With the exception of one area high school football game this week, there is some sort of playoff ramification in the rest.

Spring Garden at Woodville and Piedmont at Wellborn will decide region titles. Pisgah at Collinsville is a battle for second place in Class 2A, Region 8. The Cherokee County Warriors are seeking a home playoff game, but a loss at Crossville this evening would be detrimental. And then it’s do-or-die in our Foothills Tractor Mahindra Game of the Week, Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville.

Man, you’ve gotta love this time of year.

Speaking of this time of year, I’ve gotten better at picking as the season has progressed. Last week, I went 4-2 to improve to 37-14 overall for the year. Granted I wasn’t perfect, but I’ve gone 15-3 over the past three weeks.

Here’s hoping I continue that trend heading into the playoffs, which begin in just two weeks.

Cherokee County (5-3, 5-1) at Crossville (1-7, 0-6)

As I mentioned, the Warriors need a win here and next week at home against Fairview to secure their hopes for a home playoff game.

Meanwhile, Crossville has been eliminated from playoff contention and is relegated to the role of spoiler.

Since beginning the season with a 24-13 win over Asbury, the Lions have lost seven in a row, including last week at Fairview 41-6. I look for the Warriors to hand Crossville a similar result as the Fairview game in this Thursday night matchup.

The pick: Cherokee County.

Brindlee Mountain (2-6, 1-5) at Sand Rock (3-5, 2-4)

These two teams are playing for pride, as both have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Brindlee Mountain is coming off a 62-30 loss at Ider. The Lions have lost five of their last six games this season. The lone win was against Section, a 7-0 decision back on Oct. 9.

Sand Rock is 4-0 against the Lions in the all-time series, including a 41-14 victory the last time the two teams met back in 2015.

I look for the Wildcats to take out some of their frustration in this one.

The pick: Sand Rock.

Pisgah (5-3, 5-1) at Collinsville (6-2, 5-1)

You have to give Collinsville credit for playing top-ranked Fyffe as tough as it did in last week’s 29-21 loss. The Panthers even held the lead at halftime and were tied with the Red Devils early in the fourth quarter before they pulled out the win.

Now the Panthers are faced with another tough challenge with Pisgah.

The Eagles have played Collinsville pretty tough through the years. The overall series is tied at four games apiece. Pisgah has won the previous four meetings, including their last back in 2023, but I expect Collinsville to come out on top and earn the runner-up spot in Class 2A, Region 8.

The pick: Collinsville.

Piedmont (8-1, 6-0) at Wellborn (8-1, 5-1)

Wellborn is coming off its first loss of the season, a 46-44 nail-biter at Gaston. In that game, the Bulldogs’ Zyien Dupree bullied the Panthers for 378 yards and five touchdowns.

Piedmont has been solid running the football all season behind Jaxson Howard and Cole Austin.

Howard led the Bulldogs last week with 189 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 48-6 rout at Vincent last week.

This will be a knockdown, drag-out affair, but in the end, I feel like Piedmont will come out on top and win the Class 2A, Region 6 championship.

The pick: Piedmont.

Spring Garden (5-3, 5-0) at Woodville (7-1, 4-1)

Spring Garden is coming off a bye week, and it might have come at the right time. Woodville has won five in a row, including last week’s 45-12 victory at Valley Head.

In that game, Jonah Sparks and Caleb Lancaster combined for six rushing touchdowns. Sparks ran for 143 yards and three scores on 11 carries and had three catches for 60 yards. Lancaster gained 89 yards on the ground with three scores on eight carries.

Kaden Franklin also completed 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Spring Garden has the revenge factor. The Panthers lost 41-26 in last season’s contest – their only loss to Woodville in 14 meetings.

But that’s not the only motivation they have.

A win will lock up the Class 1A, Region 8 title.

Here’s thinking Brady Ruark, Ben Baker and company come out on top.

The pick: Spring Garden.

Cedar Bluff (3-5, 1-4) at Gaylesville (4-3, 2-3)

When I was figuring out area high school football game suggestions with WEIS general manager Jerry Baker back during the summer for our broadcast schedule, I felt like this game would be for a playoff spot.

Lo and behold, here we are.

If the Trojans win, they’ll clinch the fourth and final spot from Class 1A, Region 8. If Cedar Bluff is triumphant, tiebreaker chaos ensues, as both teams will be tied with Ragland.

The last time Gaylesville defeated Cedar Bluff was in 2013 in a 40-39 classic. Ironically, first-year Tiger head coach Cole Murphy led the Trojans to the win in that game.

Here’s thinking we’re in for another classic battle in our Foothills Tractor Mahindra Game of the Week, with the Trojans earning their first playoff berth since 2021 behind the rushing attack of Sean Poss and Jack Sentell.

The pick: Gaylesville.