Week Five Preview: Hartselle, Austin & Priceville face huge tests

6A #6 Hartselle (5-0) at Gadsden City (3-2)

Date: Friday, Sept. 23
Time: 7 pm
Location: Lamar Field
Last week: Hartselle defeated Gadsden City 16-9; Oxford lost to Pinson Valley 44-20

Last meeting: Oxford won 14-6 in 1996, Yellow Jackets lead the series 2-0

Notes: The Tigers are in the midst of a four-game road trip that stretches from near the Georgia line to near the Mississippi line. Hartselle travels to Oxford with a defense that has given up the third-fewest points in 6A with 41. They trail Theodore (37) and Clay-Chalkville (39). Oxford has suffered two double-digit losses at home.

Game Averages

Oxford

Offense: 33.6 ppg
Defense: 24.0 ppg

Hartselle

Offense: 39.4 ppg
Defense: 8.2 ppg

6A #7 Gardendale (3-1) at Austin (3-2)

Date: Friday, Sept. 23
Time: 7 pm
Location: Austin Stadium
Last week: Austin defeated Albertville 47-10; Gardendale defeated Parker 27-14

Last meeting: Austin won 53-38 in 2015. The Rockets lead the series 2-1.

Notes: After losing their first two games to 6A Hartselle and Decatur, the Black Bears have bounced back with three straight region wins. Gardendale defeated James Clemens 41-34 to open the season. The Rockets have two SEC commits on defense, DE Kelby Collins (Florida) and DB Dallas Young (Arkansas).

Game Averages

Austin

Offense: 25.6 ppg
Defense: 23.6 ppg

Gardendale

Offense: 40.3 ppg
Defense: 25.0 ppg

4A #7 Priceville (4-0, 2-0) at Scottsboro (1-2, 1-1)

Date: Friday, Sept. 23
Time: 7 pm
Location: Pat Trammell Stadium
Last week: Priceville defeated New Hope 40-0; Scottsboro lost to Arab 28-7

Last meeting: This is the first meeting between the teams.

Notes: The Bulldogs face off with their second 5A opponent of the season. They head into the game averaging 360 yards per game rushing while allowing 220.4 total yards a game.  Scottsboro has not allowed a team to score more than 28 points in a game this season.

Game Averages

Scottsboro

Offense: 19.0 ppg
Defense: 19.5 ppg

Priceville

Offense: 39.2 ppg
Defense: 11.0 ppg

New Hope (2-2) at Decatur Heritage (3-2)

Date: Friday, Sept. 23
Time: 7 pm
Location: Rebels Stadium
Last week: Decatur Heritage defeated Cedar Bluff 43-20; New Hope lost to Priceville 40-0

Last meeting:  This is the first meeting between the teams.

Notes: Decatur Heritage bounced back from two straight losses with a 23-point win at Cedar Bluff behind a monster game from QB Bo Solley. New Hope is looking to bounce back from two straight losses, the last coming at the hands of Priceville, who won 40-0.

Game Averages

New Hope

Offense: 12.3 ppg
Defense: 20.0 ppg

Decatur Heritage

Offense: 29.8 ppg
Defense: 30.2 ppg

Sardis (2-2) at Brewer (3-2)

Date: Friday, Sept. 15
Time: 7 pm
Location: James Tucker Stadium
Last week: Brewer defeated Lawrence Co. 21-7; Sardis defeated Crossville 36-14

Last meeting:  This is the first meeting between the teams.

Notes: Brewer is coming off a two-game road trip where the Patriots picked up two wins, something they have not done since 2018. Sardis has scored only 58 points through 4 games this season. Both teams lost to Arab this season, Brewer (35-0) and Sardis (42-0).

Game Averages

Brewer

Offense: 17.6 ppg
Defense: 22.6 ppg

Sardis

Offense: 14.5 ppg
Defense: 21.0 ppg

Danville, Falkville, Decatur, and West Morgan are off.