PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Area squads look to gain steam in Week 4

Published 2:00 pm Thursday, September 20, 2018

It’s been a tepid couple of weeks for our local football programs.

The nine teams in The Times’ coverage area have combined to procure a 9-9 record the past two Friday nights, but there’s no time like the present to pick up some momentum as we near the second half of the 2018 season — yes, you read that correctly — with playoff spots still very much on the line.

Luckily for us, the Week 4 schedule is jampacked with some excellent matchups (read: opportunities) for those aforementioned area squads to gather steam with strong performances.

Before we get to our fun weekly breakdowns, though, don’t forget to cast your vote in “The People’s Pick,” a series of Twitter polls posted on my timeline (@winfreyjake) each and every Monday.

Now who’s ready for can’t-miss some analysis?

Class 2A, Region 7

% Addison (3-1, 1-0) at Sheffield (3-1, 2-0): It’s a battle of the Bulldogs at Walton R. Wright Stadium.

As you can see above, both teams have the same record — but I’m quite firmly on Addison’s side here.

The road team has played a tougher schedule and has the necessary playmakers to earn a huge victory away from home on Friday night.

Addison is seeking its third consecutive 2-0 start in region play.

% Jake’s Pick: Addison

% People’s Pick: Addison (117 votes — 77 percent)

Class 2A, Region 5

% Cold Springs (4-0, 2-0) at Aliceville (2-1, 2-0): The Eagles are off to their strongest start since 2003.

They’re also playing their strongest opponent so far this season Friday night.

Aliceville has garnered a place in the playoffs each of the past 22 years and holds crushing victories over Tarrant and Sulligent following a Week 0 loss to perennial Class 3A contender Gordo.

Cold Springs will need a complete game to tackle the Yellow Jackets and remain undefeated.

% Jake’s Pick: Aliceville

% People’s Pick: Cold Springs (120 votes — 74 percent)

Class 4A, Region 7

% Priceville (0-3, 0-2) at Fairview (1-3, 0-2): The Aggies are 4-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.

Here are the scores from those matchups:

% 34-14

% 49-0

% 54-12

% 61-13

I know, I know … it’s a new year, and those results won’t mean anything come Friday night.

But Priceville’s defense has struggled (45 points per game), and Fairview is playing at home.

% Jake’s Pick: Fairview

% People’s Pick: Fairview (115 votes — 79 percent)

Class 4A, Region 5

% Oak Grove (0-4, 0-2) at Good Hope (4-0, 1-0): The Raiders, to put it mildly, are on one heck of a roll.

Since a close call against Carbon Hill in Week 0, Good Hope has outscored its opponents 122 to 38 and will have a chance to add to that disparity when the Tigers roll into town on Friday night.

Oak Grove has already surrendered 194 points this season. Offensively, it’s only scored 32 points.

That math doesn’t add up.

% Jake’s Pick: Good Hope

% People’s Pick: Good Hope (124 votes — 93 percent)

Class 3A, Region 5

% Hanceville (1-3, 0-2) at Vinemont (1-2, 0-1): Look at what we have here … another fun county clash.

Emphasis on fun.

The past three games in this series have been decided by a combined 13 points, though Hanceville has six wins to Vinemont’s two this decade.

The Bulldogs had last year’s contest in the bag … until they didn’t.

The Eagles, meanwhile, need a victory to avoid an 0-2 region hole.

Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson will be on hand for this one as well, and I think he’ll see the home team scratch out a homecoming win.

% Jake’s Pick: Vinemont

% People’s Pick: Vinemont (147 votes — 66 percent)

Class 3A, Region 5

% Holly Pond (3-1, 1-1) at Fultondale (2-1, 2-0): The Broncos are facing arguably the biggest challenge their schedule has to offer on Friday night.

The Wildcats have walloped Locust Fork and J.B. Pennington so far this season and haven’t lost a region game since October 2015.

Fultondale has also defeated Holly Pond 56-27 and 55-14 in the only two meetings between the teams.

It’ll be an uphill battle for the road squad.

% Jake’s Pick: Fultondale

% People’s Pick: Fultondale (125 votes — 65 percent)

Class 5A, Region 7

% Russellville (3-0, 2-0) at West Point (2-2, 0-2): The Warriors have officially hit a bump in the road.

West Point has surrendered a combined 91 points over the past two weeks —  losses to Hamilton and Lawrence County — and is 0-2 in region play for just the second time under coach Don Farley.

The Golden Tigers, meanwhile, have won three consecutive games to open the season and could place the Maroon and White’s streak of four straight playoff berths in jeopardy with a fourth on Friday night.

The Warriors are 0-6 all-time against Russellville.

% Jake’s Pick: Russellville

% People’s Pick: Russellville (133 votes — 77 percent)

Non-Region Game

% Cullman (2-2, 1-1 in Class 6A, Region 7) at Albertville (2-1, 1-1 in Class 6A, Region 8): I saved the most perplexing contest for last.

Let’s take a look at what we know heading into Friday night: 

% Albertville leads the all-time series 21-16-3 but has only outscored Cullman 548-539 in those matchups.

% The Bearcats won last year’s game 31-9 behind a nice defensive effort.

% They also won the first-ever outing between the programs back in 1920 by a final score of 31-0.

What does it all mean? I don’t really know; I just enjoyed doing the research.

This one is — you guessed it — a coin flip.

% Jake’s Pick: Cullman

% People’s Pick: Cullman (138 votes — 54 percent)

% Jake’s Record to Date: 28-5

% People’s Record to Date: 23-10