Week 5 football preview: Belgreen hosts undefeated Hackleburg in vital region game
Belgreen (2-2, 1-1) vs. Hackleburg (3-0, 2-0)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Sparks Stadium
Last week: Belgreen gave top-10 Red Bay all it wanted, but couldn’t complete the upset. Red Bay staged a second-half comeback and stopped the Bulldogs from reaching the endzone as time as expired to win 24-19.
Series history: This is the first meeting between Belgreen and Hackleburg.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Hackleburg (4 points)
Next week: The Bulldogs host Vardaman (MS) in their final non-region game of the regular season.
Phil Campbell (1-3, 1-1) vs. Colbert County (3-1, 2-0)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Parrish Stadium
Last week: Phil Campbell earned its first win of the season, beating J.B. Pennington 41-28.
Series history: The Bobcats are 1-8-1 all-time against the Indians. In the last meeting, in 2023, Colbert County won 27-6. Phil Campbell’s only win over CCHS was way back in 1958.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Colbert County (9 points)
Next week: PCHS is off next week.
Red Bay (4-0, 2-0) at Cherokee (1-2, 0-2)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: W.L. Harris Stadium (Cherokee, Ala.)
Last week: Red Bay just survived against Belgreen, putting together a second-half comeback to beat the Bulldogs 24-19.
Series history: The Tigers hold a narrow series advantage over Cherokee at 31-28. The last time these two teams met, in 2017, RBHS won 22-14.
Notes: A win against Cherokee will give Red Bay a 5-0 start for the first time since 2020.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Red Bay (44 points)
Next week: Red Bay travels to face Mississippi rival Belmont.
Russellville (3-1, 1-1) at East Limestone (0-4, 0-2)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Cavnar Stadium (Athens, Ala.)
Last week: Russellville suffered its first defeat of the season, losing to Florence 35-21.
Series history: The Golden Tigers are 14-2 vs. the Indians. Last season Russellville beat ELHS 20-7.
AHSFHS predicted winner: Russellville (28 points)
Next week: The Golden Tigers remain on the road and will travel to Gadsden to play Coosa Christian in the team’s final non-region game of the regular season.
Tharptown (1-2) — OPEN
Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Franklin-Hester Stadium
Last week: Tharptown picked up its first win, beating Vina 46-6.
Next week: Tharptown hosts Waterloo.
Vina (0-3) vs. Shoals Christian (1-4)
Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Franklin-Hester Stadium
Last week: Vina fell to Tharptown 46-6.
Series history: The Red Devils are 5-19 all-time against the Flame. VHS lost 18-8 in last season’s meeting.
AHSFHS predicted winner: N/A
Next week: Vina hosts Cherokee.