High school blitz

Game of the week

Class 6A

Clay-Chalkville (8-2)

at Florence (8-2)

When: 7 p.m.

Radio: FM-93.9

The skinny: Clay-Chalkville finished third in Region 7 behind Oxford and Gadsden City. ... Florence was second in Region 8 behind Bob Jones. ... Florence missed the playoffs last season, but two years ago came within seconds of an upset of Hoover in the first round. ... Florence has not won a home playoff game in the school’s short history. ... Falcons lost to Minor a week ago. ... Clay-Chalkville beat Buckhorn 31-14 last week.

Southside-Gadsden (5-5)

at Russellville (8-2)

Radio: AM-920

The skinny: Russellville has been close to a lock for winning first-round playoff games at home, sporting an impressive 17-1 mark. ... This is the first meeting between the two teams. ... Southside was part of a three-way tie for third place in Class 5A Region 7. ... Russellville beat Colbert County 28-0 last week, while Southside beat Talladega 25-7. ... Southside is two years removed from going 0-10.

Muscle Shoals (8-2)

at Fort Payne (8-2)

Radio: AM-1340

The skinny: Muscle Shoals has enjoyed a quick turnaround under second-year coach Scott Basden. After winning two games a year ago, the Trojans have eight wins this year, including an upset of then-Class 5A No. 2 Hartselle in Week 9. ... Trojans have done it with defense this year, surrendering more than 20 points twice — both times coming in their two losses. ... Fort Payne averages 27 points per game and three of its wins are by a combined 8 points. ... This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Fairview (8-2)

at Deshler (9-1)

Radio: FM-105.5

The skinny: Deshler’s scoring defense (10 ppg) is fourth-best in Class 4A. ... The Tigers are riding a nine-game winning streak since losing their season opener to Class 5A Russellville. ... Deshler’s Deion Belue has returned kicks — three kickoffs and a punt — for touchdowns in the last four games. ... Deshler is 19-1 all-time in playoff openers at home and 22-4 overall in the first round. ... Fairview started the season with seven straight wins before dropping consecutive games to Guntersville (33-0) and North Jackson (44-21).

North Jackson (7-3)

at Brooks (8-2)

The skinny: Brooks QB Alex Mitchell is probable after suffering a high ankle sprain two weeks ago. ... Taylor Robertson filled in for Mitchell in last week’s 17-0 win over R.A. Hubbard, going 10-for-24 for 94 yards and two TDs. ... The third seed from Class 4A Region 7, North Jackson finished in a three-way tie for second place in the region. ... The Chiefs are coming off a 49-point first half performance against Class 5A Etowah, in which WR Montel Hale had seven catches for 183 yards and three TDs and rushed for two TDs and QB Will Richard was 12-of-16 passing for 236 yards and five TDs.

Central (6-4)

at Plainview (6-4)

The skinny: Both Class 4A teams are coming off losses to Class 2A playoff teams. Region 8 No. 3 seed Central lost 41-26 to Lexington, and Region 7 runner-up Plainview fell 25-15 to Fyffe. ... Last week’s loss was Central’s most lopsided since a 33-3 setback to Deshler in Week 2. ... The Wildcats’ Wing-T offense is still averaging 31.6 points a game. Plainview’s defense is allowing 21.7 points a game, the most of the four Region 7 playoff teams. ... Plainview is 12-1 all-time at home in the first round of the playoffs. Central is 3-5 on the road in the first round. ... The Wildcats are making their first playoff appearance since 2002, when they won at home in the first round.

Rogers (6-4)

at Guntersville (8-2)

The skinny: This is a rematch of last year’s first-round game in which Rogers upset the Guntersville 3-0 on the road. ... Guntersville RB Rodriqueke Faulks has rushed for 702 yards and seven TDs, while QB Chris Daniel is 70-for-128 for 1,083 yards and nine TDs. ... Guntersville’s scoring defense (9.8 PPG) is third-best in Class 4A. ... Ryan Murray rushed for 110 yards and two TDs, while Austin Kerr added 85 yards and two TDs on the ground for Rogers in last week’s win against Class 3A Lauderdale County. ... The winner will advance to face the Brooks-North Jackson winner.

Colbert County (4-6)

at Winfield (7-3)

The skinny: Class 3A, Region 8 third-seeded Colbert County has a 9-2 record on the road in playoff openers, one of the best marks historically. The Indians have won 10 straight first-round games, but they are 0-2 all-time against Winfield, both losses coming in the playoffs in 2004 and 2005. ... Colbert County’s offense is scoring 12.9 points a game, while Winfield’s defense is allowing 11.4 points a game, the sixth-best in Class 3A.

