Week 2 football preview: Belgreen, Phil Campbell host home openers, RHS’ Higgins faces former team Mars Hill
Belgreen vs. Brilliant
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Sparks Stadium
Series history: This is the first meeting between Belgreen and Brilliant.
What to expect: Belgreen took it on the chin in its week one outing at Woodville, falling 48-8; meanwhile, Brilliant is coming off a lopsided 32-0 win over Phillips. The Bulldogs may not be at their most confident after an opening rout, but Brilliant shouldn’t be as good as Woodville, and they will have home field advantage (BHS was 3-1 at home last season). That’s worth a few points at least.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Belgreen (15 points)
Next week: Belgreen hosts Cherokee for its region opener.
Phil Campbell vs. Central-Florence
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Parrish Stadium
Series history: Phil Campbell is just 1-9 all-time against Central, but it’s been a long, long time since these two programs last met back in 1997. Central won that game 26-7. The Bobcats’ only victory in this series came way back in 1967 when PCHS defeated the Wildcats 7-6.
What to expect: After licking the wounds from last week’s defeat to rival Red Bay, this older and more experienced Phil Campbell team will be looking to take it out on somebody. That could very well be Central Friday night. Coming off a 5-5 year last year and this being Central’s season opener, it’s difficult to say what the Wildcats are bringing to this one. Phil Campbell has the playmakers to put points on the board, but it will have to play stingier defense than last week.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Central (3 points)
Next week: The Bobcats host Lexington in their region opener.
Red Bay vs. Sheffield
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Fred Bostick Jr. Stadium
Series history: Red Bay is 10-4 all-time against Sheffield. In the last meeting between the two teams, in 2023, the Tigers won 50-6.
What to expect: Based on Red Bay’s impressive win over rival Phil Campbell and Sheffield’s 42-7 loss to Haleyville last week, it’d be hard not to pick the No. 10-ranked Tigers in this one. Junior Davien Colburn ran rampant against Phil Campbell and I expect he’ll get plenty of touches again Friday night. Throw in some hard running by Joshua Thorne, good game management by quarterback Sawyer Humphries and another solid defensive performance by Red Bay and everyone in the Fred should be feeling good by halftime.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Red Bay (24 points)
Next week: Red Bay hosts Phillips-Bear Creek in its region opener.
Russellville vs. Mars Hill
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Golden Tiger Stadium
Series history: Though they’ve come close, the Golden Tigers have never beaten Mars Hill in four previous meetings. Last season the Panthers made light work of the Golden Tigers, cruising to a 47-19 win.
What to expect: Plenty of story lines to interest fans here. RHS head coach Darrell Higgins, who won four state championships in 10 years with Mars Hill, faces his former team for the first time. Both Mars Hill (as a program) and Higgins (as a coach) come into this contest with 21-game winning streaks to maintain. And Russellville would love nothing more than to get the Mars Hill monkey off its back: MBHS is one of three programs (Briarwood, Homewood) that Russellville has failed to beat at least once after three or more games played.
Anyone who watched Russellville-Mars Hill last season will see a flip-flop in offensive strategies with Russellville running the wing-T offense and Mars Hill running a spread. Mars Hill may have lost its head coach to Russellville, but it still retained a lot of talent. The Panthers are coming off an impressive come-from-behind win over a good Madison Academy team and will enter with confidence. The Golden Tigers will need to play a very good game and cut down on last week’s mistakes, especially penalties, if they expect to beat Mars Hill for the first time.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Russellville (1 point)
Next week: Russellville travels to Hartselle for its region opener.
Tharptown vs. Shoals Christian
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tharptown Stadium
Series history: Tharptown is 6-9 all-time vs. Shoals Christian. In their last meeting in 2023, the Flame defeated the Wildcats 56-7. Tharptown’s last win in this series was in 2022, a 28-14 victory.
What to expect: Tharptown put up 26 points on the road against Cherokee last week. It was a loss but it’s a good sign for the THS offense as the Wildcats scored more than 20 points just twice last campaign. Shoals Christian is coming off a big 47-16 loss to Clements last week. If THS can play better defense at home, the Wildcats could have a chance to win just their second game in three years.
AHSFHS predicted winner: N/A
Next week: Tharptown is on an open week. The Wildcats’ next game will be on September 11 vs. Vina.
Vina at Phillips
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: James E. Glass Stadium (Bear Creek, Ala.)
Series history: Vina is 18-48 all-time against Phillips in a series that dates back to 1949. In 2025, Phillips beat Vina 26-12. The Red Devils’ last win over Phillips was in 2024, a 28-6 victory.
What to expect: Both teams are coming off big losses, but Vina, probably the younger and less experienced team, still has a ways to go. This one is on the road and Phillips historically has Vina’s number in this matchup.
AHSFHS predicted winner: N/A
Next week: Vina has a bye week. The Red Devils will play their next game at home on September 11 vs. Tharptown.