It’s getting crunch time.

We’re approaching the two-minute warning of high school football’s regular season. Believe it or not, we’re entering the ninth week of the season, and while some things have been solved for the playoffs, there’s still plenty that hasn’t.

Some teams are vying for region championships, while others are trying to stay alive and close out the regular season with some momentum down the stretch.

Speaking of momentum, I’ve certainly had a lot of it of late. Following last week’s 5-0 mark, I’ve picked perfectly in three straight weeks now, going a collective 17-0 to improve to 42-4 on the season.

Here’s hoping that continues following this week’s ‘What In The World is Shannon Fagan Thinking?’

Ider (0-7) at Spring Garden (8-0)

Could coming off a region-clinching victory and playing against a winless team on homecoming this Friday provide an upset in the Garden? Nah. There’s still plenty for the Panthers to play for, like finishing region play and the regular season undefeated. Look for Spring Garden to continue rolling in this one.

The pick: Spring Garden.

Brindlee Mountain (1-7) at Collinsville (4-3)

After a 4-1 start to the season, the Panthers have now lost two in a row, both on the road against tough teams. I think playing the Lions for homecoming could be just what Collinsville needs to put them back on track.

The pick: Collinsville.

Piedmont (7-0) at Weaver (2-5)

Cole Wilson continues his aerial assault on opposing defenses. He threw for 332 yards and three TDs in last week’s 41-21 win over J.B, Pennington. He’s now thrown for 1,412 yards and 18 touchdowns in just six games. Even after missing a week with a foot injury, he’s still throwing for over 235 yards per contest. Look for him to carve up the Bearcat defense this week.

The pick: Piedmont.

Gaylesville (3-4) at Ragland (3-4)

I was really impressed with how the Trojans played against Spring Garden last week. They held their own with the fourth-ranked Panthers, but Spring Garden ultimately pulled away for a 27-12 win.

The Trojans are still alive for a playoff berth, but they need a win here to keep those hopes alive. I think that motivation will serve them well against the Purple Devils.

The pick: Gaylesville.

Sand Rock (3-4) at Cedar Bluff (2-6)

Both teams desperately need this one in more ways than one. Both are on three-game skids and both need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Wildcats are coming off a bye, so they’ve had an extra week to prepare for their intra-county rival. I think that could make all the difference in this one.

The pick: Sand Rock.

Alexandria (5-2) at Cherokee County (7-1)

The Warriors took a big step toward a region championship with last week’s 35-21 win at Hokes Bluff. They’ll look to hold on to the top spot in Class 4A Region 6 with a victory.

An Alexandria win would put the two teams in a tie for first, with Alexandria holding the head-to-head advantage, but I don’t look for that to happen. What I do look for is another solid night from the Warrior defense as Cherokee County closes in on another region title in our Foothills Tractor Game of the Week.

The pick: Cherokee County.