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

The complete schedule follows.

HELENA (6-1, 3-1) AT CALERA (3-4, 2-3)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Ricky M. Cairns Memorial Stadium, Calera

Last week: Helena was idle while Calera beat Briarwood Christian 31-28 in double overtime.

The skinny: Helena leads the series 5-1 and won last year’s game 31-21. Helena has qualified for the Class 6A playoffs in Region 3 and could still earn a home game by finishing in the top two of four teams to earn spots. Calera must win to stay in playoff contention.

The Helena defense allows only 19 points a game behind a front 7 that includes linemen Derrick Wilson and Xavier Guy while backers Nathan Thomason and Mason Johnson are key stoppers. Desmon James and Kevin Pinkard anchor the defensive backfield. QB Dalton Lewellyn has targets in WRs Hunter Hale and Torrey Ward. AJ Horstead is a gritty runner, but RB Jordan Washington is the bell cow, elusive and a load to stop.

Calera WRs Braylyn Farrington (6-100 yards, TD last week) and K.D. Young (4-50 yards, TD last week) are the primary targets for QB Preston Stokes (20-32, 221 yards, 3 TDs last week). The running duties are handled by Amari Brundidge (13-72 yards last week) and Daniel Brown. The Eagles front 7 includes Curtis Oliver-Avery on the line with Michael Banks-Mason, Mason Green and DeKendrick Bennett at LB. Michael Benson is key at DB.

HOMEWOOD (5-2, 4-0) AT PELHAM (4-3, 3-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Ned Bearden Stadium, Pelham

Last week: Homewood beat Chilton County 31-10 and Pelham downed Benjamin Russell 30-20.

The skinny: Homewood leads the series 15-7, but Pelham won last year’s game 10-7. Both teams have qualified for the Class 6A playoffs in Region 3 and both could still earn home games by finishing in the top two of four teams. A Homewood win guarantees the top seed in the region for the Patriots.

Homewood QB Woods Ray (74-of-134, 1,163 yards, 10 TDs passing, 50-245 yards, 3 TDs rushing) has strong WR targets in Jackson Parris (29-560 yards, 3 TDs) and Charlie Reeves (18-285 yards, 5 TDs) while Calyb Colbert (61-262, 4 TDs rushing) leads the ground game. The defense is key with OLB Talton Thomas (58 tackles, 4 sacks, INT) along with a strong defensive backfield that includes CB Parking Sansing (43 tackles, INT) and S Clay Burdeshaw (42 tackles, INT).

Pelham QB Clayton Mains (81-158, 1,140 yards, 9 TDs passing, 63-383, 6 TDs rushing) triggers the offense. Receivers Kamari Hollis (21-273, TD) and Trey Corkill (11-137, 3 TDs) are the top targets now that Darius Copeland is out for the season. Jackson Davenport keys the OL. Jamal Miles (28 tackles, 4 PBUs) is a 3-star shutdown DB while Will Felton (31 tackles, 6 sacks, INT) anchors the DL with LBs Bishop Rellah (40 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) and Seth Branham (82 tackles, 6 TFL) looking for something to hit.

ISABELLA (6-1, 4-1) AT VINCENT (7-1, 4-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Harold Garrett Stadium, Harpersville

Last week: Isabella beat Ranburne 34-7 and Vincent downed Woodland 39-0.

The skinny: Vincent leads the series 6-1, but the teams haven’t played since 2011, a 72-42 Vincent victory, which is a team record for points scored. Both teams are safely in the Class 2A playoffs and this game should determine which team gains the important No. 2 seed to host the first round. B.B. Comer should have the region title locked up with wins over both.

Isabella RBs Zac Chapman and DreVon Lee along with QB Eli Kendrick — running and throwing — key the offense that averages 45.6 points a game. Lee and Chapman are also dangerous catching passes out of the backfield while WR Dawson Edwards. Lots of two-way players on defense, including Colton Conway, Lee and Edwards. Garrett Traywick and Tyler Mims are also stalwarts.

Vincent QB-Blake Allums (57-95, 981 yards, 21 TDs passing) keys the offense that averages 48.1 points a game. RB Rykelus Robertson (102-1,163 yards, 11 TDs) is tough to stop behind an OL anchored by Jacob Carter. WRs Tray Youngblood (23-475 yards, 8 TDs) and Zac Carlisle (16-262 yards, 8 TDs) grab most of the passes. The defense may be even better, allowing only 12 points a game with 4 shutouts. Easton Fields (31 tackles, 6 TFL) heads the front while LBs Zack Wright (101 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 INT) and Ray Albright (57 tackles, 16 TFL, 2 sacks) are the leading tacklers. Zac Carlisle (27 tackles, 4 INT) and Tray Youngblood (41 tackles, 3 TFL, INT) handle the back end.

