Here are five games to watch in the Birmingham area this week as the Alabama High School Athletic Association football regular season ends.

RELATED: Vote for the Birmingham area player of the week

The top four seeds in each region continue to the first round of AHSAA playoffs next week with region No. 1 and No. 2 seeds hosting games against designated region No. 4 and No. 3 seeds.

The complete schedule follows.

BAKER (7-2, 5-1) AT MOUNTAIN BROOK (7-2, 5-1)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Spartan Stadium, Mountain Brook

Last week: Baker beat Fairhope 21-16 and Mountain Brook downed Gardendale 56-42.

The skinny: Mountain Brook won the only previous game between the teams with a 41-7 victory last season. Baker was ranked Class 7A No. 8 last week and Mountain Brook was Class 6A No. 7. Baker averages 33.7 points a game and allows 24.5 points while Mountain Brook scores 34.4 points and surrenders 15.7 points a game.

Coaches: Steve Normand (28-23, 5th season) took the Baker job, his first head coaching position, in 2019 with playoff appearances each of the past three seasons. Chris Yeager (177-83, 22nd season) guided Mountain Brook (152-63, 18th year) to the Class 6A title game last season and has 13 playoff appearances with the Spartans. Yeager was also head coach at Jasper (5-15, 2 years) with a playoff appearance and West Blocton (20-4, 2 years) with two playoff appearances.

BAKER players to watch: Offense — QB Josh Flowers (Mississippi State commitment), WR Bryce Cain (Auburn commit), WR Kevin Beckham Jr. (Troy commit), RB Rod Taylor (Jacksonville State commit). Defense — LB Leland Normand, LB/DB Donovan Hudson, LB Quinterrius Robinson.

MOUNTAIN BROOK players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Cole Gamble (offers from UAB, Navy, UNA, more), WR Clark Sanderson (Samford offer), RB Jack King, QB John Cooper (New Mexico State offer), TE JC Adams, OL Watts Alexander (offers from Cornell, UT-Chattanooga, Richmond, Samford). Defense — DB Tucker Crawford, DB Clyde Beavers, DB Hampton King, LB William Grier McDuffie, LB Drew Widener, DL James Hard, DL Rickey Whitworth.

HELENA (8-1, 5-1) AT VESTAVIA HILLS (7-2, 5-2)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Buddy Anderson Field at Reynolds Stadium, Vestavia Hills

Last week: Helena lost 20-17 at Benjamin Russell and Vestavia Hills beat Tuscaloosa County 45-0 on the road.

The skinny: Vestavia Hills has won all three previous meetings, including 44-24 at Helena in 2022. Helena was ranked No. 6 in Class 6A last week while Vestavia Hills was ranked No. 6 in 7A. The Rebels are scoring 33.3 points a game while giving up 13.6. Helena has scored 39 points a game and allowed 12.4.

Coaches: Richie Busby (83-37, 11th season) has taken Helena (43-20, 6th season) to the playoffs three times. He also coached at Fultondale (40-17, 5 years) with five playoff appearances. Robert Evans (14-7, 2nd season) played for the Rebels under legendary coach Buddy Anderson and guided the team to the playoffs last season.

HELENA players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Jordan Washington (offers from UAB, Memphis, Tulane, more), WR/Return specialist Hunter Hale, 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.

VESTAVIA HILLS players to watch: Offense — QB John Paul Head (UAB baseball commit), RB William Tonsmeire, WR Keown Richardson, OL Landon Page, OL JD Livingston. Defense — LB Jacob Watson, LB Gibson Bean, S Spence Hanna, 5-star DE Jordan Ross (Tennessee commit).

TARRANT (3-6, 1-5) AT MONTEVALLO (6-3, 4-3)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Theron Fisher Stadium, Montevallo

Last week: Tarrant won 42-28 at Carbon Hill and Montevallo lost 18-6 at American Christian.

The skinny: Montevallo leads the series 3-2, including 21-14 last year. Tarrant is scoring 25 points per game while allowing 36.6. Montevallo has scored 20.6 points per game and surrendered 17 per outing.

Coaches: Montevallo is the first head coaching job for Blake Boren (22-14, 4th season) and he has guided the Bulldogs to the playoffs twice. His father, Charlie, coached Montevallo 1998-2002. Matt Stockton (3-6) has his first head coaching job at Tarrant.

