Here are five games to catch in the Huntsville area this week, followed by the full schedule.
MUSCLE SHOTS (5-1) AT DECATUR (6-0)
Time/Place: 7pm, Friday, Ogle Stadium
Last week: Class 6A, No. 8 Muscle Shoals lost 29-26 to sixth placed Hartselle. Tenth-placed Decatur won 65-0 at Columbia.
Region: Decatur is 3-0 in Region 8 and takes first place with Hartselle. Muscle Shoals is a game down at 2-1.
The Thin: Decatur is 6-0 for the first time since 2010. The Red Raiders are chasing their first regional championship since 2007. … Decatur is No. 2 on the 6A scoring chart with 45.2 points per game. Muscle Shoals is sixth at 39.2. … The Red Raiders have two shutout wins this season, both by the same number of points and both at a Huntsville City School team. Ryan Kirk had two touchdown runs against Columbia. … Muscle Shoals have won their last four encounters against Decatur, including 24-22 last season, to take a 7-5 streak lead. In the second half of last year’s game, the Red Raiders missed three field goals and an extra point, and failed to convert a 2-point try that would have leveled the score.
HUNTSVILLE (4-2) IN FLORENCE (5-2)
Time/Place: 7pm, Friday, Braly Municipal Stadium
Last week: Huntsville won 34-7 at Albertville. Florence won 38-35 at Bob Jones.
Region: Both teams are 3-1 in Class 7A, Region 4, sharing second place.
The Thin: Huntsville has been fighting for its first place in the playoffs since 2017. The Panthers have already surpassed their overall wins over the past two seasons (two). They last won four regional games in 2013. … Jacks McClung passed for 149 yards and three touchdowns against Albertville. … Florences Jahlil Hurley, an Alabama player, blocked a field goal attempt by Bob Jones at the last second to seal last week’s win. He also had a 29-yard catch to set up the Falcons’ field goal on the previous drive. Leo Glover rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns and threw two TD passes. … Florence defeated Huntsville 56-14 last season to extend his lead in the series to 10-3. The Panthers’ last straight win came in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.
BOB JONES (3-3) AT SPARKMAN (4-2)
Time/Place: 7 p.m., Friday, Sparkman Field, Harvest
Last week: Bob Jones lost 38-35 against a visit to Florence. Sparkman lost 41-17 to visiting James Clemens.
Region: Both teams are 2-2 in Class 7A Region 8 and with James Clemens in fourth place.
The Thin: This duel is crucial as six teams are in contention for the four Region 4 playoff spots. … Bob Jones fell behind Florence 28-0 in the first quarter but fought back to level the score at 35-35 in the fourth quarter. Ray Hardy passed for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for 118 yards and a TD. … Sparkman had only allowed 33 points all season to get into James Clemens’ game. The senator’s offense, which came in averaging 50 Class 7A points per game, was kept in check. … The White Brothers meet for the fourth time as head coaches. Kelvis (Bob Jones, Mae Jemison) has a 2-1 lead over Laron (Sparkman, Tanner). … Bob Jones bounced back from a 21-6 halftime deficit to beat Sparkman 25-21 last season. Hardy rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns and threw a TD pass. … The Patriots lead the series 31-18.
WEST LIMESTONE (5-2) AT WEST MORGAN (5-1)
Time/Place: 7pm, Friday, Rebels Stadium, Trinity
Last week: West Limestone beat the visit to Wilson 34-26. West Morgan lost 21-6 at Deshler.
Region: West Morgan is 3-1 in Class 4A Region 7 and lies second via a straight tiebreaker with Rogers. West Limestone is 2-2 and tied for fourth with Central-Florence and Brooks.
The Thin: West Morgan entered the showdown with Deshler averaging 44 points per game; The Rebels posted their lowest score since being banned by Deshler in 2020. …West Morgan were aiming for their first 6-0 start since 2003. … West Limestone is on a three-game winning streak. Easton Smith rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns against Wilson. … The Wildcats have already lost to Brooks, so a win here is crucial to staying in the playoff race. … Smith had a TD run in last year’s 31-14 win over West Morgan. The Rebels lead the series 13-11.
PISGAH (5-1) ON NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN (3-3)
Time/Place: 7pm, Friday, Dobbins Field, Higdon
Last week: Class 2A, Pisgah in 6th place beat visiting Whitesburg Christian 41-7. North Sand Mountain won 49-13 at Sand Rock.
Region: Pisgah is 4-0 in Region 7 and tied for first place with Fyffe. North Sand Mountain is 3-1 and in third place.
The Thin: Pisgah will have to be careful not to get caught as he heads into next week’s showdown against leaders Fyffe. … The Eagles rebounded from their first loss of the season and dominated Whitesburg, forcing four turnovers and keeping the Warriors out of the end zone through the fourth quarter. … North Sand Mountain has won three times in a row. Landon Keller passed for 131 yards and three touchdowns against Sand Rock. … Pisgah defeated North Sand Mountain 44-20 last season to put the Bison on a four-loss streak. The Eagles lead 34-17 in the series.
The full week 8 schedule in the Huntsville area
Thursday
Buckhorn in Lee Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium
Elkmont near Clements
Lawrence County in East Limestone
Madison County at Westminster Christian
New Hope at St. John Paul II, Discovery Middle, Madison
Friday
Albertville at Grissom, Milton Frank Stadium, Huntsville
Arabs at Boaz
Ardmore at West Point
Danville near Asbury
Hartselle in Athens
Austinat James Clemens, Madison City Schools Stadium
Bob Jones at Sparkman
Brewer at Fairview
JB Pennington at Brindle Mountain
Columbia at Cullman
DAR at Randolph
Decatur Heritage in Woodville
Muscle shoals at Decatur
Douglas at Crossville
Red Bay at Falkville
Hazel Green in Fort Payne
Huntsville in Florence, Braly Municipal Stadium
Gadsden City at Mae Jemison, Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville
Madison Academy in Vinemont
Priceville in North Jackson
Pisgah at Nordsandberg
Section in Whitesburg Christian, Madison County Elementary School, Gurley
Sardis in Scottsboro
Lexington at Tanner
West Limestone at West Morgan