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.

TheMUBM Week 3 Picks

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  5-3

(#5)  West Morgan (7-0) at  West Limestone (4-4)  at James Kennemer Stadium West Morgan   West Limestone 7-0 (5-0)  Record 4-4 (3-3) 4A-R7  Class/Region 4A-R7 #5  ASWA Ranking NR 65.6  Power Rating 55.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have West Morgan as a 8 point favorite. Last Meeting:   The West Morgan Rebels defeated West Limestone by a score of 29-7 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   West Limestone and West Morgan have met 27 times on the field.... West Morgan holds a 16-11 edge in the games played. Comments:    An interesting early season game in a region that suddenly seems wide open with West Morgan's dismantling of Brooks and Hatton's upset of Deshler. West Morgan, last years 4A North runner up, comes in 2-0. They lost a ton of offensive production from last year, but thus far have put up 31 and 42 against two quality opponents. Macarri Johnson ran for four TD's against Brooks. Look for him to continue to carry the load.     West Limestone also comes in 2-0. QB Brady Crawford threw for 4 TD's against East Lawrence. The defense played opportunistic as well, securing an interception, a fumble recovery and two blocked punts.     West Morgan is giving up 5 ppg, while West Limestone is giving up 3.5. The level of competition has been significantly better for West Morgan. West Limestone has a chance to make it know they are a player in the region with this one.   Prediction:  West Morgan 35 West Limestone 10

Hubbertville (6-1) at  South Lamar (1-6)  at J.C. McAdams Field Hubbertville   South Lamar 6-1 (4-1)  Record 1-6 (1-4) 1A-R5  Class/Region 1A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 27.4  Power Rating 20.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Hubbertville as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Hubbertville Lions defeated South Lamar by a score of 41-14 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   South Lamar and Hubbertville have met 19 times on the field.... Hubbertville holds a 10-9 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Unfortunately, this is the area of the State where I have the hardest time finding information. Hubbertville comes in 1-0 off a shellacking of University Charter. Hubbertville also handled Curry in a preseason jamboree, but not sure what we can take from that. The Lions just missed the playoffs last year, one reason was a 42-6 loss to this South Lamar team.

South Lamar comes in 0-2, having dropped consecutive games to larger classification schools. They hung with Lamar County but were drilled by a 4A Fayette County team. Nothing to hang your head about.

South Lamar has won two straight in this rivalry, evening the series at 9-9. This could go either way. I certainly don't think it will be as lopsided as last year.

Prediction:  Hubbertville 22 South Lamar 20

(#6)  Hoover (6-2) at  Hillcrest Tuscaloosa (4-4)  at Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium Hoover   Hillcrest Tuscaloosa 6-2 (5-0)  Record 4-4 (1-4) 7A-R3  Class/Region 7A-R3 #6  ASWA Ranking NR 76.1  Power Rating 79.2 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Hillcrest Tuscaloosa as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Hoover Buccaneers defeated Hillcrest Tuscaloosa by a score of 35-6 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Hillcrest Tuscaloosa and Hoover have met 7 times on the field.... Hoover holds a 7-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Hoover enters the game 1-1, after a heartbreaking 2 point loss to Spain Park last week. Hoover QB, Beason threw for 286 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT, with Jonah Winston being his favorite target to the tune of 7 catches for 68 yards.

Hillcrest comes in 2-0, after handling two 7A R4 opponents. Bryson Kimbrough has been as good as advertised from the QB position. The team is loaded with weapons on offense, Jacobi Harris at RB being one to keep an eye on.

While Harris is elusive and quick, and Kimbrough throws a pretty ball to a lot of talented receivers, this will be Hillcrest first foray into 7A R3, which as anyone will tell you, is generally a gauntlet. It will be competitive, but I like Hoover to bounce back.

Prediction:  Hoover 24 Hillcrest 17

Belgreen (2-3) at  Tharptown (0-7)  at Tharptown Stadium Belgreen   Tharptown 2-3 (0-0)  Record 0-7 (0-3) Ind-R0  Class/Region 2A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 9.6  Power Rating 8.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Tharptown as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Belgreen Bulldogs defeated Tharptown by a score of 30-14 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Tharptown and Belgreen have met one time on the field.... Belgreen holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Belgreen, in their first year of competition, come in 1-1, having won their opener against Shoals Christian. Against Shoals Christian, Belgreen utilized WR screens well along with their running game to keep the Flame defense off balance.

