J.B. Pennington Tigers (4-0, 2-0) @ Hanceville Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1)
3A, Region 6
Ray Talley Stadium – Hanceville, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Hanceville leads 32-19-2
LAST TIME: Hanceville defeated J.B. Pennington 39-13 in 2009
LAST WEEK: Hanceville defeated Vinemont 28-22, J.B. Pennington defeated Locust Fork 28-26.
Hanceville welcomes a J.B. Pennington squad that is off to its best start since 1994. The Tigers have not enjoyed a winning season since 2007, and have won as many games as they did four years ago. The Tigers have rolled over Marshall County schools Brindlee Mountain 40-0 and Boaz 41-7. In two games in 3A, Region 6, the Tigers have pulled out close encounters with Holly Pond and Locust Fork.
Hanceville gave new coach Craig Flanigan his first taste of victory at Talley Stadium with a comeback effort over Vinemont. Running back B.J. Smalls ran for 208 yards, scored three touchdowns, getting the game winner on a 32-yard run with 4:26 to play in the contest.
This is the second of three straight games for the Bulldogs at home. Pennington returns to Cullman County for the second time in the past three weeks. The Tigers visited Holly Pond two weeks ago and will be at Vinemont on the first Friday in October.
A Hanceville win throws the regional standings into a log jam with Fultondale coming into this week undefeated in regional play and at home with Vinemont.
Cullman Bearcats (1-3, 0-2) @ Fort Payne Wildcats (0-3, 0-1)
6A, Region 7
Wildcats Stadium – Fort Payne, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Tied 2-2
LAST TIME: Fort Payne won 44-21 in 2011
LAST WEEK: Cullman lost to Oxford 52-28, Fort Payne had the week off
Locked in the bottom of the regional standings with Brewer (0-2) and Fort Payne (0-1), the Bearcats are needing to regroup and looking to avoid an 0-3 start in regional games for the first time in the Mark Britton era.
Take away the second quarter in which the Bearcats were outscored by Oxford 10-0 and a 14-0 disadvantage in the final period, and Cullman played the No. 6 ranked Yellow Jackets as evenly as possible.
Fort Payne has lost to Chattooga, Georgia 28-18, Scottsboro 38-3 and Southside-Gadsden 34-31 heading into this week.
Cullman is playing its next two assignments on the road, out to end a four-game losing skid away from Oliver Woodard Stadium.
Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils (3-1, 2-0) vs. Fairview Aggies (1-2, 0-1)
5A, Region 6
West Point Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Mortimer Jordan leads 5-3
LAST TIME: Fairview defeated Mortimer Jordan 21-10 in 1993
LAST WEEK: Fairview was idle, Mortimer Jordan defeated Corner 48-27
Back on the field following a bye week, the Aggies see the 2015 Class 5A runner-up coming to Cullman County with momentum. Mortimer Jordan took a 21-14 defeat on opening night to Cordova and rebounded in solid efforts vs. Pelham, Springville and last week in a shootout with Corner.
The Aggies continue to play home away from home. The latest information from Fairview is that Dafford Smith Stadium could be ready to go for the Aggies to have two games on campus in October.
So for the time being, George Redding's squad will play at West Point Stadium. The Aggies will use the facility for a home game Sept. 23 against Priceville and then come back to play West Point on the 30th in a 5A, Region 6 assignment.
Falkville Blue Devils (1-3, 0-2) @ Cold Springs Eagles (1-2, 1-0)
2A, Region 7
Cranford Stricklin Stadium – Cold Springs, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Falkville leads 24-4
LAST TIME: Falkville defeated Cold Springs 40-37 in 2015
LAST WEEK: Cold Springs was idle, Falkville lost to Tarrant 49-22
These rivals have been playing one another on a regular basis since 2004, with the exception of no games in 2012 & 2013. Having a week off to prepare for the Blue Devils can benefit Cold Springs, who is in a first-place tie in the region with Tanner and Cleveland.
Falkville would love to come to Cold Springs and take away the Eagles' momentum. The Blue Devils opened with a 20-19 win over Decatur Heritage and have struggled since.
Cold Springs got into the win column on Labor Day weekend by a 21-14 comeback triumph over Tarrant. The last time Falkville paid a visit was two seasons ago with the Eagles romping to a 47-12 win, breaking a seven-game losing streak to the Blue Devils.
This is the second of three consecutive games for Rod Elliott's Eagles in the friendly confines of Stricklin Stadium.
