and unbeaten Hackleburg (14-0) at 3 p.m.
Friday’s schedule features Jackson (13-1) vs. Cherokee County (14-0) at 11 a.m. in the Class 4A championship followed by Clay County (13-1) and Reeltown (13-1) in the 2A finals at 3. ?           
The Class 6A championship bout, a rematch of last year’s finals, will close out the Super 6 championships at 7 p.m. with Hoover (13-1) taking on Prattville (12-2).
The Lions, the only defending champion in the field, will be going for its fourth straight Class 6A state title. Coach Jamey DuBose’s team beat the Bucs 16-13 in the finals played in Birmingham last year.
Prattville beat Hoover 35-21 in the 2006 finals and lost to the Bucs 22-7 in the 2004 championship game. The Lions also won the 2007 6A title with a 14-0 win over Spain Park.
Cordova (3A), Cherokee County (4A) and Russellville (5A) each played in the finals in 2008. Hackleburg (1A), Piedmont (3A) and Jackson (4A) are making their school’s first appearance in the Super 6.
This year’s playoffs mark the 26th year since the six-classification format was introduced in 1984. A four-class format was used during the first 20 years of the playoff that began in 1966.
Prior to this week’s event, the Super 6 has been played at Birmingham’s Legion Field every year since 1996 except for four games in 2004.
That year, Hurricane Katrina forced moving the season back one week, which required four finals to be played at the Hoover Met (now Regions Park).
The 2009 games will be telecast live by CBS 42 over a statewide network and broadcast live statewide via the AHSAA Radio Network.
Complete pairings include:
Cordova (13-1, vs. Piedmont (12-2), 11 a.m.
CLASS 1A
Brantley (13-1) vs. Hackleburg (14-0), 3 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Russellville (12-2) vs. Demopolis (11-3), 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, DEC. 4
Jackson (13-1)  vs. Cherokee County (14-0), 11 a.m.
CLASS 2A
Reeltown (13-1) vs. Clay County (13-1), 3 p.m.
CLASS 6A
Prattville (12-2)  vs. Hoover (13-1), 7 p.m.