The 2019 Alabama high school football season kicks off this week with plenty of questions for teams in metro Birmingham.
Will Pinson Valley win a third straight Class 6A title? Can Hoover bounce back after failing to advance to the championship round? How will Andrew Zow fare in his first season at Bessemer City? Can Hueytown RB Roydell Williams run for 3,000 yards? How will Hewitt-Trussville and Thompson fare after the graduation of quarterbacks who signed with Alabama?
We’ll start getting answers to those questions and more this week.
Check out this week’s picks:
Thursday’s game
Hueytown at Homewood
Homewood has to replace 10 starters on defense, which probably isn’t good news when trying to corral Alabama RB commit and Hueytown senior Roydell Williams. The Patriots limited him to less than 100 yards last year, and he probably remembers that. Hueytown 24-14
Friday’s games
Mortimer Jordan at Pleasant Grove
Get ready to see two phenomenal quarterbacks – Pleasant Grove’s Zyquez Perryman and Mortimer Jordan’s Kourtlan Marsh. The defense able to slow the opposing QB gets this win. Pleasant Grove 29-28
Calera at Pelham
Pelham doesn’t have much experience along the offensive line, which could be a problem against 330-pound Calera senior and Alabama commit Jayson Jones. Expect Pelham to win a close one. Pelham 17-14
Huffman at Bessemer City
The Andrew Zow Era begins with a win for the homestanding Purple Tigers. Bessemer City 28-19
Oak Mountain at Chelsea
Oak Mountain QB Evan Smith enjoyed his coming-out party last year against Chelsea. Expect another big opener for Smith, the QB with an ordinary name but extraordinary game. Oak Mountain 38-21
Pinson Valley at Hewitt-Trussville
Both teams lost season openers last year and both will have new starting quarterbacks. Can Pinson and DB GaQuincy McKinstry, the state’s top 2021 prospect, stop Hewitt junior and Auburn RB commit Armoni Goodwin? I’m picking the 7A team to beat the 6A team. Hewitt-Trussville 31-27
Hoover vs. Central-Phenix City in Montgomery
Hoover hasn’t lost a season opener to an in-state school since 1999, but playing the defending Class 7A champ is something new. The Bucs will show they’re still an elite team. Hoover 24-21
Saturday’s games
Clay-Chalkville vs. Dothan
This is the first game for the new Dothan High, created by consolidating the city’s two high schools into one. Clay-Chalkville won’t make it an easy opener. Clay-Chalkville 20-10
Thompson vs. Davidson
Did you know Thompson is 4-0 in season openers under coach Mark Freeman? Make it five in a row. Thompson 31-17
Minor at Ramsay
Ramsay’s defensive line might be the state’s best, and they’ll starting showing it in the season opener. Ramsay 21-7
Other games:
Mountain Brook 20, Northridge 15
Philadelphia (Miss.) 23, Center Point 21
Corner 28, Northside 14
Jackson-Olin 21, Fairfield 7
Maplesville 20, Fultondale 16
Helena 31, McAdory 30
Gardendale 35, Mae Jemison 20
St. Clair County 21, John Carroll 13
Leeds 24, Sylacauga 23
Midfield 21, Hale County 16
Montevallo 24, Marbury 14
Walter Wellborn 19, Oak Grove 10
Childersburg 29, Shelby County 24
Spain Park 16, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 15
White Plains 18, Vincent 14
Linden 21, Wenonah 16
Woodlawn 12, Sumter County 6
Autauga Academy 24, Bessemer Academy 14
Saturday, Aug. 24
Carver-Birmingham 21, Parker 17
Off or playing in preseason game: Briarwood Christian, Shades Valley, Tarrant, Vestavia Hills
Josh Bean covers high school sports and recruiting for AL.com.