Vinemont Eagles (1-1, 0-1) @ Hanceville Bulldogs (1-2, 0-1)
3A, Region 6
Ray Talley Stadium – Hanceville, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Hanceville leads 17-13
LAST TIME: Hanceville defeated Vinemont 26-20 in 2015
LAST WEEK: Vinemont lost to Locust Fork 35-20, Hanceville lost to Fultondale 59-8.
It’s a must-win game for both teams in their second game in regional play. Vinemont's Garrett Boland passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns last week, but had a fumble that factored into Locust Fork getting a go ahead score in the fourth quarter and spoiling the Eagles' home opener. Vinemont allowed the Hornets 151 yards of offense in the final period as Locust Fork scored three times in the final 7:30 to stay undefeated. The winner here will go to 1-1 in the region and stay on the heels of the leaders, depending on what happens in the Locust Fork-J.B. Pennington game and the Holly Pond-Susan Moore contest. Fultondale is the odd man out of the region this week.
Since 2010, Hanceville has won five of the last six meetings and four straight between 2010 to 2013. Eagles haven't won at Ray Talley Stadium since a 49-20 victory in 2008, currently with a three-game losing streak in Hanceville.
Oxford Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0) @ Cullman Bearcats (1-2, 0-1)
6A, Region 7
Oliver Woodard Stadium – Cullman, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: 1st meeting
LAST WEEK: Cullman lost to Albertville 44-21, Oxford defeated Brewer 44-25.
Oxford has matched its win total from last season in the first three weeks. The Yellow Jackets are sixth in the current 6A state rankings and have outscored the opposition 93-35. Cullman fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter last week at Albertville and was never able to get the game close for the rest of the night.
The Bearcats have never started 0-2 in regional play under Mark Britton. This is only the second time Cullman has faced a school from Calhoun County. The last time was in the 2000 playoffs, a 13-0 victory over Saks with Mike Bates coaching the Bearcats before he stepped down and Britton took over the following year.
Holly Pond Broncos (2-1, 0-1) @ Susan Moore Bulldogs (0-2, 0-0)
3A, Region 6
Larry Patterson Field – Susan Moore, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Susan Moore leads 29-10
LAST TIME: Susan Moore defeated Holly Pond 49-24 in 2015
LAST WEEK: Holly Pond lost to J.B. Pennington 34-32, Susan Moore lost to Winston County 30-29.
The Broncos saw their three-game winning streak come to a stop in their home opener and regional opener. Holly Pond led 26-14 at the half but was unable to keep Pennington out of the end zone in the second half, with the Tigers scoring twice in the fourth quarter to pull it out.
Holly Pond has won its last three road games with the Broncos showing they can play well away from Thomas-Michelfelder Field. The Bulldogs have won seven straight against the Broncos. The last time Holly Pond enjoyed a win at Susan Moore was by the score of 21-7 in 1995. Susan Moore goes to the top of the Region 6 leaderboard with the win and will join Fultondale, plus the winner of the J.B. Pennington-Locust Fork game.
Springville Tigers (0-2, 0-1) @ West Point Warriors (0-3, 0-1)
5A, Region 6
West Point Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: 1st meeting
LAST WEEK: West Point lost to Hayden 14-6, Springville lost to Mortimer Jordan 33-0.
One of these teams will get to feel the winning experience for the first time on the 2016 schedule this week. The Warriors have had problems with teams they meet for the first time. West Point has lost its last three games dating back to the 2015 playoffs when the opponent is new to them.
Warriors look to move on without sophomore QB Rylan Jones who suffered a broken arm last week in the Hayden game and will miss the rest of the season. Springville pays a visit to Cullman County for the first time since 2008 when the Tigers lost to the Cullman Bearcats 28-7 in a 5A regional game.
The Warriors are 2-0 all-time against schools from St. Clair County. This is the first time Don Farley has faced a program from this county. Moody is the only team West Point has played from St. Clair with the Warriors beating them 24-6 in 2000 and 6-0 in 2001.
Hamilton Aggies (2-1, 0-1) @ Good Hope Raiders (0-2, 0-1)
4A, Region 6
James Shabel Stadium – Good Hope, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Hamilton leads 4-0
LAST TIME: Hamilton defeated Good Hope 45-0 in 2013
LAST WEEK: Good Hope lost to Fayette County 20-0, Hamilton lost to Haleyville 42-0.
Hamilton is back in Cullman County for the second time in the last four weeks. The Aggies rallied with a 10-play, 75-yard drive in the season opener to edge West Point 14-0. Hamilton is 18-5 all-time against Cullman County teams.
Raiders have one win vs. Marion County schools in 10 games, that coming against Winfield in 2008. Good Hope is trying to avoid a third consecutive 0-2 start in regional games since they returned to the 4A classification two seasons ago. The Raiders have lost their last four assignments at James Shabel Stadium dating back to Oct. 2 of 2015 when they fell 31-15 to Locust Fork.
Cold Springs Eagles (1-2, 1-0) are idle
Next game: Class 2A, Region 7 vs. Falkville Sept. 16
Fairview Aggies (1-2, 0-1) are idle
Next game: Class 5A, Region 6 vs. Mortimer Jordan Sept. 16
Addison Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0) @ Sumiton Christian Eagles (2-0, 1-0)
1A, Region 7
David Campbell Field – Sumiton, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Addison leads 4-0
LAST TIME: Addison defeated Sumiton Christian 38-0 in 2015
LAST WEEK: Addison defeated Southeastern 60-16, Sumiton Christian defeated R.A. Hubbard 60-22.
Two teams that have put a lot of points on the scoreboard in the early portion of the season square off in a pivotal game in Region 7. Addison has 134 points so far in three games with Sumiton getting 111 in just two contests.
Since 2012, the Eagles have averaged three wins a season and are already close to that total one month into the 2016 schedule. Addison was 10th in the 1A rankings last week, trying to stay in that status, plus stay undefeated overall and in the region. The three-game winning streak for David Smothers' Bulldogs is currently the longest since they won four consecutive in the middle of the 2014 season.
Meek Tigers (1-2, 0-1) @ Decatur Heritage Eagles (1-1, 0-0)
1A, Region 7
West Morgan Stadium – Trinity, Friday 7 p.m.
SERIES: Decatur Heritage leads 1-0
LAST TIME: Decatur Heritage defeated Meek 29-28 in 2015 playoffs.
LAST WEEK: Meek lost to Lynn 13-6, Decatur Heritage defeated Hackleburg 14-7.
Less than a year after they played a thriller in the 1A playoffs, the Tigers and Eagles battle with this being Decatur Heritage's regional opener. The Eagles play their home games at West Morgan High School, since they don't have a football field on campus in the northeast corner of Decatur.
The Eagles have been in the AHSAA since 2010 and enjoyed a 12-2 record last season, getting to the 1A semifinals. Meek is in need of a win to stay in contention in the region with a challenging regional schedule waiting for the Tigers in October.
Decatur Heritage is rated eighth in the latest 1A state prep poll, tied with Sweet Water and ahead of the Addison Bulldogs who are also a regional opponent to both of these schools in the upcoming weeks.
