Each week this season AHSFHS.org will post games of the week provided by our forum friends better known as the "Barber Shop Gurus". Welcome TheMUBM, Kodyaufan2 and Sloth Nationzz as they analyze games of their choice and even give us a prediction for each contest.

Previous Reports
Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7	Week 8	Week 9	Week 10	Week 11

TheMUBM Week 3 Games

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  7-4

Valley Head (6-5) at  (#8)  Decatur Heritage Christian (7-3)  at Rebels Stadium, West Morgan Valley Head   Decatur Heritage 6-5 (3-3)  Record 7-3 (4-1) 1A-R8  Class/Region 2A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking #8 31.3  Power Rating 37.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Decatur Heritage Christian as a 8 point favorite. Last Meeting:   The Decatur Heritage Christian Eagles defeated Valley Head by a score of 34-12 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 8 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Decatur Heritage Christian and Valley Head have met 5 times on the field.... Decatur Heritage Christian holds a 3-2 edge in the games played. Comments:    Both of these teams have a legitimate shot of fighting for the 1A R7 crown along with Coosa Christian. Valley Head won a shootout last year by 22 points. I think we may be looking at another high scoring affair this year. Both teams have had one common opponent thus far, being Section, and both handled business emphatically.     Valley Head is 1-1 but the loss was a tough one to 2A North Sand Mountain 15-0. Valley Head is going to rely on a high powered running game lead by QB Trystan Blevins, who torched Section for 165 yards on the ground. Accompanying Blevins in the backfield is RB Ben Johnson who accounted for 117 yards and 3 TD's against Section.     Decatur Heritage comes in 2-0 and haven't really faced a test yet. That will change this week. Coach Nikita Stover said RB Savarius Evans was one of the best players in north Alabama, and the kid is just a freshman. From the film I have seen it is hard to argue with Coach Stover.     I really think this has potential to be an up and down the field game. I will certainly hope that I can find a good stream of it. Both teams have a lot of talent and explosive offenses. It's going to come down to which team can get a stop when it's critical. I am just splitting hairs because this could go either way.   Prediction:  Decatur Heritage 42 Valley Head 35

Aliceville (5-6) at  (#6)  Tuscaloosa Academy (10-2)  at Knights Stadium Aliceville   Tuscaloosa Academy 5-6 (3-3)  Record 10-2 (5-1) 2A-R5  Class/Region 2A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking #6 41.9  Power Rating 42.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Tuscaloosa Academy as a 3 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Tuscaloosa Academy Knights defeated Aliceville by a score of 51-6 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Tuscaloosa Academy and Aliceville have met 3 times on the field.... Tuscaloosa Academy holds a 2-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    I have talked about how much talent Aliceville has. From the likes of Keanthony Wilder to Tyquan Simon and so forth and so on, but here we sit two weeks in and Aliceville stands at 0-2. Now let's keep this in perspective, they lost the first game to a powerhouse in 1A 8-6 and I would venture to guess had more yards and then lost the subsequent week to a 6A school 22-14.

Tuscaloosa Academy comes in with a lot of hype and a 1-1 record but that loss being to 4A power American Christian 33-20. Tuscaloosa Academy actually got out to a 14-0 nothing lead in the game but couldn't close the deal. Preston Lancaster threw 3 TD's vs. ACA. That will be the thing to watch in this game, TA's passing game vs. the talented defensive backfield of Aliceville. Aliceville faced a good passing game week 1 and held it in check, but still lost. Will history repeat itself?

Another game that is extremely hard to pick. I need to start choosing easier ones. Is it possible that a team with as much talent as Aliceville could start 0-3? It is definitely possible. Will it happen? Your guess is good as mine, but since we do this column, I have to make a guess.

Prediction:  Tuscaloosa Academy 27 Aliceville 21

West Limestone (4-6) at  Deshler (6-4)  at Howard Chappell Stadium West Limestone   Deshler 4-6 (3-5)  Record 6-4 (5-3) 4A-R7  Class/Region 4A-R7 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 45.7  Power Rating 50.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Deshler as a 7 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Deshler Tigers defeated West Limestone by a score of 34-14 in week 9 on the road  on Fri., Oct. 18 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Deshler and West Limestone have met 13 times on the field.... Deshler holds a 10-3 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Coming into the season, this is a game I didn't have on my radar for potential review. However, West Limestone comes in 2-0 and Deshler stands at 0-2. Deshler has played much better competition than WL but after at 10-0 regular season last year, I think this has caught some people by surprise. More so than that is the margin of loss for Deshler in the first two games, 34 & 22 respectively.

