Directions to games

To find the way to tonight's football games, click on the link of the game that you wish to attend. The link will bring up a Mapquest page that gives you directions to the respective high schools.

From past experience, Mapquest directions are pretty good, but they're not always perfect. However, on Friday nights stadiums are usually the easiest things in the world to find. Just like a moth, find the lights and gravitate in that direction.

All directions are to the high schools. Hope this helps, and be safe.

Saks to Calera

Anniston at Bibb County

Woodland at Geraldine

Lineville at Sand Rock

Pleasant Valley at Susan Moore

And then there were three ...

With two weeks left in the regular season, only three area teams remain undefeated: Lincoln and Cherokee County in Class 4A and Clay County in Class 2A.

Which of these teams has the best shot at getting through the regular season without a loss?

Let's look at the remaining schedules:

The Cherokee County Warriors (8-0) make a trip to winless Ashville this Friday, then travel to face a 4-4 Scottsboro team fighting for a shot at a winning season. The home-standing Wildcats will have the added benefit of an open date this Friday.

Lincoln's Golden Bears (8-0) have enjoyed a steady rise up the 4A rankings this year and now sit at No. 2 behind once-defeated Deshler. If the Golden Bears make it through the next two weeks unscathed, they'll have earned that ranking. This week, they travel to Munford for a big rivalry game against a scrappy Lions squad looking to get above .500 for the first time this season. Get through that, and Lincoln has to host the always-dangerous Panthers of Clay County. Normally, a 4A team would be a heavy favorite over a smaller 2A squad, but I'm sure coach Keith Howard knows his team will have to be on top of their game to beat the Panthers.

Before facing Lincoln, Clay County (8-0) will have to get past Ranburne. It's been a tough year for the 3-5 Bulldogs, and they'd like nothing better than to pull an upset over the No. 2 team in Class 2A. Coach Danny Horn will have to make sure his team isn't caught napping against a motivated Ranburne team.

So, who has the best shot at an undefeated season? You decide. Go over to The Anniston Star's High School Sports section and vote in this week's poll. (No subscription is required to vote.)

with apologies, the midseason edition

Sadly, I have no excuses -- merely contrition. I've not blogged here in quite some time, and it's time I got cracking.
(Note: I'll be off the sports desk at The Daily Home at the end of football season, a move that many will likely welcome all too happily. Nevertheless, I'm offering the rest of football season to this blog, such as I can give. But I digress.)

You may recall my preseason predictions back in August -- aka, the last time I logged any significant time on the blog. Much of the time, analysts for the various big media outlets make preseason predictions, then carry on as if nothing had happened.

I intend to hold my own feet to the fire here -- through 5 weeks, here's how my preseason predictions are panning out.

Coosa Valley Academy

• Predicted finish: 6-5
• Currently: 3-2 (3-1 region)
• Analysis: Thus far, our view on CVA looks to be right on track. The loss to Cornerstone in Week 3 really hurt, but the Rebs bounced back nicely, even finding some offensive rhythm last week in an easy win over SMCA. The next two weeks will likely tell the tale: if the Rebs pick up a win vs. either Ashford or Chambers, they'll be in excellent position to pick up that elusive playoff berth.
• Adjusted prediction: 5-5, first round AISA playoffs.

ASD

• Predicted finish: 3-7
• Currently: 3-2
• Analysis: The Silent Warriors are better than I'd anticipated, even finding some new playmakers to replace last season's seniors in Kwentavious Boyd and Heriberto Nunez. The loss to Indiana likely knocked them out of the national championship hunt, but every game left on their schedule looks winnable. It's the vote of confidence Paul Kulick needs in his fourth season.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 7-3

Fayetteville

• Predicted finish: 7-3
• Currently: 0-5 (0-3)
  
• Analysis: No team was hurt by injuries like Jimmy Wright's group -- not only did Fayetteville lose starting quarterback Cameron Shaw to a knee injury, but the Wolves lost backup QB Andrew Scott and lineman Adam Fulmer to knee and ankle problems, as well. Essentially, the entire workload has fallen on the shoulders of poor Billy Lawson, who's struggled mightily but simply can't do it all himself. Too bad, really.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 2-8

Ragland

• Predicted finish: 11-2
• Currently: 3-2 (3-0)
  
• Analysis: Ragland is no longer the odds-on favorite to win Region 5 -- that honor belongs to Appalachian, after the way they handled Westbrook Christian last Friday (the same Westbrook that drilled the Purple Devils in Week 1). But everything else from the preseason stands. That matchup in Week 9 is still the region championship. And pretty much everything else is moot.
• Adjusted prediction: 10-3, third round.

