Area private schools poised to kick off

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a weekly series previewing all the Friday night high school football games. Wednesday: AISA and ICSGA. Thursday: Class 1A-5A. Friday: Class 6A.

Springwood, who narrowly missed the AISA-Class 2A playoffs last year, got a glimpse of how talented it will be this season with a 44-14 win over rival Chambers Academy last Friday night.

In that game, senior Cole Buchanan was a one-man highlight reel — scoring four touchdowns. Three of those scores came on running plays, while another came on an interception return. A fifth touchdown, coming on a 55-yard interception return, was called back due to a penalty.

The Wildcats are hoping for more of the same, as they open the regular season Friday night on the road at Ashford Academy.

Ashford, from AISA’s Class 1A, finished just 2-8 a year ago.

Marengo at Glenwood
Glenwood will open its season under first-year head coach Chris Holmes on Friday.

The Gators lost quite a bit from 2007, but still return some talented players. The Gators have one of the area’s top players back in wideout Arthur Williams, who has already verbally committed to Middle Tennessee.

Open Door at Lyman Ward
Lyman Ward made the move from Class 1A of the AHSAA to AISA — which means the Rangers will be facing teams more suited to their level.

It will also be the first game in AISA for Open Door, as it also made the move from the AHSAA.

The game will also mark the first for the Rangers’ first-year head coach, Sheldon Ward.

Autauga at Chambers
It will be no easy opener for Chambers as the Rebels (Class 1A) face a Class 2A team that went 9-3 last season.

However, Chambers has one of the more explosive AISA combos back on the field in do-it-all athlete McKeldric Daniel and multi-purpose quarterback Ryan Smith.

LaFayette Christian at Ballard (5 p.m.)
Ballard is off to a strong, 2-0, start to its inaugural 8-man football season.

They opened the year two weeks ago with a 44-12 win over Golden Acres and followed that last Friday with a 66-16 road win over Praise Academy.

Last week, LaFayette Christian beat Golden Acres, 12-6.

With no lights currently at Ballard Field, the game will start at 5 p.m.