By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor 

Week 9 record: 9-1. Overall record: 61-15.

Things went pretty much as planned last week. There are now five AHSAA teams in the county that are most assuredly going to see a postseason, five that are most assuredly not, and one that will have its fate decided Friday night across two separate football fields. Let’s dive in.

 

Oak Mountain vs. Thompson

Both of these teams will be done two weeks from today. Both are 2-4 in region play and have won and lost to the exact same teams. Both squads have dual-threat quarterbacks who have carried their respective offenses this season at different points. Both have defenses that have played well all season, giving up just 18 and 20 points per game, respectively. There are many similarities to pay attention to here, and honestly, this one is a toss up. It will be close, and the neither team winning will be surprising. Oak Mountain’s playing at home, and that’s as good a reason to pick a team as any. Oak Mountain 24 – Thompson 21.

 

Spain Park vs. Mountain Brook

The Jaguars are 6-0 in 7A Region 3, and clinched the region title with a win over Oak Mountain on Oct. 16. Whatever happens against Mountain Brook, Spain Park has locked up home field advantage for the playoffs. This could cause Shawn Raney’s bunch to come out flat against a Spartans team that is better than their 2-6 record shows. While you could talk yourself into maybe thinking Mountain Brook has a chance in this one, don’t. Spain Park is a well-oiled machine, and won’t truly be tested again this season until November. Spain Park 35 – Mountain Brook 7.

 

Briarwood vs. John Carroll

The Lions at this point are what they are. They’re a competent defensive team that simply cannot score points with any semblance of consistency. Briarwood has yet to score 21 points in a game this season and has had success only in low-scoring affairs. Fortunately for Briarwood, John Carroll is very bad. The Cavaliers are 0-8 this season and have given up 338 points to date while only scoring 74. Briarwood will waltz to its fourth victory this season, and will sneak into the playoffs if Jackson-Olin loses to Homewood, which is likely. Briarwood 21 – John Carroll 0.

 

Chelsea at Oxford

After escaping on Oct. 16 with a one-point win against Pell City, Chelsea has clinched a playoff spot and has all but locked up the No. 3 spot in 6A Region 3 behind Opelika and Benjamin Russell. If the Hornets beat Oxford, they have the three spot. If they lose, they have the four seed. Oxford has played some good teams close and is coming off a bye week while Chelsea has fallen off its early season prodigious offensive pace in the last three weeks. This may be another photo finish, but Chelsea should wrap up the three seed in this one. Chelsea 35 – Oxford 28.

 

Pelham vs. Minor

Pelham will not end the 2015 season winless, which is great news for the Panthers. However, they will not beat a talented Minor team this week at home. Minor 35 – Pelham 21.

 

Calera at Sumter Central

With a win over Dallas County last Friday, Calera has locked up the No. 3 seed in 5A Region 4, behind Helena and Demopolis. No matter what happens against Sumter Central, Calera will still be the three seed out of that region. Calera will win this week on the road before wrapping up the regular season with a light week next week against Chilton County before turning its attention to the postseason. Calera 42 – Sumter Central 17.

 

Helena at Central Tuscaloosa

If Helena beats Central Tuscaloosa on Friday, the Huskies have the No. 2 seed wrapped up in 5A Region 4 behind only Demopolis. Central Tuscaloosa has been all over the board this season. The Falcons have put up gaudy numbers against teams like Jemison and Wilcox Central, but have also been held to 14 or fewer points four times this season as well. They’re 4-4, but have lost two games by a single point and could easily be 6-2 just like Helena. But, being held to less than 14 or less four times, and three times in a row, says that when Central Tuscaloosa faces a good defense, it struggles, which means Helena should be fine in this one. Helena 35 – Central Tuscaloosa 14.

 

Montevallo at Northside

Both of these teams have had perfect seasons ruined in the last two weeks by Bibb County. Both are now 7-1 (4-1) in 4A Region 4 and are playing for the No. 2 spot in the region, as Bibb County has locked up the top seed. Montevallo lost to Bibb County on a last-second field goal two weeks ago, and was on bye last week, giving the Bulldogs plenty of time to let that heartbreaking end to their perfect season fester. Playing this one away from home makes this a tougher call, but Montevallo is going to bounce back in a strong way, claiming the second seed and subsequent home field playoff game that a win brings with it. Montevallo 38 – Northside 24.

 

Vincent vs. R.C. Hatch

This game and one more is all that stands in the way of the end of this long, unfortunate campaign for the Yellow Jackets. Basketball is just around the corner, which is the only piece of good news for Vincent at the moment. R.C Hatch 55 – Vincent 7.