Here are five games to watch in the Birmingham area as football season begins on Thursday.

Note that game times are subject to change because of heat-related issues.

VESTAVIA HILLS AT MOUNTAIN BROOK

Time/location: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Spartan Stadium, Mountain Brook

Last year: Mountain Brook (12-3) lost 38-17 to Saraland in the Class 6A championship game while Vestavia Hills (7-5) fell to Thompson 21-12 in Class 7A second round play. In a tightly-contested series, Vestavia Hills holds a 29-28 lead, but has lost six straight and eight of the last 10 games against the Spartans.

The skinny: Mountain Brook has won a program-best 36 games over the past three seasons with two Class 6A semifinals and a finals playoff appearance. First team all-state senior RB Cole Gamble heads the offense while junior Jack King is also a threat with plenty of touches. The Spartans replace QB John Colvin with senior John Cooper and Clark Sanderson is the top returning receiver. Seniors William Courtenay and Watts Alexander are OL strengths while JC Adams handles TE. The defense was a strength last season, but lost its front seven. DBs include seniors Tucker Crawford and Clyde Beavers and junior Hampton King with seniors William Grier McDuffie and Drew Widener at LB. Seniors James Hard and Rickey Whitworth man the DL.

Vestavia Hills returns much of its offensive production, led by senior QB John Paul Head, who tallied more than 1,000 yards on the ground and through the air with 38 touchdowns. Junior William Tonsmeire also returns at RB while junior Bruce Littleton will also play and seniors Keown Richardson and Cooper Mollison lead the receiving corps. Only junior JD Livingston is back on the OL. The Rebels lost eight starters to graduation on defense, but 5-star senior lineman Jordan Ross, who recently committed to Tennessee, will be hard to contain. Senior Gibson Bean and junior Jacob Watson handle LB and junior Spence Hanna and senior Kaden Daniels man the back end.

AUBURN AT HOOVER

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., The Met, Hoover

Last year: Auburn (12-2) lost the Class 7A championship game 49-24 to Thompson and Hoover (11-2) lost to Thompson 40-10 in semifinal play. The series is tied with each team winning a game, including Auburn’s 17-14 victory last season. Hoover downed the Tigers 20-3 to win the 2013 Class 6A title.

The skinny: Auburn features strong offensive skill players in senior WR/ATH Ean Nation along with senior Tyler Flakes and sophomore Omar Mabson at RB while junior Jackson Kilgore takes over at QB. Senior Griffin McLean will handle TE and senior Jalen Foster and junior Hugh Bodifer anchor the OL. The top-rated kicker in the state, Towns McGough is a weapon. The defensive back end includes senior DB/ATH Tremarcus Webb and junior La’Mychael Gunn while the front seven is stout with junior DE Caleb Pitts and senior DL Duece White while senior Wyatt Trexler and junior Ty Hudson roam at LB.

Hoover should be strong offensively with a wealth of experience returning. QB will be a battle between returning sophomore Noah Schuback and Albertville senior transfer Andy Howard. Senior Rashad Smith will be strong on the OL while junior Chris Warren lines up at TE. The receiving corps will be a weapon with seniors Jordan Woolen and Fredrick Dunson while sophomore Jonah Winston is dangerous touching the ball at any of several positions. On defense, 4-star LB Bradley Shaw heads the group with seniors Michael Nixon and Micah Hampton manning DL and senior Jeremy Cook roaming the secondary.

CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY AT HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE

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

Last year: Central (10-3) lost 14-13 to Auburn in Class 7A semifinal playoff action while Hewitt-Trussville (8-4) fell 28-11 in the second round. Its only the second meeting of the schools with Central winning 37-21 at home last year.

The skinny: Star prospects abound on both sides of the ball at Central. On offense there’s 5-star senior WR Cam Coleman (Texas A&M commit), 3-star senior RB Zach Simmons (Western Kentucky commit), 3-star junior WR Daylyn Upshaw and junior 3-star OL Mal Waldrep. Junior QB Andrew Alford transferred from a Georgia school while freshman Bobby Coleman will also contend. The defense features 3-star senior DL Isaia Faga (Alabama commit), senior 3-star DB/ATH Jayden Coleman, senior 3-star DB Rydarrius Morgan (Alabama commit) and 3-star senior DB Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati commit).

