It took six weeks, but I was finally able to pick perfectly for the first time this high school football season last week. Albeit an abbreviated 5-0 mark, but an undefeated one nonetheless that improved my overall record to 25-8.
I better enjoy it because the picking gets a little tougher from here on out. This week begins the big push for the state playoffs. Several big battles are on the slate Friday night which will go a long way in determining playoff hopes, postseason positioning, and region championships.
So, without further ado, here’s “What In the World Is Shannon Fagan Thinking” for this week.
Piedmont (5-0, 3-0) at Locust Fork (1-4, 1-2)
The Bulldogs continue to steamroll their opponents. They beat B.B. Comer last week 61-0 and won this game last year 61-14. I look for Piedmont to pound the Hornets and improve to 6-0.
The pick: Piedmont.
Ider (1-4, 0-3) at Gaylesville (2-3, 0-2)
Both teams desperately need this one if they are to have any hopes of making the playoffs. The Trojans appear to be getting healthy again after Jack Sentell and Bryson Thompson returned to the field last week. Meanwhile the Hornets have lost four in a row. They’ve been outscored 164-29 in those contests.
I like Gaylesville to win its homecoming in the Foothills Tractor Game of the Week.
The pick: Gaylesville.
Pleasant Valley (5-1, 1-1) at Cedar Bluff (2-4, 1-2)
Cedar Bluff finally returns home to L.D. Bruce Field after being on the road the past three weeks. The Tigers are 2-0 on their home turf this season, but they’re playing a potent Raider team that’s averaging 42 points per game.
I think slowing the Raiders down might be too tough a task for the Tigers.
The pick: Pleasant Valley.
Sand Rock (1-5, 1-2) at Pisgah (3-2, 2-0)
Like I said about Pleasant Valley, Pisgah is a hard offense to contain. In their three home games this season, they’re scoring over 43 points per contest. Even in their losses at Fyffe and at Plainview, they scored 28 and 30 points respectively.
I know Alec Ashley is a solid quarterback, but I think it might be asking a little too much of him and the Wildcat receivers to match Pisgah point for point.
The pick: Pisgah.
Geraldine (4-1, 3-0) at Collinsville (4-1, 2-1)
The Bulldogs have had the Panthers’ number in this rivalry. They’ve won the last 14 meetings, including last year’s 41-27 decision.
Geraldine is coming off its first loss of the season, 20-0 at Class 5A Boaz. I look for Mason McAteer and company to give the Bulldogs a game at home, but I just don’t see Geraldine losing two in a row.
The pick: Geraldine.
Spring Garden (4-2, 2-1) at Appalachian (6-0, 2-0)
Brady Ruark and Ben Baker have proven to be one of the area’s top offensive duos this season.
Ruark ran for 155 yards on eight carries with three scores, while Baker churned out 180 yards on 10 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead Spring Garden to a 42-14 homecoming football victory over Cedar Bluff last Friday.
Those yards might be harder to come by against the undefeated Eagles this Friday.
The Eagle defense has posted three shutouts this season against Holly Pond (25-0), Gaylesville (56-0), and at Ider (49-0). They have outscored their opponents 240-74 this season.
I’m not saying Appalachian will shut out Spring Garden, but I do think the Eagles might have a slight edge playing at home.
The pick: Appalachian.
Cherokee County (5-1, 3-0) at Anniston (5-0, 3-0)
The Class 4A, Region 6 gauntlet begins for the Warriors in this battle of top five teams on Friday night.
But when it comes to winning region games, there aren’t many better coaches than Warrior head coach Jacob Kelley
Under Kelley’s guidance, Cherokee County has won 20 straight region games. Their last region loss came back on Sept. 9, 2022 at Oneonta.
Kelley is 3-1 against the Bulldogs. His lone loss to Anniston came in 2019, his first season with the Warriors.
The Bulldogs hold a 10-5 edge in the series, but the Warriors have won the last three meetings, including last year’s game 14-0.
One other tidbit is the Warriors have had an extra day to prepare for this game, after coming off a 28-13 victory over Shades Valley last Thursday.
It’ll be tough to come out of Lott-Mosby Memorial Stadium with a ‘W’, but I think the Warriors might just be able to pull one out.
The pick: Cherokee County.
