By Gary Thomas

Area teams are gearing up to face off this weekend. Here are my game picks for upcoming games.

Highland Home Flying Squadron vs. Isabella Mustangs

Coach Justin Braggs’ big-blue machine keeps rolling along and are coming off a very impressive 56-6 win over county rival Brantley Bulldogs. The Highland Home School (HHS) offensive unit is averaging over 53 points per game, and the defense is only giving up an average of six points a game. Their kicking game is on solid ground too.

This week, the Squadron hosts the 2-4 Isabella Mustangs, who are coming off a 42-28 victory over Billingsly. I just don’t see them slowing down the Fly Boys high-flying winning streak, especially at home in Clay Jordan Stadium.

Gooch’s winner pick: HHS 49, Isabella 8

Luverne Tigers vs. Calhoun Tigers

This week is homecoming week for the Luverne Tigers at Glen Daniel Stadium. It’s the week all football coaches hate every year, trying to keep their team focused on the task ahead of them.

Coach Bobby Hudson’s two-game winning streak was snapped in two at the hands of 3A, eighth-ranked Montgomery academy Eagles 35-8 this past Friday.

Luverne’s offensive team is still struggling to have a well-balanced game and on the other side of the ball, the defense is having trouble stopping the opponent’s offense. But this week should cure some wounds, as the 2-3 Tigers host the 0-4 Calhoun Tigers. 

Both teams of Tigers are still looking for some identity in this cat warfare. Look for the red-clad Tigers to send the alumni home happy after this matchup.

Gooch’s winner pick:  LHS 30, Calhoun 22

CCA Cougars vs. Edgewood Wildcats

After loosing their season opener to the Fort Dale Eagles, coach Brian Burleson’s cats have reeled off five wins in a row to go 5-and-1 on the 2024 gridiron season. Their last victim, the 1-3 Jackson Academy Eagles fell to the Cougars 50-12. The Cougars have worked out their early scoring woes as they are averaging 50 points a game in their last two games.

This week, the Cougars will be on the road again as they travel to Elmore County to take on the 1-4 Edgewood academy Wildcats, a loser at the hands of the Lowndes Academy Rebels 40-6. 

At one time, the Wildcats were an Alabama independent School Association power under Carver coach Bobby Carr, but those teams are a thing of the past. Edgewood holds an all time 7-10 record, but in the battle of the cats, look for CCA to post their sixth win of the season. 

Gooch’s winner pick: CCA 36, Edgewood 14.

Brantley Bulldogs vs. Georgiana Panthers

This dog-and-cat fight between the 3-2 Brantley Bulldogs and the 4-1 Georgiana Panthers will be a key matchup in Region 2 class 1A standings. Both teams are off disappointing losses.

The Panthers fell to 1A power Sweet Water 57-34 and the Bulldogs to county rival Highland Home 56-6. This week’s game will be a battle of the quarters with Brantley’s Jaydon Parks and Georgiana’s Jacobie Morgan. But the game will be on the defensive side of the ball.

Whichever unit steps up and gets a couple of stops will help score a win.

This game will be played at the Panther’s Harmond field. Give the win to the cats.

Gooch’s winner pick: Panthers 48, Bulldogs 42

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

The No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to “music city,” Nashville, Tennessee to face the 2-and-2 Vanderbilt Commodores, who took last Saturday off as they were coming off a 30-27 double overtime loss to the seventh ranked Missouri Tigers.

Vandy is very much improved this season on offense, with the addition of New Mexico quarterback Diego Pavia.

Alabama gained its No. 1 ranking by holding on and beating the No. 2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs 41-34. The tide holds a 61-18-4 all time record against Vandy. The last time these two met, Bama won 55-3. Look for the same result.

Gooch’s winner pick: Alabama 56, Vandy 14

Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs

The Auburn Tigers renew the SEC continuing rival when they travel to Athens to take on a pack of angry Georgia Bulldogs. The Dogs are coming off a hard-fought loss at the hands of No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 41-34. Meanwhile, the Tigers lost to the Oklahoma Sooners late in their game 27-21.

A late interception by the Sooner linebacker Kip Lewis returned the ball 61 yards for a touchdown that sealed the Tigers’ doom. Auburn’s offense doubled up the Sooners in total yards, rushing yards, first downs and time of possession. This should have been a combination for victory.

Some of the Tigers’ demise has to be laid at the offensive play calling. This could be a typical Georgia-Auburn game down to the wire.

Gooch’s winner pick: Georgia 28, Auburn 27

Troy Trojans vs. Texas State Bobcats

The Troy Trojans took another loss at home last week to the ULM Warhawks 13-9. The Trojans are nowhere close to their back-to-back Sunbelt Championship teams of 2022 and 2023.

The Trojans gave away a 6-3 halftime and only managed a lone field goal in the second half. This week, the Trojans are home again to host Sunbelt foe, the Texas State Bobcats.

This past Saturday, they lost one point thriller to Sam Houston 40-39. The Bobcats are 2-and-2 on the year. The Trojans are 1-and-4. Look for the same result as games gone by this year.

Gooch’s winner pick: Texas State 17, Troy 3

Gary “Gooch” Thomas is a long-time Crenshaw County resident, football fan and freelance writer.