Area football teams face tough October schedules

Heading into the last game in September, four of seven teams in 6A Region 4 had the same record, and all eyes were on the Spain Park Jaguars (3-1, 3-0 region) to see if they could maintain their one-game lead. Trailed by one game by Oak Mountain (3-1, 2-1 region), Pelham (3-1, 2-1 region) and Stanhope Elmore (3-1, 2-1 region), competition is sure to be fierce through the end of the season.

Spain Park took on Lee High School in Montgomery  (2-3) on September 28 before heading back into region play against Thompson (0-3) on October 5. After that, the Jags run the gauntlet, playing Oak Mountain, Stanhope Elmore and Pelham in the following three weeks.

Oak Mountain, however, already handed Stanhope Elmore a 10-7 loss when the two met on September 14. It received its lone defeat from Pelham the next week, 35-15. After taking on Pell City (1-3) September 28 and Chelsea (2-2), the Eagles have Spain Park and Prattville in back-to-back weeks. They close the season against Clay-Chalkville, which was ranked No. 2 in the state (behind Hoover) as of September 27.

Region newcomer Chelsea put up big wins against John Carroll Catholic and Thompson at the beginning of the season, but received 6A wake-up calls in the following weeks, losing to Spain Park 37-23 and Stanhope Elmore 47-7. The Hornets have four region games in four weeks during October.

In 5A Region 4, Briarwood Christian School (1-3, 1-2 region) faced a matchup with Gardendale (1-3) on September 28 before jumping back into region play in October. The Lions played division leader Sylacauga (4-0, 3-0 region) close at the beginning of the season, losing 24-20, and have the potential to make a push in the region.