Local teams wrap regular season

The final week of the high school football regular season has arrived.

Red Bay will close out the season by trying to get a win on the road at Fayette County. Tharptown and Vina will end their season facing off against each other.

Phil Campbell and Russellville will be tuning up for the playoffs. The Bobcats will host J.B. Pennington next week in the first round of the playoffs, while Russellville will host Lincoln.

PC (6-3) hosts Hackleburg (6-3)

Phil Campbell and Hackleburg is a rivalry that dates back to 1928. The two rivals have met 85 times in that timespan, with Hackleburg holding a significant advantage with a 49-35-1 record against the Bobcats.

Phil Campbell is coming off a 40-28 win over Danville this past week. The Bobcats are averaging 28.3 points per game and giving up 13.9.

Class 1A Hackleburg lost three games this year – to R.A. Hubbard, Hubbertville and Decatur Heritage. The Panthers are averaging 34 points per game and giving up 22.9.

The Bobcats and Panthers will face off Thursday.

RB (2-6) at Fayette County (5-4)

The Red Bay Tigers beat the Fayette County Tigers in their one and only meeting, this past year, 36-20. Since then Red Bay lost 19 seniors and has a new coach trying to rebuild the program.

Red Bay has two wins this year, beating Sheffield and Tharptown. Fayette County beat Hamilton this past week 34-13 – a team Red Bay lost to at the opening of the season 40-24.

RHS (8-1) at Madison Academy (8-1)

Russellville and Class 4A Madison Academy have never met on the field. Russellville had to forfeit this game this past year because of COVID-19 issues.

This will be the stiffest test for the Golden Tigers since they lost to Hartselle at midseason. Russellville has won three straight, beating Ardmore, East Limestone and Lee-Huntsville. Since losing their season opener to Briarwood Christian, the Mustangs have won eight straight games.

The Mustangs’ last three wins – against Madison County, New Hope and St. John Paul II – have been by a combined score of 121-17.

THS (3-6) hosts Vina (0-9)

Tharptown and Vina have a long–running rivalry that dates back to Tharptown fielding its first varsity team 15 years ago.

Vina leads this series 8-6, but Tharptown has been closing the gap in recent years.

While the Wildcats have struggled in their own Class 2A Region 8, they have won 11 straight in recent years against Class 1A Region 8 opponents. Vina has been riddled with injury issues all year and has been unable to get a win.