By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

Week 10 record: 9-0. Overall record: 69-15.

Here we are. The end of the road. The final frontier. The coup de gras. The crescendo moment. Whatever poor analogy you’d like to settle on, use it here. This is the final week of the regular season. Man, how crazy is that. It feels like August was yesterday and here we are staring November in the face. Time flies when you’re having fun I guess. It’s a weird week to end on, with five games on Thursday and five on Friday, but let’s get down to it, one last time.

 

Oak Mountain at Pell City.

The Eagles had easily their most exciting and satisfying win of the season in the come-from-behind win at home against Thompson last Friday. Now, with no postseason this season, Oak Mountain turns to its last game of the year against a 4-5 Pell City team. The Panthers have had four games decided by three points or less and are no stranger to close games if this one is tight at the end. It won’t be, as senior quarterback Warren Shader will not want to end his high school career on a sour note. Oak Mountain 30 – Pell City 21.

 

Spain Park vs. Bessemer City.

The Jaguars didn’t lose a region game this year. That’s incredible. They went 7-0 in a tough, tough region with some very good teams. They shut out Hoover and Vestavia Hills, outlasted Hewitt-Trussville and had little trouble with anyone else. Bessemer City isn’t a bad team in its own right and have only given up 91 points this season through nine games. Nonetheless, picking against this Spain Park team at this point simply isn’t a thing smart people do, and opportunities to come across as a smart person should never be passed up. Spain Park 28 – Bessemer City 14.

 

Thompson at Chelsea (Thursday game)

For a time, Thompson’s offense looked like it had returned to its early-season form this past Friday against Oak Mountain. Then the wheels came off in easily the most disappointing loss of the season for the Warriors, who now have lost four of their last five. Chelsea has been impressive for most of the season thanks to its rushing attack and stingy defense, and is playoff bound thanks in large part to those two factors. The Hornets will not want to risk injury in a game that has no effect on the postseason whatsoever, so this will be close and could go either way. However, Thompson’s offense has been too inconsistent this season, and placing faith in the Warriors against a talented defense isn’t wise. Chelsea 28 – Thompson 17.

 

Briarwood at Madison Academy

Madison Academy has been the top-ranked 3A school since the preseason. The only blemish on the Mustangs record was to Ensworth out of Tennessee early in the year. The Lions are playoff bound after beating John Carroll Catholic handily although they needed some help from Homewood as well. Madison Academy has scored over 50 points four times this season while Briarwood only just broke 30 points for the first time this season against John Carroll this past week. The Lions simply don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Mustangs proficient offense, even though Madison is a smaller school. Madison Academy 42 – Briarwood 14.

 

Pelham at Gardendale

Gardendale will be in cruise control as it gears up for the playoffs, so theoretically Pelham could bulldoze in and steal a win, ending the season on a positive note. But this isn’t a movie, and the endings are hardly ever storybook worthy. Pelham’s not winning this one, and it probably won’t be close. Gardendale 44 – Pelham 17.

 

Calera vs. Chilton County (Thursday game)

Calera wins. The final score might be a little misleading because the Eagles will undoubtedly not want to risk injury with the playoffs looming, but the outcome of this one won’t ever really be in doubt. Calera 35 – Chilton County 20.

 

Helena at Pleasant Grove

A season ago, Pleasant Grove finished third in its own area before making it all the way to the 5A state championship game. Sophomore free safety/slot back Myles Mason is a blossoming star who already has offers from both Alabama and Auburn and the Spartans have been ranked as high as No. 2 in 5A this year. However, they are coming off huge 34-0 loss to Wenonah and Helena seems to be peaking at just the right time. Both teams have a home playoff game to look forward to after this, and neither is going to want to overplay their hand and risk injury in a game that has no postseason implication. We learned our lesson picking against Helena earlier this year, so here goes. Helena 31 – Pleasant Grove 28.

 

Shelby County vs. Tarrant (Thursday game)

Shelby County’s swan song performance couldn’t come against a better opponent. Tarrant is a 2A school that is 1-8 this season. While Shelby County is not playoff bound this year, the Wildcats will send Jamarius Mayfield out in style, as he very realistically could score 60 touchdowns on the night. Shelby County 48 – Tarrant 21.

 

Montevallo at Billingsley (Thursday game)

After shutting out Northside on the road last Friday and clinching their first home playoff game since 1995, the Bulldogs have confidence dripping like slobber out of their snouts. This is a good team, one of the best in the county for sure, and it should have no problem picking up the ninth win of the season against a 1A Billingsley team that is 4-5. Montevallo 35 – Billingsley 7.

 

Vincent at Talladega County Central (Thursday game)

Thankfully, mercifully, this is the end of the line for Vincent. The Yellow Jackets will have to try and do whatever they can to scrub this season from the fibers of their memory in the next eight months, but for now, it’s just time for a sigh of relief for Vincent. Talladega County Central 55 – Vincent 7.