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's Week 1 Picks

Florence (6-5) at  Pinson Valley (4-6)  at Willie Adams Stadium Florence   Pinson Valley 6-5 (5-2)  Record 4-6 (3-3) 7A-R4  Class/Region 6A-R6 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 72.6  Power Rating 69.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Florence as a 1 point favorite. Last Meeting:   The Pinson Valley Indians defeated Florence by a score of 18-3 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Pinson Valley and Florence have met 3 times on the field.... Pinson Valley holds a 2-1 edge in the games played. Comments:    This was a really good game last year that Pinson won on the field, but Florence won in the record books. Kenny Morson starts his second year at the helm for Florence, going 8-3 in his first season. Florence will look to lean on QB Leo Glover, who completed 58% of his passes last year while throwing 11 tds and just 3 picks. Glover also has deceptive speed. The D-Line should be strong, anchored by absolute man-child Kijavien Freeman who will probably be on some recruiting boards soon enough.     Pinson Valley finds themselves in a familiar position, debuting a new coach in Gentrell Freeman. Good news is, Freeman coached under both Pat Nix and Sam Shade at Pinson. He is no stranger to how things work there. Cam Jennings, QB, has a big arm and made a lot of impressive throws last year. Of course, throwing to the departed TJ Metcalf and Amare Thomas can help you look good.     The loss of those great receivers and the loss of Jahlil Hurley from Florence will make the passing matchup of Pinson's offense and Florence's defense be the key to this matchup. Pinson Valley will need Jayden Lewis to be a difference maker. He played well at the slot last year and can take it to the house from anywhere.   Prediction:  Pinson Valley 24 Florence 21

(#7)  Hartselle (9-3) at  (#6)  Austin (8-3)  at Austin Football Field Hartselle   Austin 9-3 (4-1)  Record 8-3 (5-2) 6A-R7  Class/Region 7A-R4 #7  ASWA Ranking #6 74.9  Power Rating 73.8 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Austin as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Austin Black Bears defeated Hartselle by a score of 35-34 in week 1 at Home  on Fri., Aug. 23 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Austin and Hartselle have met 58 times on the field.... Hartselle holds a 32-25 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Hartselle won this game last year 45-17. But make no mistake, this game should be closer this year and this is a big game for both teams. Hartselle is coming off a deep run in the 6A playoffs and look to be a player again this year. Hartselle will have to deal with the graduation of offensive lineman Reid Ellis, QB Jack Smith and WR standout Izayah Fletcher. Hartselle does return the younger of the Fletcher brothers, Ri, who is a standout RB who recorded over 1300 yards last season while amassing 18 tds on the ground and 3 on kick returns. The secondary duo of CB Jakaleb Goodwin and FS Peyton Steele has caused more breakups than Tinder.

Austin will try to stop the potent running attack of Hartselle with a good defensive line anchored by Achilles Woods. The graduation of All-State middle linebacker Druce Clark will be a void they have to fill and one Hartselle will try to exploit.

I don't see either team making a lot of progress in the passing game in this game. Hartselle debuting a new QB and finding that new #1 receiver will take time, and Austin will be facing one of the best secondaries in North Alabama. But the running games of Ri Fletcher and Gavin Fuqua from Austin will be where this game is decided. The special teams for Hartselle may play a big factor too.

Prediction:  Hartselle 35 Austin 17

Demopolis (10-3) at  American Christian (8-3)  at Freedom Field Demopolis   American Christian 10-3 (5-0)  Record 8-3 (6-1) 5A-R3  Class/Region 4A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 65.3  Power Rating 57.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Demopolis as a 6 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Demopolis Tigers defeated American Christian by a score of 29-20 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   American Christian and Demopolis have met 4 times on the field.... Demopolis holds a 4-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Demopolis won this game 41-16 last year. American Christian is one of those teams who aren't afraid to step up classifications. At the end of the day, the theory is, even if you lose if makes you better. Hard to argue since they have been a very successful program for a number of years.

Playing a very good larger program like Demopolis often means you need to control field position. The loss of All-State punter Chance Henderson hurts in that regard. ACA does have All-State LB Caleb Lockridge returning and All-State offensive lineman Neal Hodo returning. QB Kai Young enters his junior season with ACA and he will be the cog that makes the ignition fire. Kid throws a pretty deep ball, but I imagine it will be hard to get time and for his receivers to get separation against Demopolis.

Demopolis doesn't have a huge line, but they are solid. The biggest thing for Demopolis is they return RB Keishawn Rowser. He only ran the ball 71 times last and had 18 TDs. That means he scored 25% of the time he touched the ball. And even furthering the problems for ACA's passing attack is FS Ja'Marion Bennett from Demopolis. Kid is an absolute INT machine. ACA will be a player in 4A, but I don't think game stacks up well for them.

