Get gridiron ready with fall sneak peek
By Bart Moss / For the FCT
Football season is about eight weeks away, and with the changes that resulted in reclassification, now is a good time to revisit the new regions and new schedules.
The Franklin County Times’ annual football season preview magazine will be published in mid-August with team information, coach and player quotes and much more, but Franklin football fans can get a head start on the excited by marking their calendars now.
The big movers were Tharptown and Phil Campbell. The Wildcats will make the leap from 1A to 2A. The Bobcats will move from 2A to 3A.
All other teams stayed in the same classes, but their regions changed – most significantly Russellville. All regions and schedules – other than home and away – will be in effect for two years.
Here are the new regions:
- 5A, Region 7: Russellville, Corner, Dora, Hamilton, Hayden, Jasper, Lawrence County and West Point.
- 3A, Region 8: Phil Campbell, Clements, Colbert Heights, East Lawrence, Lauderdale County, Lexington and Westminster Christian.
- 2A, Region 7: Red Bay, Tharptown, Addison, Colbert County, Hatton, Sheffield and Tanner.
- 1A, Region 8: Vina, Cherokee, Hackleburg, Mars Hill, Phillips, Shoals Christian and Waterloo.
Here are this year’s schedules for each team:
Phil Campbell Bobcats
Aug. 24 – OPEN
Aug. 31 – Red Bay
Sept. 7 – at Lexington
Sept. 14 – at Clements
Sept. 21 – Vina (HC)
Sept. 28 – at Phillips
Oct. 5 – Westminister Christian
Oct. 12 – Lauderdale County
Oct. 19 – at East Lawrence
Oct. 26 – Colbert Heights
Nov. 1 – at Hackleburg
Red Bay Tigers
Aug. 24 – Colbert Heights
Aug. 31 – at Phil Campbell
Sept. 7 – at Hatton
Sept. 14 – at Addison
Sept. 21 – at Belmont
Sept. 28 – OPEN
Oct. 5 – Sheffield
Oct. 12 – Colbert County
Oct. 19 – at Tanner
Oct. 26 – Tharptown (HC)
Nov. 2 – Wilson
Russellville Golden Tigers
Aug. 24 – East Limestone (Preseason)
Aug. 31 – Deshler
Sept. 7 – at Corner
Sept. 14 – Hayden
Sept. 21 – at West Point
Sept. 28 – at Haleyville
Oct. 5 – Lawrence County
Oct. 12 – Hamilton
Oct. 19 – at Jasper
Oct. 26 – Dora
Nov. 2 – at Central
Tharptown Wildcats
Aug. 24 – Shoals Christian
Aug. 31 – OPEN
Sept. 7 – at Sheffield
Sept. 14 – Colbert County
Sept. 21 – Tanner
Sept. 28 – Brilliant (HC)
Oct. 5 – OPEN
Oct. 12 – at Hatton
Oct. 19 – Addison
Oct. 26 – at Red Bay
Nov. 2 – at Vina
Vina Red Devils
Aug. 24 – Marion County
Aug. 31 – at Brilliant
Sept. 7 – Phillips
Sept. 14 – at Cherokee
Sept. 21 – at Phil Campbell
Sept. 28 – OPEN
Oct. 5 – Mars Hill
Oct. 12 – at Waterloo
Oct. 19 – Shoals Christian (HC)
Oct. 26 – at Hackleburg
Nov. 2 – Tharptown
Of course, football isn’t the only fall team sport. Three schools in Franklin County have volleyball programs. Here are their new areas:
1A, Area 14: Belgreen, Covenant Christian, Hackleburg and Phillips.
2A, Area 13: Tharptown, Addison, Sulligent and Winston County.
5A, Area 14: Russellville, Hamilton, Lawrence County and West Point.
