Story By Mark Everett Kelly mark@southerntorch.com

It's playoff time in DeKalb County as six teams prepare for their first-round matchups on Nov. 8.

In Class 3A, Region 8, which features Fyffe, Sylvania, Geraldine, and Collinsville, takes on Region 6, mainly consisting of Calhoun County schools.

Here are the matchups.

Class 3A Region 6 vs Region 8

Nov. 8

#4 Ohatchee (6-4, 4-4) at #1 Fyffe (7-2, 7-0)

Coaches:

Fyffe: Paul Benefield (28th season at Fyffe, 313-47, 63-19 in postseason, 7 State Championships).

Ohatchee: Chris Findley (4th season, 14-17, 1-2 in postseason)

The Indians last reached the postseason in 2022, losing 50-6 at Gordo.

Head Coach Paul Benefield leads the Red Devils, who have won state championships in five of their previous six seasons. Fyffe has won 27 of its last 28 playoff matchups, losing only to Saks in the 2021 season.

This is the fourth time that Ohatchee and Fyffe will meet in the postseason, with Fyffe having won all three previous meetings.

Nov. 20, 2020, at Ohatchee - Fyffe 26 Ohatchee 7

Nov. 23, 2018, at Fyffe - Fyffe 21 Ohatchee 13

Nov. 16, 2001, at Fyfee - Fyffe 25 Ohatchee 8

#3 Weaver (4-6, 4-4) at #2 Sylvania (8-2, 5-2)

Coaches:

Weaver - Ken Cofer (2nd season, 8-12)

Sylvania - Tanner Nelson (1st season, 8-2)

The Bearcats meet the Rams for the third time in the postseason, their last meeting coming in 1995.

Nov. 17, 1995, at Weaver - Sylvania 28 Weaver 7

Nov. 11, 1994, at Sylvania - Sylvania 25 Weaver 12

The Rams are making their sixth straight postseason appearance, with their best finish coming in 2022 when they lost in the semifinals at Piedmont.

Weaver returns to the postseason for the first time since 2018, when they lost 42-27 at Westminster Christian.

#3 Geraldine (8-2, 5-2) at #2 Locust Fork (8-2, 6-2)

Coaches: 

Geraldine -  Michael Davis (4th season, 36-12, 5-3 in postseason).

Locust Fork - Billy Adams (4th season, 30-14, 2-2 in postseason).

The Bulldogs reached the postseason for the 18th consecutive season, last failing to make the playoffs following the 2006 season. 

Geraldine advanced to the Class 3A semifinals in 2023 before losing to Madison Academy at home, 48-43.

Locust Fork is back in the Class 3A postseason for the first time since 2019. From 2020-23, the Hornets played in Class 2A, reaching the postseason in 2022 and 2023. Last season, the Hornets broke their seven-game playoff losing streak with a 54-7 win against North Sand Mountain. They defeated Sulligent in the second round before losing at Fyffe in the third round. 

This is the seventh all-time meeting between these two schools and the first since October 31, 1997. Geraldine won five of the previous six contests.

#4 Collinsville (7-3,4-3) at #1 Piedmont (10-0, 8-0)

Coaches:

Collinsville: Ernie Willingham (17th season in third tenure at Collinsville, 106-70, 7-11 in postseason).

Piedmont- Jonathan Miller (2nd season, 15-7, 1-1 in postseason)

The Bulldogs reached the postseason for the 19th straight season, winning five State Championships (2009, 2015. 2016, 2019, 2021).

Piedmont lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and the Class 3A Championship in 2022.

The Panthers reached the postseason for the third straight year, losing in the first round in 2022 and 2023. Collinsville last won a postseason game in 2019 when they advanced to the Class 2A State Semifinals before losing at Fyffe, 21-0.

This is the fourth all-time meeting between Piedmont and Collinsville and the first since 1952. 

Class 6A 

Region 5 (Pell City) vs Region 8 (Fort Payne)

#4 Pell City (5-5, 3-3) at #1 Fort Payne (8-2, 6-0)

Coaches:

Pell City - Nick Gentry (1st season, 5-5)

Fort Payne - Chris Elmore (7th season, 52-26, 2-6 in postseason)

Pell City reached the postseason for the first time since 2017. They last won a playoff game in 2012 when they advanced to the second round.

The Wildcats are making their eighth straight postseason appearance, having lost in the second round in 2019 and last season.

This is the first playoff meeting between Pell City and the Fort Payne Wildcats.

This is the 10th all-time meeting between these two teams, with the last coming in 2021. 

Class 1A

Region 6 vs Region 8

Valley Head (6-4, 3-3) at Wadley (8-0, 5-0)

Coaches:

Valley Head - Charles Hammon (8th season, second tenure at Valley Head 47-40, 2-5 in postseason)

Wadley - Shenan Motley (6th season, 46-22, 6-5 in postseason).

The Bulldogs completed their first undefeated regular season since 2017 (9-0) when they lost in the Class 1A State Semifinals. 

This is Wadley’s 12th straight playoff appearance.

Their best finish during this streak is losing in their only appearance in the Class 1A Championship in 2021.

Valley Head has reached the postseason for the sixth straight season, reaching the second round the last two seasons.

This is the second all-time playoff meeting between Wadley and Valley Head.

Wadley defeated Valley Head 50-0 in the first round of the 2015 playoffs.