5 Huntsville area HS football games to watch in Week 5
Here are five games to watch in the Huntsville area this week with the complete schedule following.
ARAB (4-0) AT SCOTTSBORO (3-0)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Pat Trammel Stadium
Last week: Arab beat visiting Sardis 29-26. Scottsboro had an open week.
Region: Arab is 2-0 and in first place in Class 5A, Region 7. Scottsboro is 1-0 and tied with Guntersville for second place.
The skinny: Arab is aiming for its second consecutive 5-0 start, while Scottsboro is seeking its first 4-0 start since 2016 — Bo Nix’s final season with the Wildcats. … Arab has defeated Scottsboro the past two seasons by a combined score of 63-7. The Knights quarterback and running back tandem responsible for the four touchdowns in last season’s 28-7 victory graduated. … Arab’s Logan Silva ran for 95 yard and three TDs against Sardis. He also led the team with nine tackles. … Scottsboro averages 54.3 points per game, which ranks No. 1 in 5A and No. 3 among all classifications; but the Wildcats allow 34.7 points per game, which ranks 48th among 55 teams in 5A. … Scottsboro returns to action for the first time since beating Boaz 63-38 on Sept. 8; Jacobi Edmondson ran for 242 yards and three touchdowns. … The Wildcats own a 41-20-1 record against Arab.
GADSDEN CITY (3-1) AT HARTSELLE (3-1)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, J.P. Cain Stadium
Last week: Gadsden City defeated visiting Fort Payne 63-41. Hartselle won 44-0 at Columbia.
Region: This is a non-region game.
The skinny: The teams enter with opposite strengths — Gadsden City has the No. 4 scoring offense in Class 6A at 44 points per game; Hartselle counters with the No. 3 scoring defense (9.0 points). … The Tigers are coming off back to back shutouts, a feat they have accomplished twice in the past three seasons. … Gadsden City’s T.J. Worthy ran for 169 yards and four touchdowns against Fort Payne. … Hartselle overcame two redzone turnovers to beat Gadsden City 16-9 last season — the first meeting between the programs. The Tigers blocked two punts; one set up a touchdown and the other resulted in a safety.
GUNTERSVILLE (3-0) AT BOAZ (2-2)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, L.F. Corley Field
Last week: Guntersville beat visiting Douglas 56-14. Boaz won 35-21 at Cleburne County.
Region: Guntersville is 1-0 in Class 5A, Region 7, and tied with Scottsboro for second place. Boaz is 0-1 and tied with Sardis for fourth place.
The skinny: Guntersville is allowing just 10.3 points per game, which is tied for fourth-lowest in Class 5A. … Wildcats running back Julyon Jordan tallied 180 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Douglas. In last year’s 62-14 win over Boaz, he finished with 181 yards and two TDs. … Guntersville has started 4-0 in two of the last three seasons. … Boaz’s Tristan Childers ran for 91 yards and three touchdowns against Cleburne County. … Guntersville has won its last four meetings against Boaz to increase its series lead to 55-24-2.
JAMES CLEMENS (3-1) AT FLORENCE (2-2)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, Braly Municipal Stadium
Last week: James Clemens beat visiting Huntsville 45-31. Florence won 20-7 at Austin.
Region: Both teams are 2-0 in Class 7A, Region 4, and tied with Sparkman for first place.
The skinny: James Clemens has scored 40 or more points in each of the past two weeks; now the Jets face a Florence defense that is allowing only 10 points per game (tied for fourth-lowest in Class 7A). … Jets receiver Ty Doughty caught a pair of touchdown passes and ran for a TD against Huntsville. … Florence has scored a combined 48 points the past two weeks after managing only three over the first two weeks. The Falcons’ scoring average of 12.8 points ranks 28th among 32 teams in 7A. … Florence forced four turnovers, including a pick six, against Austin. … The Falcons rushed for 367 yards in last year’s 38-20 win over James Clemens. The Jets have a 4-3 edge in the series.
WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN (2-1) AT RANDOLPH (2-2)
Time/location: 7 p.m. Friday, SportsMed Field, Huntsville
Last week: Westminster defeated visiting St. John Paul II 47-28. Randolph won 36-6 at North Jackson.
Region: Both teams are 2-0 in Class 4A, Region 8, and tied with Priceville and New Hope for first place.
The skinny: Westminster quarterback Brandon Musch continued his assault on the AHSAA record book with five touchdowns — three passing and two rushing — against St. John Paul II. He now has 148 TDs accounted for during his career, which ranks sixth in state history (Piedmont quarterback Jack Hayes holds the record of 223). … Westminster has found itself in a shootout in every game this season — the Wildcats average 45.7 points (No. 4 in Class 4A) and allow 35.7. … Randolph returns home after three consecutive road games. … Raiders quarterback William Smith amassed 340 yards and four TDs against North Jackson. … Randolph beat Westminster 53-20 last season and held Musch to a season-low 85 yards passing with an interception; he ran for 122 yards and three TDs. The Raiders have won the last three meetings and have a 7-4 series lead.
The complete Week 5 schedule
Friday’s Games
Albertville at Austin
Arab at Scottsboro
Asbury at J.B. Pennington
Bob Jones at Huntsville, Joe Davis Stadium
Clements at Colbert Heights
DAR at Madison County
Decatur at Hazel Green
Elkmont at Mars Hill
Falkville at Hatton
Fyffe at Section
Grissom at Sparkman
Gadsden City at Hartselle
Guntersville at Boaz
Ider at Pisgah
James Clemens at Florence
Lawrence County at Brewer
Lee-Huntsville at Cullman
Madison Academy at Danville
Mae Jemison at Athens
New Hope at Priceville
North Jackson at South Pittsburg, Tenn.
North Sand Mountain at Whitesburg Christian, Madison County Elementary, Gurley
Russellville at East Limestone
Sardis at Columbia
Sheffield at Tanner
West Limestone at East Lawrence
Westminster Christian at Randolph
Woodville at Vina
Open week: Ardmore, Brindlee Mountain, Buckhorn, Douglas, St. John Paul II