St. Paul's Edges Montgomery Catholic 6-3 in Playoffs
Montgomery Catholic's 2026 football season ends with a first-round AHSAA Double A playoff loss, its fourth straight defeat.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
St. Paul's Episcopal defeated Montgomery Catholic 6-3 on Friday, November 6, at Montgomery Catholic High School in the first round of the AHSAA Double A playoffs. The loss was Montgomery Catholic's fourth consecutive since October 8.
Why it matters
The defeat closed out a difficult first season under a new coach and a new AHSAA playoff structure, with the Knights managing only three points against St. Paul's. Coach Aubrey Blackwell pointed to the season as a foundation of toughness for the program's future.
Montgomery Catholic had three turnovers, failed on seven goal-line plays, and kicker JP Costa missed two field goals. The offense produced just three points in the playoff loss.
The players
Montgomery Catholic High School
A private Catholic high school in Montgomery, Alabama, whose football program competes in the AHSAA Double A classification.
St. Paul's Episcopal School
A private Episcopal school in Mobile, Alabama, whose football team competes in the AHSAA playoffs.
Aubrey Blackwell
The head football coach at Montgomery Catholic High School, who led the team through its first season under a new AHSAA playoff structure.
The details
Montgomery Catholic relied heavily on sophomore running back KJ Johnson in the first half and found a short-passing rhythm in the second half, but stalled near the red zone on incomplete deep shots. Quarterback Will Blackwell turned the ball over twice in the second half, and punt returner Elijah Nunnelly had a return for a score called back on a penalty.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: Montgomery Catholic's four-game losing streak begins.
November 6, 2026: St. Paul's Episcopal defeats Montgomery Catholic 6-3 in the AHSAA Double A playoffs.
2027 season: Montgomery Catholic football team expected to take the field again.
Season Trajectory
The first-round exit under the AHSAA's new 2026 Double A playoff structure ends a season that began with the team adjusting to a new coach and format. For Montgomery Catholic, the four-game skid since October 8 defines a rebuilding year rather than a playoff run.
The loss ends Montgomery Catholic's season with no further playoff games, so fans will not see the Knights in the postseason again until the 2027 playoffs. Fantasy and roster implications are limited to next season's returning players, including sophomore KJ Johnson and quarterback Will Blackwell.
The takeaway
Coach Aubrey Blackwell's challenge to freshmen to carry the program into 2027 signals that next season's roster will be shaped by young players stepping into larger roles.
What happens next
Montgomery Catholic's 2027 football season is expected to begin, with the team challenging its freshmen to step up.
Further reading
For more on the local high school football scene, see Football coverage in Montgomery.
