CULLMAN, Ala. — Several local teams are in the middle of some heated region battles and with only four weeks remaining in the regular season, every region game is huge. Whether they’re playing to earn home field advantage or fighting to make it to the postseason, these teams need to finish strong to achieve their goals with the playoffs just around the corner.
Addison (4-3, 3-1) This week: Lamar County
The Addison Bulldogs are now tied for first in the Class 2A, Region 5 standings after rolling past Cold Springs 50-14. Aliceville also dropped its game to Lamar County last week, 19-18. The Bulldogs are 3-1 in the region with their only loss coming to the Winston County Yellow Jackets in overtime in week three. Addison will take on Lamar County this Friday with a chance to gain sole possession of first place in the region and will take on Sulligent to end the regular season. The Bulldogs have a real chance to earn home field advantage in the playoffs if they can finish the regular season strong.
Arab (4-3, 2-2) This week: at Oxford
The Arab Knights dropped their first two region games of the season to Ft. Payne (28-7) and Scottsboro (7-3). The Knights have started to turn things around after defeating Southside-Gadsden in a thrilling game, 28-27, and picking up a forfeit win over Pell City Friday night to improve to 2-2 in the region. After defeating Locust Fork in a “no record” game last week 49-27, Arab will now look to make some noise Friday night when it travels to take on Oxford, who is tied for first in region 7. The Knights currently tied for third with Southside-Gadsden and a win over the Yellow Jackets would certainly increase their playoff chances. The Knights will take on Springville in their final region game on Oct. 23 as they work to clinch a playoff berth.
Cold Springs (3-3, 2-2) Next opponent: at Winston County (October 16th)
The Cold Springs Eagles started this season strong, winning their first three games, including a region win over Sulligent in Week three. However, things have been a little tougher for the Eagles since then. They’ve dropped their last three games, including a pair of region losses to Aliceville and Addison. Cold Springs was scheduled to take on Midfield this week, but the Patriots have cancelled their season, giving the Eagles a forfeit win to improve to 2-2 in Class 2A, Region 5. The Eagles will travel to take on Winston County Oct. 16 and a win over the Yellow Jackets would be a big step toward getting back to the postseason.
Cullman (6-1, 4-0) This week: Columbia
Cullman got off to a 5-0 start this season, with three of those wins coming against Class 6A, Region 8 opponents, but the ‘Cats dropped their first game of the season to Mars Hill two weeks ago. Cullman got back in the win column last week with a 21-10, region win at Decatur to improve to 4-0 in the region. Cullman will take on a winless Columbia team Friday night and is currently tied at the top of the region standings with Muscle Shoals. The Bearcats will end the regular season with three region games against Columbia, Athens and Muscle Shoals as they look to break the first-place tie with the Trojans and secure home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Fairview (5-1, 3-1) This week: Crossville
The Fairview Aggies began this season 2-0 before dropping its region opener on the road to Guntersville but the Aggies have won three straight region games since, including huge wins over West Point and Boaz, to improve to 3-1 in the region. They will host winless Crossville Thursday night. Fairview is currently tied for second place in Class 5A, Region 7 with the Pirates after their 33-21 win last week and will have a chance to inch even closer to winning back-to-back region titles. The Aggies will have to travel for two of its final three regular season games, including a trip to Sardis Oct. 23, as they work to host a playoff game for the second straight season.
Good Hope (6-1, 2-1) This week: at Fultondale
For the third straight season, the Good Hope Raiders got things started 5-0, with a pair of those wins coming in Class 4A, Region 6 against Ashville and Hanceville. They rolled past Addison in week six before dropping their first game of the season to region opponent Etowah, 31-20. Good Hope is currently third in its region behind the Blue Devils and the Oneonta Redskins and they’ll look to quickly regroup this week on the road against Fultondale. After its game against the Wildcats, the Raiders will finish the season with two huge region games at home against Dora and Oneonta. Good Hope is fighting to get back up to second place in its region and earn home-field advantage in the postseason.
Vinemont (3-3, 2-2) This week: Susan Moore
It’s been a back-and-forth season so far for the Vinemont Eagles. They split their first two games to start the season and took two of their first three region games before falling just short to a tough Winfield squad last week, 28-18, to land at 2-2 in the region. Vinemont is currently tied for third with their next week opponent, Susan Moore, in what will be one of several huge region games for the Eagles going forward as they have Oakman at home and Holly Pond on the road after that. Vinemont will have another solid shot to get into the playoffs if they can close the regular season strong.
West Point (1-5, 1-2) This week: at Sardis West Point got off to a slow start this fall, losing its first five games, three of those losses coming in Class 5A, Region 7 by a combined 12 points. The Warriors picked up their first win of the season and in the region with a 35-27 win over Crossville last week. They will look to build off that and gain more confidence next week when they travel to take on Sardis in another huge region game. It will be the second of four straight region games for West Point. The Warriors will take on Douglas and Guntersville the nest two after that. Despite the slow start to the season, the Warriors, still have a chance to fight their way back into the playoff hunt if they can finish the regular season strong.
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