In casual conversations I’ve had with a few folks about the Fourth of July the past few days, I’ve mentioned it means that summer is winding down.
The 2025 high school football season is around the corner. Practice officially begins Aug. 4 (July 28 if teams had no spring practice). Week 0 kicks off on Aug. 22, but even before that, WEIS Radio will be hosting this year’s Cherokee County Football Media Day. That’s coming up on July 26 at Easy Street restaurant here in Centre.
The countdown is on.
This fall has a lot to live up to, because the 2024 high school football season certainly had a little bit of everything – from unbelievable finishes to record-setting performances, with region championships and heartbreaking losses sprinkled in between. Week after week, we here in the sports department had plenty to talk about from our coverage area teams.
But I expect we’ll see plenty more fireworks from this football season as well.
With that in mind, here are some of the matchups we’re looking forward to covering in 2025.
Friday, Aug. 22
Cherokee County at Piedmont: There’s never a shortage of fireworks in this Highway 9 battle. Last year, the Bulldogs won 34-27 on a last-second Cole Wilson-to-Ishmael Bethel 11-yard touchdown connection in the back corner of the end zone. Wilson threw for 343 yards and four scores, with Rollie Pinto catching a record 20 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Spring Garden at Sand Rock: New Wildcat head coach Tanner Nelson debuts against a perennially strong Panther team, which won last year’s battle 41-7 on their way to the first outright undefeated regular season in school history.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Cedar Bluff at Collinsville: The Tigers are seeking an end to a three-game skid against the Panthers in the 75th meeting of this series, which dates all the way back to 1931.
Friday, Aug. 29
Arab at Cherokee County: The Warriors host the Class 5A Knights for the first time in school history. Behind Keyshawn Woods’ 192-yard, 2-touchdown performance, the Warriors won last year’s game 42-21 to jumpstart another path to the Class 4A state title game.
Friday, Sept. 5
Gaston at Cedar Bluff: The Tigers look to extend their five-game winning streak over their Class 2A, Region 7 rivals at L.D. Bruce Field. In last year’s game, Cedar Bluff quarterback Bryson Teague accounted for two touchdown runs in the first half, but his biggest run was on a fourth-and-4 play for a first down to kill the clock as the Tigers escaped with a 28-22 win.
Other region openers that night include Oneonta at Cherokee County, Collinsville at Fyffe, Valley Head at Gaylesville, Piedmont at Ohatchee, North Sand Mountain at Sand Rock, and Ragland at Spring Garden.
Friday, Sept. 12
Cedar Bluff at North Sand Mountain: The Tigers seek revenge from a heartbreaking 21-20 overtime loss last season. North Sand Mountain quarterback Landon Keller connected with Christian Davis on a 20-yard touchdown pass in OT, then found Jackson Burgess on the game-winning 2-point conversion. Hunter Jenkins ran for 119 yards on 19 carries, including the go-ahead touchdown in OT for the Tigers on a 10-yard run.
Friday, Sept. 19
Sand Rock at Pleasant Valley: Sand Rock made a furious second-half comeback but fell just short to the Raiders 20-13 in last season’s battle. Alec Ashley drove the Wildcats down to the Raider 12-yardline in the closing seconds, but Pleasant Valley’s defense denied them the end zone to end Sand Rock’s three-game winning streak.
Friday, Sept. 2
Cedar Bluff at Spring Garden: The Panthers have won four of the past five meetings in the series, but you never know what to expect in this longtime Cherokee County rivalry game.
Collinsville at Sand Rock: Nelson goes up against his alma mater as the Wildcats look to end a 3-game skid to the Panthers.
Friday, Oct. 3
Cherokee County at Anniston: Thanks to a stout defensive effort, the Warriors were able to earn a 14-0 win in last year’s contest.
Pleasant Valley at Cedar Bluff: Despite over 200 total yards and two touchdowns by Teague, the Tigers fell a point short last season 20-19.
Friday, Oct. 10
Gaylesville at Spring Garden: The Trojans proved to be a thorn in the Panthers’ side last season, but Spring Garden earned a 27-12 victory that clinched their sixth region football title in past seven seasons.
Hokes Bluff at Cherokee County: Tae Diamond ran for 152 yards and three scores, and quarterback Adam Griffith completed 8 of 9 pass attempts for 155 yards and touchdown in leading the Warriors to a crucial 35-21 victory in a Class 4A, Region 6 battle last season which gave the Warriors the advantage for the region title.
Friday, Oct. 17
Cedar Bluff at Sand Rock: Longtime Cherokee County rivals collide with possible playoff positioning on the line. In last year’s battle, Hunter Stallings battled his way back from a leg injury to run for 105 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown. He also completed 3-of-6 pass attempts for 102 yards, but it was his interception on defense near the goal line in the closing minute that helped seal Cedar Bluff’s 28-26 victory.
Cherokee County at Alexandria: The Warriors clinched their third straight region title with a dominating 35-7 performance last season, but the scene shifts to the Valley Cubs’ den at Lou Scales Stadium this year.
Friday, Oct. 24
Gaylesville at Woodville: Last year’s meeting was a record-setting night for the Trojans in their season-ending 62-28 victory. Alex Baty set a new Alabama High School Athletic Association state rushing record in a game with 535 yards on 43 carries and six touchdowns. Jack Sentell also returned an interception 107 yards for a touchdown just before halftime, which tied for the second longest in state history. Can we expect another pinball battle this year?
Thursday, Oct. 30
Donoho at Cedar Bluff: The Tigers look to avenge last season’s 28-21 heartbreaker that snapped their 10-year playoff streak.
Valley Head at Collinsville: The Panthers seek to make it four in a row over their DeKalb County rivals in a series that dates back to 1926.
Friday, Oct. 31
Gaylesville at Notasulga: The Trojans pick up a 10th game this season in this first-ever meeting between the Trojans and Blue Devils.
Glencoe at Piedmont: New Yellow Jacket head coach Bayley Blanchard takes on his alma mater for the first time on Halloween night.
The 2025 high school football season winds down with the state playoffs, beginning on Nov. 7, and culminates with the Super 7 at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium Dec. 3-5.
