In the 4A semifinals and the Gulf Coast Media Game of the Week, St. Michael and Jackson meet once again with a trip to the state title game hanging in the balance, adding even more weight to a rivalry already defined by high stakes and playoff heartbreak.

There is something about this game, especially this season. The Cardinals had their best season in program history in 2024 only to be beaten twice by Jackson and finish one game shy of the school’s first state championship appearance in football. This season, St. Michael topped that year, beating Jackson by 10 in Week 6. Now, they face the Aggies in the semifinals for another page in this rivalry book.

The Aggies hold a 5-2 advantage in the series as the two programs have faced off every season for the past six years, this one coming in the playoffs for a second time. Last season, Jackson won the semifinal game 49-28 at home before eventually winning the Class 4A title. This season, the 13-0 Cardinals will likely be the favorites against the 11-2 Aggies — the only other game Jackson lost was a close one to Saraland in Week 1.

A win for the Aggies would mark the fourth appearance in the state title game in program history and their fifth semifinal win. For the Cardinals, a victory in the semis would be the first in the program’s short history.

Leading the offense for St. Michael, per usual, will be the backfield tandem of quarterback Gunner Rivers and running back Noah Moss. Rivers is 30 yards shy of a third consecutive 3,000-yard season and four scores away from 50 passing touchdowns. Moss has been the best player on the field during St. Michael’s playoff run, eclipsing 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns on the year in the third-round win over Bullock County.

The St. Michael defense is a diverse unit with gamebreakers everywhere, but seniors Nick Russo and Kamarjay Lavoie have recently led the bunch. Lavoie started the scoring in Round 3 with a pick-six to give him five interceptions on the season, while Russo leads the team with 78 tackles as the quarterback of the defense.

Much like the Cardinals, Jackson will showcase a handful of Division-I talent. The Aggies’ backfield duo consists of South Carolina commit Landon Duckworth and Alabama commit Ezavier Crowell. Duckworth has totaled more than 2,300 yards and 28 touchdowns as the signal-caller, while Crowell has rushed for 2,094 yards and 28 scores of his own.

Trying to counter the Cardinals’ passing attack will be the secondary duo for Jackson of Jamarrion Gordon and Keegan Chapman, both committed to North Carolina. Ahead of them will be the linebacking pair of Laquon Whisenhunt, who has 140 tackles this year, and Jayden Tate, who leads Jackson in sacks (9) and tackles for loss (19).

The highly anticipated semifinal matchup will kick off Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium in Fairhope.