10/08/2026
TCS Football Preview: Three City Schools, Three Big Games
All three Tuscaloosa City Schools high school football teams will host games this week, with plenty at stake as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Northridge Jag Football vs. Bessemer City
The Northridge Jaguars and Bessemer City Tigers will battle for a lead in the region standings when the Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa.
Bessemer City is coming off an impressive 36-17 victory over the Central Falcons last Friday. The Tigers forced two turnovers and racked up 390 total yards in the win. Bessemer City enters the contest with a 3-1 region record.
Northridge evened its overall record at 3-3 and improved to 2-2 in region play with a 35-13 victory over the Paul W. Bryant Stampede. The Jaguars picked off two Bryant passes and limited the Stampede to a touchdown in the first series and another in the final series.
Max Bruinton passed for 204 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Tate Espey. Julian Crenshaw rushed for 100 yards, while Demeriyan Cotton added 84 receiving yards.
The three teams that have defeated Northridge this season are a combined 18-0. Last season, Bessemer City edged Northridge by one point to even the all-time series at 8-8.
Central High School Football vs. Hueytown
Central will look to get back on track when the Falcons host the Hueytown Golden Gophers tonight.
The Falcons totaled 307 yards of offense against Bessemer City last week, with quarterback Armani White accounting for 274 combined rushing and passing yards.
Central has allowed 89 points in its last two losses while scoring 30. The Falcons are averaging 32 points per game while giving up 23.
Hueytown enters the game at 0-6, with its defense allowing nearly 53 points per game. Last season, Central stunned the Gophers 37-21. The Falcons hold a 21-6 advantage in the all-time series.
Paul W. Bryant "Football" Stampede Nation vs. Brookwood β Homecoming
The Stampede will host Brookwood for Homecoming at 5 p.m., with a chance to improve their 2-4 record.
Bryant fell 35-13 to Northridge last week but showed some positive signs. Quarterback Brayden Cheatum passed for 176 yards and two touchdowns, while the Stampede averaged 4.8 yards on 22 rushing attempts.
Bryant has scored 33 points over the past two games and is averaging 26 points per game this season. The defense is allowing 31 points per contest.
Brookwood enters the game at 1-5 with five consecutive losses. Last Friday, Hillcrest defeated the Panthers 77-14 while piling up 560 yards of offense.
Brookwood defeated Bryant 20-0 in 2025, but the Stampede hold a 14-4 advantage in the all-time series.
On this date in TCS football history:
Oct. 8, 1982: Central defeated Lee Montgomery, 36-20.
Oct. 9, 2009: Paul W. Bryant defeated Jackson-Olin, 7-0.
Oct. 9, 2009: Northridge fell to Jess Lanier, 28-14.
Three teams. Three home games. Plenty on the line. Let's go, TCS!
Northridge High School Paul W. Bryant High School Central High School