Here are five games to watch in the Birmingham area this week as teams step out of region play.

Some interesting matchups this week with ranked teams playing across different classes, including Class 7A top-ranked Thompson hosting Class 6A second-ranked Clay-Chalkville in a nationally televised game on Thursday.

There are star-rankings galore between players from Thompson and Clay-Chalkville, including commitments to Alabama, Auburn and Oregon and player offers from across the country.

RELATED: Vote for the Birmingham area player of the week.

The complete schedule follows.

CLAY-CHALKVILLE (5-0, 3-0) AT THOMPSON (4-0, 3-0)

Time/location: Thursday, 7 p.m., Warrior Stadium, Alabaster

Television: ESPN2

Last week: Clay-Chalkville beat Center Point 39-14 and Thompson downed Chelsea 45-0.

The skinny: Clay-Chalkville leads the seldom-played series 2-1, with the Warriors posting a 17-14 win last season. Clay-Chalkville was ranked Class 6A No. 2 last week and Thompson is No. 1 in Class 7A. Clay-Chalkville scores 34.8 points a game and gives up a miniscule 4.8 with two shutouts while Thompson averages 41.3 points and surrenders 7.5 a game. Drew Gilmer (72-12, 7th season) earned his first head coaching job with Clay-Chalkville in 2017 and has led the Cougars to the playoffs all six previous seasons, including winning the 2021 championship. Thompson’s Mark Freeman (251-55, 25th season) has guided the Warriors (87-18, 9th year) to four straight Class 7A titles and reached the title game five straight years. Freeman also has two state titles at Spanish Fort (50-7, 4 years) after coaching at Gulf Shores (13-9, 2 years) and he won four state championships at Bessemer Academy (101-21, 10 years).

CLAY-CHALKVILLE players to watch: Offense — 5-star QB/ATH Jaylen Mbakwe (Alabama commit), 4-star WR Mario Craver (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, more), RB Aaron Osley, RB Taurus Chambers, 4-star OL Jac’Qawn McRoy (Oregon commit), OL AJ Williams (offers from Marshall, Austin Peay, more), OL Adrian Spivey. Defense — 4-star LB DJ Barber (Auburn commit), 3-star DB Tevis Metcalf (offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Colorado, more), LB Rod Ivy, DE Avion Pickett, S Deion Gunn (Marshall offer).

THOMPSON players to watch: Offense — QB Trent Seaborn (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, more), RB AJ Green (offers from Marshall, Arkansas State, more), RB Michael Dujon, WR Deuce Oliver (Eastern Kentucky offer). Defense — 3-star DB Kaleb Harris (offers from Auburn, Florida, LSU, Penn State, Florida State, more), 4-star DB Anquon Fegans (offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU, USC, Michigan, more), LB Jayden Davis, LB Tyler Hicks (offers from Austin Peay, UNA, Wofford).

AUBURN (4-1, 3-1) AT RAMSAY (5-1, 4-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Legion Field, Brimingham

Last week: Auburn beat Percy Julian 48-13 and Ramsay beat Fairfield 28-15.

The skinny: Auburn won last years’ meeting 42-21, the only game between the teams. Class 7A Auburn was ranked No. 3 last week while Class 5A Ramsay was No. 1. Auburn averages 35.4 points a game and holds opponents to 14.2 while Ramsay scores 37.4 points and surrenders 14.4. Auburn coach Keith Etheredge (176-58, 18th season), led the Tigers (26-6, 3rd year) to the Class 7A title game last season before falling to Thompson and has five previous state championships. Etheredge also coached at (Oxford (25-3, 2 years) with a Class 6A title in 2019, T.R. Miller (6-5, 1 year), Pell City (12-10, 2 years) and started his head coaching career at his alma mater, Leeds (107-34, 10 years) where he won Class 3A championships in 2008 and 2010 and Class 4A titles in 2014 and 2015. Ramsay’s Ronnie Jackson (23-8, 3rd season) has his first head coaching job and led the Rams the 2022 Class 5A championship and to the second round in 2021.

AUBURN players to watch: Offense —WR/ATH Ean Nation, RB Tyler Flakes, RB Omar Mabson (UAB offer), QB Henry Allen, 3-star TE Griffin McLean (offers from Autin Peay, Samford), OL Jalen Foster (Stetson offer), OL Hugh Bodifer, No. 3 nationally rated PK Towns McGough (offers from Auburn, Tennessee). Defense — DB/ATH Tremarcus Webb (offers from Army, Navy, UNA), DB La’Mychael Gunn (Jacksonville State offer), DE Caleb Pitts, DL Duece White, LB Wyatt Trexler, LB Ty Hudson.

RAMSAY players to watch: Offense – 3-star QB Kameron Keenan (offers from Colorado, Marshall, Appalachian State), RB Ashton Ashford (UNA commit), WR Tremell Washington, WR Kristian Stinson, OL Lance Williams. Defense — 3-star LB QB Reese (Alabama commit), LB Marquel Patterson, DL Demarcus Wynn, DB Fletcher Taylor (Marshall offer), SS O’Conner Jones (Marshall offer).

FULTONDALE (1-3, 1-1) AT CORNER (4-0, 3-0)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Corner Stadium, Dora

Last week: Fultondale fell to Oneonta 37-38 while Corner beat Dora 21-14.

The skinny: Fultondale leads the series 9-7, but lost last season’s game 44-6 and also lost in 1998 and 1999. Neither Class 4A team was ranked last week. Fultondale averages 26.5 points a game and allows 21.5 while Corner scores 44.3 points and surrenders 13.3. Fultondale coach Keon Handley (24-43, 7th season) is in his first season with the Wildcats and has coached at Fairfield (22-31, 5 years) with three trips to the Class 5A playoffs and Selma (1-9, 1 year) in 2016. Trent Campbell has his first head coaching job.

