Decatur’s Matthews is a go for Huntsville

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Decatur High head coach Jere Adcock confirmed Tuesday that running back Josh Matthews will play Thursday night against Huntsville.

The team’s leading rusher from last season sat out the opener against Austin with an injured hamstring. Adcock said Matthews likely won’t get 20 carries but that he will see significant playing time.

High school football rankings

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Class 5A Hartselle moved up one spot to No. 3, thanks to a loss by Spanish Fort (which previously held that ranking). Tanner is now fifth in 2A, and R.A. Hubbard remains at No. 3 in the Class 1A poll.

R.A. Hubbard received one first-place vote, and that wasn’t compliments of this voter.

To view the complete rankings, just click on the RANKINGS tab above.

Attendance for Austin-Decatur game drops

– posted by Cody Whitlock

The gate for last Friday night’s game between Austin High and Decatur at Ogle Stadium was less than last year’s.

Check out this brief story from Daily staff writer Bayne Hughes on the attendance.

Austin-Huffman moved to Thursday

– posted by Michael Cummings

At Austin practice today, head coach Jeremy Perkins told me the Black Bears’ game at Huffman, which was originally scheduled for Friday, will now be played Thursday. 

Kickoff is still scheduled for 7 p.m.

Austin defeated crosstown rival Decatur in both teams’ season openers this past Friday. It was the Black Bears’ first win over the Red Raiders since 2006.

Last season, Austin defeated Huffman 27-16 at Ogle Stadium for Perkins’ first victory with the program.

Priceville helmets pay tribute

– posted by Michael Cummings

At Priceville practice today, I got a closer look at the Bulldogs’ new Michigan-inspired helmets. And I now have a new appreciation for them.

In the middle of each helmet, above the earholes, there’s a circle with two sets of initials separated by a line: DD/WS. Those initials stand for Danielle Downs and Will Stevens, two Priceville grads who died in the April 27 tornadoes.

First-year Bulldogs coach Dirk Strunk, who tragically lost his daughter Katie in the 2007 Enterprise tornado, said the team is proud to honor Downs and Stevens.

“It’s one of those things where we want to do something special for them and their families,” said Strunk.

Priceville beat West Morgan last Thursday in its season opener. It was the program’s first win since Aug. 28, 2009, against Falkville.

The Bulldogs open Class 4A, Region 8 play Friday at Central-Florence.

This week’s games

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Thursday’s game
Decatur vs. Huntsville at Milton Frank

Friday’s games
Athens vs. J.O. Johnson at Goldsmith-Shiffman
Austin at Huffman
Brewer at Hartselle
Colbert County at Clements
Danville at Sheffield
Decatur Heritage at Valley Head
East Limestone at Muscle Shoals
Elkmont at West Morgan
Falkville at Tanner
Hatton at Sulligent
Lawrence County at Russellville
Priceville at Central-Florence
R.A. Hubbard at Phillips
Tharptown at Addison
W. Limestone at Ardmore
Wilson at East Lawrence

And if you missed my column today, click here.

Random rumblings

– posted by Cody Whitlock

(Note: Daily Bama writer Michael Casagrande’s piece on Carson Tinker motivated me to drop this mini-editorial. If you haven’t read it, click here. You will be blessed.) 

Every so often, high school football games serve more than just their intended purpose.

This week, I witnessed two occasions in which that proved true.

Friday night scores, recap

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Austin 35, Decatur 25
Arab 48, Brewer 6
Hartselle 23, Athens 0
Albertville 28, East Limestone 24
Lawrence County 22, East Lawrence 12
Elkmont 41, Ardmore 7
West Limestone 28, Clements 22
Colbert Heights 38, Danville 6
Sumiton Christian 34, Falkville 14
Tanner 49, Westminster Christian 13
Donoho 37, Decatur Heritage 0

And today’s headlines:

Bragging rights: Austin — Walker carries Black Bears in stopping Decatur’s streak. 

Stingy Hartselle blanks Athens in season opener: New QB Aldridge shines in first start for Tigers.

Lawrence County beats its rival: Red Devils spoil home opener for East Lawrence.

Decatur Heritage struggles in opening loss: Donoho blanks the Eagles 37-0.

Roundup: Special teams lift Tanner to win against Westminster Christian.

Kneejerk reactions: Hartselle-Athens

— posted by Michael Cummings

Hartselle dominated Athens in a 23-0 victory Friday night at Golden Eagle Stadium, and there’s plenty to talk about. Follow me past the jump for a few kneejerk reactions to what was an intriguing game.

Quick hits: Hartselle 23, Athens 0

— posted by Michael Cummings

Hartselle 23, Athens 0

Quick-hit recap: Hartselle made a smooth transition to a new starting backfield with 268 rushing yards in a dominant shutout win at Athens. A year after all-state quarterback Will Lang and all-state running back Malcolm Fossett led the Tigers to the Class 5A semifinals, new starting quarterback Deacon Aldridge and new starting running back Blake Slayton both rushed for more than 100 yards to keep up the winning. The defense pitched a nearly perfect game, limiting Athens and its own new-look backfield to 27 rushing yards.

Statistical quick hits: Aldridge rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. He used his athletic ability to extend plays and make defenders miss on quarterback options. He scored Hartselle’s first touchdown on a 37-yard run on fourth-and-10 late in the first half.

Slayton rushed 11 times for 113 yards. His longest carry went for 47 yards late in the second half as Hartselle’s experienced offensive line wore down Athens.

Quotable: “It’s like coach (Bob Godsey) said at halftime. ‘That was a pretty good first half, but it’s got to be better. You’ve got to get better every play.’ And we did. We got better every play.”
— Hartselle senior center Will Swann. The Tigers led 10-0 at halftime.