West Point Warriors (1-3, 1-1) @ Corner Yellow Jackets (3-1, 1-1)
5A, Region 6
Corner Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: West Point leads 7-1
LAST TIME: West Point defeated Corner 41-17 in 2009
LAST WEEK: West Point defeated Springville 42-10, Corner lost to Mortimer Jordan 48-27
Now having a win under their belt, the Warriors have a chance to run their regional record to 2-1 and hang near the top of the leaderboard, depending on what happens between Mortimer Jordan (2-0) and Fairview (0-1). Hayden is 2-0 in the region, but the Wildcats are the odd team out for week five.
West Point ran over Springville last week with Cameron Moore and Alex Hernandez gaining 270 yards between them and scoring six touchdowns combined. Corner is a ball club that puts points on the scoreboard. In the last three games, the Yellow Jackets have averaged at least four touchdowns or better. Two weeks ago, Corner toppled Fairview 36-6 and wants to do the same against another school from Cullman County coming into its territory.
Vinemont Eagles (1-2, 0-2) @ Fultondale Wildcats (2-1, 1-0)
3A, Region 6
Wildcats Stadium – Fultondale, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: First meeting
LAST WEEK: Vinemont lost to Hanceville 28-22, Fultondale lost to St. James 24-18
Two close losses in the region is the storyline for the Eagles going into this game with the Wildcats. This is Fultondale's fourth straight home game and the second of three straight away from Mark Smothers Stadium for Vinemont.
The two defeats in the region have been decided in the closing moments of the fourth quarter. Vinemont had the ball at the Hanceville 22 and was sacked on the final play of the game last week, keeping the Eagles from a huge victory.
Fultondale lost to St. James from Montgomery last Friday. The Wildcats ran past Hanceville 59-8 two weeks ago. Many consider Fultondale to be the toughest team out of the region with other teams to contest that as the season moves along.
Garrett Boland threw for 181 yards and a touchdown against Hanceville and ran for 73 yards, scoring on runs of 7 and 37 yards. His leadership will be vital for the Eagles to go into Jefferson County and return home with a victory.
Good Hope Raiders (0-3, 0-2) @ Cordova Blue Devils (3-1, 1-1)
4A, Region 6
Hudson/Kirby Stadium – Cordova, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Tied 3-3
LAST TIME: Cordova defeated Good Hope 46-14 in 2015
LAST WEEK: Good Hope lost to Hamilton 35-24, Cordova lost to Haleyville 35-14
Cordova was No. 1 in the 4A state rankings last week. That changed when the Blue Devils fell to a solid Haleyville team on the road.
Now the Raiders have to deal with the Devils who will want to take out their frustration after losing for the first time.
Good Hope played Hamilton hard, trailing 14-10 at the half. But the Raiders gave up three touchdowns in the second half and dropped to 0-2 in the region.
The Raiders have been without RB Matt Dixon for two consecutive games after the sophomore injured his knee on the final play of the first half in the opener with Vinemont Aug. 25.
A young ball club, the Raiders will be tested by a Cordova squad that was a win away from playing for the 4A state championship last season.
Holly Pond Broncos (3-1, 1-1) are idle
Next game: Vs. Asbury Sept. 23 @ 7 p.m. (Homecoming)
Lynn Bears (4-0, 2-0) @ Addison Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0)
1A, Region 7
A.G. Hicks Stadium – Addison, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Addison leads 49-17-3
LAST TIME: Addison won 28-0 in 2011
LAST WEEK: Addison defeated Sumiton Christian 24-21, Lynn defeated R.A. Hubbard 51-6
This is the best start for Lynn since 2010 when they began the season 8-0. They ended the regular schedule that year with a 16-15 victory over Addison. That is the last time the Bears have been to stun the Bulldogs.
Addison passed a solid test last week in Walker County, coming from behind to defeat Sumiton Christian in a huge contest in Region 7. At the same time, the Bears slammed R.A. Hubbard all over the field to make this one of the top games in the area heading into the fifth week of the season.
The Bulldogs entered the week No. 8 in the 1A prep poll. Addison has won its last five assignments at Hicks Stadium.
Gaylesville Trojans (1-2) @ Meek Tigers (1-3)
Meek Stadium – Arley, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: First meeting
LAST WEEK: Meek lost to Decatur Heritage 28-22, Gaylesville lost to Cedar Bluff 41-6
Someone will be able to snap a losing streak in this non-regional game in Arley. Meek has lost three straight after opening the season with a 44-14 rout of Phillips in Bear Creek. Gaylesville downed Section 26-6 in its opener and has lost to Spring Garden and Cedar Bluff in regional play, getting outscored by a total of 81 points to six.
Meek has back-to-back losses by the margin of a touchdown to Lynn (13-7) and Decatur Heritage (28-22). The Tigers fought back from a 21-0 halftime deficit against Decatur Heritage before time ran out on them.
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