FULTONDALE players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Rodreckus Johnson (offers from Arkansas, Charlotte), RB Jeremiah Jackson, OL Dreshaun White, WR Eric Brown, ATH Jaylon Fells. Defense —LB Matthew Yafondo, LB Nedarius Davis, DL Quintrell Pouncey, LB Jaden Gordon.

CORNER players to watch: Offense — QB Brendan Conner, TE Brodie Dunlap, WR Nick Dyer, RB Spencer Unruh. Defense — S Jace Boyd, S Max Hill, CB Cannon Eubank, LB Carlin Austin, LB CJ Brown, LB Rhett Cofer, DE Austin Reid, DE Jared Black.

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

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

Last week: Mountain Brook beat Jackson-Olin 49-0 and Hoover lost to Hewitt-Trussville 28-7.

The skinny: Hoover leads the series 35-8 and has won eight straight, including 26-14 last season. Class 6A Mountain Brook was ranked No. 7 last week while Class 7A Hoover was unranked. Mountain Brook scores 31.2 points a game and allows 9.6 with three straight shutouts. Hoover averages 15.4 points a game and gives up 28.2. Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager (174-82, 22nd season) guided the Spartans (149-62, 18th year) to the Class 6A title game last season and has 13 playoff appearances in 17 previous seasons. Yeager coached at Jasper (5-15, 2 years) and West Blocton (20-4, 2 years) with two playoff appearances. Coach Wade Waldrop (112-81, 18th season) led the Bucs (12-6, 2nd year) to the semifinals last season and has coached at Chelsea (41-34, 7 years), James Clemens (54-35, 8 years) and one year at Florence (5-6).

MOUNTAIN BROOK players to watch: Offense — 3-star RB Cole Gamble (offers from UAB, Navy, UNA, more), WR Clark Sanderson (Samford offer), RB Jack King, QB John Cooper (New Mexico State offer), TE JC Adams. OL Watts Alexander (offers from Cornell, UT-Chattanooga, Richmond, Samford). Defense — DB Tucker Crawford, DB Clyde Beavers, DB Hampton King, LB William Grier McDuffie, LB Drew Widener, DL James Hard, DL Rickey Whitworth.

HOOVER players to watch: Offense — WR Jordan Woolen (offers from UAB, Austin Peay, more), 4-star WR/ATH Jonah Winston (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, more), TE Chris Warren, OL Rashad Smith. Defense — 4-star LB Bradley Shaw (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, more), 3-star S Jeremy Cook (offers from Arkansas, Southern Miss, more), CB Jamar Moultrie, DL Pa Drammeh, DL Mike Nixon.

PARKER (5-0, 3-0) AT PLEASANT GROVE (3-1, 2-1)

Time/location: Friday, 7 p.m., Spartan Stadium, Pleasant Grove

Last week: Parker beat Gardendale 41-22 and Pleasant Grove beat Hayden 49-0.

The skinny: Pleasant Grove leads the series 10-3 with six straight wins, including 49-28 last year. Class 6A Parker was ranked No. 4 last week and Class 5A Pleasant Grove was No. 4. Parker scores 45.4 points a game and allows 14.6 while Pleasant Grove averages 38.8 and surrenders 21 points a game. Parker’s Frank Warren (29-12, 4th season) earned his first head coaching job with the Thundering Herd in 2020 and guided the program to the playoffs all three previous seasons. Pleasant Grove coach Darrell LeBeaux (59-13, 6th season) took the job in 2018 and has five straight playoff appearances, including winning to the Class 5A title game in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and the semifinals last year.

PARKER players to watch: Offense — QB Malik Muhammad, RB A’mari Brundidge, RB Martavius Purnell, WR Jeremiah Jelks, OL Jamarcus Smith. Defense — 4-star DL Jeremiah Beaman (Alabama commit), 4-star DL Jourdin Crawford (offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Clemson, Michigan, more) DL Phillip Davidson, DL Jeremiah Hall, LB Davion Lake, LB Carlton Duncan, 5-star DB Na’eem Offord (offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Clemson, USC, more), DB Eric Tarrant, 4-star DB Timothy Merritt (offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss, LSU, Clemson, Penn State, Texas, more).

PLEASANT GROVE players to watch: Offense — 3-star QB Eric Handley (Wofford commit), 3-star ATH/WR Clarence Taylor (offers from Memphis, Georgia Tech, more), RB Collin Moore, WR Arron Tift, OL Jordan Foy. Defense — DB/ATH Cam Wormley, DL Andre Watts, DB Micheal McGuire, DL Carlos Colston.

BIRMINGHAM AREA SCHEDULE

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

THURSDAY

Clay-Chalkville at Thompson

FRIDAY

Auburn at Ramsay (Legion Field)

Austin at Gardendale

Bessemer Academy at Morgan Academy

Bessemer City at Shades Valley

Center Point at Fairfield

Chelsea at Pelham

Childersburg at Vincent

Choctaw County at Woodlawn

Cullman at Mortimer Jordan

Dallas County at Carver

Edgewood at Banks

Evangel at Coosa Valley

Florence at Minor

Fultondale at Corner

Gadsden City at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa

Holt at Wenonah

Homewood at Pinson Valley

Huffman at Hewitt-Trussville

Jackson-Olin at Helena

Jemison at Montevallo

Mountain Brook at Hoover

Oak Grove at Sipsey Valley

Oak Mountain at Briarwood

Parker at Pleasant Grove

Shades Valley at Bessemer City

Shelby County at Moody

Sylacauga at Leeds

Tarrant at Lynn