I can tell the high school football season is on the horizon.
The Fourth of July has come and gone. The Alabama High School Athletic Association is about to host its annual All-Star Sports Week, of which the WEIS Radio coverage area has four athletes competing.
High school football media days are about to begin, starting with local restaurant Easy Street in Centre hosting Cherokee County’s media day beginning Saturday at noon. The Etowah County media day is July 25, followed by DeKalb/Jackson County’s and Calhoun County’s, both on July 28.
Indeed the high school football season is fast approaching.
With that in mind, I thought I’d break down week-by-week some of the more interesting matchups the season has to offer. You’ll be hearing a lot of these games on the broadcast waves on Friday nights this fall, immediately followed by the Buttram, Hawkins and Hopper Scoreboard Show.
And you can read even more following the action on the WEIS Radio website, weisradio.com.
Thursday, Aug. 24
Week 0 gives us a few regular-season games to whet our appetites, including Garrett Crane’s debut as head coach of the Cedar Bluff Tigers. They’ll travel to Winterboro. Cedar Bluff won last year’s battle in a nail-biter 22-20.
Friday, Aug. 25
The action continues full throttle a day later with a pair of rivalry games. Barrett Ragsdale makes his debut as Spring Garden’s new head coach when the Panthers travel to Sand Rock.
The Cherokee County Warriors also renew their rivalry with the Alexandria Valley Cubs. The game will mark their first meeting since 2015.
Gaylesville also opens its season at West End.
Friday, Sept. 1
Cherokee County looks to spoil Jonathan Miller’s debut as head coach at Piedmont in the latest chapter of the Battle of Highway 9. The Warriors ended a 10-game losing streak to the Bulldogs last season with a thrilling 21-14 victory.
Another longtime rivalry features Cedar Bluff at Sand Rock. The Wildcats have won the last two games in the series, including last season’s 29-12 decision.
Spring Garden hosts Coosa Christian in a huge Class 1A playoff rematch from last year. The Conquerors ended the Panthers’ season with a 31-28 victory in the second round.
Collinsville travels to Gaylesville in a renewal of an area rivalry. It will be those two teams’ first game against each other since 2013.
Friday, Sept. 8
Region play begins for most teams across the state, including a huge showdown between Spring Garden and Wadley. The Bulldogs won a defensive battle last season 9-0.
Gaylesville opens Class 1A, Region 7 action by hosting playoff semifinalist Coosa Christian.
Friday, Sept. 15
Cherokee County looks to avenge one of its only three losses last season when the Warriors welcome the Oneonta Redskins to Centre. Oneonta claimed a 17-14 comeback win in last season’s contest.
After three straight weeks on the road, Cedar Bluff finally hosts a home game when the Tigers welcome Gaylesville to L.D. Bruce Field. The Tigers outlasted the Trojans in last year’s battle, 29-28 in overtime.
Collinsville seeks to end a three-game losing streak to Pisgah in a key Class 2A, Region 7 battle. The Eagles pulled away for a 40-28 victory last season.
Friday, Sept. 22
Speaking of Collinsville, the Panthers play another crucial region game at rival Sand Rock. The Panthers won last year’s game 37-20.
Another region rivalry will be played at Piedmont between the Bulldogs and Ohatchee. Piedmont pounded the Indians 42-14 last year, but Ohatchee has won two of the last three meetings.
Thursday, Sept. 28
Speaking of Piedmont, it’ll be a battle of the Bulldogs at the Field of Champions when Anniston comes to town. Anniston held on to win a 30-28 thriller last year.
Friday, Sept. 29
Two rookie head coaches clash when Cedar Bluff travels to Spring Garden. The Panthers have won the last three games, including a 41-12 decision last season.
Friday, Oct. 6
Steve Smith returns to Piedmont with his new team, the Westbrook Christian Warriors, to tangle with the Bulldogs in a crucial Class 3A, Region 6 battle. Piedmont has never lost to the Warriors. They’re 5-0, including a 34-0 blanking last season in Rainbow City.
Collinsville hosts Fyffe and Cedar Bluff welcomes Valley Head in two other crucial region clashes.
Friday, Oct. 13
Cedar Bluff seeks to avenge its only loss against Coosa Christian. The Conquerors claimed a 41-14 victory last season. Sand Rock travels to Fyffe looking to derail the Red Devil express.
Friday, Oct. 20
The Class 4A, Region 6 crown could be decided when the Cherokee County Warriors travel to Etowah in a rematch of a thrilling 45-42 shootout from last season.
Friday, Oct. 27
Spring Garden seeks to continue its four-game winning streak over Ragland. The Panthers pulled off a 47-21 victory last season.
Longtime rivals Hokes Bluff and Piedmont clash again to close out October. The Bulldogs have won the last five meetings, including a 28-7 decision last year.
Thursday, Nov. 2
The final week of the regular season begins a day early when Collinsville closes out the regular season at Valley Head. Gaylesville also welcomes Talladega County Central.
Friday, Nov. 3
The Cherokee County Warriors host Class 6A Fort Payne to close out their regular season. The Wildcats won last season’s game 35-16.
The first round of the state playoffs is Friday, Nov. 10. The 2023 high school football season concludes with the Super 7 in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium Dec. 6-8.
