Here are five games to watch in the Birmingham area this week.

RELATED: Vote for the Birmingham area player of the week.

With only two weeks of regular season football remaining, region play in the Birmingham area ends this week and the top four seeds will be determined. There are still playoff spots open and lots jockeying for the final region order.

Region No. 1 and No. 2 seeds host first round games against designated region No. 4 and No. 3 seeds.

The complete schedule follows.

CENTER POINT (7-1, 4-1) AT OXFORD (6-2, 4-1) — 6A REGION 6

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Lamar Field, Oxford

Last week: Center Point was idle and Oxford fell 28-14 to Clay-Chalkville.

The skinny: Center Point leads the series 2-1, including winning 41-24 last season. Center Point was unranked last week and Oxford was No. 9. Center Point averages 29.75 points a game and allows 18.25 while Oxford scores 33.1 points and gives up 15.4.

Coaches: George Bates (86-51, 12th season) took over at Center Point (67-21, 6th season) in 2018 with playoff appearances each of the past five seasons. He also coached at Woodlawn (1-9, 1 year), Minor (26-11, 3 years) with three playoff appearances and Parker (12-10, 2 years) with one trip to the playoffs. Sam Adams (74-42, 10th season) has guided Oxford (18-13, 3rd year) to the playoffs each of the previous two seasons after coaching at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (56-29, 7 years) with six playoff appearances.

Playoff implications: Clay-Chalkville is the region champion, but the winner of this game earns the No. 2 seed and the loser is No. 3.

CENTER POINT players to watch: Offense — QB Deon Moore (UAB offer), RB Julius Finnerson, OL Jaylyn Rainey, WR Antonio Garfield, WR Mehki Brown. Defense — LB Terrence Tubbs, LB Malik Brown, LB Kaleb Parker Holt, DB Cameron Bonner, DB Jaquoryae Busby.

OXFORD players to watch: Offense — 3-star QB Mason Mims (offers from Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, UAB, more), WR Camare Hampton (offers from UAB, Jacksonville State), WR Nick Richardson, RB Jaydon Thomas, RB DK Wilson. Defense — 4-star DE Keenan Britt (offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, more), LB James Tapley, LB Hudson Gilman, DB Cedric Twyman, DB Latreveon Figgers.

HELENA (8-0, 5-0) AT BENJAMIN RUSSELL (6-2, 4-1) — 6A REGION 3

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Martin-Savarese Stadium, Alexander City

Last week: Helena beat Calera 49-0 and Benjamin Russell beat Briarwood 25-21.

The skinny: Helena leads the series 3-2, including winning 47-14 last season. Helena was ranked No. 6 last week and Benjamin Russell was unranked. Helena scores 41.8 points per game and surrenders 11.5 while Benjamin Russell averages 35.1 points and allows 21.

Coaches: Richie Busby (83-36, 11th season) has taken Helena (43-19, 6th season) to the playoffs three times and is only the second head coach for the Huskies. He also coached at Fultondale (40-17, 5 years) with five playoff appearances. Smitty Grider (139-70, 19th season) led Benjamin Russell (14-5, 2nd season) to the playoffs in his first season. He also coached at Dothan (14-16, 3 years), Hazel Green (4-7, 1 year), started the program at Park Crossing (38-9, 4 years) in 2014 with three playoff appearances, Beauregard (64-28, 8 years) with seven playoff appearances and earned his first head coaching position in 2005 at Central Coosa (5-5, 1 year).

Playoff implications: Both are guaranteed a playoff spot and a Helena win secures the region title, but a Benjamin Russell win means the Wildcats could earn the top seed, depending on how other region teams fare.

HELENA players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Jordan Washington (offers from UAB, Memphis, Tulane, more), WR/Return specialist Hunter Hale (injured, gametime decision), WR Nathan Jones, QB Carson Acker, OL Reece Mims, OL Grant Vines. Defense — LB Joseph Roberto (offers from Maryland, UAB, Washington State, more), 3-star LB Nathan Thomason (Memphis commit), DL Parker Copeland, 3-star DB JT Alvis (offers from Mississippi State, Missouri, Penn State, more), DB Kevin Pinkard, DB Desmon James (offers UT-Martin, Tennessee-Chattanooga), DB Eli Ray.

