Here are five games to watch in the Birmingham area this week as region play begins.

The complete schedule follows.

GARDENDALE (0-2) AT MORTIMER JORDAN (2-0)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Jimmie Trotter Field, Kimberly

Last week: Gardendale lost 50-41 to North Gwinnett (Ga.) and Mortimer Jordan beat Springville 35-28.

The skinny: Gardendale leads the series 31-7 and has won seven straight, including 63-21 last year.

Gardendale starts 0-2 for the first time since 2017 and the Rockets haven’t lost three straight to start since 2009. The offense revolves around QB Mac Beason, who’s a threat through the air and on the ground. Logan Fitzgerald heads the WR corps, but sophomores Morgan Harris and Jacoby Quates add depth. RB Jonathan Harris thrives behind and OL anchored by Gage Beyke. The strength of the defense lies in the front seven with LB Jackson Firestone behind Caiden Combs and Bailey Abercrombie at DE. Kamari Todd shines at DB.

Mortimer Jordan is trying to win its first three games to start since the 2015 team won to the Class 5A championship before losing. QB Garrett Ames is also a threat on the ground and through the air for the Blue Devils while RB Terrence Gaines (255 yards, 3 TDs last week) is the offensive workhorse. The receiving group is led by Coleman Maldonado and Daunte Williams. Deandre Williams and Baker Armstrong are expected to make plays at LB with Jojo Brown strong at DL. Jayden Dudley at CB can shut down opposing receivers.

CLASS 7A NO. 6 HOOVER (0-2) AT SPAIN PARK (2-0)

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

Last week: Hoover lost 28-21 in overtime to Oak Grove (Miss.) while Spain Park beat Briarwood 37-6.

The skinny: Hoover has dominated the series with a 19-3 advantage since Spain Park started playing in 2002. Hoover has won seven straight, including 24-10 last season.

Hoover has not lost three straight to start the season on the field since 1994 (forfeits in 2007 resulted in four straight to start). The running game was strong last week as Kamal Amerson (100-plus yards last week) and Fred Dunson run behind an OL that includes Rashad Smith and Storm Fain. QB Noah Schubach has weapons with WRs Jordan Woolen and Jonah Winston (also plays QB) and TE Chris Warren. 4-star Bradley Shaw and Trey Sanders make plays at LB behind a DL that includes Micah Hampton and Michael Nixon. DB stalwarts are Jamar Moultrie and Jeremy Cook.

Spain Park hasn’t started 3-0 since 2017 and hasn’t beaten Hoover since 2015. The offense is keyed by QB Brock Bradley (24-of-39, 6 TDs this season) with a good WR group of Jamar Jones, Jonathan Bibbs and Reggie Jackson, all with 2 TDs this season. Brothers Derick Shanks (23-208 yards, 3 TDs) and Dakarai Shanks (22-95 yards, 2 TDs) lead a strong ground game. The defense will be tested against a good Hoover running game. The DL features 4-star Jared Smith, Nik Alston and Jacob Olsen while Kelby Roberson is the last line at safety.

JOHN CARROLL (2-0) AT FAIRFIELD (0-2)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Clements Field, Fairfield

Last week: John Carroll beat Marbury 43-0 and Fairfield fell 42-19 to Shades Valley.

The skinny: Fairfield leads the series 25-14 and last year’s John Carroll 26-21 victory broke a 10-game winning streak by Fairfield.

It’s the first time since 2018 John Carroll has started with two wins — 1999 was the last time the Cavaliers won three straight to start the seasons. Returning starter QB Carson McFadden keys the action while Mitchell Nutter and Koron Wright handle RB duties. The receiving corps features WR Zach Archer and TE Ryan Redmond. Zach Archer roams the secondary at safety while the DL is manned by CJ Wyatt and Nic Gagliano. LBs Max Plaia and Tristen Rutledge make plays.