LEEDS (7-0, 4-0) AT MOODY (8-0, 4-0)

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

Last week: Class 5A No. 2 Leeds beat Alexandria 23-7 and No. 3 Moody beat St. Clair County 42-14.

The skinny: Leeds has a 12-2 all-time series lead and won 33-19 last season. Both teams are assured of playoff spots and this game should decide the top seed for Region 6.

Leeds has a powerful ground game with QB Jarod Latta along with ATH Conner Nelson crucial to the attack. Miles Jones, Jaelyn Felder and Jeremiah Hunter are capable with the ball in their hands. Kicker Jackson Arthur could be a difference-maker, booting 3 field goals last week (36, 31 and 31 yards). The defense has been strong all season, allowing only 63 points (9 per game). CJ Douglas — he was also selected Homecoming King — and Zane Hood (INT last week) are strong at DB while the DL is stellar. 4-star Kavion Henderson, Chris Burge (caused 2 rumbles last week) and Joseph Stone present an impressive front.

QB Cole McCarty (108-144, 2,177 yards, 32 TDs passing, 33-221 yards, 2 TDs rushing) is the key to the Moody offense that averages 47.8 points a game. He throws to WR and 3-star recruit Davion Dozier (33-841 yards, 15 TDs) and Kolby Seymour (36-736 yards, 11 TDs) while Blaine Burke (102-1,066 yards, 6 TDs) runs behind the OL anchored by Mason Myers, an Arkansas State commit. LB Zane Smith (75 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, INT) is the leading tackler while 4-star DB A’mon Lane (36 tackles), DB AJ Madison (50 tackles, 2 TFL), LB Gavyn Baker (29 tackles, 6 TFL) and DE Carson Dillashaw (34 tackles) have held opponents to 14.1 points a game.

OXFORD (4-3, 3-1) AT CLAY-CHALKVILLE (6-1, 4-0)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Cougar Stadium, Clay

Last week: Oxford was idle while Class 6A second-ranked Clay-Chalkville beat Huffman 62-0.

The skinny: Clay-Chalkville leads the series 12-5 and won the last meeting 26-21 in 2019. The top seed in Class 6A, Region 6 should is Clay-Chalkville’s to lose while Oxford is still fighting for a playoff spot.

Oxford will be tested by a strong Clay-Chalkville defense. The Oxford offense is led by QB Mason Mims while Nick Richardson and Judd Syer are his favorite targets. ATH DK Wilson is a threat with the ball and RB Caleb Wynn heads the ground game. Emari Carroll is a stalwart at defensive back while Mike Battle and Hudson Gilman key the front 7 with Caleb Tinner and Keenan Britt manning the defensive line.

The Clay-Chalkville defense has surrendered only 56 points (8 per game) with 3 shutouts. LBs DJ Barber (77 tackles, 4 TFL) and Matthew Yafondo (69 tackles, 4.5 TFL) are the leading tacklers while Devin Finley (8.5 TFL, 5 sacks), Jamon Smith (6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Randalle Cole (35 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3 sacks) are stoppers on the DL. Ormond Wallace and Camaran Jones are DB keys. The offense features QB Kamari McClellan (99-122, 1,178 yards, 14 TDs) throwing to Jaylen Mbakwe (16-358 yards, 5 TDs) and Mario Craver (25-438 yards, 8 TDs) — they also help at DB. Rodreckus Johnson (8 TDs) and Aaron Osley (5 TDs) run behind an OL anchored by Pierre White and AJ Williams.

BIRMINGHAM AREA SCHEDULE

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

THURSDAY

Hayden at Ramsay

FRIDAY

Bessemer Academy at Fort Dale

Bessemer City at Central-Tuscaloosa

Briarwood Christian at Benjamin Russell

Carver at Pleasant Grove

Chelsea at Hoover

Cordova at Oak Grove

Corner at Curry

Cornerstone Christian at Meadowview

Fairfield at Wenonah

Fultondale at Good Hope

Helena at Calera

Hewitt-Trussville at Spain Park

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Paul W. Bryant

Homewood at Pelham

Hueytown at Northridge

Isabella at Vincent

Jackson Academy at Banks Academy

Leeds at Moody

McAdory at Brookwood

Midfield at Carbon Hill

Montevallo at Holt

Mountain Brook at Mortimer Jordan

Oxford at Clay-Chalkville

Parker at Minor

Pell City at Huffman

Shades Valley at Pinson Valley

Shelby County at Marbury

Thompson at Tuscaloosa County

Vestavia Hills at Oak Mountain

Woodlawn at Gardendale