Looking at football week ahead
The season gets into full swing this week with all teams playing. Phil Campbell, Red Bay and Vina will play their openers. Phil Campbell opens with Hamilton, and Russellville travels to Mars Hill. Thaptown will play their home opener, while Belgreen will go on the road for the first time.
Russellville (1-0) at Mars Hill (1-0) – Russellville opens the season with two straight tough games. The Golden Tigers opened the season beating Deshler 35-21. Russellville now has to turn their attention to Mars Hill. The Panthers beat Madison Academy last week 34-7. Russellville is 0-2 against Mars Hill, losing their only two meetings 27-24 and 31-30.
Phil Campbell (0-0) hosts Hamilton (0-0) – Both Phil Campbell and Hamilton will play their season openers this week. The Bobcats haven’t beaten the Aggies since 1986. Hamilton owns a 26-4-1 record against the Bobcats. Hamilton had their worst season in program history last year going 1-9. They averaged 25.8 points per game and gave up 46.4 points per game. They gave up a program record 464 points last year. The last time Phil Campbell and Hamilton met was in 2005.
Red Bay (0-0) travels to Lamar County (1-0) – Red Bay opens their season this week at Lamar County. The Bulldogs and Tigers last played in 2017 with Lamar County coming out on top, 21-12. The Bulldogs finished fourth in their region and lost to Tanner in the first round of the playoffs in a shootout 64-55. Lamar County is 7-2 historically versus Red Bay, and they’ve outscored the Tigers 231-115. Lamar County lost their opener last week to South Lamar, 12-6.
Vina (0-0) hosts Brindlee Mountain (0-1) – Vina and Brindlee Mountain have never met in football. The Lions were 0-10 last year, the worst season in the program’s short existence (six years). Brindlee Mountain scored 7.9 points per game and gave up 52.6. Brindlee Mountain lost their home opener to D.A.R. last week, 22-8.
Tharptown (0-1) hosts Waterloo (0-0) – Tharptown got off to a rough start losing to Danville, 68-0. The Wildcats should have an easier time this week hosting Waterloo. The Cougars went 0-9 last year, scoring 11.1 points per game and giving up 49. They were shut out five times – Brilliant, Cherokee, Sheffield, Hackleburg and Shoals Christian.
Belgreen (1-0) travels to Sumiton Christian (0-1) – Belgreen got their season off to a great start beating Shoals Christian, 20-6. The Bulldogs’ first road test will be a long one to Jasper. Again, a potential confidence boost to the startup program. The Eagles went 0-10 last year, the worst record in the 32-year history of their program. The Eagles averaged 6.2 points per game while giving up 33.8 points per game. Sumiton Christian lost their opener last week to Victory Christian, 51-7.
