Week 8 High School Football: 18 Gulf Coast Games Moved to Thursday Ahead of Tropical Threat

MOBILE, Ala. — For the second week in a row, high school football fans across the Gulf Coast will be heading to the stadium a night early. As of Tuesday night, 18 Week 8 high school football games in the region had been moved from Friday to Thursday, Oct. 8, as schools work around the possibility of tropical weather late this week.

Friday is currently expected to carry the greatest potential for impacts across south Alabama and northwest Florida, while Thursday offers a better window to get games played. A dozen other games, mostly farther inland, remained on the Friday schedule as of Tuesday night.

Why the Games Are Moving

The schedule changes come as forecasters track Tropical Depression Nine, which formed in the southwestern Gulf on Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center said the system could become Tropical Storm Isaias early Wednesday and a hurricane on Thursday before turning toward the northern Gulf Coast. Forecasters said conditions could worsen considerably Friday afternoon or evening, with Friday night into early Saturday emerging as the main window for coastal impacts if the current forecast holds.

Forecasters have specifically advised anyone with outdoor events, high school football, travel or beach plans Friday into Saturday to prepare for significant changes. Moving games to Thursday gives teams, fans, bands and stadium workers a chance to finish the night and get home before the weather is expected to turn.

Games Moved to Thursday, Oct. 8

Class 6A

• Daphne at Foley
• Alma Bryant at Robertsdale
• Baker at Fairhope

Class 5A

• Spanish Fort at Theodore
• Saraland at Murphy
• Blount at Baldwin County
• Elberta at Gulf Shores

Class 4A

• Satsuma at Orange Beach
• Williamson at Citronelle
• B.C. Rain at Vigor

Private Single-A

• Bayside Academy at Providence Christian
• Bayshore Christian at Cottage Hill
• St. Luke’s at Mobile Christian
• Snook Christian at Northside Methodist

Private Double-A

• Glenwood at McGill-Toolen
• Montgomery Catholic at UMS-Wright
• Houston Academy at St. Michael
• Faith Academy at St. Paul’s

Games Still Scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9

The following games remained on the Friday schedule as of Tuesday night. They are subject to change as schools continue to monitor the forecast.

Class 6A

• MGM at Davidson

Class 3A

• W.S. Neal at Wilcox Central
• T.R. Miller at Escambia County
• Jackson at Flomaton
• Chickasaw at Hillcrest-Evergreen
• Excel at Opp

Class 2A

• Clarke County at Thomasville
• J.U. Blacksher at Monroe County

Class 1A

• Washington County at Fruitdale
• Choctaw County at Marengo
• Millry at Southern Choctaw
• Leroy at McIntosh

What Fans Should Know

Because the forecast is still evolving, more changes are possible before the weekend. The games remaining on Friday could still be moved, and kickoff times for the rescheduled Thursday games may differ from the usual Friday routine. Fans should confirm times and any other changes directly with the schools involved before heading out.

Anyone attending a game Thursday should also keep an eye on the weather. Thursday is expected to stay mostly dry across south Alabama and northwest Florida, with clouds gradually increasing as the storm moves north through the Gulf. Even so, a high risk of life-threatening rip currents is in effect at area beaches, and fans traveling home from games should keep up with the latest advisories from the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service in Mobile.

For the second straight week, Thursday Night Lights will take center stage across the Gulf Coast.