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

HARTSELLE (12-1) AT AUSTIN (7-4)

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

Last year: Class 6A Hartselle went undefeated in the regular season and lost to Mountain Brook in the quarterfinals. The Tigers won two playoff games for the first time since 2012. Class 7A Austin lost to Vestavia Hills in the opening round of the playoffs; the Black Bears have been eliminated in the first round in their last four postseason appearances.

The skinny: Third-ranked Hartselle has won 23 consecutive regular season games dating back to the 2020 season. The current longest regular season winning streak is 24 by Montgomery Catholic, according to AHSFHS.org. … Hartselle scored a program-record 537 points last season; the previous high mark was 509 by the 2011 state championship team. … Tigers running back Ri Fletcher, a second-team All-State selection at athlete last season, returns after rushing for 1,306 yards and 18 TDs. … Hartselle has a new quarterback with a familiar last name in senior Landon Blackwood. He’s the brother of 2021 starting QB JT Blackwood. … Hartselle defeated Austin 45-17 last season to take a 32-23-1 series lead. Fletcher accounted for a pair of TDs.

MADISON ACADEMY (9-3) AT DESHLER (12-1)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Howard Chappell Stadium, Tuscumbia

Last year: Class 3A Madison Academy lost in overtime to Sylvania in the second round. Class 4A Deshler went undefeated in the regular season under first-year coach Patrick Martin and lost to Oneonta in the quarterfinals.

The skinny: Madison Academy first-team All-State selection Ken Cherry returns after rushing for 1,6095 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. … The No. 6-ranked Mustangs lost starting quarterback Carson Creehan to graduation. … Deshler’s win total last season was the Tigers’ highest since recording 13 victories during a state runner-up finish in 2014. … Deshler outscored Madison Academy 29-26 in the second half last season to win 42-35. … The Mustangs won meetings during their state championship seasons in 2013 and 2012.

WEST MORGAN (10-2) AT RANDOLPH (10-3)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, SportsMed Field, Huntsville

Last year: Both teams were eliminated by Cherokee County in the Class 4A playoffs: Randolph in the quarterfinals and West Morgan in the second round.

The skinny: Randolph has plenty of holes to fill following the best season in program history. The list includes quarterback Andrew Hunter, the 2022 AL.com Huntsville Region Player of the Year; and a pair of all-state selections in athlete Nic Strong and receiver Grayson Davenport. … For Deshler, All-State performer Jalen Fletcher returns after rushing for 1,457 yards and 17 TDs. … The Rebels ended a four-year playoff drought in 2022. … West Morgan beat Randolph 41-21 last season as Rebels quarterback Braxton Peters passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns. … Randolph leads the series 2-1.

SCOTTSBORO (7-5) AT FORT PAYNE (8-3)

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

Last year: Class 5A Scottsboro lost to Leeds in the second round. Class 6A Fort Payne lost to Decatur in the first round.

The skinny: The TopCat Trophy rivalry dates back to the 1920s. Fort Payne prevailed 20-6 last season for its fourth straight win in the series and a 53-31-3 rivalry lead. Fort Payne last won five straight in the series from 1985-1989. … Both teams return their leading rushers: Scottsboro’s Keelan Alvarez (1,194 yards, 16 TDs) and Fort Payne’s Kaden DuBose (917 yards, 8 TDs). DuBose had 100 yards and a touchdown against Scottsboro last season.

BOB JONES (5-6) AT MUSCLE SHOALS (11-2)

Time/location: 7 p.m. Thursday, J.F. Moore Stadium

Last year: Class 6A Muscle Shoals lost to Mountain Brook in the semifinals. It was the Trojans’ best postseason showing since reaching the state title game in 2013. Class 7A Bob Jones lost to Hoover in the first round; it was the Patriots’ seventh consecutive opening-round exit.

The skinny: Bob Jones is going for the 275th win in program history, according to AHSFHS.org. … The Patriots haven’t recorded a winning record the past four seasons, the program’s longest such streak since finishing at or below .500 every year between 1998-2004. … Muscle Shoals enters ranked No. 8. … Trojans coach Scott Badsden eclipsed 200 wins last season. He has 207 victories in 23 seasons, with 138 of those wins coming in 15 years leading the Trojans. … Muscle Shoals stifled Bob Jones in last year’s 31-7 win, picking off three second-half passes and holding the Patriots off the scoreboard until the final two minutes of the game. … The Trojans have a 3-1 series lead.

Complete Huntsville area Week 1 schedule

Thursday, Aug. 24

Albertville at Arab

Athens at East Limestone

Bob Jones at Muscle Shoals

Columbia at Fairview

Elkmont at Sheffield

Tanner at Lauderdale County

Friday, Aug. 25

Buckhorn at Madison County

Brewer at Hanceville

Cherokee at Brindlee Mountain

Clements at Holly Pond

Douglas at Susan Moore

Gaston at Asbury

Grissom at Russellville

Hartselle at Austin

Hazel Green at Sparkman

Jacksonville at Boaz

James Clemens at Gardendale

Lawrence County at Danville

Madison Academy at Deshler

Mae Jemison at Decatur

North Sand Mountain at Valley Head

Priceville at Plainview

St. John Paul II at Westbrook Christian

Sardis at DAR

Southside-Gadsden at Guntersville

Scottsboro at Fort Payne

Section at Decatur Heritage

Vinemont at Falkville

West Limestone at Ardmore

West Morgan at Randolph

Westminster Christian at Lee-Huntsville, Milton Frank Stadium

Whitesburg Christian at Woodville

Open week: Huntsville, New Hope, North Jackson, Pisgah