Prediction:  Demopolis 56 ACA 13

Dora (8-3) at  (#9)  Winfield (10-2)  at Estes Hudson Stadium Dora   Winfield 8-3 (6-1)  Record 10-2 (5-1) 4A-R5  Class/Region 3A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking #9 49.1  Power Rating 48.0 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Winfield as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Winfield Pirates defeated Dora by a score of 23-20 in week 1 on the road  on Thu., Aug. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Winfield and Dora have met 4 times on the field.... Winfield holds a 3-1 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Dora looks to capitalize this season on the ability of QB Kesean Pryor who completed 64% of his passes last year while accounting for 33 TD's combined through the air and on the ground. Coach Chavis Williams likes to bring a physical style of football on Friday Nights. I look for that continue with Cordova transfer Cade Channell who is 6'4 260 and Carbon Hill transfer Charlie Wagar who stands 6'3 and weighs in at 310.

Winfield will have to try to counter the size and physicality of Dora with creativity and creating opportunities in space. This is no easy task, especially with the graduation of All-State athlete Drew Cook. Not sure who Winfield will have step up, but Keylan Hughes can lay the lumber and is a solid running back.

At the end of the day, I don't know how Winfield counters Dora's physicality. Winfield will have another good season, but Dora looks to compete for 4A North this season and that trek starts with this game.

Prediction:  Dora 42 Winfield 13

Colbert County (6-5) at  Brooks (8-5)  at E.D. Redding Stadium Colbert County   Brooks 6-5 (4-2)  Record 8-5 (5-2) 3A-R7  Class/Region 4A-R7 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 43.6  Power Rating 50.7 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Brooks as a 9 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Brooks Lions defeated Colbert County by a score of 35-7 in week 1 on the road  on Thu., Aug. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Brooks and Colbert County have met 15 times on the field.... Colbert County holds a 10-5 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Colbert County comes in having lost two in a row to Brooks, but dominating the series. In order to get back in the win column they will have to figure out how to replace the graduated QB Cannon Berryman, RB Demetrius Jones and FB Daivon Qualls. Those three accounted for a lot of their offensive production last season. Athlete Mikah McCoy should figure heavily into their offensive plans. He has great speed and can get outside the tackles in the blink of an eye. Colbert County will also be replacing a lot on defense but watch for DE Frank Hayes. He is just a sophomore but had an impressive season as a freshman last year.

Brooks will be with a new starting QB this year as well with Garrett Burrough taking over the reigns. It should be noted, Burrough did play quite a bit last year and looked impressive during his time on the field. Of course some of the weapons Brooks had last year have graduated, namely Keenan Jones and Maddox Harden. Those two also anchored the secondary last year which proved to be one of the better secondaries in the area.

Both teams have a lot of questions on defense. This may be one of those early season games where the offenses are a little ahead. Next level prospect Carson Wheeler will anchor the Brooks O-line and look to open holes for Seth Walton. Colbert County will need to find some weapons to expose the inexperienced Brooks secondary. I think this may be a shootout.

Prediction:  Brooks 38 Colbert County 28

Aliceville (5-6) at  Pickens County (10-4)  at G.S. Spruill Stadium Aliceville   Pickens County 5-6 (4-2)  Record 10-4 (5-2) 2A-R5  Class/Region 1A-R5 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 38.6  Power Rating 35.1 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Aliceville as a 2 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Aliceville Yellow Jackets defeated Pickens County by a score of 21-13 in week 1 at Home  on Fri., Aug. 23 during the 2024 football season. Series:   Pickens County and Aliceville have met 84 times on the field.... Aliceville holds a 42-41 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Aliceville won this game big last year 55-12. However, Aliceville was a senior loaded team, especially for a 2A school. This year should be more competitive as both teams bring in rich tradition and great seasons from last year. Notably Aliceville will have to deal with the loss of All-State QB Tyjarian Williams and DL Kevin Wilder. They do return All-State WR Tyquan Simon. Lemarcus Bonner will be a threat on both sides of the ball, being a punishing linebacker and solid running back. Also as a dual threat you have to factor in Keanthony Wilder who plays WR and DB. Kid must have an NIL deal with Elmer's glue because if anything comes his way, he's snagging it, on offense or defense. Both are threats in the special teams game as well.