Fairfield has scored only 19 points in two games and must get more production offensively. RB Justin Murray will carry the load while QB Jumaria Hamilton runs the offense. Cade Austin is the lead receiver, but Jedan Gilbert gets touches in different ways and Corve Taylor is an effective TE. Joshua Willams leads the OL. The font seven on defense is anchored by William Tate and Jordan Reed at DE and Danzell Lambert makes plays all over the field. Jelani Miller is the key at DB.

CLASS 5A NO. 3 PLEASANT GROVE (1-0) AT WENONAH (2-0)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Bell-Culpepper Stadium, Birmingham

Last week: Pleasant Grove was idle and Wenonah beat Midfield 39-0.

The skinny: Pleasant Grove leads the series 10-8 with five straight wins, including 55-7 last season.

Pleasant Grove 3-star QB Eric Handley (Wofford commit) heads an impressive offense that scored 54 points in its first game. Threats at receiver include 3-star Clarence Taylor and Arron Tift and Collin Moore handles the RB load. The defense pitched a shutout in its only game so far. Cam Wormley and Micheal McGuire headline at DB while DL Andre Watts and LB Cameron Jackson man a stout front seven.

No Wenonah team has won three straight to start the season since 2015, but QB Anthony Young has spurred an offense averaging 38.9 points a game. The ground game has been led by RB Dominic Bruce and Demarcus Johnson is the top threat at receiver. The defense has allowed only seven points with Micha White and Omar Holcomb leading at DB while the front seven is anchored by Edmond Jones (also plays OL) and Eldridge Shelton.

CLASS 7A NO. 4 VESTAVIA HILLS (2-0) AT NO. 1 THOMPSON (1-0)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Warriors Stadium, Alabaster

Last week: Vestavia Hills beat Homewood 43-0 while Thompon’s game with Florida’s IMG Academy was cancelled because of Hurricane Idalia.

The skinny: The series is tied at 14 wins each, but Thompson has won eight straight, including twice last season, 21-12 in the second round of Class 7A playoffs and 34-14 in regular season play.

Vestavia Hills hasn’t started a season with three straight wins since 2019. QB John Paul Head is the key to the offense, whether beating teams with his arm or running the ball. The running attack is led by RB William Tonsmeire behind an OL that features JD Livingston. Keown Richardson is a threat at WR while TE Bruce Littleton blocks well for the ground game and adds another dimension to the passing attack. 5-star Tennessee commit Jordan Ross leads the front with LBs Jacob Watson and Gibson Bean making tackles. Safety Spence Hanna holds the last line.

Thompson has plenty of stars, particularly on defense. 4-star Anquon Fegans and 3-star senior Caleb Harris at DB can shut down receiving corps while Caleb Ballard and Cam Pritchett, along with others, man the front. LBs include Tyler Hicks, Jaden Davis and Trent Cheatom. The offense is guided by QB Trent Seaborn, only a freshman with offers from Alabama, Auburn and others, while 3-star Zach Sims can also produce at QB. Skill players include RBs AJ Green and Michael Dujon while Deuce Oliver and Kolby Hearn are strong at WR.

The complete schedule follows. All games are at 7 p.m. unless noted.

THURSDAY

Parker at Jackson-Olin

FRIDAY

Benjamin Russell at Calera

Briarwood at Chilton County

Central Coosa at Vincent

Chelsea at Tuscaloosa County

Clay-Chalkville at Pell City

Escambia Academy at Banks Academy

Fayette County at Tarrant

Gardendale at Mortimer Jordan

Glenwood at Bessemer Academy

Hamilton at Corner

Hayden at Carver

Helena at Homewood

Hewitt-Trussville at Oak Mountain

Hoover at Spain Park

Hueytown at Brookwood

Huffman at Center Point

John Carroll at Fairfield

Lakeside at Coosa Valley

Leeds at Springville

McAdory at Bessemer City

Montevallo at Hale County

Mountain Brook at Minor

Northside at Oak Grove

Oakman at Midfield

Oxford at Shades Valley

Pleasant Grove at Wenonah

Ramsay at Jasper

Shelby County at Holtville

Vestavia Hills at Thompson