Win or lose Alabama title game, why this is a great week for Central coach Patrick Nix

There have been 114 teams playing in the state football championship game for the largest school classification’s title during the 57-year history of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

It’s impossible to know for sure, but probably none of those head coaches has experienced as thrilling a convergence of events that threaten his preparation time with his team like Patrick Nix.

When the Central-Phenix City Red Devils (12-0) play the four-time defending Class 7A champion Thompson Warriors (11-1) on Wednesday, starting at 8 p.m. EST, in Tuscaloosa’s Bryant Denny Stadium, Nix not only will be the proud head coach of a program one win away from its third state title in 96 seasons, but he also will be the proud papa of a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Monday night, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was among the four players announced as final candidates for college football’s most prestigious award.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. also were invited to the Dec. 9 Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City, starting at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN.

No wonder the Ledger-Enquirer didn’t reach Coach Nix for comment before publication.

As if that’s not enough excitement swirling around him, Central’s flag football team (17-0) also will play for a state title Wednesday in Bryant Denny Stadium, against Vestavia Hills (17-0), starting at 4 p.m. EST, in Class 6A/7A.

All AHSAA football and flag football championship games will be televised on Alabama Public Television and streamed live and on-demand at NFHSnetwork.com.

Tickets to watch that games in person are available at gofan.co/app/school/ahsaa.

Central-Phenix City football history

Central is the last team to beat Thompson in the state playoffs. Led by then-head coach Jamey DuBose, that 52-7 victory in 2018 at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium gave the Red Devils the Class 7A championship and a 14-0 record.

The first state title for Central’s program came in 1993, when then-head coach Wayne Trawick led the Red Devils to a 12-7 victory over West End at Legion Field in Birmingham for the Class 6A championship and a 14-1 record.

Central was on the verge of another state title in 2019, but Thompson gained revenged in the rematch with a 40-14 victory in the Class 7A championship game at Auburn.

One month later, DuBose resigned to take what was then an undisclosed head coaching job in another state. That place later was revealed to be Lowndes County, Georgia, where he coached for two seasons before returning to Alabama. He coached Orange Beach for two seasons before retiring.

Patrick Nix’s career

Nix, a former Auburn University quarterback (1992-95) he graduated as the program’s career passing efficiency leader, succeeded DuBose at Central in 2020. The Red Devils went 8-5 and lost 35-17 to Auburn in the state semifinals.

In 2021, Central went 13-1, losing the state title game 38-22 to Thompson in Birmingham.

Last year, Central went 10-3, losing 14-13 at home to Auburn in the state semifinals.

Nix previously was head coach at Pinson Valley and Scottsboro. He also was a college head coach at Henderson State and an assistant coach for college programs at Jacksonville State, Samford, Georgia Tech, Miami and Charleston Southern.

Bo Nix’s career

Under his father’s tutelage, Bo set Alabama state records at Pinson Valley with more than 12,000 yards of total offense and 161 touchdowns (127 passing, 24 rushing) in his career.

Bo followed in Patrick’s footsteps by signing with Auburn in 2019. He became the first true freshman quarterback to start a season open for Auburn since 1946 – a 27-21 victory over (start foreshadowing music here) Oregon on his 26-yard TD pass with 9 seconds left.

He was selected as SEC Freshman of the Year after completing 217 of 377 passes for 2,542 yards and 16 touchdowns with the 9-4 Tigers, including a win over arch-rival Alabama.

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But after mixed results followed with Auburn the next two seasons — and “feeling miserable,” according to CBS Sports — Nix transferred to Oregon and blossomed into one of college football’s best quarterbacks in 2022, totaling 315.6 total yards per game (12^th in the nation).

This season, Bo has elevated his production to an even more elite level. While guiding the Ducks to an 11-2 record, he has completed 77.2% of his passes, just shy of the NCAA single-season record of 77.4 Mac Jones set with Alabama in 2020.

Bo also leads the nation in completions (336) and is tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead with 40 touchdown passes. He ranks second nationally in passing yards per game (318.8), passer rating (186.24) and total touchdowns (46).