Viewing guide: Hartselle (14-0) vs. Vigor (12-2)

The most important storyline you need to know for this one is that the winner is crowned the state’s best in Class 5A, but here are some other factors worth weighing for tonight’s 7 p.m. clash at Bryant-Denny:

• This game pits 5A’s best defenses, with Vigor allowing 7.4 points per game and Hartselle following at 9.7 a contest.
• Considering that, this one could be decided by special teams, and Hartselle has the edge there. Kicker Gavin Marsh has booted several clutch field goals this postseason, including the game-winner with four seconds left in a come-from-behind win against Center Point. He also kicked three last week in the Tigers’ semifinal win over Briarwood Christian.
• Vigor’s defense features three SEC commitments. The Wolves are led by Alabama commitment Darius Philon (6-foot-1, 282 pounds) and Arkansas commitment Jamichael Winston (6-5, 226) on the defensive line and Kentucky commitment Jacoby Glenn at cornerback. Vigor has recorded five shutouts and has allowed 33 points in four postseason games entering tonight.
• A win tonight would be Hartselle’s first state championship. The school played for state titles in 1980 and 1981 but lost both tries.

 

Viewing guides: Hartselle, Tanner

Here are a few storylines for Friday night’s third-round games involving local teams:

The obvious test for both teams Friday night is handling a couple of road tests. Hartselle (12-0) heads to Center Point (11-1), while 2A Tanner (12-0) plays at Woodland (8-4). For Hartselle, it’s the second tough away game in as many weeks, as the Tigers rallied from an early 14-point deficit last week at Pinson Valley.

Both remaining teams win in contrasting styles. Tanner averages nearly 50 points per game, while Hartselle allows opponents fewer than 10. The Rattlers scored 39 last week in a win over Reeltown, last year’ runner-up, and have scored 30 or more points in 11 of 12 games this year. Hartselle’s defense will be tested once again Friday night, as Center Point has set a school record for points in a season.

The stakes are obvious — win and advance. A couple of wins by area teams could produce a pair of semifinal rematches. Assuming Briarwood beats Muscle Shoals, a win would pit Hartselle against Briarwood in a rematch from last year’s 5A semifinals, which Briarwood won in overtime by a field goal. If Tanner beats Woodland and Fultondale beats Lineville, the Rattlers would be paired with its Week 2 opponent. Tanner beat Region 7 foe Fultondale 24-7 in the second week of the season.

Viewing guide: Vestavia Hills (6-4) at Austin (7-3)

Storylines for tonight’s first-round game at Ogle Stadium:

• Austin was awarded a first-round game at home after a ruling against Clay-Chalkville stripped the Cougars of nine wins and their region title. The decision improved every team in the region by one spot, with Austin finishing as the runner-up.
• That ruling was held up in courts for more than a week, so Austin didn’t know which team it would play until a little more than 24 hours ago. It’ll be interesting to see how well the Black Bears have prepared amid distractions.
• Austin must slow Vestavia Hill’s running game. In the past three games, the Black Bears have been tested defensively, allowing 55, 38 and 42 points to Clay-Chalkville, Pell City and Hartselle. In last week’s 42-14 loss to Hartselle, the Black Bears allowed 425 rushing yards.
• This is Ausitin’s first playoff appearance under second-year head coach Jeremy Perkins and first since 2008. 

Viewing guide: Decatur (5-5) at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (10-0)

Storylines for tonight’s first-round playoff game in Tuscaloosa:

• Decatur finished fourth in Class 6A, Region 8 and enters as the underdogs against the Region 5 champion. Winners of 10 straight for the second time in school history, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa debuted in the 6A rankings at No. 9 after a Week 9 victory against Northridge. The Patriots scored a 35-14 win over then-No. 6 Northridge to clinch the region title in a matchup of undefeated teams. A 52-13 decision over 5A Demopolis followed and vaulted the Patriots to No. 5 in the latest rankings.
• Decatur beat Hillcrest in the second round of the 2001 state playoffs. The Red Raiders won that contest 33-14. DHS has now made the playoffs 15 out of the past 16 seasons.
• If Decatur wins and Austin beats Vestavia Hills, the city’s biggest rivals will square off in next week’s second round at Ogle Stadium.