Pickens County will have to adjust to the major losses of All-State OL Davian Jones, as well as DL Jamarian Cohen and ATH Christian Byrd. Pickens County does return a really potent receiving corp of Santonio Jones and Kemaurion Plott. Aliceville does appear to have a really good secondary, but accounting for two really good receivers is going to be hard.

The major question here is, can Pickens County get the ball to their receivers in space without the secondary of Aliceville taking advantage and stealing some picks? Both teams are replacing a lot of important players from last year, but both teams are typically very good. I think this could be a very exciting game. Special teams will play into this game heavily.

Prediction:  Aliceville 35 Pickens County 20

(#6)  Sweet Water (9-2) at  (#10)  Clarke County (7-6)  at H.G. Prim Stadium Sweet Water   Clarke County 9-2 (5-0)  Record 7-6 (5-0) 1A-R1  Class/Region 2A-R1 #6  ASWA Ranking #10 31.5  Power Rating 34.1 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Clarke County as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Sweet Water Bulldogs defeated Clarke County by a score of 41-28 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Clarke County and Sweet Water have met 11 times on the field.... Clarke County holds a 8-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This will be the first time these teams have met since 1983. Both figure to be players in their respective classifications. Clarke County, who has been run heavy in the past, has to replace standout OL Jamichael Pugh. His presence will be missed as ATH AJ Ezell, who ran for over 1,400 yards last season, looks to lead this offense down the field. Ezell runs strong north and south and takes on contact with the best of them. On defense, Clarke County returns All-State linebacker Ethan Henson who will anchor the defense that gave up 18 ppg in the regular season last year.

Sweet Water returns All-State DL Jayson Dixon which is going to help them try to slow the running game of Clarke County. On offense, RB Elliott Lucy will be a featured player. Sweet Water likes to use a lot of pulling lineman to get Lucy out in space and let him use his superb cutback ability to find extra yards. Timothy Kelley also returns at QB/OLB. Kelley comes in at 6'3 205 and is a punishing runner in his own right. He also stands tall enough to see the defense well. Kelley also can lay the lumber on defense.

The most interesting thing in this match up is Clarke County's punishing running attack versus the hard hitting defense of Sweet Water. Ezell is going to get his, Sweet Water just needs to limit how much that really is. In the end, I like Sweet Water to edge by because of their speed and ability to make plays happen in space. But this one could go either way.

Prediction:  Sweet Water 20 Clarke County 16

kodyaufan2's Week 1 Picks

Handley (10-2) at  Valley (7-4)  at Rams Field Handley   Valley 10-2 (6-0)  Record 7-4 (4-1) 4A-R3  Class/Region 5A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 57.1  Power Rating 51.1 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Handley as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Handley Tigers defeated Valley by a score of 22-7 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Valley and Handley have met 39 times on the field.... Valley holds a 29-10 edge in the games played.

Comments:    This was a fantastic game a year ago, with Handley pulling out the narrow victory. I wouldn't expect this year's matchup to be much different when it comes to excitement, and the matchup between Handley's offense and Valley's defense should be fantastic.

It'll be the kickoff to what is sure to be a sentimental season for Valley, as it is likely to be their last before consolidation with Lafayette, so they'll be looking to make it a memorable one. They missed the playoffs with a 4-6 record last season, but their results suggest they weren't far away, as their biggest region loss was by 18 points. The talent is there for a playoff run.

The main attraction for this Valley team is sure to be the defensive secondary, which will be headlined by a trio of playmakers. CB Jay Harper and S Cam'Ron Dooley share a lot of characteristics. Both have good size and athleticism, but what really stands out is their tackling abilities. These two aren't going to shy away from contact, and they're very sure tacklers. Dooley plays both ways and does a little bit of everything on offense, lining up everywhere from wide-out to quarterback. CB Ian Crim-Davis is another name to watch in this secondary. His Hudl profile describes him as a 'Ballhawk Corner,' and that's exactly what you see on film. He's excellent at high-pointing the ball, a skill he displays on both offense and defense, and always seems to be around the ball.

Handley is a well-oiled machine at this point, serving as a legitimate RB pipeline to Division I college football. Jamarius Haynes became the third straight Handley RB to sign with a DI program, signing with Clemson after last season. He will be tough to replace, but Cardarius Lee has the potential to fill that void. Lee has a smaller frame than Haynes, but he is a hard, disciplined runner with good vision. QB Cannon Kyles returns for Handley. He has a rocket arm and the ability to make plays with his legs. Given Handley's reputation for being a run-first team with stellar offensive line play and a solid defense, combined with what should be a standout defense from Valley, I expect a fairly low-scoring game. Most of the points could come off turnovers.

