WEIS radio in Centre has brought its listeners plenty of live area high school football broadcasts in the fall throughout the past 39 years.

From first downs to touchdowns, heartbreaking losses to dramatic victories, preseason jamborees to state championships, young head coaches to coaching legends, and football phenoms to college stars, WEIS has been right there calling the action over the airwaves.

As station general manager Jerry Baker says, it’s quite a legacy, and that legacy continues tonight as we kick off year 40 with the first of two Foothills Tractor Games of the Week. This one features Spring Garden traveling to Sand Rock for the debut of new Wildcat head coach Tanner Nelson.

So, here’s wishing a happy anniversary to WEIS and our listeners for being such a big part of that broadcast legacy. Here’s to 40 more successful years of sports broadcasting.

Spring Garden (11-1 last season) at Sand Rock (5-6 last season)

A lot has been made of the Panthers losing 12 seniors from last year’s second-round playoff team. Just from talking with head coach Barrett Ragsdale recently, I get the feeling this year’s Panthers are eager to prove themselves.

The same can be said for the Wildcats. They’ve been reinvigorated under their new young head coach.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Sand Rock gives the Panthers all they can handle at Russell Jacoway Stadium, but Spring Garden has held the winning edge the last seven games of the series. I think the Panthers find a way to make it eight on Thursday.

The pick: Spring Garden.

Gaylesville (4-5 last season) at Donoho (5-6 last season)

Gaylesville’s ground game was in full effect against the Falcons last season.

Alex Baty and Jack Sentell churned out the yards and the touchdowns. Baty ran for 235 yards on 26 carries and found the end zone four times, while Sentell accumulated 175 yards on 10 totes with two scores to lead the Trojans to a 42-28 victory.

Sentell is back for Gaylesville this season, but Baty isn’t.

While I do expect the Trojans will have some success running the football with Sentell and others, I think it might take them another week to get things rolling.

The pick: Donoho.

Valley Head (6-5 last season) at Cedar Bluff (3-7 last season)

Injuries plagued Cedar Bluff much of last season, but the Tigers still found themselves in the middle of the playoff hunt at the end of the season. They were in a lot of close battles, but this game last season wasn’t one of them.

Valley Head won last year’s game 34-13, has won the last three in the series, and four of the last five. While I think this contest will be closer than last year’s, I still like Valley Head in this battle of the Tigers.

The pick: Valley Head.

Cherokee County (13-2 last season) at Piedmont (13-1 last season)

Last year’s Battle for Highway 9 was a classic contest that went down to the wire. In the end, Piedmont’s Cole Wilson connected with Ish Bethel for a touchdown in the last second for a 34-27 victory.

Jacksonville State commitment Rollie Pinto had a record-setting night, shredding the Warrior defense with 20 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns.

In that game last season, the Warriors had a few guys who were getting their first taste of this rivalry, particularly along the offensive line. The Warriors grew from that game to reach another Class 4A state championship game and are now more experienced.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs graduated 12 seniors from last year’s Class 3A state semifinal team, including Wilson and Bethel. But Pinto and new signal caller, sophomore Cole Austin are already making their connections.

Pinto caught a pair of touchdowns passes against Alexandria and one against Jacksonville in last week’s scrimmages.

I expect Pinto will once again be a huge factor in this one, but I look for the Warrior defense to be better prepared this go-around, and for Cherokee County to win a close battle at the Field of Champions in our second Foothills Tractor Game of the Week on Friday.

The pick: Cherokee County.