BamaPreps Weekly Roundtable Week 6

Welcome to the BamaPreps Weekly Roundtable! Each week, the team will break down the biggest matchups and the best performances across the state of Alabama. From Huntsville to Mobile, the best coverage of the gridiron is right here on BamaPreps.

It’s Rivalry Week across the state, and as the fans ire for each other heats up, so does the play on the field. The weather is sure to play a factor in games this Friday, with many moving to Thursday night action to avoid the elements. With only 4 more guaranteed weeks for some teams, it is sure to be another exciting week of action across the state of Alabama!

Best individual performance from Week 5?

VLAD VALASIUK: Greer Lovell – Whitesburg Christian 16-of-22 passes for 324 yards and seven touchdowns, helping power the Warriors to the 46-point victory..  

TP HAMMOCK: Referees who do it every Friday night

NOAH WILLOUGHBY: Sam Sollie: the QB for Gadsden City had 250 yards passing and 4 TDs on just 14 completions  

TREY LEE: Brody Blevins showed out for Westbrook in their big win over Oneonta on the ground, rushing 17 times for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns. Blevins continues to make the Warriors better and will look to propel them deep into November in the playoffs.

JON LUNCEFORD: Not individual but the Vigor defense, to hold Benjamin Russell like they did was impressive. I know they lost to Orange Beach and still have Williamson but watch out for them this year, especially if they end up a lower seed in that region.  

It’s rivalry week for some of the state’s most impressive teams – rank your Top 5 current rivalries in the state (can be football or across all sports)

VLAD: Auburn v Opelika

Bob Jones James Clemens

Thompson v Hoover 

Helena v Pelham

WS Neal v TRM

TP: Thompson vs Hoover. Reeltown vs Tallassee. Saint James vs Trinity. Auburn vs Opelika. Andalusia vs UMS Wright in the 2010’s.  

NOAH: Auburn v Opelika

Thompson v. Hoover

WS Neal v. TR Miller

Lee-Scott v. Glenwood

Vigor v. Blount

TREY :Lee-Scott vs. Xlenwood

Auburn vs. Opelika

Pell City vs. Oxford

Moody vs. Leeds

Thompson vs. Hoover

JON: Thompson/Hoover, Hoover/Spain Park, Opelika/Auburn, Homewood/Mountain Brook, Hewitt/Clay (can I still say that? BRING IT BACK!)

What team impressed you the most last week in non-region action?

VLAD: Smiths Station! Big win over Wetumpka

TP: Maplesville!

NOAH: Mountain Brook taking down Oxford was really impressive

TREY: Vigor stifling Benjamin Russell’s offense made the biggest impression on me.

JON: Mountain Brook, after losing to UMS-Wright and then having a streak broken with a 20-point loss to rival Homewood, they are looking really good.

What region do you have your eye on coming down the stretch of the season?

VLAD: 6A R4 once again. Half the region still in the battle!  

TP: Any region that ends in a 2. All region 2’s are funky

NOAH: I’m interested to watch 5A region 2, that’s a really tough region.

TREY: 6A Region 2 is going to be a dogfight down the stretch, and Auburn/Opelika will be right in the heat of it this week.

JON: 5A Regions 1 and 7. Saraland losing opened up a rare opportunity for Gulf Shores or Spanish Fort to take the region title, and possibly even push Saraland to third. Blount isn’t totally out of things either after their close loss to Gulf Shores the week after they beat Saraland by double digits. As for region 7 – this region got the raw end of realignment. Six playoff teams from last year squeezed into one. It could force a team like Hartselle – who finished second last year behind Muscle Shoals, to miss the playoffs.

Is there an under-the-radar team you are keeping your eye on as the regular season begins to wind down?

VLAD: ACA in Private AA. Have looked great dominating every opponent. Will give Briarwood a great game!  

TP: Bullock County. They’ve got great size in 3A and also have a really good coaching staff

NOAH: This isn’t really under the radar but I’m interested to see how Prattville looks. I’m wondering how much they can challenge Thompson

TREY: Saraland has been anything but under-the-radar after the past few years, but I think they have some momentum currently and can be a force down the stretch.

JON: Scottsboro – how about that appeal down to 4A? They are running over everyone they play now that they are out of 5A. Still a 3-way tie at the top right now in that region, but they could make some noise come playoff time.

Leeds and Moody enter this week with only one game of separation in region play – who will have the advantage in the Battle of the Bridge and why?

VLAD: Leeds. One of the most heated rivalries in the state. Leeds has been waiting on this one, Blue Devils have been picking up steam recently, but I don’t think it will be enough.  

TP: Leeds I think is just better this year all around

NOAH: It’s going to be Leeds in a tight one. Should be a great game. I’m really impressed with how Coach Tatum has turned Moody around after the slow start.

TREY: Moody has been regaining momentum after stumbling out of the gate. A win in this one puts them right back where they want to be heading into the playoffs.

JON: Leeds. They have looked good after that close loss to St. Clair County. Although Moody just beat that common opponent, they have had to squeak out wins lately, including against the bottom two teams in the region. I do think Moody has somewhat righted the ship after a tough start, but I don’t know if they will be able to grab a top 2 seed.

What matchup are you most looking forward to most in Week 6?

VLAD: Valley v Marbury. Both unbeaten, will be a fun game. Same goes for Plainview v Geraldine

TP: All of them. We’re over halfway through the season, gotta appreciate them all equally (Opelika vs Auburn)  

NOAH: Auburn v. Opelika, best rivalry in the state.

TREY: The 102nd edition of Auburn vs. Opelika

JON: I want to say Thompson/Hoover because Hoover usually gets the best of Thompson in the regular season, but I doubt that’s the case this weekend with the way Thompson is playing. so instead I’m going Muscle Shoals and Russellville. Russellville has held their own in the new 5A so far, beating Hartselle and also losing a close one to Florence like Muscle Shoals. This will likely be for the second seed in the region and I’m very interested to see where these two teams are after their loss to Florence.

Who is your Winner of the Week?

Choose one former Alabama high school player/coach playing/coaching at the collegiate or professional level. List their stats/accomplishments from this past week.

VLAD: Ryan Coleman-Williams – Got His Swagger back

TP: Ben Thomas and his coverage of AL HSFB

NOAH: Ryan Coleman Willams – Former Saraland receiver had 5 receptions for 98 yds, and 2 TDS for the Crimson Tide as they blew out South Carolina

TREY: Former Auburn Tiger and Highland Home Flying Squadron alum Keldric Faulk recorded his first sack in the NFL against another former Alabama high school alum Jameis Winston in the Titan’s game against the New York Giants.

JON: Definitely Bo Nix. How about that comeback against the Rams on Monday night after being down 16-0 at halftime? I know opponents are glad he’s not at Pinson anymore!

Predictions & Final Score for Opelika vs. Auburn.

VLAD: 24-17 Auburn

TP: 31-24 Opelika

NOAH: 31-28 Opelika

TREY: Auburn 20 Opelika 17

JON: Opelika 27-24

Predictions & Final Score for Thompson vs. Hoover.

VLAD: 34-16 Thompson

TP: 31-0 Thompson

NOAH: 45-14 Thompson

TREY: Thompson 42 Hoover 21

JON: Thompson 35-14

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