High School Sports

At 13-6, I finished Week 1 two games off the pace behind assistant sports editor Christa Turner and Jacksonville State beat reporter Al Muskewitz.

That lumps me in the same class with a guy from Oregon (sports copy editor John Dietrich), who also graduated from Missouri (AKA Mizzwho?), staff writer Kevin Jeffers (who has effectively ruined the past couple of weeks of my life with one single comment) and a dog.

In my efforts to gun for the No. 1 spot, I thought I'd have to out-pick sports editor Bran Strickland and columnist Joe Medley. Both pulled out of the gate with uncharacteristically slow starts, given their years in the game and usual acumen when it comes to the picks contest. They each finished 12-7.

But that's the problem with trying to predict the future. You never really know what's going to happen until it's happening, and by that point it's already happened. That's the beauty of the contest. It'll have your mind playing tricks on you.

Most of the time, I just go with my gut. But then I get to thinking, and that's when the hysteria hits. I'll second-guess myself. Then I start second-guessing the decision to second-guess. Or would that be third-guessing, and is that even possible?

Anyway, last week I picked a game and felt like going with the team I went with made sense. It seemed like the conventional pick. But sometimes you've got to have a little "strategery." Especially when you know everyone else is going to pick a certain team. You might just go the other way in case someone pulls an upset, then you get one up on everybody. It's a low-risk, high-reward situation early in the year.

Such was the case last week. I mulled over the pick for a day-and-a-half. I even came back to the office last Wednesday night after church and thought about changing some picks, but decided against it

In that instance, I was right.

I'm sure the folks who bested me might be able to relate.

With regional play jumping off Friday night, things don't get any easier. But let's get to it.

• ALEXANDRIA AT CHEROKEE COUNTY: On one hand you've got perennial power Alexandria, which pitched a shutout against a promising Anniston squad (more on them in the next pick) in a 9-0 season-opening win at home. On the other, you've got a high-powered offense that put up a Bo Jackson against a shoot-out victory over a proven Piedmont squad, winning 34-32 on the road. I'll go and say it. Unless Hokes Bluff and St. Clair County have something that I don't know about, this one could wind up determining the Class 4A Region 6 championship. It looks too close to call. But I've got to try and call it. I'll just be honest. I flipped a coin. … Cherokee County 21, Alexandria 14.

• ANNISTON AT CHILDERSBURG: Childersburg downed rival B.B. Comer 35-6 in its opener last Thursday night while Anniston failed to put any points up on the board on the road at Alexandria. But anyone who was in attendance at Lou Scales Stadium knows the Bulldogs impressed on both sides of the ball, especially with a defense headlined by Michael Boone, Brent Tolson, Tyree Miller and Quinton Birt. … Anniston 20, Childersburg 7.

• PINSON VALLEY AT OXFORD: The Yellow Jackets' defense bent in giving up three touchdowns against Benjamin Russell in their opener. But they didn't break, and they never trailed. They willed themselves to victory as the offense put up 35 points. It'll be the first home game of the season and Lamar Field will be rocking. Coach John Grass will no doubt iron out the kinks and motivation won't be a problem. That's a formula for a big win. … Oxford 42, Pinson Valley 7.

• LINCOLN AT CLEBURNE COUNTY: I tried to tell you about Class 4A Region 4. It's going to be tougher than an Advanced Placement test and this game is a just a sampling of what's to come. Cleburne County defeated Lineville by nine, while the Golden Bears had their way with Etowah. I say Lincoln's speed at the skill positions wins out in this one but not a by landslide. … Lincoln 21, Cleburne County 14.

• MUNFORD AT HANDLEY: Handley will be a week fresher than Munford. The Tigers had an open date in Week 1 while Munford traveled to Ashland and took a tough 13-8 loss from Clay County. Handley has most of the firepower back from a team that won a region title last season and should be poised to make a run at another. … Handley 26, Munford 16.

• OHATCHEE AT RANBURNE: Ranburne had a solid showing in its opener, holding its own against defending Class 1A state runners-up T.C. Central. That could give the Bulldogs the confidence they need to take care of business, but Ohatchee won't be a pushover by any stretch. … Ranburne 23, Ohatchee 16.

• LANETT AT WOODLAND: This one should definitely be a clash worth the price of admission. Lanett has a host of willing and able athletes while Woodland will depend on quarterback Drew Triplett and running back Justin Heard to produce. … Lanett 30, Woodland 20.

• LINEVILLE AT HORSESHOE BEND: A good showing against Cleburne County is enough to convince me the Aggies have what it takes to get one on the road against Horseshoe Bend, which nearly upset Wadley last week. … Lineville 17, Horseshoe Bend 13.

• WEAVER AT GLENCOE: Weaver got a big game from reining Offensive Player of the Week Quinnata Jones in the Bearcats' win over Jacksonville. I suppose they could ride him to another victory. … Weaver 16, Glencoe 10.

• WHITE PLAINS AT LEEDS: White Plains put up big numbers against Donoho, dropping 51 on the Falcons last week. New coach Heath Harmon definitely has the program going in the right direction, but the Wildcats might still be a year or two away from giving a team like Leeds a serious go. … Leeds 41, White Plains 12.

As for the rest of them: T.C. Central 36, Donoho 6; Oneonta 20, Jacksonville 7; Appalachian 23, Jacksonville Christian 10; Piedmont 34, Wellborn 12; Tarrant 28, Pleasant Valley 14; Saks 20 Central-Coosa 7; GSD 24, ASD 17; Cedar Bluff 22, Woodville 20; Clay County 26, Randolph County 18; Ragland 21, Victory Christian 0; Spring Garden 24, Collinsville 7; Moody 14, Talladega 13; Wadley 38, Verbena 20.