Talladega Co. Central

• Predicted finish: 10-3
• Currently: 4-1 (3-0)
  
• Analysis: At the moment, TC looks like a solid favorite to win their region, again, with their biggest win coming over Wadley in Week 4. The next three weeks look relatively easy -- at Notasulga, vs. Verbena and at Fayetteville -- before a trip to Loachapoka in Week 9. Probably for the region title.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 11-2, fourth round.

Victory Christian

• Predicted finish: 6-4
• Currently: 4-1 (2-1)
  
• Analysis: Everything has aligned perfectly for the Lions, who proved they could play with the region's best in a narrow loss to Ragland, then followed that up with three straight wins, including one at ASD (arguably their biggest win in the program's history). They're on the precipice of the biggest stretch of the season -- at Appalachian, at Parkway. Right now, they look like the 3 from Region 5. Which is a huge, huge statement.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 7-3, first round.
  

Winterboro

• Predicted finish: 3-7
• Currently: 2-3 (2-1)
  
• Analysis: The Bulldogs are a classic case of "better to be lucky than good." They've thus far won the games they should be winning -- at a beleaguered Fayetteville team and at a frightfully young Donoho. The next two games look impossible -- vs. Loachapoka, at Wadley -- but after that, a pair of winnable games (Notasulga, Verbena) will likely catapult Adam Fossett's crew into the playoffs. And so what if that's a one-way ticket to Maplesville?
  
• Adjusted prediction: 4-7, first round

B.B. Comer

• Predicted finish: 5-5
• Currently: 0-5 (0-3)
  
• Analysis: B.B. Comer head coach Tripp Henderson has been testy since the season began, and with good reason -- his squad lost winnable games at Montevallo and home against Central-Coosa the last two weeks, and was barely competitive in the first three weeks. There are a few wins left on the schedule -- at Marbury, vs. Beulah -- but they're still at least a year away.
• Adjusted prediction: 2-8

Childersburg

• Predicted finish: 4-6
• Currently: 2-3 (1-3)
  
• Analysis: The season thus far has seen one pleasant surprise -- Fabian Garrett -- and one familiar story -- the Tigers commit too many dumb penalties, can't get defensive stops when they need them and still look a few plays short of being a playoff contender. They still have Handley and Heflin remaining on their schedule, which ain't good.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 3-7

Lincoln

• Predicted finish: 12-2
• Currently: 5-0 (3-0)
  
• Analysis: The scary thing about Lincoln: they haven't been completely healthy yet this season. And they're good enough to coast through the schedule until Week 9 (no way they skate against Munford). I think it's completely fair to call the Bears one of the five best in 4A right now.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 13-1, fourth round

Munford

• Predicted finish: 6-4
• Currently: 2-3 (1-3)
  
• Analysis: Everything written about them in preseason stands, with the exception that now I think they're good enough to grab the fourth spot in the region and make the playoffs. That's a much bigger step than you realize for Todd Smith's program.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 7-5, second round

Sylacauga

• Predicted finish: 7-4
• Currently: 3-2 (0-2)
  
• Analysis: Sylacauga has ridden the back of running back Josh Crowe through the first five weeks of the season, and the combination of him and quarterback Kelsey Pope means the Aggies can score points against anybody. The importance of this week's game against Chelsea can't be over-stated -- Sylacauga's going for its first region win and to stay alive in the playoff hunt. I think they regained some of their swagger against Childersburg, and every game left on the schedule looks winnable.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 6-5, first round

Talladega

• Predicted finish: 2-8
• Currently: 1-4 (1-3)
  
• Analysis: The good news: Talladega's shown a significant amount of grit and determination, and has a quarterback (Craig Granger) who's not intimidated by any deficit against any team. The bad news: the second half of their schedule is much tougher than the first half.
  
• Adjusted prediction: 2-8

Pell City

• Predicted finish: 6-4
• Currently: 2-3 (1-3)
  
• Analysis: Jay Brown's Panthers haven't been this bad offensively since his tenure began there, but the transition period has simply gotten them clocked in three of their first five games. In fact, if not for a 17-point fourth quarter against Shades Valley, the Panthers would likely be 1-4 right now, with no region wins. They're tougher defensively, but they still have Gadsden and Oxford left on the schedule. Yikes.
• Adjusted prediction: 5-5
  

How the Top 10 fared

CLASS 6A
1. Prattville (4-1) beat Brentwood Aca. (Tenn.) 26-0
2. Tuscaloosa Co. (5-0) beat Clay-Chalkville 42-21
3. McGill-Toolen (4-1) lost to No. 9 Davidson 14-13
4. Oxford (5-0) beat Huntsville 26-3
5. Opelika (4-1) lost to Vigor 34-28
6. Mountain Brook (5-0) beat No. 8 Vestavia Hills 17-14
7. Hoover (4-1) beat Oak Mountain 24-7
8. Vestavia Hills (3-2) lost to No. 6 Mountain Brook 17-14
9. Davidson (5-0) beat No. 3 McGill-Toolen 14-13
10. Murphy (4-0) at Daphne on Saturday