BENJAMIN RUSSELL players to watch: Offense — 4-star WR Malcolm Simmons (Auburn commit), QB Gabriel Benton (offers from Austin Peay, North Alabama, Alabama State, more), WR Cedarian Morgan, RB TJ Wilson, WR Chris Foster, OL Chaden Allen. Defense — LB Jy Hicks, DE Kalib Spivey (Auburn offer), LB Caden Hyde. CB Chris Wyckoff, S Quay Marbury.

HOMEWOOD (5-3, 4-1) AT BRIARWOOD (4-4, 3-2) — 6A REGION 3

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Lions Pride Stadium, Birmingham

Last week: Homewood beat Pelham 31-21 and Briarwood lost to Benjamin Russell 25-21.

The skinny: Homewood leads the series 11-6, including winning 34-10 last season. Neither team was ranked last week.

Coaches: Ben Berguson (81-47, 11th season) has taken Homewood (75-41, 10th year) to the playoffs each of the previous nine seasons after earning his first head coaching job at Spain Park (6-6, 1 year) with a playoff appearance in 2010. Matthew Forester (37-18, 5th season) played at Briarwood and was an assistant under legendary coach Fred Yancey, taking over the program in 2019. Forester has led Briarwood to the playoffs three of the previous four seasons.

Playoff implications: Both have playoff spots secured, but where they fall among the region top four is still to be decided along with Helena and Benjamin Russell.

HOMEWOOD players to watch: Offense — QB Will Myers, RB Evan Ausmer, WR Kylen Newell, OL Jaxon Brooks, WR King Walker. Defense — NG Randall Jaquez, OLB Talton Thomas, ILB Trust Darnell, CB Malek Smiley.

BRIARWOOD players to watch: Offense — OL Luke Schultz (Mercer commit), QB Josh Tompson, RB Cooper Higgins, WR Sawyer Click, WR Caleb Keller. Defense — CB Grey Reebals, DT Luke Dickinson, LB Luke Reynolds, DE Garrett Witherington, DT Max Luster.

SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN (7-1, 5-0) AT MOODY (7-2, 4-1) — 5A REGION 6

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Bill Morris Stadium, Moody

Last week: Southside beat Alexandria 49-21 and Moody fell to Leeds 24-21.

The skinny: Moody leads the series 2-1, including a 35-13 win last season. Southside Was ranked No. 7 last week and Moody was No. 5. Southside averages 34.1 points a game and allows 18.4 points while Moody scores 33 and gives up 12.4.

Coaches: Jake Ganus (17-4, 2nd season) took over at Moody in 2022, his first head coaching job, and guided the Blue Devils to the second round of playoffs last season. Miles Holcomb (25-26, 5th season) took over Southside (17-13, 3rd year) in 2021 and has led the Panthers to the playoffs each of the previous two years. He also coached at Crossville (8-13, 2 years) with one playoff appearance.

Playoff implications: A Southside win locks up the region title with Moody at No. 3 behind Leeds. A Moody win means the Blue Devils, Southside and Leeds all have 5-1 region records and tiebreakers will decide the order.

SOUTHSIDE players to watch: Offense — RB Mason Teague (172 rushes, 1,689 yards, 16 TDs), WR Cayden McMichael (33 catches, 553 yards, 6 TDs), OL Jake Stewart (no sacks allowed, 62 pancakes), OL Jamin Brown (Kentucky offer) (1 sack allowed, 78 pancakes), QB Jordan Bryan (46-62 passing, 810 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT, 19 rushes, 201 yards, 2 TDs). Defense — LB Tytan Rich (108 tackles, 18 TFL, 2 sacks), LB Brayden Bowers (98 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble), DB Koal Garrett (54 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 6 PBU), DB Silas Osborne (31 tackles, 3 INT, 6 PBU), DL Cameron Flowers (37 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks, 7 QB hurries).