It has been said that Deshler is young and that is true, but what's hurt Deshler more than anything has been the graduation of Walter Goggins and Jakari Belue. Deshler is only averaging 10 points per game at this time, but they still have Price Thornton at QB, who is only a sophomore and has been solid and Reid another Sophomore at WR will end up being a big player for them. I think it's premature for us Region 7 folks to write off Deshler. Coach Malone knows what he is doing and Tuscumbia always churns out talent.

West Limestone does come in 2-0 and is one of those wildcards in R7 that could be a factor in a big scrum with Brooks, Central, Deshler and Rogers. It took WL two OT's to beat Clements last week, but a win is a win. Three TD's came via the ground (RB Easton Smith accounting for 2) and one through the air.

Neither team has had a lot of offensive production thus far so this could be a fairly low scoring game. Deshler probably sees this as a game to silence some of their early season critics while WL should see it as a chance to announce they can be a player in the region.

Prediction:  Deshler 31 West Limestone 14

Brewer (2-8) at  Ardmore (8-3)  at Cooper Field Brewer   Ardmore 2-8 (0-6)  Record 8-3 (4-2) 5A-R8  Class/Region 5A-R7 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 52.7  Power Rating 43.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Brewer as a 7 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Brewer Patriots defeated Ardmore by a score of 21-19 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 8 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Ardmore and Brewer have met 6 times on the field.... The teams have both won 3 games.

Comments:    One thing I think we will try to do with this segment, as Sloth proved last week, was spotlight some teams that may not get a lot of love on prediction threads throughout the state. That way it's not always the same teams and powerhouses, although I am sure that will dominate the coverage. That being said, I chose Brewer vs. Ardmore.

From all my friends in the Brewer area, I have heard they should be much improved this year. They started with a big win over Hanceville and played respectfully against a good Arab team. While it was hard to find information on both teams, but what I gathered Brewer moved the ball fairly effectively through the air against Arab, especially connection of Cason Oden to I believe Austyn Holmes out of the backfield. They weren't very successful on the ground from what I gathered.

Ardmore starts 0-2 with a tough loss to West Limestone and then an absolute drubbing to West Morgan 48-0 (and from what I have read, that was the halftime score.) Ardmore will have to find a way to move the ball. 7 points through 2 games is tough. Brewer isn't going to have the athletes of West Morgan, but they may be on par with West Limestone. One stat I saw said RB Hawthorne ran for 46 yds against West Morgan. If that's true, considering the disparity between the two teams that isn't bad. I think Ardmore will try to grind it out on the ground and keep Brewer's passing attack on the sideline.

Prediction:  Brewer 24 Ardmore 6

kodyaufan2 Week 3 Games

Last Week:  3-0    Season Total:  4-2

(#3)  Spring Garden (11-1) at  (#1)  Wadley (10-0)  at Curtis Lynch Memorial Field Spring Garden   Wadley 11-1 (6-0)  Record 10-0 (5-0) 1A-R8  Class/Region 1A-R6 #3  ASWA Ranking #1 33.7  Power Rating 37.0 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Wadley as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Wadley Bulldogs defeated Spring Garden by a score of 41-7 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 8 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Wadley and Spring Garden have met 10 times on the field.... Wadley holds a 6-4 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is a massive game to open up region play. These two teams are expected to be the best in 1A Region 6, so the winner will be the front-runner for a region title.

The star player in this one will be Wadley's Sophomore RB Jaquez Wilkes, who ran for 1,776 yards and 13 TDs as a Freshman last year while earning 2nd team All-State honors in 1A. He's a large, imposing player, listed at 6'4 215 lbs, and again, he's only a Sophomore. In all likelihood, he'll play at the next level. Wilkes is also the nephew of another star RB for Wadley, Terrence Wilkes, who was primed to play in college himself before being tragically murdered after his senior season in 2006. No matter the outcome of this game, the Wilkes story is certainly one to follow.

The Spring Garden defense held Wadley to just 101 yards of offense in last year's matchup, but the Panthers' offense doomed them by turning the ball over six times. Given the tall task of facing Wilkes, a name to keep an eye on from the Spring Garden defense is tackle Jacob Welsh, who had four tackles for loss in their opener against Sand Rock.

Wadley pulled off a shocking upset in this one a year ago, knocking off Spring Garden 9-0 in a game in which the two teams combined for just 250 yards of offense. Expect a very defensive game again this year.

Prediction:  Wadley 14, Spring Garden 6

(#1)  Highland Home (12-0) at  Goshen (8-3)  at Goshen Field Highland Home   Goshen 12-0 (6-0)  Record 8-3 (5-1) 2A-R3  Class/Region 2A-R3 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 49.3  Power Rating 39.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Highland Home as a 8 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Highland Home Flying Squadron defeated Goshen by a score of 53-21 in week 5 at Home  on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Goshen and Highland Home have met 60 times on the field.... Highland Home holds a 32-27 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This game wasn't particularly close last year, with Highland Home winning 42-14, but don't be deceived by the score or Goshen's 6-4 record from 2022. Both of these teams could make some noise in November.

