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

The complete schedule follows.

MOUNTAIN BROOK (5-1, 3-0) AT PARKER (4-3, 2-2)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Major Brown Memorial Stadium, Birmingham

Last week: Class 6A fifth-ranked Mountain Brook was idle last week while Parker beat Woodlawn 37-13. It’s a Class 6A, Region 5 game.

The skinny: Mountain Brook has never lost to Parker in five games, the latest win coming in 2013, 41-13.

Parker can ensure a playoff spot with a win in one of its final two region games, but it’ll be tough sledding against the Spartans. RB and Kentucky commit Khalifa Keith headlines the offense while WR Jerald Reynolds returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score last week and caught a TD pass. WR Carl Pitts and ATH Naeem Offord are threats. The defense is led by a good front that includes DL Jourdin Crawford (he ran for a TD last week) and Jeremiah Beaman. LB Carlton Duncan and DB Monte Henley are keys.

Mountain Brook suffered its first loss of the season against Class 7A No. 4 Hoover, but the Spartans were in it until late. The offense averages 37.7 points a game behind an outstanding trio of RBs in Cole Gamble, Will Waldrop and Jack King. QB John Colvin has good targets in WRs Jackson Beatty and Clark Sanderson. The defense is stout, allowing 12.3 points a game with hard-hitting Trent Wright leading the linebacking corps that also includes Vaughn Frost and Braxton Dean while Parker Avery fills holes on the defensive line. There’s athleticism at DB, including Mac Palmer.

GARDENDALE (4-2, 3-0) AT MINOR (4-2, 2-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Minor Stadium, Adamsville

Last week: Gardendale beat Jackson-Olin 40-6 and Minor beat Mortimer Jordan 56-20. It’s a Class 6A, Region 5 contest.

The skinny: The teams have split the series 15-15 with Gardendale winning the 2021 game 31-14.

Dual-threat QB Tyler Nelson (940 yards, 10 TDs rushing; 739 yards, 10 TDs passing) is the catalyst of the offense that averages 35.2 points a game. RBs Kedrick Storey (2 TDs) and Jonathan Harris (3 TDs) handle the rushing duties behind an OL that includes Lawson Hughes. Carter Jenkins and Harris are the top receivers. The DL is impressive with Caiden Combs (60 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 sacks) and Kelby Collins (59 tackles, 7 TFL, 5.5 sacks) while Caden McGruder (53 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) is the backer. Dallas Young (45 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks) is a shutdown DB and run-stopper.

Minor QB Kareem Key had an outstanding night against Mortimer Jordan last week, completing 20-of-29 passes for 477 yards and 7 touchdowns. Receivers Darrian Jackson (8 catches, 164 yards, 5 TDs last week), Tylan Amerson (2 catches, 29 yards, TD) and Dylan Foresight (2 catches 49 yards) are the top targets. RB Malachi Threatt handles the rushing duties. The defense held Mortimer Jordan to under 300 yards total offense and features a strong front 7, including DL Thaddious Parson, OLB Brandon Woodard, OLB/Edge Daylon Parks and ILB Davion Lake. Kelton Owens closes down the back end.

MCAODRY (4-2, 3-1) AT HUEYTOWN (3-3, 3-1)

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

Last week: McAdory fell to Northridge 21-14 and Hueytown beat Paul Bryant 75-7. It’s a Class 6A, Region 4 game.

The skinny: Hueytown leads the series 28-12-1, including winning 65-25 in 2021.

It’s a typical McAdory team that prefers to run the football with RBs Rod Thomas and Peyton Ryans behind an offensive line that includes Kaleb May. QB Jacob Clopton is capable with a group of receivers that includes Jacorey Whitted and Tavaris Coles. The defense allows only 14.7 points a game and no team has scored more than 21 points this season. Keys to the front 7 are linemen Alan Price and Savian Graham along with LB Nathan Lake. LaBarryon Moore and Brent Barnes handle duties at DB.

Hueytown QB Earl Woods is a dynamic playmaker who recently committed to Jacksonville State. He accounted for 7 TDs against Paul Bryant with 216 all-purpose, 3TDs passing and 4 TDs rushing in only the first half. RB Jakheal Rowser is a threat running behind the OL anchored by Braden Northcutt and receiving while TJ Howell caught 3 passes last week. The defense relies on Derrico King and Keith Green at DL and Noah Eskridge at LB while DB Jakilyn Jones leads the secondary.