Viewing guide: Athens at Decatur

Storylines for tonight’s game at Ogle Stadium:

• This game will serve as a final tune-up for both teams before the postseason arrives next week. Decatur finished fourth in Class 6A, Region 8, and Athens was the fourth qualifier in 5A, Region 8 after J.O. Johnson was ordered to forfeit all its wins.
• Both teams are coming off losses. Decatur has lost two straight against Hazel Green in Week 9 and Bob Jones last week. Athens lost to county rival East Limestone last week.
• Athens and Decatur renewed their rivalry last year, with Decatur winning 34-7 in the teams’ first game since 2007. Decatur leads the overall series 56-25-2.

Viewing guide: Austin at Hartselle

Storylines for tonight’s game at Hartselle’s J.P. Cain Stadium:

• With a win, Hartselle will finish the regular season unbeaten. The Class 5A No. 2 Tigers have nine straight wins, and only two other teams — the 2008 and 1979 squads — have recorded 10-win regular seasons.
• To join that exclusive club, Hartselle must slow one of the area’s highest-scoring offenses. Austin averages 35 points per game and has scored at least three times in each contest this season. Hartselle’s defense gives up 7.4 ppg.
• This game will be a final tune-up for both teams before the postseason arrives. Hartselle clinched the Class 5A, Region 6 championship with a win over Cullman last week, while Austin qualified as 6A, Region 7’s second seed.

 

Viewing guide: Hartselle at Cullman

Hartselle goes for the Class 5A, Region 6 title tonight against rival Cullman. (Decatur Daily photo by Jeronimo Nisa)

Storylines for tonight’s Class 5A, Region 6 clash in Cullman:

• The winner is the region’s top seed. Both teams have identical 6-0 region records. Overall, Hartselle is perfect at 8-0, while Cullman is 7-1. The Bearcats’ only hiccup came in Week 5 against non-region opponent Fort Payne.
• Emotions run high in this one. Cullman might be a bigger rival than Decatur for this Hartselle bunch. According to our friends at the Alabama High School Football Historical Society, these two teams have played 80 times, with Hartselle winning 37.
• Hartselle is giving up only 6.8 points per game, and the second-ranked Tigers will be challenged tonight against Cullman’s offense. The Bearcats are scoring nearly 40 a game, and, in last week’s 41-14 win over Curry, quarterback Zac Crocker went 13-for-16 for 155 yards and two TDs before halftime.   
• Hartselle beat Cullman twice last year, once during the regular season and again in the second round of the playoffs. Hartselle allowed the most points it had all season in a Week 9 meeting with the Bearcats, who scored 27 with the aid of a pair of trick plays.

For more on tonight’s game, read here.

Viewing guides: Austin and Decatur

A few storylines for tonight’s Decatur-Bob Jones and Austin-Pell City games:

• Both teams are coming off losses for the first time this season. Decatur lost at Hazel Green last week, while Austin came up short against Class 6A No. 3 Clay-Chalkville. Both have responded well after losses this year. Austin posted a 42-14 win over Athens following its only other loss. Decatur won two straight after a Week 2 loss to Huntsville and pieced together another two-game winning streak following a Week 5 loss to Hartselle.
• It’s the region finale for both. Austin already has a playoff berth secured. Decatur is in, barring an unlikely circumstance. (See previous post about Class 6A, Region 8 playoff race).
• Bob Jones is ranked fifth, and the Patriots have won three straight against their rivals from Morgan County. Those games were played in Madison, though. Tonight’s game is at Ogle Stadium. Decatur’s last win in the series came at there in 2008.  
• Pell City (4-4) has lost its last three games.    

For more on these games, click here.

Viewing guide: Clay-Chalkville at Austin

Storylines for tonight’s Class 6A, Region 7 showdown at Ogle Stadium:

• Austin scored its biggest win of the season last week with a 24-21 road win over Gadsden City. The Black Bears have an opportunity to upstage that win with another tonight. Clay-Chalkville enters unbeaten as the region leader and third-ranked team in 6A.
• Austin’s players and coaches say they still have more to prove and won’t be satisfied by simply getting into the playoffs. A win here would likely create a three-way tie for first place in the region.
• The Cougars beat Oxford — which defeated Austin 40-24 in Week 4 — by nine points. Clay-Chalkville also defeated Gadsden City by 14. 

Prediction: Clay-Chalkville 35, Austin 34

Viewing Guide: Hartselle at Athens

— posted by Michael Cummings

Hartselle travels to Athens tonight for a matchup of traditional Class 5A powerhouses. Both teams made the playoffs last season, but both also have plenty of holes to fill this year.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Athens’ Golden Eagle Stadium. Follow me after the jump for a few quick thoughts on what should be an entertaining game.