Here are five games to watch in the Huntsville area this week with the full schedule to follow.
HARTSELLE (2-0) AT CULLMAN (2-0)
Time/Location: 7 p.m., Friday, Woodard Stadium
Last week: Hartselle defeated visiting Jackson-Olin 39-6. Cullman defeated visiting Jasper 42-21.
The weak: This is the 101st meeting between the Highway 31 rivals. Hartselle won 35-14 last season, and the Tigers have prevailed in 10 of the last 13 meetings to take a 49-47-4 series advantage. …Hartselle’s Izayah Fletcher caught six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s win. … Hartselle forced five turnovers – three fumbles and two interceptions – against Jackson-Olin. … This is the Tigers’ first road game of the season. It’s the second of three straight home games for Cullman. … Bearcats quarterback Ryan Skinner had four touchdowns – two passing and two rushing – against Jasper. … Hartselle coach Bryan Moore went 1-1 against Cullman while coaching at Jasper (2018-19).
JAMES CLEMENS (0-2) VS. BOB JONES (1-1)
Time/Location: 7 p.m., Friday, Madison City Schools Stadium
Last week: Bob Jones defeated the visiting Athens 44-21. James Clemens lost 42-21 at Mountain Brook.
The weak: James Clemens has won the last four Madison Bowls. Bob Jones holds a 6-4 lead in the crosstown rivalry. … Jets quarterback Gio Lopez had a pass and run in last year’s 35-28 overtime win. In the loss to Mountain Brook, he passed for 339 yards and a touchdown and ran for a pair of TDs. … Bob Jones quarterback Ray Hardy had three rushing touchdowns and 407 total yards against James Clemens last season. Quenton Hubbard caught five passes for 200 yards. … The Patriots ran for 408 yards and five TDs against Athens. Bob Jones held the Golden Eagles to 170 yards of offense. … James Clemens hasn’t started 0-3 since his inaugural winless season in 2012.
HUNTSVILLE (0-1) VS. GRISSOM (1-1)
Time/Location: 7 p.m., Friday, Milton Frank Stadium
Last week: Huntsville lost 35-20 to visiting Oxford. Grissom lost 23-0 at Hazel Green.
The weak: Ten of the last 11 home games in this Rocket City rivalry have gone to Huntsville, including last year’s 13-6 win. The Panthers missed the 2020 game due to COVID-19 issues. … Huntsville quarterback Jacks McClung overcame three interceptions in last year’s game to help lead the Panthers. Sims Bowman kicked two field goals. … McClung threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns against Oxford. The Panthers lost two fumbles without forcing a turnover. … Grissom mustered just 141 yards of offense against Hazel Green. The shutout loss came a week after the Tigers scored 34 points against Russellville.
DESHLER (2-0) AT WEST LIMESTONE (2-0)
Time/Location: 7pm, Friday, James Kennemer Stadium, Leicester
Last week: West Limestone defeated visiting Clements 56-20. Deshler defeated visiting Russellville 14-7.
The weak: West Limestone has won the last two meetings in this series, including 21-19 last season, as Deshler took seven of the first eight games. … Deshler outgained West Limestone 329-268 last season and led 19-14 after three quarters, but a Colin Paterson touchdown pass in the fourth quarter lifted the Wildcats. Patterson threw three TD passes against Clements last week. Easton Smith needed just seven carries to amass 203 rushing yards and three TDs. He has 367 yards and seven touchdowns this season. … Deshler overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit to beat Russellville. The Tigers rushed for 204 of their 239 yards.
DOUGLAS (2-0) AT ARAB (2-0)
Time/Location: 7:00 p.m., Friday, Arab City Schools Sports Complex
Last week: Arabia shut out host Brewer 35-0. Douglas won 56-7 at DAR.
The weak: Douglas is aiming for a 3-0 start under third-year coach Brandon Lyles. Arabia last went 3-0 in 2003. … This is just the third meeting between these programs. Arab won in 2016 and 2017 by a combined 110-26. … Douglas ran for 369 of his 481 total yards against DAR. The Eagles forced five turnovers. Jonathan Fountaine scored touchdowns with a 70-yard run, 85-yard punt return and 28-yard catch. … Arabia’s Dake Franklin rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries against Brewer.
Stakes
Guntersville coach Lance Reese won his 100th game last week as the Wildcats routed Lawrence County 55-0. Reese is 100-37 in 13 seasons and he is now tied with Joe Chorba for most wins in program history. Chowder went 100-23-6 from 1948-60. He is one half of the namesake of Guntersville’s Chorba-Lee Stadium, along with former coach and administrator Percy Lee.
Decatur’s 28-14 win over archrival Austin last week was the 650th win in Red Raiders history, according to AHSFHS.org. Decatur became the 13th team in state history to reach the 650-win mark. Hartselle (643 wins) is now the closest team to joining the club, followed by Eufaula (640).
Huntsville Area Week 3 Complete Schedule
Thursday
Mount Brindlee in Asbury
Elkmont to Phil Campbell
Hazel Green at Lee-Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium
Friday
Albertville at Florence, Braly Municipal Stadium
Douglas in Arabic
Ardmore to Brewer
Athens at Decatur
Sparkman in Austin
Scottsboro to Boaz
Bob Jones vs. James Clemens, Madison City Schools Stadium
Buckhorn in Gadsden City
Columbia at Muscle Shoals
Clements in Lauderdale County
Susan Moore in Danville
DAR in New Hope
Decatur Heritage at Valley Head
Eastern Limestone in Fairview
Sheffield to Falkville
Huntsville vs. Grissom, Milton Frank Stadium
Crossville to Guntersville
Hartselle to Cullman
Fort Payne at Mae Jemison, Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville
Madison Academy at JB Pennington
Madison County to Priceville
North Jackson at Westminster Christian
North Sand Mountain in Fyffe
St. John Paul II in Randolph
Pisgah at Sand Rock
Section in Collinsville
Tanner in Tharptown
Deshler in West Limestone
Brooks at West Morgan
Ider at Whitesburg Christian, Madison County Elementary, Gurley
Woodville at Cedar Bluff