Here are five games to watch in the Huntsville area this week with the full schedule below.
HARTSELLE (2-0) AT CULLMAN (2-0)
Time/place: 7 p.m., Friday, Woodard Stadium
In the past week: Hartselle defeated visiting Jackson-Olin 39-6. Cullman defeated visiting Jasper 42-21.
The thin one: This is the 101st meeting between the Highway 31 rivals. Hartselle won 35-14 last season, and the Tigers prevailed in 10 of the last 13 meetings to take a 49-47-4 series lead. …Hartselle’s Izayah Fletcher caught six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s win. … Hartselle forced five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions — against Jackson-Olin. … This is the Tigers’ first game of the season on the road. It’s the second of three straight home games for Cullman. … Bearcats quarterback Ryan Skinner had four touchdowns — two passing and two rushing — against Jasper. … Hartselle coach Bryan Moore went 1-1 against Cullman while he coached at Jasper (2018-19).
JAMES CLEMENS (0-2) VS. BOB JONES (1-1)
Time/place: 7 p.m., Friday, Madison City Schools Stadium
In the past week: Bob Jones defeated visiting Athens 44-21. James Clemens lost 42-21 at Mountain Brook.
The thin one: James Clemens has won the last four Madison Bowls. Bob Jones has a 6-4 lead in the city rivalry. … Jets quarterback Gio Lopez had a touchdown pass and ran in last year’s 35-28 overtime win. In the loss to Mountain Brook, he passed for 339 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a pair of TDs. … Bob Jones quarterback Ray Hardy had three rushing touchdowns and 407 total yards against James Clemens last season. Quenton Hubbard caught five passes for 200 yards. … The Patriots rushed for 408 yards and five touchdowns against Athens. Bob Jones held the Golden Eagles to 170 yards of offense. … James Clemens hasn’t started 0-3 since his inaugural winless season in 2012.
HUNTSVILLE (0-1) VS. GRISSON (1-1)
Time/place: 7 p.m., Friday, Milton Frank Stadium
In the past week: Huntsville lost 35-20 to visiting Oxford. Grissom lost 23-0 at Hazel Green.
The thin one: Ten of the last 11 on-field meetings in this Rocket City rivalry have gone to Huntsville, including last year’s 13-6 win. The Panthers lost the 2020 matchup due to COVID-19 issues. … Huntsville quarterback Jacks McClung had three interceptions in last year’s game to help lead the Panthers. Sims Bowman kicked two field goals. … McClung threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns against Oxford. The Panthers lost two fumbles without forcing a turnover. … Grissom mustered just 141 yards of offense against Hazel Green. The shutout loss came a week after the Tigers scored 34 points against Russellville.
DESHLER (2-0) AT WEST LIMESTONE (2-0)
Time/place: 7 p.m., Friday, James Kennemer Stadium, Lester
In the past week: West Limestone beat visiting Clements 56-20. Deshler beat visiting Russellville 14-7.
The thin one: West Limestone have won the last two meetings in this series, including 21-19 last season, after Deshler took seven of the first eight meetings. … Deshler outscored West Limestone 329-268 last season and led 19-14 after three quarters, but a touchdown pass from Colin Paterson in the fourth quarter lifted the Wildcats. Patterson threw three touchdown passes against Clements last week. Easton Smith needed just seven carries to put up 203 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He has 367 yards and seven touchdowns this season. … Deshler overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit to beat Russellville. The Tigers rushed for 204 of his 239 yards.
DOUGLAS (2-0) TO ARAB (2-0)
Time/place: 7:00 p.m., Friday, Ciudad Arab Schools Sports Complex
In the past week: Arab blanked host Brewer 35-0. Douglas won 56-7 in DAR.
The thin one: Douglas is aiming for his third 3-0 start under third-year coach Brandon Lyles. Arab last opened 3-0 in 2003. … This is only the third meeting between these programs. Arab won in 2016 and 2017 with a combined score of 110-26. … Douglas rushed for 369 of his 481 total yards against DAR. The Eagles forced five turnovers. Jonathan Fountaine scored touchdowns via a 70-yard rush, an 85-yard kickoff return and a 28-yard reception. … Arab’s Dake Franklin rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns on the 23rd against Brewer.
Milestones
Guntersville coach Lance Reese won his 100th game last week when the Wildcats defeated Lawrence County 55-0. Reese is 100-37 in 13 seasons and is now tied with Joe Chorba for the most wins in program history. Chorba went 100-23-6 from 1948 to 1960. He is one half of Guntersville’s Chorba-Lee Stadium namesake, along with former coach and manager Percy Lee.
Decatur’s 28-14 victory over archrival Austin last week was the 650th win in Red Raiders history, according to AHSFHS.org. Decatur became the 13th team in state history to reach the 650-win mark. Hartselle (643 wins) are now the closest team to join the club, followed by Eufaula (640).
The complete Huntsville area Week 3 schedule
Thursday
Brindlee Mountain in Asbury
Elkmont at Phil Campbell
Hazel Green at Lee-Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium
Friday
Albertville in Florence, Braly Municipal Stadium
Douglas in Arabic
Ardmore on Brewer
Athens in Decatur
Sparkman in Austin
Scottsboro at Boaz
Bob Jones vs. James Clemens, Madison City Schools Stadium
Buckhorn in Gadsden City
Columbia at Muscle Shoals
Clements in Lauderdale County
Susan Moore in Danville
GIVE in New Hope
Decatur Heritage at Valley Head
Eastern Limestone in Fairview
Sheffield at Falkville
Huntsville vs. Grissom, Milton Frank Stadium
Crossville at Guntersville
Hartselle in Cullman
Fort Payne at Mae Jemison, Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville
Madison Academy at J. B. Pennington
Madison County at Priceville
North Jackson in Christian Westminster
North Sand Mountain at Fyffe
Saint John Paul II at Randolph
Pisgah at Sand Rock
Section in Collinsville
Tanner in Tharptown
Deshler in West Limestone
Brooks at West Morgan
Ider at Whitesburg Christian, Madison County Elementary School, Gurley
Woodville at Cedar Bluff
