The Bama Buzz Game of the Week: Cullman County unbeatens meet in final week of regular season
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The last week of the regular season often gives fans a much smaller Friday night slate of games. Some teams will plan their off week just before the postseason to get an extra week of preparation while others will play a Thursday night game—Halloween special this year—to get an extra day of rest.
However, there are certainly still some big games to watch this weekend including one in Cullman County featuring a pair of undefeated teams ranked in the top 5 of their respective classifications. Here’s what you need to know:
- Who: 5A #4 Fairview Aggies (8-0) at 4A #5 Good Hope Raiders (9-0)
- Where: James W. Shabel Stadium, 210 Good Hope School Rd, Cullman, AL 35057
- When: 7PM, Friday, Nov. 1
- Tickets | Watch
Keep reading to learn more about both teams + check out a quick list of other games to watch across the state this week.
Fairview Aggies
Since making the move back up to Class 5A in 2020, Fairview has made itself a constant in the postseason. The Aggies have won 46 games over the last five seasons including an appearance in the state semifinals in 2021.
But this season could set an even higher standard for the program. Fairview has already secured its first ever region title at the 5A level and now, it has a chance to finish off its first ever undefeated regular season.
The Aggies are averaging just over 40 points per game this season. They have not been held below 28 points all year.
Fairview defeated Good Hope in each of the last two seasons after the team renewed the rivalry in 2022 for the first time since 2009. The two teams have split just four meetings since the turn of the century but they did play every year from 1975 to 1999.
Good Hope Raiders
Good Hope is looking for its first undefeated regular season since 1999, which is even more impressive considering the Raiders were just 3-7 last year and missed the playoffs.
Last week’s win over Dora gave the Raiders their first region title since 2007.
This year, Good Hope has allowed just 7 points per game including holding teams 7 or less in the first seven games of the season. That is good enough for the top scoring defense in Class 4A and the ninth best scoring defense in the entire state.
The Raiders still lead the all-time series with Fairview, winning 18 of the 29 meetings. Their last win over the Aggies came in 2008 on Halloween.
Other games to watch in Week 10
Several spots of the AHSAA state playoff brackets are already set in stone but some tiebreakers still need to be broken this week. Here’s a few of the key matchups to watch before the Road to Birmingham is officially set.
- Spanish Fort at 6A #8 St. Paul’s
- 6A #4 Spain Park at Gardendale
- Goshen at Straughn
- Jacksonville at Anniston
- 4A #4 West Morgan at Deshler
- Madison Academy at Westminster Christian
- Westbrook Christian at Walter Wellborn
What are you most looking forward to in Week 10? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
