Following last week’s area high school football action, we now have three region champions in the WEIS coverage area. Congratulations to Spring Garden, Cherokee County and Piedmont for all accomplishing the feat in their respective regions. They will all be hosting playoff games on Nov. 8. Opponents are still yet to be determined.

But there’s still plenty left for them and the rest of our coverage area teams to play for. We’ll get into that in just a moment.

I’ve got plenty to play for too. Last week I had my three-week perfect picking streak snapped. I went 4-2 to drop my overall record to 46-6 on the season.
Here’s hoping our area teams help me go undefeated following Friday’s action in this week’s ‘What In The World Is Shannon Fagan Thinking?’

Woodville (2-6) at Gaylesville (3-5)

With playoff hopes now faded away, these two teams are left to play for pride. The Trojans have proven competitive in their contests this season, while Woodville has struggled, especially of late. The Panthers are coming off two straight losses: 53-0 to Valley Head and 42-0 to Appalachian 42-0 last week.

I like the Trojans to close out their 2024 season with a win.

The pick: Gaylesville.

Ashville (1-7) at Cherokee County (8-1)

With the Class 4A Region 6 title wrapped up after last week’s 35-7 win over Alexandria, one might think the Warriors would take the pedal off the gas and relax.

But there’s still plenty to play for against Ashville.

A win would not only accomplish a perfect 7-0 mark in region play, but it would also tie this year’s seniors with the 2009 state championship team with 41 victories in their careers.

I look for the Warriors to accomplish both feats easily.

The pick: Cherokee County.

Collinsville (5-3) at Holly Pond (3-5)
Both teams need this one to keep their playoff hopes alive. Collinsville is at 3-3 in Class 3A Region 8 while the Broncos are sitting at 2-4.

Collinsville has won the only two meetings the two teams have had. The last was back in 2015, a 32-6 decision. The only other time the two have played was back in 2014, a 28-14 Panther victory.

Behind solid performances from Mason McAteer, Quintavious Rogers and company, I expect the Panthers will be 3-0 against the Broncos following Friday night.

The pick: Collinsville.

Wellborn (5-2) at Piedmont (8-0)

What was shaping up to be a battle for the Class 3A Region 6 title a few weeks ago has lost some of its luster. Yes, it’s still a rivalry game, but the Panthers have now lost two in a row, including a nail-biting 37-36 setback to Locust Fork last week.

Those two Panther losses, coupled with Piedmont’s wins over J.B. Pennington and Weaver, secured the region championship for the Bulldogs.

As I said with Cherokee County earlier, don’t expect Piedmont to prop up its feet in this one. They can still finish region play undefeated with a win here and one next week at Glencoe.

That’s enough motivation for the Bulldogs.

The pick: Piedmont.

Gaston (2-6) at Sand Rock (3-5)

Gaston is relegated to the role of spoiler, but Sand Rock is fighting for its playoff life in tomorrow’s Foothills Tractor Game of the Week.

The Wildcats need a win here to even their region record at 3-3, then a victory next week at home against Whitesburg Christian in their regular-season finale in order to have a shot at the postseason.

You know what they say about a cat backed into a corner? They come out clawing.

The pick: Sand Rock.