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 5 Picks

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  12-4

Cold Springs (5-6) at  (#5)  Winston County (12-1)  at Malcolm Blake Stadium Cold Springs   Winston County 5-6 (3-3)  Record 12-1 (5-0) 2A-R6  Class/Region 2A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking #5 36.5  Power Rating 49.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Winston County as a 15 point favorite. Last Meeting:   The Winston County Yellow Jackets defeated Cold Springs by a score of 56-34 in the first round of the playoffs on the road  on Fri., Nov. 8 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Winston County and Cold Springs have met 14 times on the field.... Winston County holds a 12-2 edge in the games played. Comments:    Cold Springs comes in 3-1 just having shut out Cleveland 46-0. Cold Springs relies heavily on the punishing running style of Matt Williams. They aren't going to wow anyone with speed but they execute well and could be a difficult out for a lot of teams.     Winston County comes in 4-0, giving up just over 6 points a game while scoring just over 46. The Yellow Jackets are lead by dual threat Landon Kelley at QB. He can break a long run in a heartbeat and then throw over to the top of the defense the next play. He and Chris Clemmons are becoming a dangerous combination.     I have been big on Winston County early, but as crazy as it sounds, this may be their toughest challenge to this point. Cold Springs has some bruisers and if they can slow the game down and it's close in the 4th, who knows? At the end of the day, I really like this Winston County team and I don't think this is their week to lose.   Prediction:  Winston County 34 Cold Springs 16

Carbon Hill (1-9) at  Vinemont (7-4)  at Eagle Stadium Carbon Hill   Vinemont 1-9 (0-7)  Record 7-4 (4-3) 3A-R5  Class/Region 3A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 21.2  Power Rating 36.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Vinemont as a 17 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Vinemont Eagles defeated Carbon Hill by a score of 45-7 in week 5 on the road  on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Vinemont and Carbon Hill have met 11 times on the field.... Vinemont holds a 10-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Carbon Hill comes in 1-2, having only mustered 8 points in their last two games. They did score their lone win against Curry during their opening game by a score of 20-14. Hard to find a lot of information on Carbon Hill, but from what I gather, they had less than 125 total yards against Hanceville last week.

Vinemont comes in 3-1, with their only loss being in 4OT to Phil Campbell. The last time Vinemont started 4-1 was 2012. I like to give some coverage to teams that we don't see a lot, but unfortunately, we don't have a ton of information available for those teams, Vinemont being one of them.

I think Vinemont being in some close battles already this year helps them a great deal in what could be a tight game. Vinemont has shown the ability to score in bunches, which could be an issue for Carbon Hill. If Carbon Hill can find a way to score, this could be a battle.

Prediction:  Vinemont 38 Carbon Hill 13

Florence (5-6) at  Bob Jones (6-5)  at Madison City Schools Stadium Florence   Bob Jones 5-6 (5-2)  Record 6-5 (4-3) 7A-R4  Class/Region 7A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 73.6  Power Rating 82.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Bob Jones as a 11 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Florence Falcons defeated Bob Jones by a score of 26-23 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Bob Jones and Florence have met 21 times on the field.... Bob Jones holds a 13-8 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Florence comes in 1-2 having lost to some pretty strong teams to start the season but rebounding with a thrashing of lowly Albertville two weeks ago 51-0. Florence has found their footing with opportunistic defense and solid special teams. The offense seems to be a step behind. That will need to change in a hurry.

Bob Jones, who was considered a strong candidate for region champion this year, is 3-1 but lost a heartbreaker to James Clemens. As goes QB Johnny Jackson, so goes Bob Jones. Jackson is coming off a 4 TD pass performance against Grissom.

Florence has shown a stout defense at times, even against good teams, but they have seemed to wear down. Bob Jones has an exciting offense and will try to move the ball quickly up and down the field behind the arm of Jackson. If Florence can play 4 quarters consistently then this could get interesting. This game usually is.

Prediction:  Bob Jones 31 Florence 21

Mae Jemison (3-7) at  Fort Payne (10-3)  at Wildcat Stadium Mae Jemison   Fort Payne 3-7 (2-4)  Record 10-3 (6-0) 6A-R8  Class/Region 6A-R8 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 61.1  Power Rating 64.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Fort Payne as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Fort Payne Wildcats defeated Mae Jemison by a score of 49-6 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Fort Payne and Mae Jemison have met 5 times on the field.... Fort Payne holds a 5-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Mae Jemison comes in 2-2, with 2-0 mark in the region and on a two game winning streak. Mae has done a good job getting pressure on QB's this year, which could spell issues for Fort Paynes passing game.