Tharptown come in 0-2 and not having scored a point all year. They definitely have a chance to get on the board here, if not win.

I have seen a little film on both teams. Hard to get a great gauge on either. From what I have seen it looks like Belgreen may have a couple of more playmakers, so I am giving them a slight edge.

Prediction:  Belgreen 16 Tharptown 7

kodyaufan2 Week 3 Picks

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  7-1

(#1)  Wadley (7-0) at  Fayetteville (2-5)  at FarmLinks Field Wadley   Fayetteville 7-0 (4-0)  Record 2-5 (0-4) 1A-R6  Class/Region 1A-R6 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 45.5  Power Rating 33.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Wadley as a 10 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Wadley Bulldogs defeated Fayetteville by a score of 61-14 in week 3 on the road  on Thu., Sep. 5 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Fayetteville and Wadley have met 11 times on the field.... Wadley holds a 10-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Wadley will be expected to roll through region play this year, but don't let that be the reason for overlooking the other teams in 1A Region 6 that could make some noise in November, starting with the Fayetteville Wolves.

Fayetteville had their Read Option offense dialed in last week, and they showed just how many different ways they can score against Billingsley. QB Brenton Cantrell rushed for multiple scores, along with RB Cameron Hammonds, who also added a kickoff return TD. Safety Cole Hardy added a pick six for the Wolves' defense. Hammonds was a 1,200 yd rusher in 2023, and Cantrell runs the Read Option to perfection, so that duo will give many teams trouble this season now that they've moved from 2A down to 1A.

If you love old-school football you'll love watching Wadley. The Bulldogs run the Wishbone offense, led by a Mr. Football candidate in Junior 4-Star RB Jaquez Wilkes. His running mate is fellow Junior RB Cortavion Lynch. Those two combined for 2,900 yards and 43 TDs in 2023. Wilkes is also a threat on the defensive side as well, as many scouts project him as a DE or LB at the next level. He just possesses a combination of size, speed, and strength that is rarely seen at the 1A level.

Horseshoe Bend jumped out to an early lead on Wadley last week before getting crushed. I could see this one playing out in a similar fashion. Fayetteville has some good athletes and will be able to ask some questions of this Wadley defense, but I expect the physicality of Wadley to win out in the end.

Prediction:  Wadley 48, Fayetteville 20

Providence Christian (6-1) at  (#5)  Cottonwood (8-0)  at Hicks Stadium Providence Christian   Cottonwood 6-1 (4-1)  Record 8-0 (5-0) 2A-R2  Class/Region 2A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking #5 42.6  Power Rating 41.2 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Providence Christian as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Cottonwood Bears defeated Providence Christian by a score of 58-6 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Cottonwood and Providence Christian have met 8 times on the field.... Cottonwood holds a 6-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    We head down to the Wiregrass Region for this next game. This is a part of the state where it can be difficult to get much information about some of these smaller schools, but this is a matchup that shouldn't be overlooked, so we'll do our best.

Cottonwood is a program that struggled during the 2010s but has since regained its footing as a consistent program. The Bears made a run to the 2A quarterfinals last season before losing to Reeltown, and they have enough experience returning to be just as dangerous this season. Senior QB Brayton Morris is back to lead the offense, but the defense may be the unit to really keep an eye on as the season progresses. Through two games, they've allowed just 6 points.

Providence Christian is a relatively new program, with this being just their 19th season. They've never won a region championship, but this could be their best opportunity. The Eagles were a playoff team last season in 3A, so the move down to 2A should suit them nicely. This defense has been stifling through two weeks, allowing just 7 points total. They forced three turnovers last week against Northside Methodist, including a pick six by John Martin Byrd.

The strong point of both of these teams seems to be defense, so points could come at a premium. I think Providence Christian will be a surprise team in 2A this year, but Cottonwood will show why they were high in the preseason rankings.