The ASWA poll voters are very high on Goshen, as evidenced by their ranking. While I'm not sure I'd put them that high just yet, there's definitely a reason to be excited about this team. They lost by just one score to both Luverne and Lanett, which ultimately cost them a playoff spot, but they were also one of the more competitive games of the season for both Highland Home and Reeltown. RB Jamauri McClure, a South Alabama commit, might be the best RB in 2A and one of the best statewide. He scored most of their touchdowns last season, so it's no wonder that they go out of their way to get him the ball as often as possible. If their defense is improved, which McClure also led with multiple interceptions last year, this will be a dangerous team.

Highland Home will hope this is the year they can finally break through and reach the state title game. They've given up just 7 points in two games so far this season, but Goshen is the best team they'll have played so far. Their defensive front is ferocious, led by 4 star Junior edge rushers CJ May and Jakaleb Faulk. However, they struggled on the back end at times last year, giving up a fair amount of points to some good offenses like Ariton, Brantley, and Isabella before getting torched by B.B. Comer in the semifinals. This will be a great early test for this defense.

Prediction:  Highland Home 35, Goshen 21

Gulf Shores (4-6) at  Faith Academy (1-8)  at Ram Field Gulf Shores   Faith Academy 4-6 (4-4)  Record 1-8 (1-6) 6A-R1  Class/Region 5A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 64.6  Power Rating 70.0 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Faith Academy as a 7 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Gulf Shores Dolphins defeated Faith Academy by a score of 31-16 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 8 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Faith Academy and Gulf Shores have met 11 times on the field.... Gulf Shores holds a 8-3 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Both games between these teams were phenomenal last season, with Gulf Shores winning 22-12 in the regular season and Faith Academy winning 20-14 in the playoffs. It's also a terrific coaching matchup between Faith's Jack French and Gulf Shores' Mark Hudspeth.

Both teams play solid defense without having many standout guys, which is pretty typical of the top teams in the Mobile area. With that said, the stars for both teams are on the offensive side of the ball. For Faith Academy, QB Jarrett Daughtry has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. After throwing 21 TDs last season, he already has 8 TDs in just two games this season. The majority of those will be split between receivers Ty Goodwill, Edwin King, and Ty Dotson. RB EJ King is coming off a 100 yard rushing performance against Elberta. Goodwill is the star of this team on both sides of the ball, though. He followed up his 58 catch, 11 TD performance last season with another receiving TD to go alongside 3 interceptions on defense and a blocked field goal on special teams last week against Elberta. Some have said this may be the best team ever at Faith, so they'll expect to finally reach a state title game.

Coach Hudspeth has turned Gulf Shores around quickly. Just a couple years ago they were among the worst programs in the bay area. Now they're state title contenders. Ronnie Royal III is committed to play for NC State next year, but he'll continue to be a Swiss Army Knife for the Dolphins this year. In 2022, he had over 1,000 rush yards to go with nearly 900 receiving yards, scoring 24 total TDs. He looks to be in line for a lighter workload on the ground this season, however, as Kolin Wilson had twice as many carries in their last game against Citronelle.

Both also know they'll still have a matchup with UMS-Wright looming, so they know losing this one means they'll face an uphill battle when it comes to hosting a playoff game in the first round. Despite all the talent on both offenses, games between the top teams in this region always seem to be determined by turnovers and special teams.

Prediction:  Faith Academy 27, Gulf Shores 17

Vestavia Hills (6-6) at  (#5)  Thompson (9-3)  at Warriors Stadium Vestavia Hills   Thompson 6-6 (4-3)  Record 9-3 (6-1) 7A-R3  Class/Region 7A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking #5 85.9  Power Rating 89.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Thompson as a 6 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Thompson Warriors defeated Vestavia Hills by a score of 38-17 in week 5 at Home  on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Thompson and Vestavia Hills have met 31 times on the field.... Thompson holds a 17-14 edge in the games played.

Comments:    I knew Vestavia Hills would be a really good team this year, but through two games they've looked like legitimate title threats. We all know what Thompson is as they chase an unprecedented 5th straight title in the state's top class.

The depth of talent at Thompson is unmatched anywhere in the state, but their best player is Junior safety Anquon Fegans, who made national headlines last week by decommitting from USC. Freshman QB Trent Seaborn stole headlines when he led the Warriors to the state championship last year as an 8th grader, and he got off to a fast start in the opener against Opelika, going 20/26 for 246 yards and 2 TDs. WR Deuce Oliver caught 9 of those passes for 118 yards and a TD in that game.