Fort Payne comes in 1-2 but with a 1-0 mark in the region after a close 14-13 victory over Southside Gadsden. Dax Varnadore will lead the Fort Payne Wildcats from the QB spot. He likes to sling it all over the field and often looks for his favorite target Blake Griggs.

Can Mae get enough pressure to disrupt Varnadore's rhythm? If not, it could be a long night for the Jaguars defense. I think Mae will have a hard time keeping the passing game under wraps.

Prediction:  Fort Payne 24 Mae Jemison 20

kodyaufan2 Week 5 Picks

Last Week:  4-0    Season Total:  13-3

(#3)  Spring Garden (11-1) at  Valley Head (6-5)  at Tiger Stadium Spring Garden   Valley Head 11-1 (6-0)  Record 6-5 (3-3) 1A-R8  Class/Region 1A-R8 #3  ASWA Ranking NR 46.5  Power Rating 38.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Spring Garden as a 6 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Spring Garden Panthers defeated Valley Head by a score of 32-13 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Valley Head and Spring Garden have met 31 times on the field.... Valley Head holds a 19-12 edge in the games played.

Comments:    We have reached the point in the season where pretty much any matchup between unbeaten teams becomes noteworthy. These two teams are the favorites to win 1A Region 8, which just adds further significance to this one as a region championship could be on the line.

One thing you won't see much of from Valley Head is passing. This offense, led by QB Titan Blevins, is built on the power run game. They are going to run the ball right at you and dare you to stop it. LB Ben Johnson will lead a defense allowing just 10 ppt this season. He is a high-motor player who always seems to be the first person to the ball, and he will also contribute offensively with his fair share of carries.

If there's one thing you can be confident in with this Spring Garden team, it's their play on the line of scrimmage. This veteran line, led by seniors Mason Woods, Jacob Welsh, Hayes Garmon, and Tanner Ruark should be second-to-none in 1A up front on both sides of the ball. They should match up well with what Valley Head wants to do offensively.

There won't be much passing in this one, but there should be plenty of physical play in the trenches. These teams seem to match up well with each other on paper, so this should be a great game.

Prediction:  Spring Garden 26, Valley Head 21

Greene County (6-4) at  (#6)  Tuscaloosa Academy (12-3)  at Knights Stadium Greene County   Tuscaloosa Academy 6-4 (3-3)  Record 12-3 (5-1) 2A-R5  Class/Region 2A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking #6 35.6  Power Rating 54.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Tuscaloosa Academy as a 21 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Tuscaloosa Academy Knights defeated Greene County by a score of 49-14 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Tuscaloosa Academy and Greene County have met 3 times on the field.... Tuscaloosa Academy holds a 3-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is probably not a game on many peoples' radars this week, but the amazing turnaround in Greene County is too good to be ignored as the Tigers look to further prove themselves this week against one of the favorites in Class 2A.

While they still racked up nearly 400 yards of offense, Tuscaloosa Academy struggled putting points on the scoreboard for the first time this season as they escaped Isabella with a 21-12 victory. Preston Lancaster added another 285 yards and multiple TDs, but also threw an interception. Everyone knew this offense would be elite, but the defense has been better than expected, allowing just 12 points over the last 3 games.

We've got a pretty incredible story brewing over in Eutaw this season. The Greene County Tigers haven't won more than 5 games in a season since 2011 and finished dead last in this region in 2023. Yet here they sit at 3-1 with a 2-0 record in region play, both wins coming over teams that made the playoffs a year ago. They knocked off Sulligent 28-6 last week, with an opportunistic defense forcing 5 turnovers and returning a fumble for a score. This defense will be aggressive, which could make them susceptible to some big plays, but this is a fun team to watch.

This game probably won't be very close, but if Tuscaloosa Academy gets bitten by the turnover bug, things could get interesting very quickly. Regardless, I expect this game to be much more competitive than last year.

