Three of the Deep South’s best high school football programs – two from Tennessee and one from metro Atlanta – will be in the Tennessee Valley for the first week of Alabama high school football.
Briarcrest Christian (Tenn.), the school best known for producing lineman Michael Oher of “The Blind Side” fame, plays at Madison Academy in first-year coach Bob Godsey’s first game.
In the Shoals, Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) makes the trip from metro Nashville to play at Florence in Braly Municipal Stadium, and Bob Jones travels to Memphis to play Christian Brothers (Tenn.).
James Clemens, meanwhile, plays host to Grayson (Ga.), the powerhouse team from suburban Atlanta that’s advanced to the Georgia 7A semifinals in three of the past four seasons with a star-studded roster that has included Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe and Clemson back-up quarterback Chase Brice.
“We know Grayson is going to be a test and may be the most talented team of anybody in Alabama outside of one or two teams in the state so it should be a really good measuring stick for us,” James Clemens coach Wade Waldrop told AL.com earlier this month.
Both games are set for Friday night.
On to this week’s picks for Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley:
Thursday’s games
Decatur at Huntsville
This series resumed in 2016 after a four-year hiatus, with Decatur winning in 2016 and 2018 and Huntsville winning in 2017. Decatur will starting show its defense is improved after allowing 26 points per game last year. Decatur 22-15
Deshler at Muscle Shoals
Deshler has a new coach and Muscle Shoals has a new quarterback. What’s not new? Muscle Shoals LB and Alabama commit Jackson Bratton anchoring the Muscle Shoals defense. Muscle Shoals 28-14
Friday’s games
Grayson (Ga.) at James Clemens
Grayson QB C.J. Dixon is committed to Illinois, and 6-foot-3 receiver Ryan King is committed to Georgia Tech. The Jets will need to find a way to slow that combo to have a chance to win. Grayson 31-21
Briarcrest Christian (Tenn.) at Madison Academy
Ole Miss commit Jabari Small is a 5-foot-10, 190-pound ball of energy for Briarcrest’s offense, and the defense is anchored by 6-foot-5, 300-pound uncommitted lineman Omari Thomas. That’s a tough task for the Mustangs. Briarcrest 24-21
Madison County at Buckhorn
Buckhorn scored just 84 points last year and won just two games, but one highlight was the season-opening victory over Madison County. Expect Buckhorn to win its 11th straight game in the series. Buckhorn 20-15
Grissom at Hazel Green
Grissom snapped a six-game losing skid to Hazel Green last season. Can the Tigers make it two wins in a row? The Magic 8-ball says yes. Grissom 23-21
Columbia at Lee-Huntsville
Everybody knows Columbia has lost 32 straight games and has struggled offensively for three straight seasons. Lee keeps the Eagles skid going. Lee 31-12
Hartselle at Austin
Austin finished 2018 with three straight losses, including getting shutout in the first round of the playoffs. The Black Bears definitely want to wipe those memories away. Austin 14-12
Mae Jemison at Gardendale
Mae Jemison makes the trip to metro Birmingham for the season opener. It won’t be a fun trip. Gardendale 35-20
Asbury at Brindlee Mountain
Something says Brindlee Mountain will end its 14-game losing streak. Brindlee Mountain 19-15
Other games
Thursday
West Limestone 30, Tanner 23
Brooks 20, Lauderdale County 14
R.A. Hubbard 18, Cherokee 12
Friday
Bob Jones 28, Christian Brothers 24
Holly Pond 28, New Hope 21
Westminster Christian 32, DAR 17
Locust Fork 38, St. John Paul II 35
Oneonta 24, Priceville 10
Ardmore 46, West Morgan 42
Arab 28, Boaz 27
Clements 10, Elkmont 7
Falkville 21, Danville 14
Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) 40, Florence 27
Fort Payne 17, Pell City 14
Colbert County 29, Central-Florence 17
Sheffield 20, Wilson 19
Collinsville 31, Plainview 14
Red Bay 26, Colbert Heights 14
Shoals Christian 23, Tharptown 21
Decatur Heritage 24, Phillips 17
Waterloo 48, Woodville 20
Saturday’s game
Geraldine 24, Crossville 20
Off or playing preseason game: Albertville, Athens, Brewer, Douglas, East Lawrence, East Limestone, Fyffe, Guntersville, Hatton, Ider, Lawrence County, Lexington, Mars Hill, North Jackson, North Sand Mountain, Phil Campbell, Pisgah, Randolph, Russellville, Section, Scottsboro, Sparkman, Sylvania, Valley Head
Josh Bean covers high school sports and recruiting for AL.com.
