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

MUSCLE SHOALS (5-0) AT HARTSELLE (5-1)

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

Last week: Class 6A, No. 5-ranked Muscle Shoals won 42-28 at James Clemens. Sixth-ranked Hartselle edged visiting Oxford 22-21.

Region: Both teams are 2-0 and tied for first place in Class 6A, Region 7.

The skinny: Hartselle is facing a 5-0 team for the second consecutive week. … Tigers quarterback Noah Lee won his first start last week, scoring on a pass and run, and converting go-ahead 2-point conversion. He took over for injured starter Landon Blackwood two weeks ago against Gadsden City. … Hartselle has won five straight after opening with a loss to Austin. … Muscle Shoals averages 41.4 points per game, fifth-best in Class 6A. … Trojans quarterback Cole Woods did a little of everything against James Clemens, completing 8 of 9 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns, running for a score, and catching a TD. Muscle Shoals picked off two passes and recovered a fumble. … Hartselle running back Ri Fletcher has given Muscle Shoals fits the past two seasons — he ran for a pair of touchdowns, including the game winner, in the Tigers’ 29-26 win last season, and he tallied five TDs (four rushing, one receiving) in a 52-35 win in 2021. … Hartselle has won three straight in the series for a 17-11 all-time lead.

SCOTTSBORO (5-0) AT GUNTERSVILLE (5-0)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Chorba-Lee Stadium

Last week: Scottsboro won 56-21 at Priceville. Class 5A, No. 9-ranked Guntersville defeated visiting Buckhorn 38-7.

Region: These teams sit atop Class 5A, Region 7 with 2-0 records.

The skinny: This matchup pits the No. 1 scoring offense in Class 5A (Scottsboro, 49.4 points per game) against the No. 7 scoring offense (Guntersville, 36.8). … Guntersville is allowing just 10.4 points per game — fifth-best in 5A — while Scottsboro allows 27.8. Scottsboro has forced only three turnovers this season (two fumbles, one interception). … Scottsboro averages 423.2 yards rushing per game. Jacobi Edmondson leads the way at 142.4 yards per game with eight touchdowns; quarterback Jake Jones has seven rushing TDs. … Guntersville’s Enelson Delva is averaging 119.2 yards rushing per game with eight touchdowns. Eli Morrison has thrown nine TD passes and no interceptions. … Guntersville entered last year’s matchup with Scottsboro undefeated and ranked No. 3 — Scottsboro prevailed 17-14. Guntersville has a 45-41-1 series lead.

SPARKMAN (5-0) AT JAMES CLEMENS (4-2)

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

Last week: Class 7A, No. 10-ranked Sparkman had an open week. James Clemens lost 42-28 to visiting Muscle Shoals.

Region: The teams are tied for first place in Class 7A, Region 4 with 3-0 marks.

The skinny: Led by first-year coach Ronnie Watson, Sparkman is off to its best start since opening 7-0 in 2019. The Senators’ first loss that season? 49-3 to James Clemens. .. Sparkan is allowing just 3.6 points per game, lowest in Class 7A and third-lowest among all classifications. The Senators also have the No. 3 scoring offense in 7A at 45.2 points per game. … Both of James Clemens’ losses this season were to Class 6A ranked teams: No. 5 Muscle Shoals and No. 7 Mountain Brook. … Jets quarterback Ty Marsh accounted for three TDs — two passing and one rushing — against Muscle Shoals. He threw a combined five interceptions in James Clemens’ losses. … The Jets beat Sparkman 41-17 last season to increase their series lead to 9-2.

TANNER (4-2) AT HATTON (5-0)

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

Last week: Tanner beat visiting Columbia 21-3. Hatton won 34-30 at East Lawrence.

Region: Tanner is 3-0 and in first place in Class 2A, Region 8. Hatton and Lexington are a game back at 2-0.

The skinny: Tanner has reeled off four consecutive wins after opening with losses against larger teams — 3A Lauderdale County and 6A Mae Jemison. The Rattlers’ average margin of victory during their win streak is 37 points. … Tanner has equaled its win total from last season. … Hatton is off to its best start since opening 6-0 in 2004. … Hornets quarterback Tasean Love threw three interceptions against East Lawrence, but he countered with 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and he threw a TD pass. … Hatton ran for 400 yards and beat Tanner 50-13 last season for its third straight win over the Rattlers. Tanner has an 11-10 series edge.

ATHENS (4-1) AT CULLMAN (3-3)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Woodard Stadium

Last week: Athens had an open week. Cullman lost 24-20 at Mortimer Jordan.

Region: Both teams are 1-1 and tied for third in Class 6A, Region 7.

The skinny: Athens boasts the No. 3 scoring offense in Class 6A at 45 points per game. … In the Golden Eagles’ last outing, a 55-27 win over Mae Jemison on Sept. 22, John McIntyre accounted for six touchdowns — five rushing and one receiving. … Cullman outgained Mortimer Jordan 335-256, but the Bearcats committed four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumbles. Jackson Sessions had three TD runs for Cullman. … The Bearcats beat Athens 35-23 last season. The Golden Eagles have a 33-25-1 series lead.

Complete Week 7 schedule

Thursday, Oct. 5

Albertville at Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium

DAR at Westminster Christian

Priceville at St. John Paul II (Discovery Middle School)

Friday, Oct. 6

Ardmore at Fairview

Athens at Cullman

Austin at Grissom, Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville

Bob Jones at Florence, Braly Municipal Stadium

Buckhorn at Mae Jemison, Joe Davis Stadium, Huntsville

Colbert Heights at Elkmont

Columbia at Decatur

Danville at Shoals Christian

Fort Payne at Lee-Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium

Gaylesville at Woodville

Hazel Green at Gadsden City

Lexington at Falkville

Madison Academy at Asbury

Madison County at Randolph

Marion County at Clements

Muscle Shoals at Hartselle

North Jackson at New Hope

Pisgah at Whitesburg Christian

Russellville at Brewer

Sand Rock at North Sand Mountain

Scottsboro at Guntersville

Section at Ider

Sparkman at James Clemens, Madison City Schools Stadium

Susan Moore at Brindlee Mountain

Tanner at Hatton

West Limestone at Wilson

Open week: Arab, Boaz, East Limestone