AGGIES LOOK TO START SEASON BY BREAKING 28-GAME SKID
Taylor Beck, Sports Editor
Week Zero of high school football kicks off Thursday and Friday with an incredible lineup of games across the mountain. From intense season openers to clashes between top-ranked teams, local squads are set to launch the 2025 season with grit and determination.
Albertville at Arab
7 p.m. Thursday | Arab
The Adam Winegarden era officially begins Thursday night as the Albertville Aggies travel to Marshall County rival Arab for a tough season-opening test.
In last season’s matchup, the Knights trounced Albertville 35-0.
Arab leads the series all-time with a 46-34-4 record.
The Aggies are aiming to snap a 28-game losing streak — the longest in program history — and their first win over Arab since 2017. The Knights haven’t lost a season opener since 2018 against Boaz.
Speaking of the Pirates, the Aggies will look to make the most of their matchup against Arab, because next week Albertville hosts archrival Boaz for the 85th edition of the Backyard Brawl at Vernon Wells Stadium.
Sardis at No. 4 Geraldine
7 p.m. Thursday | Coolidge-Isbell Field
The Class 3A, No. 4 Geraldine Bulldogs aim for another deep playoff run, while the Sardis Lions are hungry to get back to the postseason since 2019. But which team will start strong and emerge from Coolidge-Isbell Field victorious Thursday night?
Expect a showcase of running back talent, with Sardis’ versatile senior Levi Martin and Geraldine’s standout sophomore Jordon Lankford leading their teams.
Sardis leads the series all-time 25-20-1. But last season, the Bulldogs defeated Sardis 35-6.
The game marks the first of three matchups between Geraldine and a team from Class 5A, Region 8, in 2025. Geraldine is also scheduled to play Boaz and Douglas later in the season. Last year, the Bulldogs went 3-0 against 5A competition.
Boaz at Madison County
7 p.m. Thursday | Gurley
Coming off an impressive 9-3 season, the Boaz Pirates will open the 2025 campaign Friday night against Madison County with many new faces leading the way, including first-year head coach Luke Pruitt.
Pruitt takes the helm for the Pirates after guiding the Pisgah Eagles to a 52-32 record over seven years with two region titles. He led the team to a 34-7 mark in his final three seasons.
Boaz is coming off a historic season in which they won a share of the Class 5A, Region 8 title for the first time. But in addition to a new head coach, the Pirates were also tasked this offseason with replacing a slew of starters including the school’s all-time leading passer in Tyler Pierce. Pruitt said freshman Beau Bennett would be the Pirates starting quarterback for Week Zero.
Friday night’s matchup will mark the 12th meeting between Boaz and Madison County. Last season, the Pirates opened the season with a resounding 47-7 home win over the Tigers. This year, they’ll have to go on the road to battle the Class 4A squad. Boaz holds an 6-5 advantage over the Tigers all-time.
Southside at No. 8 Guntersville
7 p.m. Thursday | Chorba-Lee Stadium
Guntersville’s preseason ranking of No. 8 in Class 5A will be put to the test on Friday night as the Class 6A Southside Panthers come to town for what’s expected to be a thrilling season opener inside Chorba-Lee Stadium.
The matchup will mark the 15th meeting between the schools. The Wildcats lead the series 9-4. Last season, Guntersville defeated the Panthers 35-13.
Guntersville is coming off a 9-2 season that ended with an unexpected first-round playoff exit. Entering his 16th season as Guntersville’s head coach, Lance Reese is the winningest coach in Wildcat history with an overall record of 128-44. His Guntersville teams are 11-4 in season openers, and he’ll be looking to win his fourth straight. The last season opening loss for the Wildcats was in 2021 against Handley at the Cramton Bowl.
No. 3 3A Fyffe vs.
No. 4 1A Maplesville
7 p.m. Friday | Cramton Bowl, Montgomery
The Fyffe Red Devils, led by seven-time state champion head coach Paul Benefield, has been the winningest high school football team in the state of Alabama with a 191-15 record from 2010-2024. And trailing right behind? Their Week Zero opponent Maplesville (170-29).
Friday night, the Class 3A No. 3 Red Devils are set to square off against Class 1A No. 4 Maplesville in the second game of the Kickoff Classic at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. It will mark the first meeting between the power programs.
Fyffe is coming off a season that ended abruptly in the third round of the state playoffs. And for the first time in over a decade, the Red Devils failed to win 10 games.
Meanwhile, Maplesville finished the year as runner-up to Wadley in the Class 1A state championship.
The game will be broadcast statewide via WOTM TV and Alabama Public Television. The games will also be livestreamed over the NFHS Network.
Gaston at Asbury
7 p.m. Friday | Asbury High School
The Asbury Rams are scheduled to kick off the season at home against the Gaston Bulldogs.
The Rams, led by third-year head coach Matt Harris, are coming off an 0-10 season with hopes to make the program’s 10th year of high school football a memorable one.
Asbury is 1-6 all-time against Gaston. Their lone victory was in 2021 when the Rams won 33-8. But in last season’s matchup, the Bulldogs pounded the Rams 32-0.
West End at Pleasant Valley
7 p.m. Friday | Jacksonville
West End is set to travel to Jacksonville for a Class 2A showdown Friday night against the Pleasant Valley Raiders.
The Patriots are coming off a 1-9 finish in head coach Matt Harris’ first season leading his alma mater. With sights set on a return to the state playoffs, West End wants to start 2025 off the right way. But it won’t come easy.
Despite holding a 13-6 all-time record over the Raiders, West End lost 28-12 against Pleasant Valley in last year’s season opener. The Patriots’ haven’t defeated Pleasant Valley since a 41-20 rout in 2022.
Douglas is idle and will begin its season Aug. 29 at Susan Moore.
