PREP CAPSULES (Week 4): AHSAA office busy handing out suspensions, penalties
STAFF REPORT
The Alabama High School Athletic Association was busy handing out penalties this week, in particuarly to the defending Class 1A champions.
Maplesville was hit with a probation charge and was forced to forfeit the first two games of the season, due to using an ineligible player. The Red Devils saw their the record fall to 1-2 (the win stays since the player did not participate in that game).
In a way, that’s a tough break for Billingsley, which faces Maplesville on Oct. 23. The Bears’ opponent, McKenzie, gets the benefit of the scheduling since the Tigers played the Red Devils last week (and lost). Now, they have an advantage should they continue their good fortune the rest of the way.
The Bears travel to McKenzie this week for a key Class 1A, Region 4 game. They will need a win and probably some help if the are to get one of the top seeds for the playoffs.
Thanks to the forfeit, McKenzie enters Friday’s game with a perfect 3-0 record and 2-0 in region play. Billingsley is also 2-0 in region play, 2-1 overall.
The AHSAA also handed out a suspension for Carroll head coach Steve McClendon, who was involved in physical confrontations with player from Andalusia last week.
Carroll was fined, placed on probation while McClendon was suspended for their next two football games for violating the AHSAA Unsportsmanlike Conduct Rule.
Andalusia won the game, 35-7.
Closer to home, the Week 4 schedule has plenty of intriguing matchups including another big road game for Prattville. The Lions face Hewitt-Trussville with first place on the line in the region. They went to Hoover last week and pulled out a last-second win.
Park Crossing will attempt to do something it hasn’t done in four years, win a third game in a season. The last time the Thunderbirds won three games in a year was 2023. They face winless Rehobeth at Cramton Bowl on Friday.
St. James and Montgomery Academy renew their rivalry while Catholic faces Glenwood for the first time.
Prattville Christian and Alabama Christian face off at the Faulkner University stadium, John Mark Stallings Field.
Week 4
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
PRATTVILLE at HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (6A R3)
Friday at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium
2026 Records: Prattville (4-0, 2-0), H-T (3-1, 2-0)
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last year: Prattville won, 24-21
Last week: Prattville def. Hoover, 30-29; Hewitt-Trussville def. Tuscaloosa Co., 49-0
Key Notes: Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd earned his 200th career coaching win Friday when the Huskies beat Tuscaloosa County.
The skinny: Prattville goes from one frying pan to another. An exciting one-point win over Hoover is now followed by a game against the team that beat the Bucs by two touchdowns the previous week. Hewitt-Trussville has been scoring in bunches much like the Lions. They totaled 434 yards in last week’s win. The Lions showed resilience in the win at Hoover and it will take another type performance to make it five in a row to start the season. No reason to think this bunch can’t do it. In a close one…
PREDICTION: Prattville, 35-34
PERCY JULIAN at WETUMPKA (5A R2)
Friday at Wetumpka Municipal Stadium
2026 Records: Julian (2-2, 1-1), Wetumpka (3-1, 1-1)
Last year: Wetumpka won, 34-20
Series: Wetumpka leads, 2-0
Last week: Juian def. Rehobeth, 19-14; Russell Co. def. Wetumpka 32-29
Key Notes: Julian has not won back-to-back region games since the name change in 2024… The Indians’ loss last week ended a modest three-game winning streak. The 29 points were the most scored in a loss since last year’s 40-30 loss to Chelsea.
The skinny: The Indians made a case last week that it has improved in several facets but Russell County has become one of the top teams in the region over the past three years. Now, Wetumpka must put together a run to reach the postseason. Tough games are ahead. It remains to be seen if this is one of them. Julian has also shown improvement but has not faced quite the schedule as Wetumpka. It begins with a couple of games they should win. The Indians have won both meetings with the Phoenix. They make it three straight.
PREDICTION: Wetumpka, 30-14
PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN at ALABAMA CHRISTIAN (PRIVATE A R2)
Friday at John Mark Stallings Field, Faulkner Unv.
2026 Records: PCA (3-1, 1-1); ACA (1-3, 0-2)
Last year: ACA won, 50-13
Series: ACA leads, 7-1
Last week: Trinity def. ACA , 29-15; PCA def. Pike Liberal, 41-12
Key Notes: PCA’s lone win in the series came in 2015. ACA was 1-9 that season. The Eagles have won six straight since.
The skinny: It’s rare when these two teams are on the same level but both are working out a few details as the season continues. ACA has had the upper hand in this game winning the last two by a combined 85-13. But PCA is a different animal and has shown a lot of improvement so far this season. There won’t be bloodshed but the two will leave it on the field in what can become one of the River Region’s top rivalries. PCA wins a close one.
PREDICTION: PCA, 30-27
KEY GAMES
Pike Road at Stanhope Elmore (5A R2) – The Mustangs are looking for their first win of the season. This is not a good week for that. Patriots win easlily. PIKE ROAD, 44-14.
Rehobeth at Park Crossing (5A R2) – The Thunderbirds made a case for themselves last week, ironically in what became a blowout loss. to Pike Road. They get back on the winning track this week. PARK CROSSING, 42-8.
Marbury at Beauregard (4A R4) - Let’s hear it for the Bulldogs, who are becoming the team to beat in the region. No problems this week on the road. MARBURY, 43-12.
Glenwood at Catholic (PRIVATE AA R1) - The Knights begin a brutal stretch of games with the Gators. A “who’s who” list of private schools await. But the Knights find a way this week. CATHOLIC, 35-32.
St. James at Montgomery Academy (PRIVATE A R2) – The record may not say it (2-2) but the season has been not-too-easy for the Trojans Good news - wins are in region play. Bad news - MA is next. MA 45-12.
Billingsley at McKenzie (1A R4) - Whomever said timing is everything is right at least when it comes to this region. McKenzie lost by nearly three touchdowns to Maplesville but got a break when the AHSAA ruled a Red Devils’ player ineligible, giving the win to the Tigers. In a way, that puts them a leg up in the region. Billingsley needs a win to extract that advantage. Alas, the momentum swing favors the home team. McKENZIE, 30-25.
Crenshaw Christian at Hooper Academy (A A) – Decent start for the Colts gets better this week. No problem with the Cougars. Hooper, 35-6.
Autauga Aca at Chambers Aca (AA) - There aren’t many games that Chambers will face a challenge this season. But this is one of them. The Generals are deep and talented and, in a way, cut their teeth on AHSAA football last season. They will run the football better than anyone against Chambers but in the end, it won’t be enough. Close battle goes to the defending champs, CHAMBERS ACA, 24-21.
THE REST
Carver over Smiths Station, 35-13; Opelika over JAG, 30-16; Elmore Co over Charles Henderson, 25-20; Valley over Holtville, 23-22; Greenville over Tallassee, 26-21; Trinity over Ft Dale Aca, 35-14; Edgewood over Sparta Aca, 40-13; Lowndes Aca over Southern Prep, 45-21; Abbeville Christian over Valiant Cross, 29-18; Macon East over Cornerstone Christian, 55-23; Evangel Christian over Escambia Aca, 43-37.
OPEN: None
RECORD: Last week 16-4; Season 58-20 (.744)