Addison’s and Vinemont’s once-annual early season clash is set to restart for the first time since 1999 and, as always, the rivalry is smothered by Smotherses.

On Friday night, the Class 3A Eagles will leave the friendly confines of Mark Smothers Field to do battle with a 2A Bulldogs squad coached by David Smothers. The latter is the nephew of the Vinemont venue’s namesake, who commandeered the Red and White through the program’s golden years (1983-1994) and later returned for a brief two-season stint (2009-10).

Dating back to the younger Smothers’s days as an Addison manager, the Dawgs and Eagles always opened against each other. The first-game rivalry held steady from 1986-99, with Addison bolstering a 9-5 record during the stretch with wins in the last six meetings.

The Bulldogs own the all-time series 17-7.

“It’s a fun game, it’s a good, clean game and it’s a hard-hitting game,” Smothers said early in Addison’s fall camp. “It’s a good first-week opening game for both schools because you know it’s going to draw a crowd.”

That crowd could be in for a quick show if both sides stick to what they did best last week — running the football.

John Michael Dye (214 yards and three touchdowns) was the ring leader for a stable of Vinemont speedsters that accumulated 376 total rushing yards in a solid varsity jamboree victory over Good Hope, while Bulldog seniors Kolby Kirk and Kyle Denson combined for 213 yards and three touchdowns via the ground in a down-to-the-wire 26-23 defeat at Pickens County.

There’s been plenty of chatter 2A No. 10 Addison is going to have an easy time with Vinemont this week, but I’m not buying it. Yes, the Bulldogs have bigger lines and more playmakers to turn to, but if Dye, Orey Woods and others can carry over their preseason momentum to the real deal, the Eagles have every chance of keeping it close or even pulling off the upset.

Still, I’m inclined to call this one for the Dawgs. They’ll be hungrier than ever after wilting under the second-half heat to a Pickens County team they overmatched in everything but the final score.

% Rob’s Pick: Addison

% Jake’s Pick: Addison

% Cold Springs (1-0) at Danville (0-0): Speaking of revived rivalries, the bout of birds is about to take flight following a 10-year hiatus.

The Eagles, fresh off a convincing 25-6 victory over 1A Brilliant, are training their Week 2 crosshairs on the Hawks. Cold Springs has historically experienced a great deal of success against its neighbors to the North — the Blue and Gold hold a 7-4 edge in the series — but this will be the program’s first crack at Danville as a 4A school.

The Hawks’ rise in classification shouldn’t have the 2A Eagles shaking in their boots. With only one game to go off of, Cold Springs appears to have the tools in place on offense — Nic Rollo and Christian Crandall spearheaded a potent rushing attack — and defense — basketball-convert Josh Freeman had the biggest of the unit’s four forced turnovers — to start the fall 2-0 for the second straight year.

The last time the Eagles pulled off the feat in consecutive seasons? All the way back in 1991 and ‘92.

% Rob’s Pick: Cold Springs

% Jake’s Pick: Cold Springs

% Cullman (0-1) at No. 9 Etowah (0-1): The Bearcats are heading back to 5A, if only for a week.

One Friday after dropping its 6A debut and first opener since 2004 with a 21-14 decision at Arab, Cullman will stay on the road to try its luck against the 5A Blue Devils.

Like the ’Cats, Etowah is under pressure to produce its first win. The Blue Devils weren’t able to hold on to a late 14-9 advantage in Week 1, ultimately falling 16-14 to 6A Northridge in the fourth quarter.

Judging by last Friday’s low score, Etowah is capable of playing some mean defense. But judging by Cullman junior Justin Patterson’s three sacks and 13 tackles, so can the Black and Gold.

If the defensive end can rally the troops behind him and the Bearcats can avoid costly penalties on both sides of the ball, they might be able to head into an off week with a much-needed victory. Against a quality opponent like the Blue Devils, though, that still might not be enough.

In the end, watch for Cullman to squeak by with the W.

% Rob’s Pick: Cullman

% Jake’s Pick: Etowah

% Cordova (0-1) at Good Hope (0-0): The Raiders are hoping to achieve the same outcome as in 2013, a 35-7 region rout of the Blue Devils, but they’ll have to do so with a different quarterback … and in a different classification.

Sophomore Riley Eisner is Good Hope’s new guy behind center after the loss of elusive signal-caller Sebastion Fendley to graduation. As Red and White fans probably haven’t forgotten, Fendley accounted for all five of the team’s touchdowns in last year’s blowout.

Though definitely younger, Eisner is an astute passer equipped with the skills to lead the Raiders into their second foray in 4A football. It helps he has tons of talented targets to throw to — namely Kainan Smith, Reese Harbison and Austin Reid, who all shone in last week’s jamboree at Vinemont — not to mention a trusty tailback in Jared McClure.

Cordova showed a penchant for giving up the big play in a 35-12 Week 1 defeat to Dora that got out of hand in the second half. Don’t be surprised if Eisner and Co. exploit that Blue Devil weakness yet another Friday.

% Rob’s Pick: Good Hope

% Jake’s Pick: Good Hope

% Holly Pond (0-0) at Brindlee Mountain (0-0): Let’s get one thing out of the way real quick: The Broncos are going to win a game in 2014.

The only question is, will it come as early this week?

With all my heart — and hope — I think yes.

Holly Pond has done a lot of growing up since last year’s turnover-heavy 28-15 loss to the Lions. Signal-caller Michael Lambert has a full fall under his belt, and so do the hordes of other sophomores who were thrust into the varsity spotlight as fledgling freshmen. Mike Bates, still only six seasons removed from a state championship at St. Paul’s, is back as well and appears to have the program believing it can accomplish big things over the next few months.

But as I said a few times last year, it’s hard to develop a winning attitude without first acquiring a win.

Well, even if it was a jamboree, Holly Pond’s 14-7 varsity win over West End still counts as a win in my book.

It’s a start, and it should translate into the Broncos’ first victory of the Bates era by the end of the night.

% Rob’s Pick: Holly Pond

% Jake’s Pick: Holly Pond

% West Point (0-0) at Hayden (0-0): The Warriors can — and should — take care of the Wildcats fairly simply Friday night.

But it won’t be the opener that tells us anything about if West Point can secure its first 5A playoff berth. That’ll be left to the way the Maroon and White handles the rest of their first-half schedule.

If you’ll remember, the Warriors started out the 2013 campaign with a gritty 25-18 triumph at Brewer, only to drop their next four contests in a row. Kobe Smith’s midseason return coincided with a 3-2 finish to the fall, but it wasn’t enough to make a splash in a Region 8 flooded with perennial powers.

With all four postseason contenders now residing in 6A, West Point’s prospects for a breakout year are better than ever. A fourth-year quarterback, returners at 20 of 24 positions and a swarm of experienced seniors have the Warriors poised to compete with newcomer J.O. Johnson and holdovers Russellville and East Limestone for region glory.

I’m just glad the season is finally starting for everybody. It’s about time we see if West Point is up for proving all the high praise I’ve recently heaped upon the program is deserved.

% Rob’s Pick: West Point

% Jake’s Pick: West Point

% Hanceville (0-0) at Fairview (0-0): Check out www.cullmantimes.com or Thursday’s Times for a full preview of this county matchup.

% Rob’s Pick: Fairview

% Jake’s Pick: Fairview