Second half arrives with playoffs in sight
Austin travels to Bob Jones as Decatur has homecoming

This week marks the beginning of the second half of region play in high school football and with the postseason picture beginning to take shape, teams no longer need much of a pep talk to get ready for Friday nights.

As Austin High (2-3 overall, 1-2 in Class 6A, Region 8) prepares for a trip to Bob Jones (1-4, 0-3) on Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Madison City Schools Stadium, coach David Norwood said he does not have to remind his players about what is at stake.

The Black Bears' memories of last season are enough of a reminder of what a positive focus can do for a team.

With a 0-5 record at this point in the season last year, the Black Bears made a turn for the better.

Austin reeled off three straight Region 8 wins over Bob Jones, Hazel Green and Grissom to throw itself into the postseason running.

Does this year's Black Bear team have the same potential to make a last-season
surge?

"Sure they do," Norwood said.

"Our kids never walk out on the field and think they can't win. Our guys always think they can win. I've had no problem whatsoever with their effort."

Despite winning four of their last five games a year ago, the Black Bears came up just short of the postseason, finishing tied for fifth place with a 3-4 record in Region 8.

Austin beat Bob Jones 19-17 last year at Ogle Stadium to begin the streak.

With that memory in mind, Norwood said he's certain his players know the importance of every region win, and the impact just one more victory can make.

"(Bob Jones) is important because they're the next game on our schedule and to me, I think this game is pivotal," Norwood said.

"Our kids know we need a win because it's a region opponent, and it can get you one step closer to knowing
you have a spot in the playoffs."

UNA's Hudspeth visits Touchdown Club: North Alabama head football coach Mark Hudspeth will be the guest speaker when the Touchdown Club hosts its weekly Game Day Breakfast on Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Cracker Barrel on Beltline Road Southwest.

Any interested football fans and all club members are invited to attend.

In five seasons as head football coach at UNA, Hudspeth has led the Lions to a 44-17 mark, two Gulf South Conference titles and three NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

In 2006, he was selected Gulf South Conference coach of the year for the second time and was also selected Region 2 coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association.

This season, UNA is undefeated at 4-0 and maintained its No. 3 ranking in the latest NCAA Division II poll released Tuesday.

Hudspeth's Lions have a home game Saturday, hosting Ouachita Baptist at 6 p.m. in Florence.

In addition to Hudspeth's address, Austin High football coach David Norwood will announce the players of the week, who will be honored from last week's games against Russellville.

Decatur reunion: Decatur High will honor the school's Class of 1977 before its homecoming football game Friday against West Point.

The seniors in this class were the cornerstone of the 1976 Decatur football team that advanced to the state semifinals before falling 24-20 to eventual champion Mountain Brook.

Class members who are interested in attending the reunion should visit dhs1977.myevent.com and register.

Tanner Quarterback Club: The Tanner Quarterback Club will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Special Education Building on Rattler Drive.

All parties interested in Tanner school and community athletics are invited.

Around the state

Class 6A showdown on ESPN2: The game between Class 6A No. 2 Daphne (5-0) and No. 5 Foley (5-0) will be televised live to the nation Thursday night on ESPN2.

Kickoff is at 8.

Thursday's game will showcase wide receiver Julio Jones, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior rated the nation's top receiver by virtually every recruiting service and rated the nation's top recruit overall by
ESPN.

Jones will try to lead Foley to its first win over Daphne since 1997.

Penalties J.O. Johnson's nemesis: The J.O. Johnson Jaguars can point to one main reason they took a fall in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll after just one week in the top spot: penalties.

The Jaguars collected consecutive losses to Decatur and Russellville with a combined 180 yards in penalties in the two losses.

The Jaguars managed to recover with a 28-14 win over Grissom last week despite rolling up 103 penalty yards against the Tigers.

J.O. Johnson is 3-2 and unranked, but still receiving votes in the ASWA 5A poll.

Predicting the preps

Daily Sports Writer Brooke Milam predicts how area teams will fare in this week’s games:

Friday’s games

Tanner 21, Addison 20

Madison County 34, Ardmore 21

Austin 14, Bob Jones 10

Hartselle 28, Brewer 7

Colbert County 21, Clements 14

Columbia 27, East Lawrence 24

Priceville 24, DAR 7

East Limestone 27, North Jackson 24

Elkmont 19, Lauderdale County 15

West Morgan 28, Hatton 14

Hazlewood 24, Phillips-Bear Creek 0

Falkville 26, J.B. Pennington 18

Wilson 23, Lawrence County 20

Madison Academy 24, Danville 14

Waterloo 17, Mount Hope 6

R.A. Hubbard 22, Shoals Christian 15

Russellville 24, Athens 17

West Limestone 16, Sheffield 14

Speake 24, Vina 3

Decatur 31, West Point 14

Last week: 14-4 (.780)

Season record: 61-27 (.693)