Here are five games to watch in the Huntsville area this week with the complete schedule following.

CLASS 7A: NO. 6 VESTAVIA HILLS (8-2) AT NO. 10 AUSTIN (8-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Austin Stadium, Decatur

Last week: Vestavia Hills blanked Class 6A No. 9 Helena 44-0. Austin had an open week.

The skinny: Austin is 0-5 all-time against Vestavia Hills. The last three meetings were in the first round (2022, 2011 and 2010). The Rebels won 52-10 last season. … Austin was last in action Oct. 27 in a 52-25 win over Huntsville. … The Black Bears finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak; they scored at least 49 points in three of their last four games. … Vestavia Hills closed the regular season with three consecutive shutout victories. The Rebels allowed more than 10 points in only three games. … Quarterback John Paul Head is Vestavia Hills’ primary offensive weapon. He had four rushing touchdowns and 268 passing yards against Austin last season. … Austin is 8-20 all-time in the opening round; Vestavia Hills is 22-11. Since 1984, the Black Bears are 1-12 against ranked teams in the playoffs, while the Rebels are 14-19, according to AHSFHS.org. Austin’s last playoff victory came during their run to the 6A quarterfinals in 2017.

Winner plays: No. 2 Thompson or Florence

CLASS 7A: HOOVER (4-6) AT JAMES CLEMENS (7-3)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Madison City Schools Stadium

Last week: Both teams had an open week.

The skinny: Hoover coach Wade Waldrop makes his return to Madison, where he led James Clemens from 2013-20. … Since Class 7A play began in 2014, North Alabama teams are 4-31 against Birmingham-area teams in the playoffs. Waldrop’s James Clemens squads were 3-7 in such matchups, with their last victory coming in 2019 against Vestavia Hills. The Jets were eliminated the following week in overtime by Hoover. James Clemens lost its only other matchup with the Bucs: 14-7 in the 2016 second round. …Jets quarterback Ty Marsh has 13 TD passes against six interceptions. Receiver Ty Doughty has more than 1,200 all-purpose yards; in addition to being Marsh’s favorite target, Doughty has excelled in the return game. … Hoover’s gauntlet-like schedule led to all of its losses being to ranked teams: 7A No. 2 Thompson, 7A No. 5 Auburn, 7A No. 6 Vestavia Hills, 7A No. 9 Hewitt-Trussville, 6A No. 6 Mountain Brook and Mississippi 7A No. 1 Oak Grove. … Hoover is in the postseason for the 24th consecutive year, but this is the first time in program history that the Bucs have brought an on-the-field losing record into the playoffs. The 2007 team — Rush Propst’s last with the Bucs — finished the regular season 4-5, but Hoover forfeited four victories due to use of an ineligible player. … The Bucs haven’t finished with a losing record since 1998 (4-6). … James Clemens is 3-4 all-time in the first round. Hoover is 31-7 in the first round with its last opening-round exit coming in 1992.

Winner plays: No. 9 Hewitt-Trussville or Bob Jones.

CLASS 6A: CENTER POINT (7-3) AT NO. 7 HARTSELLE (8-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, J.P. Cain Stadium

Last week: Center Point lost 22-0 to Class 5A No. 5 Leeds. Hartselle beat Bob Jones 35-21.

The skinny: Hartselle defeated Center Point 36-26 in the second round last season. The Tigers also beat the Eagles in the 2011 quarterfinals en route to a state title. … Hartselle gave a new look at quarterback last week against Bob Jones. In addition to using Noah Lee, who has started since Landon Blackwood suffered an injury against Gadsden City on Sept. 22, the Tigers also inserted defensive back Peyton Steele; he responded with three touchdown runs. … Center Point quarterback Therman Deon Moore has thrown 16 touchdown passes this season while also scoring a team-high eight rushing TDs. … Hartselle is 21-19 all-time in the first round. Center Point is 11-13; since 1984, the Eagles are 1-7 against ranked opponents in the postseason.

Winner plays: Gadsden City or Gardendale

CLASS 6A: ATHENS (8-2) AT NO. 8 OXFORD (8-2)

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

Last week: Athens beat Class 5A No. 7 Russellville 41-14. Oxford defeated Class 4A No. 7 Jacksonville 36-7.

The skinny: Athens is seeking its first playoff win since 2019. The Golden Eagles missed the postseason the past two years. … This game pits two highly efficient quarterbacks: Athens’ Brogan Gross has 27 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. Oxford’s Marcus Mims has 24 TD passes and just three picks. … Athens’ JayShon Ridgle has 10 TD catches. Oxford’s Camare Hampton and Nick Davis have 10 TD receptions apiece. … Athens is 20-12 all-time in the first round; Oxford is 24-18. Since 1984, the Golden Eagles are 12-16 against ranked teams in the playoffs. … This is the first meeting between Athens and Oxford.

Winner plays: No. 5 Parker or Mae Jemison

CLASS 5A: NO. 6 MOODY (8-2) AT SCOTTSBORO (8-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Pat Trammell Stadium

Last week: Moody had an open week. Scottsboro beat Decatur 35-20.

The skinny: Scottsboro is seeking to record playoff victories in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-04. … The Wildcats average 362 rushing yards per game. Jacobi Edmondson leads the way with nearly 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Jones has 11 TDs on the ground. … Moody quarterback Charlie Johnston has thrown 22 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. Ka’dariusBarnes has nine TD catches, while Blaine Burke has rushed for 900 yards and 10 TDs. … Scottsboro is 12-14 all-time in the first round; since 1984, the Wildcats are 1-9 against ranked opponents in the playoffs. Moody is 3-11 all-time in the first round, with one of the victories coming last season as the Blue Devils ended a playoff victory drought that dated back to 2004. … This is the first meeting between Scottsboro and Moody.

Winner plays: No. 7 Russellville or Fairfield

The complete Huntsville area first-round schedule.

Class 7A

Hoover (4-6) at James Clemens (7-3)

Vestavia Hills (8-2) at Austin (8-2)

Bob Jones (5-5) at Hewitt-Trussville (7-3)

Class 6A

Buckhorn (6-4) at Mountain Brook (7-3)

Center Point (7-3) at Hartselle (8-2)

Mae Jemison (3-7) at Parker (9-1), Thursday

Athens (8-2) at Oxford (8-2)

Class 5A

Boaz (5-5) at Southside-Gadsden (8-2)

Springville (4-5) at Guntersville (8-1)

Moody (8-2) at Scottsboro (8-2)

Arab (7-2) at Leeds (8-2)

Class 4A

North Jackson (4-6) at Haleyville (7-3)

Corner (9-1) at Randolph (6-4)

Etowah (3-7) at West Morgan (10-0), Thursday

Oak Grove (5-4) at Westminster Christian (8-2)

Priceville (4-6) at Dora (8-2)

Class 3A

Hokes Bluff (5-5) at Madison Academy (10-0)

Class 2A

North Sand Mountain (5-5) at Locust Fork (10-0)

Pleasant Valley (5-5) at Pisgah (9-1)

Lamar County (7-3) at Tanner (7-3), Thursday

Class 1A

Winterboro (5-5) at Decatur Heritage (9-1)