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Royal-ty

Former Alexandria standout Royal puts up MVP performance as Gulf Shores knocks off defending 5A state champion Ramsay to bring home first state title

Former Alexandria standout Ronnie Royal makes a one-handed interception to help Gulf Shores beat Ramsay in Thursday’s Class 5A state title game at Tuscaloosa. (Photo by Will Carter/Pure Game/AHSAA photos)

Super 7

At Bryant-Denny Stadium,
Tuscaloosa, Dec. 6-7-8
WEDNESDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
CLASS 7A FINALS
Central-Phenix City (13-0) 21, Thompson (11-2) 19
GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS 1A/5A FINALS
Wenonah (17-0) 18, Montgomery Catholic (17-4) 12 (OT)
CLASS 6A/7A FINALS
Central-Phenix City (18-0) 25, Vestavia Hills (17-1) 0

THURSDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
CLASS 3A FINALS
Mobile Christian (15-0) 55, Madison Academy (14-1) 28
CLASS 1A FINALS
Leroy (14-0) 28, Coosa Christian (9-6) 21
CLASS 5A FINALS
Gulf Shores (15-0) 21, Ramsay (12-3) 14

FRIDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
CLASS 4A FINALS
Montgomery Catholic (15-0) 35, Cherokee County (13-2) 0
CLASS 2A FINALS
Fyffe (14-1) 43, Reeltown (13-1) 24
CLASS 6A FINALS
Clay-Chalkville (14-0) 31, Saraland (14-1) 28

By Josh Bean
For the AHSAA

TUSCALOOSA – In the highest-stakes game in program history, Gulf Shores High School used its Royal flush to take home its first state football championship.

Senior Ronnie Royal ran 22 times for 188 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 2 and 55 yards, caught three passes for 39 yards and delivered a highlight-reel, 1-handed interception to lead the Dolphins to a 21-14 victory over defending champ Ramsay in Thursday night’s Class 5A championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“I’ve been preparing for this my whole life, since I started playing varsity football in the seventh grade,” said Royal, a North Carolina State commit who transferred from Alexandria as a freshman. “All I wanted was to work and look forward to winning a championship.”

Gulf Shores (15-0), coached by Mark Hudspeth, won the first football state championship in school history, capping Day 2 of the 2023 Super 7 Championships. 

“What a night – a dream come true,” Hudspeth said.

Leroy (Class 1A) and Mobile Christian (Class 3A) also won state titles earlier Thursday, after Central-Phenix City took home the 7A championship on Wednesday. The 2023 Super 7 concludes Friday with championship games in Classes 4A, 2A and 6A are scheduled for Friday. In Class 4A, Cherokee County plays Catholic-Montgomery at 11 a.m.

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