During football season in the South, many people’s moods for an entire week depend on the outcome of certain football games on Friday nights (and Saturdays). This week, the split in our coverage area between grumpy people and blissful people figures to be about 50-50.

Four area teams (Billingsley, Jemison, Maplesville and Marbury) won, and four (Chilton County High, Isabella, Thorsby and Verbena) lost. The winners won big, and the losers lost big, for the most part.

Jemison and Maplesville won easily and, with Isabella’s loss, are now the area’s only two unbeaten teams.

The Panthers will be challenged next week by Chelsea, while we’ll find out more about the Red Devils when they host Linden on Oct. 3.

Marbury won its first game of the season with a 42-22 decision at Beulah. The Bulldogs now have an off week before hosting B.B. Comer. A win there would give Marbury some momentum going into the second half of the season.

Billingsley (3-1 overall and in Class 1A, Region 3) handled Autaugaville to set up a key region matchup with Linden next Friday. The Bears’ first test this season was the season-opener against Maplesville. The Bears couldn’t pull that one out, and now they have another chance.

Isabella came into their game with American Christian unbeaten and fired up, but the Patriots simply proved too much.

ACA is now 2-0 against local teams with a win over Thorsby in Week 2. Maplesville can salvage our area’s pride when ACA visits the Devils in the last week of the season.

Thorsby and Verbena also found themselves outclassed Friday nights by two good teams in Fultondale and Loachapoka, respectively.

Even in a loss, the most encouraging development of Friday night might have been the fight shown by CCHS. The Tigers tried an onside kick to begin the game and were within striking distance until late in the game.

Chilton will get key players D.J. Parker, a linebacker, and Kendrick Woods, a receiver, back from injuries for Tallassee this week. Look for the Tigers to improve significantly over the second half of the season as players and first-year coach Brian Carter continue to familiarize themselves with each other and the schedule eases considerably.