Week 7 football preview: Red Bay hosts Tharptown, PCHS makes final road trip of regular season
Belgreen (4-1) vs. Pickens Academy (0-6)
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Sparks Stadium
Last time out: Before their bye week last week, Belgreen got back on track with a 28-14 win over Cherokee.
Series history: This is the first meeting between Belgreen and Pickens Academy.
What to expect: Belgreen, rested and with two weeks to prepare, should not have too many problems with this winless Pickens Academy side.
Next week: Belgreen will have its final bye week of the season before facing Victory Christian on October 24 and Vina on October 31.
Phil Campbell (3-3, 2-2) vs. Carbon Hill (1-5, 1-3)
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: G.W. Keith Stadium (Carbon Hill, Ala.)
Last time out: Phil Campbell defeated region foe Midfield 36-26.
Series history: The Bobcats are 13-22 all-time against Carbon Hill but are currently on a four-game winning streak over the Bulldogs. Last season PCHS defeated CHHS 34-12.
What to expect: Though teams should never take region contests for granted, Carbon Hill should not pose too much of a problem for a Phil Campbell team that must be feeling pretty good after two straight wins. The offense is humming along behind junior quarterback Hayston Scott and his stable of playmakers, and the Bobcat defense has done what it’s needed to do to keep Phil Campbell in ball games. Right now Phil Campbell holds the final playoff spot in Class 3A Region 5; the Bobcats can maintain that position—or potentially improve it—with a win over Carbon Hill this Friday. A win would push the Bobcats over .500 for the first time since 2022.
Next week: PCHS will host undefeated region favorite Gordo at Parrish Stadium.
Red Bay (5-1, 2-0) vs. Tharptown (1-5, 0-2)
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Fred Bostick Jr. Stadium
Last time out: Red Bay routed Tupelo Christian Prep 36-8. Tharptown lost to Tanner 63-6.
Series history: Red Bay owns the series with an 11-0 record against the Wildcats. Last season RBHS defeated Tharptown 52-0.
What to expect: Tharptown, under head coach Brian White, has gotten better over the course of the season as evidenced by the Wildcats’ win a couple weeks ago over Vina. Unfortunately, the Wildcats are about to run into a buzzsaw at Red Bay. First-year RBHS head coach Tyler Jeffreys has his squad playing extremely well on both sides of the ball—and Jeffreys doesn’t think they’ve hit their peak yet. Added motivation for the Tigers in their regular season home finale is the fact that this is their Homecoming—no one wants to lose on Homecoming—and a win will clinch a postseason berth.
Next week: Red Bay travels to face Decatur Heritage Christian. Tharptown travels to Winston County.
Russellville (3-3) at Hatton (4-2)
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Hatton Field (Hatton, Ala.)
Last time out: Russellville fell 35-28 in a hard-fought contest at No. 3 Fairview.
Series history: Russellville is 1-0 against Hatton having beaten the Hornets 56-8 last campaign.
What to expect: The Golden Tigers, after a first region loss last week, will be looking to get back on track against Class 4A opponent Hatton.
Despite the loss to Fairview last Friday, RHS had another great night on offense with over 440 total yards, including over 300 yards passing from sophomore QB Whit Goodwin. No doubt head coach Dustin Goodwin will want to keep that offensive momentum going this week. Russellville’s defense, which surrendered more than 20 points for just the second time this campaign last week, won’t be able to overlook the Hatton offense, though; the Hornets are averaging 30 points per game and have dropped 40-plus in their last two contests. There are also some injuries to defensive players that could leave that unit at less than 100 percent.
Hatton is playing well right now and will have home field advantage, but the Golden Tigers should have more than enough offensive firepower to dispatch the Hornets, even if RHS doesn’t have all of its first team defense on the field.
Next week: Russellville returns home to Golden Tiger Stadium for Homecoming. The Golden Tigers will face region foe West Point.
Vina (0-6, 0-4) at Waterloo (2-4, 1-3)
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Waterloo Stadium (Waterloo, Ala.)
Last time out: Vina fell on the road at Hackleburg 42-0.
Series history: The Red Devils are 29-20 against Waterloo all-time in a series that dates back to 1964. Vina defeated the Cougars 16-14 last season.
What to expect: Vina has had a tough campaign, but Waterloo is a beatable opponent. The biggest question mark for VHS—as it has been all season—is whether the Red Devils can score enough points to come out on top.
Next week: Vina hosts Addison in region play on Friday, October 17.