PREP CAPSULES (Week 7): New weather system causing another reschedule of games
STAFF REPORT
Like last week, possible bad weather is reeking havoc on the high school football schedule.
This time, it’s a possible Hurricane called Isaias.
Predictions from the National Weather Service have the storm making landfall sometime late Friday or early Saturday and while the River Region is not expected to take a direct hit (at least as of Wednesday), there is a chance of significant rainfall and possible tornadoes.
Like last week, several schools have rescheduled games from Friday to Thursday.
At press time the following games in the River Region have been rescheduled (the list will be updated through Thursday afternoon). Those games include (according to published reports):
Park Crossing at Wetumpka
Pike Road at Benjamin Russell
Catholic at UMS-Wright
Valley at Elmore County
Oak Mountain at Prattville
Beauregard at Tallassee
Charles Henderson at Marbury
St. James at Prattville Christian
Ft. Dale Academy at Alabama Christian
Pike Liberal Arts at Montgomery Academy
Chambers Academy at Lowndes Academy
Hooper Academy at Edgewood Academy
TIME CHANGE: Enterprise at G.W. Carver (Cramton Bowl) - 5 p.m. Friday
Check back to this list for any additions.
There are key games this week including a couple listed above. Pike Road and Benjamin Russell should decide the Class 5A Region 2 title. Park Crossing and Wetumpka could be for a playoff spot when all is said and done.
As for other games, a special meeting in Elmore where Edgewood and Hooper face off in a “brother vs. brother” matchup featuring Dusty Baker of Hooper and Gregg Baker at Edgewood. The two have been on opposite sides. before but not with both as head coaches.
G.W. Carver and Enterprise are both in need of a win to strengthen their playoff chances.
Week 7
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise. Games times are subject to change without notice.
ENTERPRISE at G.W. CARVER (6A R2)
Friday at 5 p.m. at Cramton Bowl - (Time Change)
2026 Records: Enterprise (5-2, 2-2), Carver (4-3, 3-1)
Series: Enterprise leads, 18-2
Last year: Carver won, 49-14
Last week: Enterprise def. Smiths Station, 39-13; Carver def. JAG, 42-14
Key Notes: In their four wins, the Wolverines are averaging 42 points in scoring. In the losses, 14 points.
The skinny: When they are good, Carver is very good. When not so good, they can be flawed. That could be said about anyone but the idea seems to take a special hold when talking about the Wolverines. Granted, the strength of competition plays a role (Carver has faced the three teams at the bottom of the region) but a good measuring stick may be the game against Parker two weeks ago when the Wolverines were in a tight game heading into the fourth quarter only to falter in the final minutes. The self-destruct meant a 42-21 loss. In the first three quarters, the offense seemed to be clicking. And then it wasn’t. As for Enterprise, it’s a similar situation. The Wildcats have played only one of the top tier teams in the region and that constitutes the second loss. So this sets up as a winner-takes- the-fourth-seed matchup. Unless weather plays a role, Carver should win at home.
PREDICTION: Carver, 31-24
PIKE ROAD at BENJAMIN RUSSELL (5A R2)
Thursday at Martin-Savarese Stadium, Alexander City (note change of schedule)
2026 Records: Ben Russell (4-2, 4-0), Pike Road (5-1, 4-0)
Series: Pike Road, 1-0
Last meeting: 2023 - Pike Road won, 31-28
Last week: Pike Road def. Russell Co., 51-10; Ben Russell def. Wetumpka, 51-10
Key Notes: The lone meeting between the two programs was a Class 6A quarterfinal game in Alex City.
The skinny: The Patriots have been good all season but last week may have been the best yet. They dominated in the win over Russell County, setting up this game as a winner-take-all contest. Yes, there are a couple of region games left for both teams after this one but no one expects either to lose again in region play. Under Kirk Johnson, the Wildcats have been very good, having been perfect in region play in his 10 games he has coached. But a case could be made that no region team they have faced matches the strength of the Patriots, who have a 22-game region winning streak of their own. The last loss in region play came in 2022 against Carver. The easy pick would be the Wildcats since they are at home. But Pike Road has all the tools to win this one and a hunch says they pull of what some would call a mild upset.
