The Cold Springs football team took an unexpected break from preparing for Sumiton Christian this week to pay its respects to the Blue and Gold family.

Coach Rod Elliott and the Eagles (5-2, 2-2 in Class 2A, Region 6) traveled together as one unit following Wednesday’s practice to show their support to longtime PA announcer, Ted Blaylock, whose son Teddy passed away at the age of 46 over the weekend.

“The Blaylock family has been a part of this community forever,” Elliott said. “He’s been the voice of the Eagles for longer than I can remember. We felt it was the right thing to do. We have a close-knit community here, and I know the boys will be thinking about Ted on Friday night.”

Cold Springs will travel away from home to take on the Maroon and Gold Eagles (2-4, 2-3) in a game rife with big-time implications, as Elliott’s squad is just one win away from a playoff spot — something long-awaited in the small town.

It’ll be tough, though, as both their losses have come away from home, and Sumiton Christian is still looking to grab a postseason spot of its own.

If Cold Springs comes to play, it’ll leave one happy team. I think that happens.

Look for the Eagles to celebrate their first playoff berth since 2004.

% Jake’s Pick: Cold Springs

% Rob’s Pick: Cold Springs

% Tarrant (3-4, 3-1 in 2A, Region 6) at Addison (5-2, 3-1): The Bulldogs are already penciled in for one of four playoff spots following a 13-0 win over the aforementioned Sumiton Christian.

If they want to host for a second straight November, however, they’ll need to really slow down a powerful Wildcat attack that’s put up 313 points so far this season — including 77 in a Week 8 win over Falkville.

Meanwhile, Addison has won four straight contests and allowed just two scores in that stretch despite a couple of injuries to some key players.

Aside from Tanner, this will be the fastest team the Bulldogs have schemed against the year. It’ll show come Friday night.

% Jake’s Pick: Tarrant

% Rob’s Pick: Tarrant

% Decatur (5-2, 3-1 in 6A, Region 8) at Cullman (4-3, 2-2): If there’s one thing Mark Britton and his Bearcat football squad love doing, it’s proving people wrong.

They’ll have their chance do so this Friday against the Red Raiders.

After a shutout loss to bitter-rival Hartselle, the Black and Gold are looking to bounce back and boost their playoff chances before next week’s showdown at Muscle Shoals.

Decatur doesn’t score a whole lot, but it’s allowed 17 points or less in five of its seven contests this fall. If Cullman wants to continue a remarkable postseason run under Britton — nine straight seasons and 12 of 13 — it’ll have to come through with its finest performance of the fall.

The Bearcats will come close, but it won’t be enough.

% Jake’s Pick: Decatur

% Rob’s Pick: Decatur

% D.A.R. (2-5, 0-5 in 4A, Region 7) at Good Hope (3-4, 2-3): Don’t look now, but the Raiders are slowly but surely climbing their way back from a tough beginning to the fall.

Following an 0-3 start, Good Hope has won three of its past four games and found some rhythm on the offensive side of the ball.

Riley Eisner, Kainan Smith, Jared McClure and Reese Harbison have all been factors in the recent resurgence and will need to play well again in the Raiders’ most important game of the season versus the Patriots.

A loss would mark the end of the road for the Red and White’s postseason hopes, as would a win for Westminster Christian (4-3, 3-2), which edged Good Hope 29-24 in Week 3, against J.B. Pennington.

% Jake’s Pick: Good Hope

% Rob’s Pick: Good Hope

% Susan Moore (2-5, 1-3 in 3A, Region 5) at Vinemont (3-4, 2-2): The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-14 region win over Holly Pond last Friday.

Now comes the serious business.

Alan Scott’s program can clinch its fourth playoff berth in the past seven seasons with a victory over the Bulldogs at home on Friday night.

Susan Moore has been hot (28, 27, 26 and 35 points) and cold (7, 0 and 6) on offense in seven games this season but has been subject to the big play on defense.

Look for Vinemont’s vaunted rushing attack to exploit that and take advantage of another postseason opportunity.

% Jake’s Pick: Vinemont

% Rob’s Pick: Vinemont

% West Point (5-2, 3-2 in 5A, Region 8) at East Limestone (7-0, 4-0): Through the first five games of the Warriors’ season, a playoff spot seemed all but guaranteed for the Maroon and White.

However, a pair of losses to J.O. Johnson and Russellville in back-to-back weeks have altered the postseason picture like a Picasso painting.

A win Friday against the undefeated Indians would lock up a November slot for West Point and coach Don Farley. 

But it won’t be easy.

East Limestone has powered through its slate with a potent mix of stout offense and stingy defense and has plenty of revenge on its mind from last year’s 16-14 loss to the Warriors.

Should West Point fall short, it will set up a winner-take-all matchup with Lawrence County for the No. 4 spot in Region 8 next Friday.

% Jake’s Pick: East Limestone

% Rob’s Pick: East Limestone

% Fairview (2-5, 0-5 in 5A, Region 7) at Douglas (3-5, 1-4): Picks for this contest were made before the two teams played on Thursday night … promise.

Jake’s Pick: Douglas 

Rob’s Pick: Douglas

% Holly Pond (0-7, 0-5 in 3A, Region 5) at Hanceville (0-7, 0-5): Please check out www.cullmantimes.com or Thursday’s Times for a full preview of this Cullman County clash.

% Jake’s Pick: Hanceville

% Rob’s Pick: Holly Pond

% Jake’s Picks to Date: 36-15

% Rob’s Picks to Date: 38-13