Week one of high school football turned out pretty much as expected.

The Jacksonville Golden Eagles, a favorite (for once) over Weaver, proved the experts correct and in a very convincing fashion.

The big offensive line lived up to its billing as the Eagles rushed for over 400 yards in a 41-18 win.

Cordero Little, the Eagles' sophomore running back should hit everyone's Player of the Week lists as he rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

This week the Golden Eagles will travel to take on No. 5 ranked Oneonta in a regional game. Oneonta is coming off of a 34-33 win over Arab and has a very powerful offense.

It will be a good test for the Eagles.

Another great game, also in the same region, will pit Cherokee County against Alexandria.

Cherokee County had no trouble with a powerful Piedmont squad last week while Alexandria let one slip away to Anniston 14-13. It should be a very interesting night in the Valley.

College football starts up this week with some great matchups, one close to us as the Jacksonville State Gamecocks take on Georgia Tech.

Take away some turnovers last year and the outcome could have been different for the Gamecocks.

With Ryan Perrilloux benched for this game, it will be interesting to see how Marquez Ivory takes over at quarterback.

This weekend also saw two great losses. Lincoln coach Keith Howard suffered a heart attack during the Golden Bears' game with Etowah and passed away on the way to the hospital.

Howard was 48 years old and leaves behind a wife Lisa, a stepson Matt Geier, a daughter Lindsay and a team of football players who considered him not only their coach but their friend.

James Parrish, an official with the Southeast Alabama Football Officials Association, collapsed during the Eufaula-Dothan game and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Parrish had been an official for 35 years.

Our hearts go out to the families of these two great men.

It gives us pause to think of just how fragile life is.