We are just over two months from the kickoff of the 2012 high school football season in Alabama. This year, local fans will have to prepare themselves for a few new teams being folded into regions with familiar area teams.

Cedar Bluff, Spring Garden, Gaylesville and Collinsville remain in Class 1A Region 7 but lose Gaston to Class 2A. New to Region 7 this season are Coosa Christian, Donoho and Jacksonville Christian. Valley Head and Woodville round out the nine-team region.

Expect to see the cream of the crop crank up high-octane offenses week after week. Defensively, it's going to take a good track and field team to turn the tables. The strength of the line, combined with the agility and quickness of the linebackers and the speed of the secondary is the start. The key component to coming out on top in these weekly four quarter track meets will be depth.

Here is a breakdown of the games fans should set their sights on in 2012.

Week One: There's no time wasted on formalities, as Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville open on Thursday, Aug. 30. The Tigers play host to the Trojans in a contest that could have playoff implications for both teams. A newly renovated (and flip-flopped) L.D. Bruce Field will be packed out and fireworks should be plentiful.

Week Two: Spring Garden and Gaylesville hook up in a cross-county rivalry that serves as Jason Howard's homecoming to the region he left two years ago. Don't expect Trojan head coach Brian Clowdis to roll out a “welcome back” mat for his former foe, either. Both coaches know this game will be a must-win for their teams.

Weeks Three and Four: A few months back, Spring Garden and Gaylesville journeyed to Valley Head for a spring jamboree, where the Panthers bested the Tigers 8-6. The Trojans lost to the Tigers, 18-6. Valley Head coach Rusty Higdon wants to end a four-year playoff drought, and will be aware that this two-game stretch could make or break his season. Valley Head travels to the Garden in week three, then the Trojans send their troops north into Tiger country.

Week Five: Collinsville will be the first local team to test region newcomer Donoho when the Panthers host the Falcons. Coach Shanon Felder is working off back-to-back strong seasons (8-3 in 2010, 11-2 in 2011). Last year, Donoho lost to eventual Class 1A champion Marion County, 42-21, in the third round of the state playoffs.

Week Six: Cedar Bluff doesn't lose many games at home, and hardly ever loses region games, at all. The Tigers are 68-8 in their region since 2001. However, Collinsville has claimed the last two Region 7 titles. This pivotal game needs no hype. The atmosphere at Bruce Field will be electric when these two teams hook up.

Week Seven: Lock and load. It's open season on the Panthers when Spring Garden heads over the mountain. Collinsville will have running back Forrest Livingston in their sights. Meanwhile, Spring Garden's defense will have to deal with multiple moving targets. This game may be a shootout, as both squads could be clawing for postseason opportunities.

Week Eight: Gaylesville gets a crack at the reigning Region 7 champion when coach Alan Beckett and the Collinsville Panthers rumble into Trojan territory.

Week Nine: Tiger coach Jonathan McWhorter will load up the bus for a trip to the Garden. Both he and Jason Howard hope they are playing this game to secure postseason home-field advantage.

Week Ten: With region play completed, Cedar Bluff and Sand Rock will renew a rivalry that scheduling conflicts ended after the 2009 season. That night, the Rock rolled to a 23-12 victory. With playoff scenarios virtually wrapped up there will be little other than pride on the line here. Still, it should be a heck of a game up on good old Rocky Top.

Next week we'll preview the schedules for Cherokee County, Piedmont and Sand Rock.