PINSON VALLEY (4-2, 2-1) AT CENTER POINT (6-1, 3-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Bowman Field, Center Point

Last week: Class 6A seventh-ranked Pinson Valley beat Huffman 47-0 and Center Point downed Shades Valley 36-20. It’s a Class 6A, Region 6 contest.

The skinny: Center Point (Erwin) leads the series 19-15, but Pinson Valley has won four straight, including 49-7 in the latest meeting in 2017.

Only one opponent has scored at least 20 points against the stout Pinson Valley defense (12.8 points a game allowed). A strong front 7 includes Zi’Keith Springfield, J’Roc Williams and Jacobi Jackson. Playing on both sides of the ball, brothers T.J. and Tevis Metcalf can break down a defense with their athleticism and both are lockdown defenders with run-stopping ability. Cam Jennings took over at QB against Homewood and shined against Huffman. RB Taurus Chambers runs behind an OL that includes Cam Griffin and Carson Moorer while the top receiving threat is Virginia commit Amare Thomas.

Center Point’s offense is led by RB Troy Bruce (107-1,063 yards, 18 TDs rushing; 16-173 yards, 4 TDs receiving this season) and QB Jabari Collier (60-499, 8 TDs rushing; 55-94, 976 yards, 7 TDs passing). WR Harold Holloman (19-485, TD receiving) is the top target while Gerald Perry anchors the offensive line. LB Cameron Bonner (37 tackles, 2.5 sacks), DE DeMario Hicks (35 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks), DE Jordan Jackson (35 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and LB Malik Brown (32 tackles, 8.5 TFL) are front 7 stalwarts. SS KeMarius Horne (27 tackles, 2 INT), who also has an 85-yard kickoff return TD and FS Deon Moore (4 INT) handle the back end.

VESTAVIA HILLS (3-3, 2-2) AT HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (4-3, 2-2)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Hewitt-Trussville Stadium, Trussville

Last week: Vestavia Hills beat Chelsea 52-10 and sixth-ranked Hewitt-Trussville fell 14-12 to third-ranked Thompson. It’s a Class 7A, Region 3 game.

The skinny: Vestavia Hills leads the series 13-4, but Hewitt-Trussville has won four of the past five games, including 49-35 last season.

Vestavia Hills allows 15.8 points a game with only Thompson scoring 30-plus points on the Rebels this season. LB Houston Owen (25 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks) along with LB Gaines Johnson (2 INT this season) are key. The front includes Jordan Ross (29 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks) and Andrew Sykes (22 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks). Dual threat QB John Paul Head (5 TDs passing, 9 TDs rushing) targets WR Keown Richardson (24-178 yards, 2TDs receiving), WR Tucker Smitha (12 catches, TD) and RB William Tonsmeire (11 catches, TD; 373 yards, TD rushing). The OL is led by Glen Porter and Hudson Hager.

The key to Hewitt-Trussville’s offense is QB Peyton Floyd, whose scrambling abilities keep plays alive long enough for receivers to find openings or fleet-footed Floyd doesn’t mind tucking and running. Top targets are WRs Kadarius Barnes and Jadon Loving along with TE Donovan Price. RBs Jaqson Melton and Kennedy Mitchell are potent while Kade Martin is key on the OL. The defense allows 16.3 points a game and held Thompson to 14 points last week. The front includes Alabama commit Hunter Osborne (he also played OL last week) and Tyrell Averhart while Braylon Chatman roams at LB. Tennessee commit Rickey Gibson, Riggs Dunn and Michael Igbinoghene handle DB.

BIRMINGHAM AREA SCHEDULE

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

THURSDAY

Homewood at Chilton County

John Carroll at Ramsay

Mountain Brook at Parker

Oak Mountain at Thompson

FRIDAY

Bessemer City at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Bibb County at Montevallo

Calera at Briarwood Christian

Cherokee County at Fultondale

Clarke Prep at Banks Academy

Crenshaw at Coosa Valley

Gardendale at Minor

Huffman at Clay-Chalkville

Jasper at Carver

Lee-Scott at Bessemer Academy

Leeds at Alexandria

McAdory at Hueytown

Moody at St. Clair County

Oak Grove at Corner

Pell City at Shades Valley

Pinson Valley at Center Point

Pleasant Grove at Fairfield

Shelby County at Selma

Spain Park at Chelsea

Moody at St. Clair County

Tarrant at Midfield

Trinity Christian at Cornerstone Christian

Tuscaloosa County at Hoover

Vestavia Hills at Hewitt-Trussville

Vincent at Woodland

Wenonah at Hayden

Winston County at Tuscaloosa Academy

Woodlawn at Jackson-Olin