TARRANT players to watch: Offense — QB Andre Raines, WR/RB John Scott, WR Micah Lawrence, RB/LB Syncere Terry, OL Jatauris Parnell. Defense — LB Najee Allen, DE Theola McKinstry, DE Eric Lowe.

MONTEVALLO players to watch: Offense — QB Braxton King, WR/DB Dee Cutts, RB Rozario Conwell, WR Christian Tolbert. Defense — DE Charlie Adams, LB EJ Morton, LB Hunter Lutz, SS Peyton King.

PELHAM (5-4, 2-4) AT SPAIN PARK (6-3, 4-3)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Bob Finley Field at Jaguar Stadium, Hoover

Last week: Pelham beat Chilton County 34-28 at home and Spain Park won 42-17 at Oak Mountain.

The skinny: Spain Park leads the series 8-5, including 35-14 last year. Pelham has scored 23.4 points per game and allowed 22.6. The Panthers are 2-1 in games decided by 7 points or less. Spain Park averages 33.2 points a game and gives up 21.8.

Coaches: Mike Vickery (35-48, 8th season) took over at Pelham (11-10, 2nd year) last season and guided the Panthers to the playoffs. He was also head coach at Northridge (24-38, 6 years) with two playoff appearances. Tim Vakakes (58-55, 11th season) took the Spain Park (9-10, 2 years) job after his first head coaching job at Jackson-Olin (49-45, 9 years) with three playoff appearances.

PELHAM players to watch: Offense — WR CJ Tolbert, RB Mike Grayson, RB Kalib Porter, OL Cash Tatum, OL Tyler Mason. Defense — 3-star LB Will Felton (South Alabama commit), 2-star LB Bishop Rellah (Navy commit), DL James Schmucker, DB Markell Bell, DL Uriah Barginere.

SPAIN PARK players to watch: Offense — QB Brock Bradley, WR Jonathan Bibbs, WR Reggie Jackson, RB Derick Shanks, RB Dakarai Shanks. Defense — LB Landon Huey, DL Nik Alston, DL Jacob Olsen, DB Kelby Roberson.

CENTER POINT (7-2, 4-2) AT LEEDS (7-2, 5-1)

Time/location: Thursday, 6 p.m., Homer Smiles Field, Leeds

Last week: Center Point lost 35-14 at Oxford and Leeds beat Lincoln 30-14 on the road.

The skinny: Center Point leads the series 9-6-1, but has lost the past two, including 28-0 last year. Leeds was ranked seventh in Class 5A last week. The Eagles are scoring 28 points a game and allowing 21. Leeds is scoring 30.9 points a game and giving up 16.3.

Coaches: George Bates (86-52, 12th season) took the job at Center Point (47-22, 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. Jerry Hood (142-68, 18th season) took over Leeds (39-16, 5th year) in 2019 and has led the Green Wave to three playoff appearances after previous head coaching stops at Clay-Chalkville (75-26, 8 years), where he led the Cougars to the Class 6A 2014 championship and the title game in 2015, and Oak Mountain (28-26, 5 years).

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.

LEEDS players to watch: Offense — QB Conner Nelson, ATH Taylon Gaiter, RB ZJ Dale, RB Grayson Ford, OL Carlos Plascencia OL Gavin Bowlin (offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Georgia Tech, among others). Defense — 4-star DL Kavion Henderson (Arkansas commit), DL Chris Burge (UAB commit), DL Joseph Stone, LB Miles Jones, LB Will Ford, LB Josh Lee, DB Reece Bittner, DB Tikeem Fitts, DB Jeremiah Hall.

BIRMINGHAM AREA SCHEDULE

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

THURSDAY

Baker at Mountain Brook

Center Point at Leeds, 6 p.m.

Cordova at Carver

Corner at Hayden

Gardendale at Hueytown

Helena at Vestavia Hills

McAdory at Calera

Tarrant at Montevallo

Mortimer Jordan at Fultondale

Pelham at Spain Park

Shelby County at Woodlawn

FRIDAY

Briarwood at Fairhope

Foley at Jackson-Olin

Jasper at Homewood

Maplesville at John Carroll

Minor at Stanhope Elmore

Oak Grove at Carbon Hill

Pell City at Springville

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