A Look Ahead: Football season heads toward play-off games
Just like that, the high school football season is coming to a close.
Teams will wrap up regular season play this week. Phil Campbell and Tharptown are playing for pride as their seasons will end this week. Red Bay, Russellville and Vina will continue for at least one more week in the playoffs.
Here are this week’s matchups:
PHIL CAMPBELL
Phil Campbell will host Hackleburg, one of the longest-running rivalries in the area, Thursday night. The two teams have played each other 83 times, with Hackleburg holding a solid edge of 49 wins to the Bobcats’ 33 wins and one tie.
The Panthers won this game last year 22-12.
Both teams have struggled this year. The Bobcats are 3-6, with two of those wins coming against Vina and Phillips. Hackleburg is 4-5 with wins coming against Shoals Christian, Cherokee, Phillips and Vina.
RED BAY
Red Bay travels to Wilson Friday night in a warm-up for the playoffs. The Tigers and Warriors have met four times, with both teams getting two wins each.
Red Bay is looking to cap off an undefeated regular season: The Tigers have outscored their opponents 319-95 this year.
Red Bay won last year’s contest against Wilson 28-20.
Wilson is 2-6 on the season and getting outscored 131-281. Look for the Tigers to complete their 14th 10-win season Friday night.
RUSSELLVILLE
The Golden Tigers will host Central Friday night as they prep for the opening round of the playoffs. The Golden Tigers have never lost in this series, going 8-0-1.
Russellville dominated last year’s game, winning 62-34.
The Golden Tigers are 7-2 and have outscored their opponents 240-122. Their only losses were to top-ranked Jasper and an upset loss to Hamilton.
Central is 3-6 on the year in Class 4A.
THARPTOWN/VINA
Tharptown will host Vina Friday night.
The Red Devils are play-off bound next week with wins against Shoals Christian, Cherokee and Phillips. Vina’s overall record is 3-6, and the Red Devils have been outscored by their opponents 339-130 on the season.
Tharptown is 1-7, with the Wildcats’ only win coming at the start of the season at Shoals Christian. The Wildcats play in one of the toughest 2A regions in the state with Red Bay, Addison, Colbert County and Sheffield.
Tharptown won this game last year 10-0.
