Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has been honored seven times by the California Prep Sportswriters Assn. for best prep sports column.

High school football games continued throughout the state of Alabama Sep. 19-21 and there was plenty of great action taking place. The No. 1 team in the Yellowhammer State remains Central-Phenix City followed by the Saraland Spartans and Thompson.

6. Vista Ridge (3-1) lost at 5A No. 3 Columbine, 42-7: The Wolves ran into a 5A buzzsaw in their first loss of the season. The defending 5A champions kept Vista Ridge out of the end zone until the fourth quarter, long after Columbine’s ground-and-pound attack put the game away. Next week: vs. No. 4 Pueblo West, 7 p.m. Sept. 27.