Given that Thompson's game against IMG Academy was cancelled last week, this Vestavia Hills team might be the best team Thompson will face all year. Picking against Thompson in the playoffs would be foolish, but I think Vestavia is too good a team for anyone to beat twice. I'll take the shocker in the regular season, with Thompson winning in the playoffs.

Prediction:  Vestavia Hills 20, Thompson 17

Sloth Nationzz Week 3 Games

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  7-1

Foley (5-5) at  (#3)  Mary Montgomery (9-2)  at Grider Field Foley   Mary Montgomery 5-5 (2-5)  Record 9-2 (7-0) 7A-R1  Class/Region 7A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking #3 74.1  Power Rating 76.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Mary Montgomery as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Mary Montgomery Vikings defeated Foley by a score of 35-14 in week 5 at Home  on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Mary Montgomery and Foley have met 32 times on the field.... Foley holds a 24-8 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Well just a few years ago this would had been a bottom tier matchup. However due to rapid growth in both programs and improvements, now this is a battle for the top region spot. Last year the two had a great battle with Foley winning 43-42. Mary Montgomery is looking for their first back to back playoff appearances since the 2001-2002 season.

If Foley wins this matchup, this will play a critical role in their road to back to back region titles. Foley has highly ranked recruit Perry Thompson, while Mary Montgomery has a great QB in Jared Hollins.

I think this will be a high scoring matchup once again. I have been impressed with how well Mary Montgomery has started out the gate, however, I think Foley has had the better wins. Give me Foley in a close game.

Prediction:  Foley 49-42 Mary Montgomery

Jacksonville (6-5) at  Handley (7-4)  at Wright Field Jacksonville   Handley 6-5 (3-3)  Record 7-4 (5-2) 5A-R6  Class/Region 4A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 61.2  Power Rating 64.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Handley as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Handley Tigers defeated Jacksonville by a score of 32-24 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 8 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Handley and Jacksonville have met 7 times on the field.... Handley holds a 6-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Last year when these two played, they put up a whole lot of points. This year don't expect anything different. Jim Ogle will lead the Golden Eagles from Jacksonville to Roanoke to face Handley.

Handley looks to build off a dominate victory over Saint James. Handley has a very good front seven, and will look to rattle Jacksonville. I will take Handley to defeat Jacksonville.

I think they will be able to throw Jacksonville off their game, and will pound the rock.

Prediction:  Handley 35 Jacksonville 27

Pike Road (9-3) at  Wetumpka (7-4)  at Hohenburg Field Pike Road   Wetumpka 9-3 (6-0)  Record 7-4 (4-2) 6A-R2  Class/Region 6A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 62.5  Power Rating 62.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Wetumpka as a 2 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Pike Road Patriots defeated Wetumpka by a score of 17-12 in week 4 at Home  on Fri., Sep. 13 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Wetumpka and Pike Road have met 6 times on the field.... Pike Road holds a 4-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    A very important matchup in the region. It may be week two, but this is the most important matchup for this region. Whoever wins this game will be in the driver seat for a region title. Last year when these two played it was a very close game and came down to the last play.

While both teams have started 0-2, neither are bad, they are two of the best 0-2 teams in the state. It is a shame one of them will have to start 0-3. I think Pike Road just has more talent, and has lost to better teams than Wetumpka.

I think Pike Road will get their first region title in 6A. However it all starts when they take down Wetumpka.

Give me the Patriots on the road for their first victory of the 2023 season.

Prediction:  Pike Road 31 Wetumpka 17

Orange Beach (5-5) at  (#1)  Jackson (11-1)  at Legion Field Orange Beach   Jackson 5-5 (3-3)  Record 11-1 (6-0) 4A-R1  Class/Region 4A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking #1 48.6  Power Rating 63.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Jackson as a 17 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Jackson Aggies defeated Orange Beach by a score of 40-13 in week 8 at Home  on Thu., Oct. 10 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Jackson and Orange Beach have met 3 times on the field.... Jackson holds a 2-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Just as we began, we will finish in the Mobile area. Jackson so far has made their statement of being one of the best teams in Class 4A. Orange Beach played in week zero playing out of state Milton Florida, before having a bye. This bye could be very important for Orange Beach.

However whenever you have such a young program like Orange Beach facing a team that is surging toward title contention like Jackson, however when you have Coach DuBose, you would be foolish to count them out.

Whoever wins this game will be the favorite to win the region. I will be taking the Jackson Aggies over Orange Beach because I just think Jackson is one of the top 3 teams in 4A.

Orange Beach will have a successful season, but they will not have a successful night vs the Aggies.

Prediction:  Jackson 42 Orange Beach 21