CLASS 5A
1. Cullman (5-0) beat Mortimer Jordan 48-14
2. Central-Tuscaloosa (5-0) beat Paul Bryant 53-0
3. Hartselle (5-0) beat Cordova 42-27
4. Vigor (5-0) beat Opelika 34-28
5. Eufaula (3-2) lost to Enterprise 42-28
6. Russellville (4-1) beat St. Paul’s 41-7
7. Briarwood (4-1) beat Spain Park 20-10
8. Shelby Co. (5-0) beat Calera 26-0
9. Carver-Montgomery (5-0) beat Lee-Montgomery 22-15
10. Wenonah (2-2) lost to Fairfield 31-6 on Thursday

CLASS 4A
1. North Jackson (4-1) lost to Fort Payne 35-14 on Thursday
2. Deshler (4-1) beat Colbert Co. 7-2
3. Lincoln (5-0) beat Boaz 38-7
4. Brooks (5-0) beat Athens 28-14
5. UMS-Wright (4-1) beat Fairhope 28-23
6. Fayette Co. (4-1) lost to Gordo 19-7
7. Fairview (5-0) beat Holly Pond 57-18
8. Handley (3-1) beat Lineville 29-0
9. Midfield (5-0) beat Jackson-Olin 23-18
10. Thomasville (3-2) beat Sumter Co. 35-2

CLASS 3A
1. Cordova (4-1) lost to Hartselle 42-27
2. T.R. Miller (5-0) beat Clarke Co. 17-14
3. Leeds (5-0) beat St. Clair Co. 34-13
4. Elkmont (5-0) beat Clements 35-7
5. Colbert Co. (3-2) lost to Deshler 7-2
6. Straughn (5-0) beat Opp 35-20
7. West Morgan (4-1) beat East Lawrence 49-22
8. Hamilton (5-0) beat Haleyville 14-13
9. Trinity (3-2) lost to Elmore Co. 38-14
10. Dadeville (5-0) beat Randolph Co. 35-0

CLASS 2A
1. Leroy (5-0) beat Jackson 63-34 on Thursday
2. Clay Co. (5-0) beat Saks 31-7
3. American Chr. (5-0) beat Southern Choctaw 31-7
4. Houston Aca. (4-1) lost to Slocomb 42-17
5. Red Bay (3-2) lost to Belmont (Miss.) 22-6
6. Tanner (5-0) beat West Limestone 42-14
7. Lanett (4-1) lost to Valley 35-12
8. Fyffe (4-1) beat Gordon Lee (Ga.) 27-14
9. Sand Rock (5-0) beat Gaston 28-0
10. Winston Co. (5-0) beat Carbon Hill 42-7

CLASS 1A
1. Sweet Water (5-0) beat J.F. Shields 78-0
2. Talladega Co. Central (4-1) lost to Munford 25-7
3. Brantley (5-0) beat Highland Home 56-6
4. Hazlewood (5-0) beat Phillips-Bear Creek 50-36
5. Loachapoka (4-1) lost to Reeltown 24-14
6. Maplesville (4-0) beat Autaugaville 50-0
7. Gaston (3-2) lost to Sand Rock 28-0
8. Linden (5-0) beat Billingsley 27-26
9. Wadley (4-1) beat Woodland 28-0
10. McKenzie (4-0) at J.U. Blacksher on Saturday

AISA
1. Bessemer Aca. (5-0) beat Kingwood 39-12 on Thursday
2. Southern Aca. (5-0) beat Clarke Prep 24-20
3. Edgewood (5-0) beat Meadowview 47-8
4. Pike Liberal Arts (5-0) beat Taylor Road Aca. 36-0
5. South Choctaw Aca. (5-1) beat Restoration 35-0
6. Fort Dale Aca. (4-1) beat Macon-East 28-0
7. Monroe Aca. (5-0) beat Pickens Aca. 41-22
8. Patrician (5-0) beat Sumter Aca. 62-0
9. Glenwood (3-2) beat Prattville Chr. 34-0
10. Lee-Scott (4-1) beat Hooper 35-20

That's gotta be a record

Sports editor Bran Strickland here. Friday night I went to the Weaver-Cedar Bluff game, which Cedar Bluff won 42-21.

Big plays wasn't how the Tigers earned their 42 points; It was long sustained drives.

In those drives, the Tigers were chewing up yardage in medium-sized chunks and getting loads of first downs. The final tally? 28.

While adding up the stats, I said to myself, "Self, wonder where that ranks among all-time stats?"