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 20-16
CHARLES HENDERSON at MARBURY (4A R4)
Thursday at Marbury Stadium (Change)
2026 Records: Marbury (6-0, 4-0), Ch. Henderson (4-2, 3-1)
Series: Ch Henderson leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Ch. Henderson won, 64-20
Last week: Ch. Henderson def. Tallassee 51-26; Marbury def. Valley, 24-7
Key Notes: The Bulldogs last won a region championship in 1998 under coach Dennis Miles. It was one of just three in school history.
The skinny: First things first, a win in this game does not clinch the region title for either team, but in Marbury’s case, it would go a long way towards the title. It would give the Bulldogs the tiebreaker over both the Trojans and Valley, who are expected to be the second and third-place teams. But not to put the cart before the horse, this game sets up perfectly for the Bulldogs, who have gotten better every week. They have been consistent on both sides of the ball. They passed their toughest test to date against Valley and should continue their string in what could be a magical season when all is said and done.
PREDICTION: Marbury, 34-24
CATHOLIC at UMS-WRIGHT (Private AA R1)
Thursday at Cooper Field, Mobile
2026 Records: UMS-Wright (5-1, 4-0); Catholic (5-2, 4-0)
Series: UMS leads, 2-0
Last meeting: 2019, UMS, 21-0
Last week: Catholic def. St. Paul’s, 31-7; UMS def. Glenwood, 36-32
Key Notes: The only two meetings between the two programs were in the playoffs. UMS rarely plays regular season games against River Region teams. You have to go back several decades when the Bulldogs played the likes of Sidney Lanier and R.E. Lee, including one in the 1920s. Trinity played four games against them between 1996-99.
The skinny: Catholic’s win last week was, to say the least, impressive. The Knights have quickly established themselves as a team to be reckoned with in a very difficult region. Now comes the biggest test to date. The two teams are tied for first in the region along with McGill-Toolen. Both still have the Yellow Jackets left on their schedules. UMS has had a few lean years lately but seem to have things turned around this season. After losing the opener, the Bulldogs have won the last five and are averaging 30 points, offensively, per game. The quarterback, Max Fowler, is completing 59 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. The Knights’ defense has been stingy, creating 11 turnovers and recording 13 sacks as a team. They are battle tested and have played a difficult schedule to this point and should find a way to leave Mobile with a victory.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 28-24
KEY GAMES
Stanhope Elmore at Percy Julian (5A R2) (Thurs) –The Mustangs have a chance to win three straight and keep their playoff hopes alive. Julian has lost three of its last four. That seems to be more than a trend SE, 27-20.
Park Crossing at Wetumpka (5A R2) – Wetumpka is nursing injuries but so is Park Crossing. The Thunderbirds look good at times, and not so much in other moments. The team that takes care of the ball, wins. The Indians seem to be better at it. WETUMPKA, 21-20.
Oak Mountain at Prattville (6A R3) (Thurs) - The Lions had a rare scare last week. The wake up call works. PRATTVILLE, 45-12.
Valley at Elmore County (4A R4)- Valley dropped a key game to Marbury last week. The Panthers are in a position to all but secure a playoff spot with a win. But Valley spoils it. VALLEY, 34-23.
Pike Liberal at Montgomery Academy (PVT A R2) (Thur) – The Eagle train should keep on chugging this week… MA, 44-14.
St. James at PCA (PVT A R2) (Thur) - Two teams looking for a turnaround. Both have lost three straight. PCA has the homefield advantage… PCA, 30-25.
Hooper Academy at Edgewood Academy (AA) (Thurs) - the Battle of Brothers… Gregg Baker at Edgewood vs. Dusty Baker at Hooper Academy. It makes for a fun evening. Who has the advantage? Ask the two coaches and they will point at the other. Hooper has enjoyed an incredible turnaround while Edgewood has also shown improvement. The Colts get the nod. HOOPER, 28-26.
THE REST
Trinity over Westbrook Christian, 34-23; Tallassee over Beauregard (Thur), 35-27; Holtville over Greenville, 28-15; Billingsley over Verbena, 24-20; Alabama Christian over Ft. Dale Aca, 35-24; Autauga Academy over Valiant Cross, 40-13; Chambers Academy over Lowndes Aca, (Thurs) 38-20; Macon East over South Haven Christian (TN), 45-18; Evangel Christian over Miracle Academy, 55-0.
OPEN: None
RECORD: Last week 18-2; Season 106-32 (.768)