Cold Springs Eagles (5-4) @ Danville Hawks (4-5)
Smith/Owens Stadium – Danville
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Cold Springs leads 8-5
LAST TIME: Danville defeated Cold Springs 21-20 in 2015.
LAST WEEK: Cold Springs lost to Cleveland 28-0; Danville defeated Priceville 51-7.
Playoff bound, Cold Springs wants to get plenty of things corrected before the Eagles head to Sheffield for the first round of the 2A postseason.
The Eagles were shut out for the first time in 19 games when they failed to score against Cleveland and went from second in Region 7 to third and a playoff game on the road.
Now the Eagles meet a Danville team that was 1-5 in 4A, Region 8, with its only win in the region last Friday over Priceville.
The Hawks and Eagles have had a good series. Danville's 21-20 win at Cold Springs last year ended a five-game losing streak to the Eagles. A win by Cold Springs and the Eagles will have four consecutive seasons of six wins or better for the first time ever.
Rod Elliott's Eagles have gone 25-14 in regular season since 2013, the best in county football.
Fairview Aggies (4-5) @ Holly Pond Broncos (6-3)
Thomas/Michelfelder Field – Holly Pond
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Fairview leads 34-19-2
LAST TIME: Fairview defeated Holly Pond 40-0 in 2015.
LAST WEEK: Fairview defeated Springville 21-17; Holly Pond defeated Vinemont 27-22.
After playing on campus for the first time in three years and pulling out a 21-17 victory over Springville, Fairview looks to end the season and take away the momentum that Holly Pond has achieved this season for their best record since 2007 and a playoff berth for the first time under coach Mike Bates.
George Redding of Fairview has never lost to Holly Pond in nine matchups. The last time the Broncos defeated the Aggies was in 2006 by the score of 37-26.
The Broncos are out to finish 3-0 against Cullman County schools, a major accomplishment as Holly Pond has gone from the bottom of the county to the top when it started on Halloween weekend in 2015 in a 49-40 upset at Cold Springs to end 29 consecutive losses.
Hanceville Bulldogs (2-7) @ Good Hope Raiders (0-9)
James Shabel Stadium – Good Hope
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Hanceville leads 25-15
LAST TIME: Good Hope defeated Hanceville 41-21 in 2015.
LAST WEEK: Hanceville was idle; Good Hope lost to Dora 28-7.
It's a pride game for both to close out 2016 and take positive thoughts into the offseason.
Hanceville was doing well after a 28-22 victory over Vinemont on Sept. 9 that had the Bulldogs 2-2. But Craig Flanigan's first season at his alma mater hit a snag with five straight losses and momentum went out the window.
Good Hope fields the youngest team and is also having number issues. According to reports, the Raiders dressed 19 last week in their final 4A, Region 6 game against Dora. Dora wore the Raiders down with three TDs in the second half after Good Hope had tied the score at 7-7 early in the third quarter.
The Raiders have experienced one season of finishing 0-10. They are out to avoid that this time, ending the second year of Alan Scott being back at his alma mater.
The road team has won three of the last four. Two years ago, Hanceville squeezed out a 22-21 triumph when Kaine Yates blocked a potential game-winning field as time expired.
Chelsea Hornets (7-2) @ Cullman Bearcats (6-3)
Oliver Woodard Stadium – Cullman
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Cullman leads 2-0
LAST TIME: Cullman defeated Chelsea 14-7 in 2010 Class 5A playoffs.
LAST WEEK: Cullman defeated Brewer 34-14; Chelsea defeated Helena 51-23.
Cullman has enjoyed the last five weeks on the gridiron, overturning a sluggish 1-3 start. They finished 4-2 in 6A, Region 7, getting two huge wins down the stretch over Pell City (25-24) and Southside-Gadsden (56-35) that kept them in contention throughout the regional schedule.
The visitor comes to Oliver Woodard Stadium for the first time. Both games between the two have been in the 5A playoffs and were at Chelsea. The Hornets finished second in 6A, Region 3 to Opelika and come into the Cullman game with a two-game winning streak and victory in four of its last five assignments.
As for Cullman’s winning streak, the Bearcats are averaging 37 points a game and have scored 34 or better in four of the five victories.
West Point Warriors (5-4) @ Lawrence County Red Devils (5-4)
Red Devil Stadium – Moulton
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Lawrence County leads 18-16
LAST TIME: Lawrence County defeated West Point 28-27 in 2015.
LAST WEEK: West Point defeated Curry 47-12; Lawrence County lost to Mae Jemison 34-21.
West Point continues a very good rivalry by taking a 30-minute trip up Alabama Highway 157 to the town of Moulton for the 35th meeting between the two.
The Warriors finished up 4-2 in 5A, Region 6 by routing Curry at home and now will look to put together a solid effort a week before the postseason begins.
The Warriors and Red Devils have played two tight games the last two years. Last year, Lawrence County came from 27-14 behind in the fourth quarter to steal a win from the Warriors 28-27.
In 2014, the Warriors forced the Devils to miss a close-range field goal at the end of regulation, then scored a TD and stopped Lawrence County for a 21-14 victory that clinched a playoff berth.
An 0-3 start for Don Farley's squad has changed with five victories in their last six games and a third consecutive playoff berth out of Class 5A.
Falkville Blue Devils (2-7) @ Vinemont Eagles (2-7)
Mark Smothers Stadium – Vinemont
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Vinemont leads 23-16
LAST TIME: Vinemont defeated Falkville 35-6 in 2009.
LAST WEEK: Vinemont lost to Holly Pond 27-22; Falkville lost to Tanner 42-16.
Two rivals, separated by 10 miles and the Cullman/Morgan county line, get back together for the first time in seven seasons.
Both can use the rivalry as motivation with Vinemont having the best of this rivalry by posting an 8-1 record against the Blue Devils between 2001 to 2009.
The Eagles have a 2-1 record outside of 3A, Region 6 with the Blue Devils coming to Vinemont 1-5 in 2A, Region 7 play and 2-7 overall. Friday will conclude the second year of Matt Norris coaching at Vinemont.
Addison Bulldogs (9-0) @ Winston County Yellow Jackets (1-8)
Malcolm Blake Stadium – Double Springs
Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Addison leads 44-32-1
LAST TIME: Winston County defeated Addison 40-12 in 2015.
LAST WEEK: Addison was idle; Winston County lost to West End 73-28.
This is a confrontation of the best and the not-so-best. Addison is on the verge of another perfect regular season and a win against their neighbors from Double Springs would be the best finish in regular play in the five years they have been guided by David Smothers.
Addison has outscored the opposition by 200 points, 362 to 162 with Winston County struggling and being outscored 425 to 158 all season, allowing seven opponents to score 40 points or more. Cold Springs bombed the Yellow Jackets for 57 in a game on Oct. 7.
The Bulldogs had last week off to get rested and now set their sights on completing a perfect regular season and being a serious challenger in the 1A playoffs.
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