Five Games to Watch in Week 2

#1: VESTAVIA HILLS AT THOMPSON

A pair of unbeaten teams meet Friday night in Alabaster as Vestavia Hills travels to Thompson for the Region 3 opener for both programs.

Thompson enters 2-0 after an impressive start that has included wins over Central-Phenix City and Clay-Chalkville. Alabama commit Trent Seaborn has been nearly flawless through the air, throwing for 627 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception through two games. He completed 22-of-25 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 37-13 win over Clay-Chalkville.

Vestavia is also 2-0 after defeating Parker 32-14 and Benjamin Russell 23-7. The Rebels controlled the line of scrimmage against Benjamin Russell, finding consistent success on the ground and creating opportunities through the air off their rushing attack. Vestavia also had to adjust after starting quarterback Charlie Taaffe went down with an injury in the first half. Junior Hudson Mote stepped in and looked comfortable running the offense, including a 31-yard touchdown run that gave Vestavia the lead for good.

Thompson has controlled the series recently, including a 35-3 victory last season after Vestavia trailed just 7-3 at halftime. Friday gives the Rebels another opportunity against the Warriors, this time with both programs beginning their first region schedule since dropping from 7A to 6A.

KEY MATCHUP: Vestavia’s offensive front vs. Thompson’s defense. The Rebels established their identity at the line of scrimmage against Benjamin Russell, leaning on the run and working the passing game off of it. That approach faces its biggest test yet against a Thompson defense that has surrendered just 27 points through two games.

#2: JAMES CLEMENS VS. BOB JONES

One of North Alabama’s biggest rivalries returns Friday night as James Clemens and Bob Jones meet in the Madison Bowl, with both teams also opening region play. Bob Jones dominated last year’s meeting, defeating James Clemens 54-7. The win snapped a two-game James Clemens winning streak in the series and gave the Patriots an 8-6 advantage all-time against the Jets.

This year’s meeting comes with a familiar face leading Bob Jones. First-year Patriots head coach Seth Parker is a Bob Jones graduate and previously served on the program’s coaching staff before eventually becoming the head coach at Priceville. Parker returned to Madison this offseason to take over his alma mater.

Both teams enter Friday at 1-1. Bob Jones bounced back from a season-opening loss to Hartselle with a 28-21 win over Athens, while James Clemens will look to turn the page from last year’s lopsided rivalry loss.

For the Jets, much of the attention will be on running back MJ Gideon. Gideon established himself as James Clemens biggest offensive weapons last season and gives the Jets a potential difference-maker on the ground as they look for a much different result against their crosstown rival.

KEY MATCHUP: Bob Jones’ defense vs. MJ Gideon. James Clemens will want to get its standout running back involved early and often. If the Patriots can limit Gideon’s production and force the Jets to find offense elsewhere, Bob Jones will put itself in a strong position to repeat last year’s success. If Gideon gets rolling, JC will look to run to back to back victories.

#3: PELHAM AT HELENA

One of North Shelby County’s biggest rivalries plays Friday night as unbeaten Pelham travels to Helena.

The Panthers have opened the season 2-0, defeating Oak Mountain 45-38 before following it with a 45-34 win over Wenonah. Helena opening with an impressive 28-14 road victory over last seasons’ 5A State Champion Moody.

Pelham quarterback Dylan Smith has been one of the biggest early-season standouts in the state. Smith threw for 446 yards and four touchdowns while adding another score on the ground in the Panthers’ season-opening win over Oak Mountain. Pelham then showed another dimension against Wenonah, rushing for 265 yards while scoring 45 points for the second consecutive week.

Helena has had the upper hand in this rivalry recently. The Huskies have won five straight against the Panthers and escaped last year’s meeting with a 21-20 victory after trailing 10-0 at halftime.

Now the rivalry takes on even more importance as both programs begin play in Class 5A, Region 4.

KEY MATCHUP: Dylan Smith vs. Helena’s defense. Pelham’s quarterback has already shown the ability to take over a game through the air, while Helena opened its season by holding Moody to 14 points. Slowing Smith and a Pelham offense averaging 45 points per game will be the biggest challenge yet for the Huskies’ defense.

#4: MOUNTAIN BROOK AT HOMEWOOD

If this year’s Homewood-Mountain Brook matchup provides anything close to last season’s finish, we’re in for a good one.

Homewood appeared to have the game won a year ago, leading 17-10 before Mountain Brook drove 94 yards in the final minute and scored as time expired to force overtime. The Patriots scored first in OT before the Spartans answered and elected to go for two and the win.

What followed was one of the wildest finishes of the 2025 season. A bad snap sent the ball nearly 30 yards backward before Mountain Brook quarterback Cayden Hofbauer recovered it, escaped pressure and threw back toward the end zone, where Bennett Jordan came down with the conversion to give the Spartans a 25-24 victory.

Now the two Birmingham-area rivals meet again with both entering at 1-1.

Homewood opened the season with a 31-14 win over John Carroll Catholic before falling 17-14 to Briarwood Christian. Mountain Brook’s start has been even more interesting. The Spartans exploded for 60 points in a 60-18 season-opening win over Hueytown before being held to just six in a 13-6 loss to UMS-Wright.

Mountain Brook has controlled the rivalry recently, winning six straight meetings against Homewood dating back to 2010. The Patriots will have a chance to end that streak Friday night on their home field.

KEY MATCHUP: Homewood’s defense vs. Mountain Brook’s offense. Through two weeks, the Spartans have shown two completely different offensive performances, scoring 60 points in their opener before being held to six a week later. Homewood’s ability to keep Mountain Brook from rediscovering that Week 0 explosiveness could go a long way toward deciding this year’s rivalry matchup.

#5: MARS HILL BIBLE AT WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN

The new private-school alignment gets one of its first major matchups Friday night when defending state champion Mars Hill Bible travels to take on Westbrook Christian.

Mars Hill enters a new era after one of the most successful stretches of any program in the state. The Panthers finished 15-0 and captured their second consecutive state championship last season, but longtime head coach Darrell Higgins departed during the offseason after winning four state titles in 10 seasons. Chris Hill now takes over a program accustomed to competing for championships. The veteran coach brings more than 30 years of experience to Florence, but Friday will be another step in a notable return to the state. This season marks Hill’s first head coaching job in Alabama since leading Cordova in 2000.

Waiting for the Panthers is an experienced Westbrook Christian team coming off one of the best seasons in program history. The Warriors finished 10-2 and scored a school-record 507 points in 2025, and they return plenty of talent from that group. Brody Blevins, Easton Skaggs, Read Barber and Titus Jones all earned first-team All-State honors last season and are back for Westbrook in 2026, giving the Warriors an experienced core entering one of their biggest early-season tests.

The programs have met before, with Mars Hill defeating Westbrook 56-21 in the second round of the 2020 playoffs on its way to a state championship. Six years later, the matchup takes on a new meaning as two accomplished private-school programs meet under Alabama’s new competitive structure.

KEY MATCHUP: Mars Hill’s new-look attack vs. Westbrook’s experience. The Panthers may have a new staff, but expectations haven’t changed for a program coming off consecutive state championships. Westbrook counters with a veteran group featuring four returning first-team All-State selections, making Friday an early measuring stick for both programs.