Well, at least 2-2 is better than 1-3.

And we won’t even go into how Roy Mitchell, the Grand Poobah over at The Post Herald, posted a sparkling 4-0 mark last week picking the area’s high school football games. But I’m sure he’ll let me know on Thursday’s Mathis Trailers and Equipment End Zone Show.

I must admit sitting at 3-5 after two weeks is not where I saw myself to begin the 2026 season. I’m not used to that. There have been years of picking where I haven’t had my fifth loss until well past the midway point of the season.

Maybe I’m just getting old.

On Wednesday morning, WEIS Station Manager Jerry Baker was sitting in my office here at the radio station asking my thoughts on something football related. I gave him my honest opinion with the caveat, “But what do I know? You’re talking to someone who’s 3-5 picking high school games this season.”

Jerry’s response was “That’s part of life. You win some, you lose some.”

You know, he’s absolutely right. I should quit bellyaching, be a little more optimistic and just turn the page on the past two weeks.
Region play begins this week, so to borrow a phrase from our head coaches, these are the ones that really count. I’ve had two weeks of mulligans. It’s time turn things up a notch.

Brindlee Mountain (1-1) at Collinsville (1-0)

We kick things off a day early with a cat fight.

The Lions are coming off a 39-19 win over Asbury, while the Panthers had a week off. Brindlee Mountain has never defeated Collinsville. In fact, they’ve just scored 13 points in four previous meetings. The Panthers rolled to a 52-7 victory last season, and return almost everyone from that win.

Expect a similar result.

The pick: Collinsville.

Gaylesville (1-0) at Valley Head (0-2)

The key to this one is how well Gaylesville can slow down the Tigers’ Tytan Blevins. Blevins ran for 184 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns in last week’s 32-20 loss at Section.

How you do that is with long sustained drives from your offense – move the chains, control the clock, and limit Blevins from carrying the ball as much as possible. Don’t get into a shootout like last year’s 55-38 decision.

Here’s thinking the Trojans can have success doing just that and end their seven-game skid against the Tigers.

The pick: Gaylesville.

Cherokee County (0-1) at Hayden (0-2)

The Warriors played Class 2A, No. 4 Piedmont to a standstill in the first half of last week’s Battle of Highway 9, but it was all Bulldogs in the second half.

I look for a better overall performance from Cherokee County on Friday night with Jayshawn Stroup and Tatum Perry leading the way in this first-ever meeting with the Wildcats.

The pick: Cherokee County.

Ohatchee (1-1) at Piedmont (1-1)

Speaking of Piedmont, the Bulldog offensive line was opening holes for Jaxson Howard and Cole Austin to run through in last week’s win over the Warriors. Both ran for over 100 yards, with Howard rushing for three touchdowns.

The defense also forced some crucial turnovers, led by Aliandre Wright’s fumble recovery and interception.

Look for a similar game and another winning result by the Bulldogs.

The pick: Piedmont.

Appalachian (1-1) at Spring Garden (0-2)

Both of these teams are recovering from nail-biting losses.

Spring Garden was 24 seconds away from earning its first win of the season last week against Sand Rock, but the Wildcats pulled it out on Alec Ashley’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Meanwhile, the Eagles fell by a point at Cleveland by the final of 35-34.

Spring Garden and Appalachian played a close game against each other last season as well. The Eagles pulled away in the second half and won 20-8. They went on to win the Class 1A, Region 8 title.

The Eagles return a dual-threat quarterback in junior Colton Caldwell, who threw for more than 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. They also have several other veteran players returning at key positions.

It sounds like the Panthers have their hands full.

The pick: Appalachian.

Ider (2-0) at Sand Rock (1-0)

As I mentioned above, Sand Rock opened its season with a bang last week at Spring Garden, claiming a dramatic 19-16 victory in the game’s final 24 seconds to end an eight-game losing skid to the Panthers.

But the Wildcats’ opponent this week is also off to an impressive start.

The Hornets swatted DAR by the final of 39-12 last week behind a 135-yard, three-touchdown performance from senior running back Connor Ellis.

Sand Rock’s defense was able to hold Spring Garden standouts Brady Ruark and Ben Baker in check last week. Here’s thinking they can do the same with Ellis.

The pick: Sand Rock.

Ragland (0-2) at Cedar Bluff (1-1)

The Tigers are honoring the 20th anniversary of their 2006 Class 1A state runner-up team that went 13-2. Ironically, the team they defeated for the right to play in the championship game that year was Ragland.

Cedar Bluff actually beat the Purple Devils twice that year, including a 20-14 overtime battle to end the regular season.

In another ironic twist, the last time the Tigers tangled with Ragland was in 2015, which was another state runner-up season for the Tigers. Cedar Bluff and Ragland also met twice that year as well. The Tigers held on for a 28-26 win at Ragland in the regular season, then took a 47-26 victory in the first round of the Class 1A state playoffs.

First-year Cedar Bluff head coach Cole Murphy is trying to instill toughness like those Tiger teams had. Here’s thinking they’ll be extra motivated in their home opener, which also happens to be our Foothills Tractor Mahindra Game of the Week.

The pick: Cedar Bluff.