Prediction:  Tuscaloosa Aca. 40, Greene Co. 16

Hokes Bluff (8-3) at  Anniston (7-6)  at Lott/Mosby Memorial Stadium Hokes Bluff   Anniston 8-3 (5-2)  Record 7-6 (5-2) 4A-R6  Class/Region 4A-R6 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 51.5  Power Rating 62.7 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Anniston as a 13 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Hokes Bluff Eagles defeated Anniston by a score of 37-18 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Anniston and Hokes Bluff have met 7 times on the field.... Hokes Bluff holds a 4-3 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Anniston was a team many had pegged as a dark horse in 4A North. Hokes Bluff was very much overlooked coming into the season after making the move up to 4A, but if they can stay healthy, they could challenge for the Region 6 crown.

Anniston started slow a week ago, leading just 18-10 at the half, but they ultimately outgained Alexandria 407 to 176 in a 40-16 victory. QB Damon Pope has looked good so far this season, and he added 2 rushing TDs and a passing TD to his season total. After being held to just 6 points in their season-opener against Beauregard, they have scored 102 points in their last two games. While the Bulldogs lost some great players from last season, they are still loaded with talent. Senior DB Jaden Dobbins holds an offer from Arkansas State, and Sophomore OL Sharontae Bailey is already receiving D1 scholarship offers as well.

There were expectations that this was going to be a really good year for Hokes Bluff, but I'd venture to say very few thought they'd look as good as they have through three games. Bryce Whitaker is back under center after missing the second half of last season with an injury. The Junior QB is extremely versatile. He did most of his damage in the air against Southside-Gadsden, ran wild against Etowah, and then did a little bit of both last week against White Plains. Senior Connor Willingham anchors the line on both sides of the ball, and at 6'5, 295 lbs he could eventually play on Saturdays. But I can't talk about the Eagles without mentioning Coach Mike Robertson, who is in his 29th season at the helm. Not many coaches get to coach in a stadium bearing their name, which just shows how revered Coach Robertson is up there in Hokes Bluff.

There's no doubt in my mind that these two teams are going to be threats to make deep playoff runs if they stay healthy. The teams should be pretty evenly-matched up front, but I'll be interested to see how Hokes Bluff handles the speed and athleticism of Anniston's skill players. This is my favorite matchup of the week.

Prediction:  Anniston 28, Hokes Bluff 20

Northside (8-3) at  Shelby County (8-3)  at Wildcats Stadium Northside   Shelby County 8-3 (4-2)  Record 8-3 (5-1) 5A-R3  Class/Region 5A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 57.0  Power Rating 61.0 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Shelby County as a 6 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Shelby County Wildcats defeated Northside by a score of 35-28 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Shelby County and Northside have met one time on the field.... Shelby County holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is definitely not a matchup I thought I'd be writing about before the season started, but a month into the season these two teams that combined for just 6 wins last season are sitting here undefeated and with realistic dreams of hosting a 1st Round playoff game.

Shelby County was one of two 2-8 teams that made the playoffs from this region last year, and now they've already doubled that win total in just four games. The Wildcats are certainly a run-dominant team, running for 391 yards against Lincoln, 267 against Holtville, and another 364 against Sipsey Valley. However, when they do throw the ball it tends to result in chunk plays. The defense is playing great right now, allowing 14 points or fewer in all four games.

After missing the playoffs last season in 4A, I doubt many would have expected things to get much better in 5A, but the Rams quickly dispelled that notion with their 48-14 dismantling of Montevallo to open region play. Then last week the Rams overcame a second-half monsoon to knock off Selma in overtime. RB Bennett Green leads a rushing attack that has been running wild all year. He carried the ball 29 times last week for 161 yards and 3 TDs. Although this offense won't put up big passing numbers, QB Jackson Rhodes provides just enough of a threat through the air to keep the defense honest. This defense has been spectacular these last three weeks, barely allowing 400 total yards over the last three contests combined.

While staying undefeated is a nice prize, this game has major playoff implications. The winner moves to 3-0 in region play, and in a 7-team region such as this one, 3 region wins is usually enough to make the playoffs.

Prediction:  Northside 35, Shelby Co. 19

Sloth Nationzz Week 5 Picks

Last Week:  3-1    Season Total:  11-5

Lee-Scott Academy (5-5) at  Randolph County (7-4)  at Hulond Humphries Stadium Lee-Scott Academy   Randolph County 5-5 (3-3)  Record 7-4 (4-2) 3A-R4  Class/Region 3A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 51.7  Power Rating 54.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Randolph County as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Randolph County Tigers defeated Lee-Scott Academy by a score of 44-21 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Randolph County and Lee-Scott Academy have met one time on the field.... Randolph County holds a 1-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Lee Scott's first big test of their time in AHSAA has finally arrived when the Warriors take a trip up to Wedowee to face the historic Randolph County Tigers. Back in Week Zero I wrote in my report of their matchup versus Excel that their first big test would be this game. Well it's here and both teams are undefeated.