Prediction:  Valley 26, Handley 14

Lipscomb Academy (13-0) at  (#1)  Saraland (14-1)  at Spartans Stadium Lipscomb Academy   Saraland 13-0 (0-0)  Record 14-1 (8-0) 4A-R3  Class/Region 6A-R1 NR  ASWA Ranking #1 0  Power Rating 81.1

Last Meeting:   This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Comments:    If Lipscomb Academy sounds familiar, it's likely for one of two reasons. The first is that they played and defeated Thompson 24-14 last year. The second is that new UAB head coach Trent Dilfer was the head coach at Lipscomb prior to becoming the Blazers' coach. You'll find no shortage of DI prospects in this one, which is why it will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Defending 6A champs Saraland will once again be headlined by their offensive attack, led by the four-headed monster of Juniors in QB KJ Lacey, RB Santae McWilliams, and WRs Ryan Williams and Dillon Alfred. Williams, an Alabama commit, became the first Sophomore to ever win Mr. Football in the state last season, and he could end being the top overall prospect in his class nationally. All four of those guys are rated as 3 Star prospects or higher by 247sports. But don't discount this Saraland defense, which gave up less than 20 ppg last season. Junior DL Antonio Coleman and Senior LB Jamison Curtis are respectively rated as 4 and 3 stars in their own right.

If you think Saraland is loaded with talent, take a look at Lipscomb's roster. There are no less than eleven players rated 3 stars or higher on this team, including a pair of Junior QBs. Jackson Kilburg was seen as the likely incumbent starter at QB until the arrival of transfer Deuce Knight just a couple weeks ago. With a strong O-line providing protection, a two-QB system could be a possibility, but their game against IMG Academy the week before this matchup could shine some light on the situation. The Lipscomb defense will be led by a pair of Tennessee commits in CB Kaleb Beasley and LB Edwin Spillman.

Saraland could be the best team in the state of Alabama this season, but they'll have a tall task in front of them against a Lipscomb team ranked #19 nationally coming into the season by MaxPreps.

Prediction:  Lipscomb (TN) 36, Saraland 21

Vestavia Hills (9-3) at  (#9)  Mountain Brook (8-4)  at Spartan Stadium Vestavia Hills   Mountain Brook 9-3 (5-2)  Record 8-4 (5-1) 7A-R3  Class/Region 6A-R6 NR  ASWA Ranking #9 74.2  Power Rating 75.9 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Mountain Brook as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Vestavia Hills Rebels defeated Mountain Brook by a score of 35-10 in week 1 on the road  on Thu., Aug. 24 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills have met 58 times on the field.... Vestavia Hills holds a 30-28 edge in the games played.

Comments:    You'll be hard-pressed to find a more even rivalry than this one, as Vestavia officially leads the all-time series 29-28-0. These teams have met at least once on the field every year since 1971, save for the Covid year in 2020. Mountain Brook has won the last five matchups.

All-state RB Cole Gamble returns for Mountain Brook, coming off a season in which he ran for 2,510 yards in 14 games. The Spartans ground-and-pound style should set him up for another big year. Coach Yeager's team is known for having one of the most unique offenses in high school football, which I like to call the 'Spartan Shift'. You could see everything from your typical pre-snap shift or sugar huddle to seven linemen, four linemen on one side of the Center, or linemen split 15 yards out wide.

That's the challenge that will face the Vestavia Hills defense, led by 5 Star Edge Rusher Jordan Ross, who is rated as the top Senior prospect in the state by 247sports. He's a 6'4, 230 lbs game-wrecker who will line up pretty much anywhere in the defensive front seven. Vestavia QB John Paul Head will be among the best in the state. He's used in a very Tim Tebow-like manner. Though not incredibly tall, he has a large frame built for inside runs, but he is also athletic enough to break through holes and into the open field. He's also deadly accurate on timing routes.

The matchup to watch will be the Mountain Brook O-line against Jordan Ross. Offensive line is usually the strength of Mountain Brook teams, yet Ross still had multiple tackles for loss in their game last year. This will be a very physical game, and each team will have a good idea of where they stand going forward after this one.

Prediction:  Vestavia Hills 27, Mountain Brook 17

Sloth Nationzz's Week 1 Picks

Pell City (1-9) at  (#6)  Moody (10-3)  at Bill Morris Stadium Pell City   Moody 1-9 (1-5)  Record 10-3 (5-1) 6A-R6  Class/Region 5A-R6 NR  ASWA Ranking #6 60.6  Power Rating 63.7 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Moody as a 5 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Moody Blue Devils defeated Pell City by a score of 28-24 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   Moody and Pell City have met 8 times on the field.... Pell City holds a 6-2 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Well in an unexpected turn of events, Pell City hired Rush Propst to be their head football coach. He has a lot of work to do, but if there is any man who could make the rebuild a reality, it would be Rush Propst. Pell City has a lot of momentum, but it is a long way to go for this program.

