After a dominant opening night of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) state playoffs, both Pike Road varsity soccer teams are moving on.
The Pike Road Varsity Girls routed Wetumpka 9-0 to advance to the second round and improve to 12-1-1 overall. The Pike Road Varsity Boys followed with a 7-0 win over Wetumpka, earning their second-round berth and moving to 11-2-1.
For the girls, the performance was a continuation of a season defined by consistency and hard work.
“The varsity girls are coming off back-to-back area championships and strong seasons,” said head coach Taylor Jones. “The girls have put in a lot of work to get to this point, and we hope to have another deep run in the playoffs.”
That preparation was evident as Pike Road controlled possession, created scoring opportunities early, and never allowed Wetumpka to gain any momentum. While the first round brought a dominant result, Jones knows the road ahead will be much more challenging.
“We’ve got some tough opponents ahead of us,” Jones said. “But we think we’re up to the challenge.”
Jones also pointed to the importance of the home-field advantage in helping his team get off to such a strong start.
“Hosting the first round is an important step,” he said. “Hopefully a strong Pike Road crowd can give us the boost we need to move on to the round of 16.”
On the boys side, head coach Jamaal Jenkins saw his team’s performance as a reflection of both experience and chemistry—particularly among a senior class that has grown together over the years.
“Excited for the team and especially all my seniors for the season they have had,” Jenkins said. “They have achieved a level of soccer this year that they should be extremely proud of.”
That connection showed on the field, as Pike Road’s attack was fluid and its defense remained organized throughout the shutout victory.
“These 10 seniors have been playing together for so long,” Jenkins added. “Watching them on the pitch together is so enjoyable to me as their coach.”
With the first round complete, Jenkins emphasized that the postseason now becomes a new challenge altogether.
“Got to go 5-0 to win state—new season,” he said. “I feel like the boys are ready to make whatever run they make. Hopefully we can continue to play good soccer and make a run.”
Next up, both teams will travel to take on Spanish Fort High School in the second round on Tuesday, April 28.
- 5:00 p.m.: Pike Road girls (12-1-1) at Spanish Fort girls (14-3-2)
- 7:00 p.m.: Pike Road boys (11-2-1) at Spanish Fort boys (9-4-3)
The winners will advance to the third round of the AHSAA 6A soccer playoffs.
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