Colbert Heights (7-3)

at Hamilton (9-1)

The skinny: Averaging 38.1 points a game, Hamilton has the top scoring offense in Class 3A. ... Colbert Heights is 0-6 all-time on the road in the first round and are 3-9 overall in the playoffs. Hamilton is 5-3 all-time at home in the first round. ... Region 7 top-seeded Hamilton is riding a five-game winning streak since its only loss, a 24-21 setback to Class 4A Haleyville. ... Colbert Heights has won three straight to help secure a playoff berth.

Cleveland (5-5)

at Lexington (9-1)

The skinny: After losing starting quarterback Kenny Ratliff to injury in a Week 2 victory over Clements, Class 4A Lexington turned to junior backup Dylan Bunnell, who led the Golden Bears to an upset win over state power Tanner, and helped propel the team to its first perfect region record since 2005. ... Lexington has outscored its opponents 329-161, using a balanced offensive attack to average more 400 yards of offense per game.

Red Bay (5-5)

at Lamar County (10-0)

The skinny: After starting the season 4-0, including a win over Class 5A Lee, Red Bay struggled down the stretch, finishing the last six games of the season with a 1-5 record. ... Class 2A No. 6 Lamar County has outscored its opponents by nearly 300 points. ... Lamar County won the only previous meeting between the two teams, a 20-6 playoff win in 1956.

Phillips (6-3)

at Berry (9-1)

The skinny: After opening the season with five consecutive wins, Class 1A Phillips dropped its final three region games. ...The Bears are looking to break a recent trend of bowing out in the first round of the postseason, having lost opening round games in 2007 and 2008 by a combined 67 points. ... Berry is scoring 42 points per game while averaging just over 400 yards of total offense per game.

Parrish (7-3)

at R.A. Hubbard (8-2)

The skinny: R.A. Hubbard wasted no time in establishing itself as a football powerhouse following the merger of Hazlewood and R.A. Hubbard at the end of 2008. ... The Chiefs recorded shutouts in 6 of their 7 wins this season, allowing only one touchdown to Phillips in a 43-8 Week 2 win. ... In seven wins this season the Chiefs have averaged nearly 53 points per game. ... Hubbard won the last meeting in 2001 by a score of 19-0.

Lynn (8-2)

at Shoals Christian (7-3)

The skinny: After struggling through a two-win season in 2008, Shoals Christian rebounded nicely, locking up second place in Class 1A, Region 8 and securing the program’s first-ever opening round home game. ... Junior running backs Taylor Brackin and Taylor Lindley have been key in the Flame’s resurgence, averaging more than 200 yards of combined total offense per game. ... Lynn won the only other meeting between the two teams, a 33-14 decision in 2006’s playoff opener.

Vina (4-6)

at Hackleburg (10-0)

The skinny: With consecutive region wins over Waterloo and Tharptown, the Red Devils moved into fourth place in Class 1A Region 8, finishing behind Phillips via a tie-breaker. ... Hackleburg’s unbeaten season resulted in the program’s first region title since 1997, its 12th overall. ... Led by senior running backs Joel Ingle and Jason Leggitt, the Panthers have rushed for almost 2,000 yards this season.

Tennessee

Craigmont (7-3)

at Lawrence County (8-2)

The skinny: The Wildcats are making their first trip to the playoffs since 1986 and is hosting a first-round game for the first time. ... Craigmont is a Memphis-area school. Before losing to Bartlett in the ninth week of the season, the Chiefs were 6 points away from being undefeated. ... Lawrence County relies on a diverse running game with Trent Garland, Harry Douglas and Logan Taylor leading the way. ... QB Logan Schaar and RB Kurtis McFerren are the key offensive performers for Craigmont.

Collinwood (6-4)

at McEwen (3-7)

The skinny: Collinwood is coming off a tough 28-14 loss to second-ranked Wayne County. ... McEwen lost 42-6 to Wayne County in the second game of the season. ... Max Risner and Jacob Davis have been splitting time at quarterback, and each has been doing a good job playing to their strengths. ... McEwen was 1-6 before winning two in a row against Clarksville Academy and Nashville Christian. The Warriors closed the regular season with a 48-6 loss to White House-Heritage.