MOODY players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Blaine Burke (Arkansas State commit), 3-star QB Charlie Johnston (offers from Pittsburgh, Louisiana Tech, Miami-Ohio, Toledo), WR KD Barnes, WR Braden Wright, WR Aidan Robinson, OL Brennan King, OL Jaxon Huckeba. Defense — 3-star DB Chase Jackson (Coastal Carlina commit), LB Zane Smith, LB Gavyn Baker, DB AJ Madison, 3-star DB Sidney Walton (offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Kentucky, UAB, more), DL Cam Mallory, DL Logan Hall, OLB Baroc Willis (Ole Miss offer).

THOMPSON (7-1, 6-0) AT HOOVER (4-5, 4-2) — 7A REGION 3

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., The Met, Hoover

Last week: Thompson beat Tuscaloosa County 39-0 and Hoover beat Chelsea 41-7.

The skinny: Hoover (Berry) leads the series 24-8, including a 40-10 loss in the 2022 playoffs after beating the Warriors 9-0 during the regular season. The teams have met in the semifinal round of playoffs each year since 2017 with Thompson winning all except 2017. Thompson was ranked No. 2 last week while Hoover was unranked. Thompson averages 43.1 points a game and allows 10.9 while Hoover scores 26.8 points and surrenders 22.9.

Coaches: Mark Freeman (254-56, 25th season) has led Thompson (90-19, 9th year) to four straight Class 7A titles and reached the championship game five straight seasons. Freeman also won two state titles at Spanish Fort (50-7, 4 years) with four playoff appearances, coached at Gulf Shores (13-9, 2 years) with a playoff appearance and won four state championships at Bessemer Academy (101-21, 10 years). Wade Waldrop (115-82, 18th season) led the Bucs (15-7, 2nd year) to the semifinals last season. He also coached at Florence (5-6, 1 year) with a playoff appearance loss to Thompson, at James Clemens (54-35, 8 years) with six playoff appearances and Chelsea (41-34, 7 years) with three playoff appearances.

Playoff implications: Thompson has locked up the region title regardless of this game, but Hoover’s spot among the top four is still in jeopardy with a loss to Thompson. There are other factors involved, but Spain Park has a slim shot at a region top four.

THOMPSON players to watch: Offense — QB Trent Seaborn (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, more), RB AJ Green (offers from Marshall, Arkansas State, more), RB Michael Dujon, WR Deuce Oliver (Eastern Kentucky offer). Defense — 3-star DB Kaleb Harris (Auburn commit), 4-star DB Anquon Fegans (offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Michigan, more), LB Jayden Davis, LB Tyler Hicks (offers from Austin Peay, UNA, Wofford).

HOOVER players to watch: Offense — 4-star WR/QB Jonah Winston (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, more), WR/RB Jordan Woolen (offers from UAB, Austin Peay, more), TE Chris Warren, OL Rashad Smith. Defense — 4-star LB Bradley Shaw (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, more), 3-star S Jeremy Cook (offers from Arkansas, Southern Miss, more), CB Jamar Moultrie, DL Pa Drammeh, DL Mike Nixon.

BIRMINGHAM AREA SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

THURSDAY

Bessemer Academy at Cornerstone

Carver at Ramsay

Dora at Oak Grove

Hanceville at Fultondale

Huffman at Parker

Jackson-Olin at Mortimer Jordan

Pell City at Pinson Valley

Valiant Christian at Banks

Woodlawn at Minor

FRIDAY

Bessemer City at Paul Bryant

Calera at Gadsden City

Center Point at Oxford

Chilton County at Pelham

Corner at Haleyville

Fairfield at Hayden

Helena at Benjamin Russell

Hewitt-Trussville at Chelsea

Homewood at Briarwood

Hueytown at Central Tuscaloosa

Jasper at Pleasant Grove

Leeds at Lincoln

McAdory at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Midfield at Fayette County

Montevallo at American Christian

Mountain Brook at Gardendale

Rehobeth at Shelby County

Shades Valley at Clay-Chalkville

Southside-Gadsden at Moody

Spain Park at Oak Mountain

Sparta at Coosa Valley

Tarrant at Carbon Hill

Thompson at Hoover

Vestavia Hills at Tuscaloosa County

Vincent at Thorsby

Wenonah at John Carroll

Some information provided by the Alabama High School Football Historical Society website.