Game of the week
Spain Park (5-6) at Austin (7-4)

• Where: Ogle Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• Radio: 94.7 FM and 1490 AM
• The skinny: Austin is coming off a strong preseason jamboree performance where the Black Bears beat Lee-Huntsville 37-6 in three varsity quarters … Junior quarterback Chris Sparkman accounted for four touchdowns in the win, while running back Josh Walker is one of the area’s top playmakers … Placekicker Philip Corlew gives Austin a strength on special teams. He kicked three field goals against Lee … Spain Park quarterback Nick Mullens is expected to be one of the top passers in the Birmingham metro area.

The Daily picks: Austin 31, Spain Park 28

Athens (4-7) at Decatur (5-6)

• Where: Ogle Stadium
• When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
• Radio: AM 1400
• The skinny: Decatur returns two of the area’s top running backs in Josh Matthews and Rex Jarman, but the Red Raiders only have seven returning starters overall (four on offense and three on defense) … Athens has six returning starters on both sides of the ball, including running back Derick Teague … Decatur is coming off a 33-0 jamboree loss to Clay-Chalkville, while Athens lost 28-7 at Bob Jones … Decatur leads the series 57-24-2.

The Daily picks: Decatur 21, Athens 14

Madison Academy (12-3) at Tanner (14-1)

• Where: Rip Swanner Stadium
• When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Tanner and Madison Academy each finished as the state runner-up in their respective classifications … The Rattlers amassed more than 540 yards of total offense and led 49-0 at halftime in a lopsided jamboree win against Clements … Running back Kyle Shoulders, returning from an ankle injury, rushed for 108 yards in the win … Tanner linebacker Fred Rich and safety Greg Maclin are UAB commitments … Madison County running back Kerryon Johnson is considered one of the top sophomore prospects in the state.

The Daily picks: Madison Academy 24, Tanner 21

Randolph (1-9) at Danville (2-8)

• Where: Smith-Owens Stadium
• When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: At 58 players, the Hawks have more than doubled their roster from last year … With Justin Morgan lining up at quarterback, and depth at running back, Danville fast-paced variation of a spread-option offense … Randolph is heading into its third season as a football program.

The Daily picks: Danville 34, Randolph 14

West Morgan (4-6) at Priceville (3-7)

• Where: Bulldog Stadium
• When: Tonight at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Heath Saint makes his debut as West Morgan coach. .... Priceville won 37-33 last season. ... Both teams look for a good start in their attempt for a winning since for the first time in recent years. West Morgan was 10-2 in 2008, Priceville was 6-5 in 2007. ... The Rebels won the inaugural meeting 9-7 in 2010.

The Daily picks: Priceville 17, West Morgan 7

Hartselle (15-0) at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (12-1)

• Where: Roy Johnson Jr. Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• Radio: 99.9 FM
• The skinny: Hartselle opens the 2012 season in the same city where it won the program’s first state title last fall … The Tigers return 13 overall starters from that team (six on offense and seven on defense) … Leading rusher Blake Slayton and quarterback Deacon Aldridge return, while wide receiver Sydney Steele looks like a potential big-play threat.

The Daily picks: Hartselle 17, Hillcrest 14

Brewer (0-10) at West Point (3-7)

• Where: Warrior Field
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Brewer seeks its first win since the final week of the 2010 regular season. .... Dan Styles makes his Brewer coaching debut. ... West Point won last year’s meeting 49-7 in week nine when both teams were in Class 5A, Region 6. ... The Patriots’ last win in the series came in 2007 (21-7). ... West Point leads the all-time series 18-12, according to ahsfhs.org.

The Daily picks: Brewer 14, West Point 13

East Lawrence (2-8) at Lawrence County (4-6)

• Where: Red Devil Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• Radio: 98.3 FM
• The skinny: Terrence Deloney rushed for 109 yards on 15 carries and Carrington Coffey added 95 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-23 preseason win against Elkmont … Lawrence County offensive tackle Noah Armstrong is a South Alabama commitment. He anchors what is expected to be a strong, veteran offensive line … Lawrence County leads the series 17-15 … The road team has won the last five meetings in this rivalry.

The Daily picks: Lawrence County 21, East Lawrence 20

Madison County (4-6) at East Limestone (7-4)

• Where: Cavnar Field
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Led by Jevon Turner, East Limestone is expected to have a strong running game … Madison County defeated Buckhorn 33-7 in one half of a varsity jamboree … Running back Jordan Chunn amassed more than 1,800 yards of total offense in 2011. Chunn has offers from Arkansas State and UAB.

The Daily picks: East Limestone 17, Madison County 14

Hatton (3-7) at R.A. Hubbard (7-4)

• Where: R.A. Hubbard Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: R.A. Hubbard will be playing its first on-campus football game since moving into the new school … The Chiefs return a budding star on the defensive line in Eddquerion Harris … Chris Gilcrese and Darian Almon are expected to be two of the Chiefs top playmakers … Hatton has a new coach in Michael Hathorn and the Hornets will run an option-style offense … Former athletes from Central High, which was located at the site of R.A. Hubbard’s campus, will be honored at the season opener.

The Daily picks: R.A. Hubbard 26, Hatton 7

Decatur Heritage (2-8) at Cold Springs (0-10)

• Where: Eagle Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Now in its fourth year as a program, Decatur Heritage returns a veteran team with 18 returning starters overall … Jordan Holland is heading into his third season as Decatur Heritage’s starting quarterback … Cold Springs has one of the state’s longest losing streaks at 35 games.

The Daily picks: Decatur Heritage 27, Cold Springs 20

Falkville (1-9) at Southeastern-Remlap (0-0)

• Where: Bulldog Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• What: Class 1A, Region 6 contest
• The skinny: Southeastern, a Class 1A program, is fielding a team for the first time. ... Joel Schrenk is making his Falkville coaching debut. .... Falkville is looking to break four-game losing streak. ... Remlap, in Blount County, is approximately 26 miles northeast of Birmingham.

The Daily picks: Falkville 28, Southeastern 6

Elkmont (7-5) at Ardmore (3-7)

• Where: Cooper Field
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: A young Ardmore team suffered a 35-14 loss to Westminster Christian in a preseason jamboree … Tyler McCarley led the Tigers with 60 yards and a touchdown on 13 carriers … Elkmont trailed East Lawrence 26-0 after three varsity quarters of a preseason jamboree.

The Daily picks: Ardmore 28, Elkmont 7

West Limestone (6-6) at Clements (1-9)

• Where: M.T. Newman Stadium
• When: Friday at 7 p.m.
• The skinny: Clements lost 62-7 to Tanner in a preseason jamboree … Colts quarterback Marcus McNaughten was 8-for-21 for 40 yards and one touchdown in the loss. ... The Colts aim to end a seven-game skid. ... West Limestone advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season, its best showing since finishing as the Class 3A state runner-up in 1988. ... The Wildcats have won the last three meetings, including a 28-22 victory last season, and hold a 26-23 lead in the all-time series, according to ahsfhs.org.

The Daily picks: West Limestone 20, Clements 13