By Bart Moss / For the FCT

Football season is about eight weeks away, and with the changes that resulted in reclassification, now is a good time to revisit the new regions and new schedules.

The Franklin County Times’ annual football season preview magazine will be published in mid-August with team information, coach and player quotes and much more, but Franklin football fans can get a head start on the excited by marking their calendars now.

The big movers were Tharptown and Phil Campbell. The Wildcats will make the leap from 1A to 2A. The Bobcats will move from 2A to 3A.

All other teams stayed in the same classes, but their regions changed – most significantly Russellville. All regions and schedules – other than home and away – will be in effect for two years.

Here are the new regions:

• 5A, Region 7: Russellville, Corner, Dora, Hamilton, Hayden, Jasper, Lawrence County and West Point.
• 3A, Region 8: Phil Campbell, Clements, Colbert Heights, East Lawrence, Lauderdale County, Lexington and Westminster Christian.
• 2A, Region 7: Red Bay, Tharptown, Addison, Colbert County, Hatton, Sheffield and Tanner.
• 1A, Region 8: Vina, Cherokee, Hackleburg, Mars Hill, Phillips, Shoals Christian and Waterloo.

Here are this year’s schedules for each team:

Phil Campbell Bobcats

Aug. 24 – OPEN

Aug. 31 – Red Bay

Sept. 7 – at Lexington

Sept. 14 – at Clements

Sept. 21 – Vina (HC)

Sept. 28 – at Phillips

Oct. 5 – Westminister Christian

Oct. 12 – Lauderdale County

Oct. 19 – at East Lawrence

Oct. 26 – Colbert Heights

Nov. 1 – at Hackleburg

Red Bay Tigers

Aug. 24 – Colbert Heights

Aug. 31 – at Phil Campbell

Sept. 7 – at Hatton

Sept. 14 – at Addison

Sept. 21 – at Belmont

Sept. 28 – OPEN

Oct. 5 – Sheffield

Oct. 12 – Colbert County

Oct. 19 – at Tanner

Oct. 26 – Tharptown (HC)

Nov. 2 – Wilson

Russellville Golden Tigers

Aug. 24 – East Limestone (Preseason)

Aug. 31 – Deshler

Sept. 7 – at Corner

Sept. 14 – Hayden

Sept. 21 – at West Point

Sept. 28 – at Haleyville

Oct. 5 – Lawrence County

Oct. 12 – Hamilton

Oct. 19 – at Jasper

Oct. 26 – Dora

Nov. 2 – at Central

Tharptown Wildcats

Aug. 24 – Shoals Christian

Aug. 31 – OPEN

Sept. 7 – at Sheffield

Sept. 14 – Colbert County

Sept. 21 – Tanner

Sept. 28 – Brilliant (HC)

Oct. 5 – OPEN

Oct. 12 – at Hatton

Oct. 19 – Addison

Oct. 26 – at Red Bay

Nov. 2 – at Vina

Vina Red Devils

Aug. 24 – Marion County

Aug. 31 – at Brilliant

Sept. 7 – Phillips

Sept. 14 – at Cherokee

Sept. 21 – at Phil Campbell

Sept. 28 – OPEN

Oct. 5 – Mars Hill

Oct. 12 – at Waterloo

Oct. 19 – Shoals Christian (HC)

Oct. 26 – at Hackleburg

Nov. 2 – Tharptown

Of course, football isn’t the only fall team sport. Three schools in Franklin County have volleyball programs. Here are their new areas:

1A, Area 14: Belgreen, Covenant Christian, Hackleburg and Phillips.

2A, Area 13: Tharptown, Addison, Sulligent and Winston County.

5A, Area 14: Russellville, Hamilton, Lawrence County and West Point.