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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher 

After a break from region play in week six, this week provides several big opportunities for local football teams as they jump back into region play.

Several will have the opportunity to continue building a playoff resume, while others will have great looks at building confidence with the final leg of region play upon us.

Selma vs. Montevallo 

In a matchup of one-win teams, something will have to give in this region showdown. Both are looking to build confidence with Selma riding a five-game losing streak and the Bulldogs just behind with a four-game losing streak. Neither has won since their season opener, but this game could be a confidence boost for both that sparks a run with more competitive games down the stretch.

Both teams have struggled on both sides of the ball this season, but the most drastic difference shows up on the offensive side of the football. With two defenses that are struggling, the offense that can capitalize may have the biggest advantage. Right now, that looks to be with the Saints, who have scored 24 or more three times this season with an average of 15 points per game. Meanwhile, Montevallo is averaging 10 less points per game at 5.4. With the two defenses separated by just four points per game, that seems to favor Selma picking up its first region win.  

Southside Selma vs. Hale County

A dominant undefeated season continued this past Friday for Southside Selma, posting 56 points in a 56-12 win over Keith. The Panthers have now scored 50-plus points in three consecutive games and are averaging 51.6 points per game. The defense has arguably been as good as the offense, giving up 15 or less in every game, six or less in three of five, posting two shutouts and giving up an average of 6.6 points per game.

This week, the Panthers will get one of their two toughest games left on the schedule will a home battle against Hale County, who currently sits in a tie for third in the region standings behind Southside and Thorsby. The Wildcats are coming off a bye with their last outing being a 42-37 loss to Thorsby. Right now, they are averaging 33.8 points per game on offense and giving up 22.8 points per game. With Selma’s offense scoring north of 50 per game, they should have an advantage, while the defense should be able to do just enough in a hard-fought game.

Dallas County vs. Wilcox Central

Fresh off their first win of the season over Sumter Central two weeks ago, the Dallas County Hornets are now looking to string together two straight wins coming off a bye week. The Hornets lost their first four games by a combined 128-12, but they bounced back in a big way with a 36-6 win over Sumter to improve to 1-2 in region play.

Now, with a week of rest and confidence, Dallas County will square off against a winless Wilcox Central team that has been outscored by a combined score of 241-32 so far this season. The Jaguars have yet to score more than 12 points in any game and have been shutout twice, while the defense has given up 59 or more in the last three games. While they have played their toughest games, the Jaguars are reeling and searching for confidence, while Dallas County has som momentum. 

Keith vs. Autauga Academy

The Keith Bears have dropped three of their last four games, including two straight, but the season is nowhere near lost with several great opportunities ahead in region play. That starts this week with a home matchup against Autauga Academy. With a 3-1 record through their first four games, the Bears have seen success this season and now sit at 1-2 in region play with three consecutive region battles ahead to determine their playoff fate. With Maplesville coming after a bye week next week, this game and the matchup against Billingsley in a few weeks will likely determine their playoff fate.

What makes this game a challenge to predict is a wildly inconsistent Autauga team. The Generals have scored as many as 41 and as few as 0. They have given up as few as 19 and as many as 38. All of that leads to a level 2-2 record overall and 1-1 record in region play. The Generals are scoring just 17.3 points per game, while the defense is giving up 26.3 points per game. Keith has shown more promise on offense at 25.3 points per game and had been consistent in that area until the two most recent weeks, scoring a combined 12. That’s the main worry going into this game against a pretty good defense. If the Bears can find that offensive success they flashed early in the season, they’ll have a good chance in this one. 

Ellwood vs. Billingsley

Ellwood is coming off its first win of the season in a thrilling 20-18 victory over Central Hayneville last week that featured an exciting last-minute touchdown for the win. Now, the Eagles hope to carry that momentum into this matchup with Billingsley, who holds a 2-3 record overall and 1-2 record in region play.

Billingsley is scoring 25.2 points per game, but the defense has struggled at times, giving up 28 points per game. That said, they’ve played well against offenses that have struggled and Ellwood is currently scoring 7.3 points per game, while the defense is giving up 40.8 points per game. If they Eagles can carry over their confidence from last week’s win and the progression they’ve showed as of late, they’ll at least be able to give Billingsley a test in this battle.

Morgan Academy vs. Patrician

The Senators got back in the win column at just the right time as undefeated Patrician Academy now comes to town for a big AISA non-region game this week. Morgan Academy improved to 4-2 on the season last week with the win over Bessemer Academy, posting the team’s second shutout of the season, but Patrician offers one of their toughest tests to date.

The inconsistency defensively has been the only hiccup for the Senators so far this season, giving up 42 and 58 in back-to-back weeks to start a two-game losing streak. Outside of that, however, they’ve given up seven or less in their other four games. They are now scoring 37.2 points per game and giving up 18.8. The Saints, on the other hand, are scoring 41.8 and giving up 10.6. They have been consistent all season with their closest game being a 28-22 win over South Choctaw Academy. Expect a tight game between these two that should set the stage for the rest of the season.