Well, turns out, I don't know. It's not a stat that's kept. I was kind of surprised.

If you want to have a look at some of the more amazing state football stats, click the link below. The most amazing to me was Most points scored in a quarter: 54, by Thomasville against Gulf Shores.

See records here.

Piedmont-Ohatchee Stats

Piedmont 38, Ohatchee 0

First downs........P, 16; O, 7
Rushing yards......P, 183; O, 65
Passing yards......P, 165; O, 8
Total yards........P, 348; O, 73
Passing............P, 9-16-0; O, 1-11-2
Fumbles............P, 0-0; O, 2-0
Penalties-yards....P, 8-80; O, 6-40
Punts-average......P, 3-32.7; O,27.8

How the Top 10s fared (updated with Saturday's scores)

CLASS 6A
1. Prattville (3-1) beat Wetumpka 31-0
2. Tuscaloosa Co. (4-0) beat Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 37-9
3. McGill-Toolen (4-0) beat Daphne 23-10
4. Oxford (4-0) beat No. 6 Gadsden City 24-14
5. Opelika (4-0) beat Enterprise 21-13
6. Gadsden City (2-2) lost to No. 4 Oxford 24-14
7. Mountain Brook (4-0) beat Spain Park 35-0
8. Hoover (3-1) beat Thompson 36-0
9. Huntsville (3-1) lost to Florence 41-35
10. Vestavia Hills (3-1) beat Pelham 37-7

CLASS 5A
1. Russellville (3-1) lost to No. 7 Hartselle 24-14
2. Cullman (4-0) beat Curry 33-14
3. Charles Henderson (3-1) lost to Valley 31-14
4. Central-Tuscaloosa (3-0) beat No. 5 Wenonah, 28-22
5. Wenonah (2-1) lost to No. 4 Central-Tuscaloosa, 28-22
6. Vigor (4-0) beat Gulf Shores 46-26
7. Hartselle (4-0) beat No. 1 Russellville 24-14
8. Eufaula (3-1) beat Beauregard 24-13
9. Briarwood (3-1) beat Moody 35-0
10. Shelby Co. (4-0) beat Sylacauga 34-21

CLASS 4A
1. North Jackson (4-0) beat Columbia 47-19
2. Deshler (3-1) beat Rogers 28-6
3. Lincoln (4-0) beat Childersburg 41-12
4. Brooks (4-0) beat Lawrence Co. 47-12
5. UMS-Wright (3-1) beat Clarke Co. 37-0
6. Fayette Co. (4-0) beat Haleyville 26-22
7. Fairview (4-0) beat DAR 41-18
8. Handley (2-1) beat Central-Coosa 65-28
9. Thomasville (2-2) beat W.S. Neal 23-14
10. Bibb Co. (3-1) lost to Calera 40-22

CLASS 3A
1. Cordova (4-0) beat Northside 40-7
2. Trinity (3-1) lost to Dadeville 46-15
3. West Morgan (3-1) lost to No. 9 Elkmont 42-35, 4OT
4. T.R. Miller (4-0) beat Central-Hayneville 49-0
5. Leeds (4-0) beat Weaver 42-0
6. Colbert Co. (3-1) beat Colbert Heights 46-22
7. Pike Co. (2-2) lost to Slocomb 14-6
8. Straughn (4-0) beat Bayside Aca. 40-20
9. Elkmont (4-0) beat No. 3 West Morgan 42-35, 4OT
10. Hamilton (4-0) beat Winfield 14-6

CLASS 2A
1. Leroy (4-0) beat Flomaton 48-14
2. Clay County (4-0) beat Lineville 28-7
3. American Christian (4-0) beat Isabella 49-7
4. Houston Academy (4-0) beat Samson 36-0
5. Red Bay (3-1) beat Cherokee 33-21
6. Tanner (4-0) beat Clements 31-20
7. Geraldine (3-1) lost to Sand Rock 21-7
8. Fyffe (3-1) beat North Sand Mountain 46-17
9. Lanett (4-0) beat Horseshoe Bend 42-14
10. Elba (3-1) lost to G.W. Long 26-21

CLASS 1A
1. Sweet Water (4-0) beat Fruitdale 65-7
2. Talladega County Central (4-0) beat No. 5 Wadley 27-17
3. Brantley (4-0) beat Ariton 51-16
4. Hazlewood (4-0) beat Waterloo 62-0
5. Wadley (3-1) lost to No. 2 Talladega Co. Central 27-17
6. Loachapoka (4-0) beat Verbena 48-0
7. Maplesville (3-0) beat John Essex 41-6
8. Gaston (3-1) beat Spring Garden 28-3
9. Linden (4-0) beat Holy Spirit 54-13
10. McKenzie (4-0) beat Pleasant Home 35-7