Prediction:  Cottonwood 28, Providence Chr. 13

Houston Academy (6-1) at  Montgomery Academy (7-1)  at McLemore Field Houston Academy   Montgomery Academy 6-1 (4-1)  Record 7-1 (4-1) 3A-R2  Class/Region 3A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 55.1  Power Rating 54.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Montgomery Academy as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Montgomery Academy Eagles defeated Houston Academy by a score of 12-10 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Montgomery Academy and Houston Academy have met 21 times on the field.... Montgomery Academy holds a 13-7 edge in the games played.

Comments:    It's crowded at the top of 3A Region 2, where three quarters of the teams are private schools, but this region should gain a lot of clarity this week as two of the favorites match up in Montgomery.

Montgomery Academy has been going through a bit of a rebuild the past couple of seasons, but that rebuild seems to be behind them after an impressive 2-0 start to the season. The drop back down to 3A should also help position them for a deep playoff run. 3-Star WR D.J. Vinson, who holds a scholarship offer from Tennessee, should be an All-State player this season. He will look to improve upon a 2023 season in which he hauled in 60 catches for 1,381 yards and 14 TDs. This was a young team a year ago, but now in year 2 under head coach Ethan McBride, they have the talent and experience to play deep into November.

Houston Academy has had a ton of success in the regular season over the past couple of years, but that success hasn't translated as well to the postseason yet. They'll look to change that this year behind the arm of veteran QB Kadyn Mitchell, who threw for 2,000 yards and 29 TDs a season ago. Any concerns there may have been about the O-line were silenced last week in a dominant performance against Pike County. The offense finished that one with a well-balanced 180 yards passing and 160 yards rushing.

This is a toss-up game to me, and I was initially going to take Montgomery Academy in this one. However, I've been very impressed with Houston Academy so far this season. Despite Trinity getting most of the preseason hype from this region, I think we will look back and see that this was the Region 2 championship game.

Prediction:  Houston Academy 28, Montgomery Academy 21

Daphne (5-3) at  (#4)  Mary Montgomery (7-1)  at Grider Field Daphne   Mary Montgomery 5-3 (3-2)  Record 7-1 (5-0) 7A-R1  Class/Region 7A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking #4 74.6  Power Rating 76.1 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Mary Montgomery as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Mary Montgomery Vikings defeated Daphne by a score of 21-8 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Mary Montgomery and Daphne have met 10 times on the field.... Daphne holds a 7-3 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Questions abound in 7A Region 1, as the top two teams from last year, Mary Montgomery and Baker, both lost their dynamic QB-WR duos to graduation. Daphne is one of the teams that will now be jockeying for position at the top of the region.

Mary G. Montgomery may have lost star QB Jared Hollins to graduation, but the Vikings will still be contenders in Region 1 because of their defense. They gave up more than 14 points just once all of last season, and it came in a 21-7 semifinal loss to eventual state champions Central Phenix City. They may lack some of that star quality this year, but this defense will still be good enough to keep them in most games.

Daphne seems to be entering this season a little under the radar, which is a bit of a surprise to me for a program that has been a consistent winner for a long time. They are still breaking in a young QB in Sophomore JJ Thibodeaux, but he has shown a lot of potential so far. He made a sideline throw on the run last week that was incredible. The O-line will be led by Junior Jaivale Fredericks, who has an offer from Florida State. The front seven on defense should be a force, as they return multiple college prospects in Edge Rusher Talib Graham, and DT Marquaes Lambert.

This region is a complete toss-up this year with no one team standing out so far. My preseason pick to win it was Daphne, and I'll be sticking with them for now.

Prediction:  Daphne 20, Mary G. Montgomery 17

Sloth Nationzz Week 3 Picks

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  6-2

(#1)  Saraland (7-0) at  Gulf Shores (2-5)  at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium Saraland   Gulf Shores 7-0 (6-0)  Record 2-5 (2-3) 6A-R1  Class/Region 6A-R1 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 83.6  Power Rating 72.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Saraland as a 9 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Saraland Spartans defeated Gulf Shores by a score of 31-7 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Gulf Shores and Saraland have met 12 times on the field.... Saraland holds a 10-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Saraland has started this season out on fire. After a great battle in week one, The Spartans followed that up by handing Blount their worst loss in program history with a 59-6 stomping. Saraland has KJ Lacey and his cast of incredible wide receivers and excellent coaching.