Moody is coming off their most successful season ever, and is looking to continue their winning ways. They return a lot of talent, including their running back who rushed for 20 touchdowns in Blaine Burke. Moody also has their leading tackler, Zane Smith back as well. They get to face Pell City at the right time.

Last season, Moody smashed Pell City. I think this game might be closer than people think, but ultimately I think Moody will pull away in the 2nd half.

Prediction:  Moody 45, Pell City 21

Dadeville (4-5) at  B.B. Comer (13-1)  at Legion Stadium Dadeville   B.B. Comer 4-5 (4-2)  Record 13-1 (7-0) 3A-R4  Class/Region 3A-R4 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 44.9  Power Rating 42.4 AHSFHS Power Ratings have Dadeville as a 1 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The B.B. Comer Tigers defeated Dadeville by a score of 35-21 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   B.B. Comer and Dadeville have met 19 times on the field.... B.B. Comer holds a 10-8 edge in the games played.

Comments:    These two teams had very successful seasons last year. More successful than many would had expected. Dadeville was a senior led team last year, and graduated a good amount of players. B.B. Comer brings back their running back who was great last season in Kamore Harris. They also return a lot of their talent.

I think B.B. Comer is set to make a return to the state title game with all their talent, and their head coach returning.

Dadeville does return their head coach, but graduated a lot. While I think Dadeville will be one of the top teams in their region, I do not think they will beat this B.B. Comer team, who has a lot of momentum. Give me B.B. Comer to take home the victory.

Prediction:  B.B. Comer 28 Dadeville 6

(#1)  Catholic Montgomery (15-0) at  McGill-Toolen (5-5)  at Lipscomb Park Catholic Montgomery   McGill-Toolen 15-0 (7-0)  Record 5-5 (4-4) 5A-R2  Class/Region 6A-R1 #1  ASWA Ranking NR 61.8  Power Rating 67.3 AHSFHS Power Ratings have McGill-Toolen as a 8 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Catholic Montgomery Knights defeated McGill-Toolen by a score of 21-0 in week 1 on the road  on Fri., Aug. 25 during the 2023 football season. Series:   McGill-Toolen and Catholic Montgomery have met 2 times on the field.... Catholic Montgomery holds a 2-0 edge in the games played.

Comments:    Catholic is coming off another huge successful season, and bring back their quarterback in Caleb McCreary. However they graduated a lot of starters, but Catholic is ready to get back to title contention so long as McCreary is taking snaps.

Toolen is coming off a down year going 5-5 on the season. When these two played last year, Catholic had their way with the Yellow Jackets. However with a new head coach and a new outlook, McGill is feeling they can get back to their title contention.

However it all starts with week one, and I think they need another year of rebuilding before they return. Catholic without Jeremiah Cobb will take a minute to get used to, but McCreary is great and will carry the offense. I am picking the Knights to defeat McGill.

Prediction:  Catholic Montgomery 31 McGill Toolen 14

Montgomery Academy (4-7) at  St. James (11-3)  at Carlisle Field Montgomery Academy   St. James 4-7 (4-3)  Record 11-3 (6-0) 3A-R2  Class/Region 4A-R3 NR  ASWA Ranking NR 51.4  Power Rating 53.2 AHSFHS Power Ratings have St. James as a 4 point favorite.

Last Meeting:   The Montgomery Academy Eagles defeated St. James by a score of 35-8 in week 2 at Home  on Fri., Aug. 30 during the 2024 football season. Series:   St. James and Montgomery Academy have met 50 times on the field.... Montgomery Academy holds a 29-21 edge in the games played.

Comments:    A classic Montgomery rivalry. Saint James is coming off their best season ever and a state title to their name. Montgomery Academy had a down year for their standards, perhaps it was the bump up to class 4A they were getting used to playing a higher level of football. Saint James won this game big last season, 42-14. Montgomery Academy leads the all time series 28-20.

Saint James lost a lot of starters but return their starting quarterback and Arkansas commit KJ Jackson. Alongside Georgia Southern commit Ziggy Holloway. Montgomery Academy graduated a lot, but returns DJ Vinson who has many division one offers.

With a late coaching change, Montgomery Academy could have another tough year. Saint James will look to rebuild their offense line, but I think the Trojans will get the victory over Montgomery Academy.

Prediction:  Saint James 28 Montgomery Academy 14