A potent Hewitt-Trussville offense is led by Class 7A all-state QB Peyton Floyd (2,413 yards and 25 TDs passing, 726 yards and 16 TDs rushing) keying the attack. Skill players include Jaqson Melton (778 yards rushing) and Kennedy Mitchell at RB while Jadon Loving (54 catches for 613 yards and 5 TDs) leads at receiver and Donovan Price is a weapon at TE. 3-star Kade Martin anchors the OL. All are seniors. The defense lost two SEC signees, but there’s still plenty of talent. Seniors Tyrell Averhart, Ayden Moore and Drew Ollis lead on the front while the back end is solid with senior DBs Riggs Dunn and Gavin Williams along with junior 3-star Michael Igbinoghene.

OPELIKA VS. THOMPSON

Time/location: Friday, 8 p.m., Cramton Bowl (AHSAA Kickoff Classic), Montgomery

Last year: Opelika (5-5) no playoffs while Thompson (11-3) won its fourth straight Class 7A championship. It’s the first meeting between the schools.

The skinny: Opelika failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2009, but returns senior three-year starter and 3-star recruit Roman Gagliano at QB. Junior Calvin Hughley will get plenty of touches at RB while WR features junior Jamari Miller and sophomore Bennett Young. On defense, the Bulldogs have a formidable front line with 3-star junior E’Mauri Smiley at DE while 3-star junior Malik Autry (Auburn commit) and junior Jakii Lightfoot line up at DT. Junior Karson Moss will lead in the defensive backfield.

As usual, Thompson is loaded with college prospects. Freshman Trent Seaborn (offers from Alabama, Auburn and more) came on strong at the end of the season while senior 3-star Zach Sims will also see action at QB. Senior AJ Green and junior Michael Dujon return at RB while senior receivers Kolby Hearn and Deuce Oliver will present problems for defenses. The offensive line will be a work in progress and junior kicker/punter John Allen McGuire is a weapon. The strength of the defense will be on the back end with 4-star junior Anquon Fegans (USC commit) and 3-star senior Caleb Harris roaming the secondary. The front includes senior Caleb Ballard and freshman Cam Pritchett (Texas and Texas A&M offers) along with senior LB Jayden Davis.

RAMSAY AT HUEYTOWN

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

Last year: Hueytown (8-4) lost 29-18 to Theodore in the second round of Class 6A playoffs while Ramsay (13-2) won the Class 5A championship. Ramsay leads the series 5-3 with three straight wins, including 41-28 last year.

The skinny: Ramsay returns lots of talent on both sides of the ball. Junior 3-star QB Kameron Keenan keys the attack while North Alabama senior commit Ashton Ashford is a load at RB. Junior Tre’Mell Washington and senior Kristian Stinson stand out at WR while junior Lance Johnson leads the OL. The defensive front seven is formidable with senior 3-star QB Reese (Alabama offer) and junior Marquel Patterson handling LB duties while seniors Demarcus Wynn and Cameron Carson man the line. Seniors Jamarcus Jones and Fletcher Taylor (Marshall offer) are the last line of defense.

Hueytown features a strong senior class, but the offense will be keyed by junior QB Jebron Ellington behind an OL anchored by senior Jordan Groom. Senior skill players include Dacorian Thomas and TJ Howell at WR and Elijah Hudson at RB. The defensive front seven is comprised mostly of seniors, led by stalwart Keith Green on the line while Kole Caldwell will be tough to handle and LB Jacob Hanberry roams behind the group. DBs include seniors Kam Kynard and Onterrio Sealie.

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

THURSDAY

Chelsea at Helena, 7:30 p.m.

Holtville at Fultondale

Homewood at John Carroll

Minor at Huffman

Sylacauga at Wenonah

Vestavia Hills at Mountain Brook, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Auburn at Hoover

Bessemer Academy vs. Banks (at Mountain Brook’s Spartan Stadium)

Center Point at Tylertown, Miss.

Central-Phenix City at Hewitt-Trussville

Clay-Chalkville at Briarwood, 7:30 p.m.

Cornerstone at Coosa Valley

Fairfield at Parker

Florence at Pinson Valley

Homewood at John Carroll

James Clemens at Gardendale

Mortimer Jordan at Leeds

Oak Mountain at Northridge

Opelika vs. Thompson (Kickoff Classic, Montgomery)

Oxford at McAdory

Pelham at Jackson-Olin

Pell City at Moody

Pleasant Grove at Smiths Station

Ramsay at Hueytown

Shelby County at West Blocton

Spain Park at Calera

Stanhope Elmore at Shades Valley

Tarrant at Talladega County Central

Thompson vs. Opelika, 8 p.m. (Montgomery)

Vincent at Ragland

Woodlawn at Bessemer City