MADISON- For the Madison Academy Mustangs football team, “one is not the loneliest number,” to use lyrics from a song from over 50 years ago. The Class 3A team remained the lone local program advancing to the second round of the AHSAA playoffs after delivering a blowout 57-20 win over the visiting Hokes Bluff Eagles in a first-round game.

Both Bob Jones and James Clemens, the only other local teams to make the post-season action, lost in their first round efforts.

For James Clemens, the Jets saw the visiting Hoover Buccaneers score 35 unanswered points to erase a nine-point deficit and take a 42-16 victory at Madison City Schools Stadium. The surprising loss ends the 2023 James Clemens season with a 7-4 record. Meanwhile, Bob Jones was on the road to visit Hewitt-Trussville in its first round contest and were no match to the host Huskies who pounded the Patriots 56-14. The Huskies (8-3) advance to round two of action against Hoover (5-6). Bob Jones packs its equipment for the off-season completing its 2023 campaign at 5-6.

The Region 7 champs and No. 2 ranked Mustangs will now host a team they have never met. The 10-1 Mars Hill Panthers of Florence will bring its high powered offense to Bill Washington Stadium after they delivered a huge 63-7 pounding over Oakman in their first round matchup.

The fourth-ranked Panthers will bring a team into round-two action very similar to the Mustangs. Mars Hill is averaging 50 points a game while allowing just 14 per outing with its only loss coming to Lauderdale County 20-14. Mars Hill scored a 76-0 win over Elkmont and topped the 60 points level in two other games on its schedule.

For Madison Academy, the squad opened a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, a 37-7 lead at halftime on its way to defeating Hokes Bluff and now must face a team that can possibly stand toe-to-toe with the undefeated Mustangs. The similarity of the two in stats is something to consider as Madison Academy is posting 53 points a game on the scoreboard while allowing just nine points to opponents per outing.

The long awaited matchup between the two powerhouses is Friday with kickoff at 7:00 p.m.