Clay-Chalkville gets extra incentive with new stadium for Friday’s football home opener

High School SportsClay-Chalkville celebrates the opening of its new high school football stadium with a game against Oxford, Friday, in Pinson, Ala. Photos captured Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha HuntClay-Chalkville played its first four football games this season on the road, trips to Fairburn (Ga.), Alabaster, Springville and Rainbow City.Friday’s home opener matches Class 5A No. 1 Clay-Chalkville against No. 5 Oxford, but there’s even more incentive for the Cougars.They’ll unveil a new stadium.“Over 6,000 seats and the only school in (Jefferson) county with the new Jumbotron,” said Clay-Chalkville principal Dr. Eugene Dallas. “You know, coming off a state title, it’s just a lot of excitement going on around here.”161/16Clay-Chalkville opens its new football stadium Friday against Oxford.Clay-Chalkville football coach Stuart Floyd was succinct in his assessment.“New stadium. New memories. Same standard,” Floyd said. “We’re honored to be the first team to call it home and excited to write the first chapter.”The new stadium sits near old Cougar Stadium, but it’s a different level and activities are planned to celebrate the addition.A pregame ceremony includes the entire Jefferson County Board of Education, the City of Clay city council and others for a ribbon-cutting before the game.Birmingham’s London Koi will perform the National Anthem and there’s also a military helicopter flyover scheduled.“I’m super excited,” Dallas said. “This is one of those things as a principal that’s once in a lifetime. You win all these state titles and then you get a facilities upgrade and I don’t care what anybody says, I got the best facilities in the state.”The field house won’t be completed until early next year, but all else is complete.The stadium is part of a project that includes a new school, which should be ready to open for the 2028 school year.AL.com high school sports writer and photographer