This game will tell us a lot about who is going to probably host a playoff game this November with the loser likely hitting the road. Lee Scott will have to deal with the physicality Randolph County brings. They run that wishbone and you know it's gonna be a tough run every single time.

We saw Lee Scott succeed against Excel who was also physical. Randolph County will have to deal with the speed and play of Lee Scott. If Randolph County wants to win, they will need to run the ball. If Lee Scott wants to win, they gotta get some stops and let their offense score quick. Randolph County would rather not play from behind and have to throw. Get out early and make them throw it.

My Prediction: I think Randolph County is really good and will make a run for the title. It's been an excellent start for Lee Scott, but they take their first loss of their AHSAA tenure.

Prediction:  Randolph County 26 Lee Scott 21

Elmore County (7-3) at  Beauregard (5-6)  at Hornet Stadium Elmore County   Beauregard 7-3 (4-2)  Record 5-6 (4-2) 5A-R4  Class/Region 5A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 59.5  Power Rating 67.6 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Beauregard as a 10 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Beauregard Hornets defeated Elmore County by a score of 31-13 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Beauregard and Elmore County have met 19 times on the field.... Beauregard holds a 11-8 edge in the games played.

Comments:    The Hornets and Panthers will tie up for a chance to see who will likely host a playoff game. Beauregard has bounced back after losing to 6A Wetumpka. Elmore County has looked strong as well.

Both teams boast solid defenses with that being the strong point of each teams. The Hornets will be hosting Elmore County. The real question is, which offense will break through?

I think Beauregard has played the tougher schedule, but Elmore County has played better, although against not as strong competition. This will be a tight football game.

My Prediction: My Friend, David Parker is a big believer in if the head coaches son is at quarterback, that team will be good. Well Cub Jones, son of Head Coach for Beauregard Justin Jones is the starting quarterback. I think Beauregard wins in a close game.

Prediction:  Beauregard 15 Elmore County 14

(#4)  Elba (11-3) at  Brantley (6-4)  at Brantley Field Elba   Brantley 11-3 (6-1)  Record 6-4 (4-3) 1A-R2  Class/Region 1A-R2 #4  ASWA Ranking NR 42.0  Power Rating 40.5 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Brantley as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Elba Tigers defeated Brantley by a score of 57-53 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Brantley and Elba have met 48 times on the field.... Elba holds a 35-13 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Another game with likely playoff hosting potential. These two can definitely light up a scoreboard. With Jayden Parks at quarterback for Brantley, and Auburn commit Alvin Henderson for Elba.

Henderson has once again been on breaking records and running the ball all over the place for Elba. Parks has been throwing the ball around which is rare for 1A. I think these two will score a lot and it will boil down to whose defense can make a stop.

My Prediction: I think Brantley gets that critical stop and wins a high scoring contest.

Prediction:  Brantley 56 Elba 49

Ashford (6-6) at  Pike County (4-5)  at Bulldog Stadium Ashford   Pike County 6-6 (5-2)  Record 4-5 (4-3) 4A-R2  Class/Region 4A-R2 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 39.4  Power Rating 36.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Ashford as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Pike County Bulldogs defeated Ashford by a score of 19-6 in week 5 on the road in overtime on Fri., Sep. 20 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Pike County and Ashford have met 30 times on the field.... Pike County holds a 17-13 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This is a great battle right here. Pike County, a historic program with a long list of region titles, state titles, and more, versus Ashford, a program with not as much historic success. However we are in the present and Ashford is looking to rewrite that.

They have not won a region title since 2003. Pike County is looking to get back to winning region titles and playoff games. I think whoever wins this game will host a playoff game.

Pike County has hosted their fair share of playoff games. But Ashford hasn't even made it to the playoffs since 2014. Who will win this battle in the Wiregrass?

My Prediction: Give me Ashford to win this football game! I think they're the better team, and give me them to make the playoffs and have Homefield advantage!

Prediction:  Ashford 22 Pike County 8