Gulf Shores is learning that life on top of the mountain isn't quite as easy, losing their first two games of the season after winning 15 games in a row. Gulf Shores starting quarterback is out for a few weeks, but Kolin Wilson ran for 359 yards in his debut at quarterback for the Dolphins. He is committed to Mississippi State.

However, without a passing attack, I find it hard to believe the Dolphins will knock off Saraland.

My Prediction: Saraland is just a powerhouse and I fully expect to see them back in a state title game. Gulf Shores will improve once their quarterback returns, but for now it is another loss for the Dolphins.

Prediction:  Saraland 42 Gulf Shores 20

Opelika (7-1) at  (#1)  Auburn (7-0)  at Duck Samford Stadium Opelika   Auburn 7-1 (4-1)  Record 7-0 (5-0) 7A-R2  Class/Region 7A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking #1 75.8  Power Rating 86.2 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Auburn as a 12 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Auburn Tigers defeated Opelika by a score of 28-21 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Auburn and Opelika have met 99 times on the field.... Auburn holds a 49-47 edge in the games played.

Comments:    One of the biggest rivalries in the state is in Lee County for these two 7A powers. Opelika is fairly new to 7A but Auburn is not. It does not matter as this game is always very very close.

Auburn has looked extremely good like many of us predicted in the offseason, but I think Opelika might have surprised some people with how good they have started the season with a new coaching staff. This game will have the stands filled and with region standings on the line, and of course the all important bragging rights for the area, who will win?

Opelika has highly sought after Auburn University commit Malik Autry on the defensive line. Auburn has found themselves a gem in the hands of wide receiver Peyton Plott who transferred in from Carroll of Ozark and is currently committed to Georgia Southern. I think this will be another edition of an absolute classic for both squads but someone has to win. Both teams have defeated out of state teams that were far worse than them. I think it boils down who's got the home field, which points towards Auburn.

My Prediction: I think Auburn wins a close one, and Opelika shows that they are really good, but Auburn is elite

Prediction:  Auburn 31 Opelika 27

James Clemens (5-2) at  Bob Jones (4-4)  at Madison City Schools Stadium James Clemens   Bob Jones 5-2 (4-1)  Record 4-4 (2-3) 7A-R4  Class/Region 7A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 74.0  Power Rating 81.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Bob Jones as a 10 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The James Clemens Jets defeated Bob Jones by a score of 34-31 in week 3 at Home  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Bob Jones and James Clemens have met 13 times on the field.... Bob Jones holds a 7-6 edge in the games played.

Comments:    A game happening in Huntsville which should tell us a lot about Class 7A Region 4 for this season. The Patriots have come out of nowhere it seems, with Johnny Jackson leading the Patriots while putting up stellar numbers through two weeks of play has caught the eyes of some.

However a win over James Clemens would certainly bring more eyes to a Bob Jones region title run. James Clemens has won this region four out of the last six years, which is quite an impressive feat.

Bob Jones have not won this region since 2015, but a win over the Jets here could help change that.

My Prediction: I think Bob Jones gets a big win here and starts to get the attention they deserve.

Prediction:  Bob Jones 28 James Clemens 17

Keith (4-4) at  (#10)  Verbena (6-1)  at Red Devil Stadium Keith   Verbena 4-4 (3-2)  Record 6-1 (4-1) 1A-R4  Class/Region 1A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking #10 23.5  Power Rating 19.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Keith as a 2 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Verbena Red Devils defeated Keith by a score of 22-6 in week 3 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 6 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Verbena and Keith have met 3 times on the field.... Verbena holds a 2-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    A region game right here for two teams that have not faced one another since 2017. Keith has seen a lot of success since 2018, and I believe that boils down to Anthony Lumpkin.

Before he arrived, Keith had only had one playoff win in school history. Under his coaching, they have won three playoff games since he began coaching for the Bears.

Coach Brothers for Verbena has also done well, taking them to their first playoff game back in 2022 since the 2016 season. I think both squads will be very well coached and should make for a great 1A matchup.

My Prediction: Give me the Keith Bears to win and capture their first region game of the season.

Prediction:  Keith 20 Verbena 14