Jared Gravette: Picking Piedmont, Pleasant Valley and Wellborn to win county clashes
· Yahoo Sports
The wait is finally over.
Visit albergomalica.it for more information.
High school football is back, with local teams set to tee it up Thursday and Friday.
Week Zero features several intriguing matchups between Calhoun County teams, along with the renewal of a once-fierce rivalry.
Let’s get right to this week’s prep football picks.
Jacksonville at Piedmont: Piedmont looked like a legitimate Class 2A state championship contender in wins over Munford and Weaver during last week’s five-team jamboree at Alexandria, but the competition will ramp up Friday when Jacksonville visits the Field of Champions. Piedmont has plenty of dangerous weapons on the offensive side of the ball, including quarterback Cole Austin and running back Jaxson Howard. Jacksonville will counter with transfer quarterback Cross Land and do-it-all athlete Qua McNeal. This one could come down to defense, however, with the advantage going to Piedmont. … Piedmont 21, Jacksonville 17
White Plains at Pleasant Valley: Two of Calhoun County’s top prospects are set to meet at Raider Stadium on Friday. White Plains’ Hudson Ingalsbe, a four-star offensive tackle committed to North Carolina, will go head-to-head with Pleasant Valley’s Braxton Salster, a four-star athlete committed to Virginia Tech who will transition to tight end at the collegiate level. Both are fantastic football players — and, by all accounts, fantastic people as well. Just ask their coaches and teammates. We’ll side with the one who touches the ball on every offensive play. … Pleasant Valley 35, White Plains 28
Weaver at Wellborn: The veteran versus the rookie. Jeff Smith is entering his 30th season overall and his 18th as Wellborn’s head coach, while Weaver’s Logan Brooks is preparing for his first game as a head coach. Junior Allen and Cisco Nira give Weaver a couple of explosive athletes on offense, but the Bearcats will need to fix the turnover problems that plagued them during the Alexandria jamboree. Wellborn is healthy once again after dealing with a rash of injuries late last season, and the Panthers will help Smith inch closer to 200 career victories Friday. … Wellborn 42, Weaver 28
Donoho at Hope Christian: These two teams have never met on the gridiron, but it’s easy to see the makings of a strong rivalry forming Thursday night. The only two AHSAA football-playing private schools in Calhoun County, the Falcons and Saints will compete in the same region for at least the next two seasons, and the winner will have bragging rights for the next 365 days. … Hope Christian 28, Donoho 24
Oxford at Gadsden City: The Yellow Jackets and Titans played 17 times from 2006-2021, developing a fierce rivalry. That rivalry will be renewed Friday night when the two teams meet for the first time in five years. Oxford’s biggest task will be slowing down Gadsden City quarterback Sam Sollie, who recently committed to Auburn. The Yellow Jackets are motivated to make a statement after finishing 5-6 last season. … Oxford 22, Gadsden City 21
Anniston at Geraldine: Anniston reached the Class 4A state championship game last season after winning its first 14 games, but the Bulldogs lost a lot of talent from that team. The schedule won’t do Anniston any favors as the Bulldogs will face four teams ranked in the Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason poll over the first five weeks of the season. It starts with a trip to Class 3A No. 3 Geraldine. With a new head coach in Damien Dorsey and new players taking over at skill positions on offense, expect some early growing pains. … Geraldine 21, Anniston 13
New Hope at Ohatchee: New Hope defeated Ohatchee 43-32 in the season opener last season, but that win came against a mostly inexperienced group of Indians. Ohatchee has a strong senior class returning, led by Gus Hunter, Jayden Siegler, Braxton Davis and Cayce Tittle, a transfer from Cherokee County. Younger players earned much-needed playing time last season, giving the Indians more experience and depth this time around. That should help Friday night. … Ohatchee 21, New Hope 7
Cleburne County at Etowah: Year 3 under head coach Vaughn Lee has the potential to be the breakthrough Cleburne County fans have been waiting for. The Tigers return 9 of 11 starters on a defense that was pretty stingy last season. Weapons like Lyric Ware and Cade Shubert should provide quarterback Jaylen Baker with plenty of help on offense. Thursday night’s contest in Attalla should be a good test for a team looking for its first winning season since 2015. … Cleburne County 20, Etowah 13
Gaston at Spring Garden: Gaston has lost nine straight games, but the Bulldogs added an impact running back from Texas in Zyien Dupree during the offseason. If Spring Garden can slow down Dupree, who holds Division I scholarship offers from Pitt and SMU, the Panthers should win their seventh straight season opener. … Spring Garden 27, Gaston 20
Fyffe at Central-Clay County: All eyes will be on Volunteer Stadium on Friday as the two winningest coaches in Alabama high school football history square off. Central-Clay County’s Danny Horn has 374 career victories, while Fyffe’s Paul Benefield is just behind with 368. The two have combined to win 15 state championships. What a fun matchup! … Central-Clay County 21, Fyffe 14