Thursday

Soddy-Daisy Trojans (0-0) at Red Bank Lions (0-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Red Bank’s E.K. Slaughter (0-0); Red Bank’s Tim Daniels (114-53)

Interesting stats: Red Bank has a string of 33 regular-season wins dating back to a 6-3 loss to Austin-East in 2005. The Lions have won three straight over Soddy-Daisy, whose last win against Red Bank came in 2004, 30-7.

What to watch: How Soddy-Daisy’s offense handles Red Bank’s defense and how the Trojans’ defense handles Red Bank’s offense. It is always pivotal but new Soddy-Daisy coach Slaughter was the Lions’ offensive coordinator for three years and he and Lions defensive coordinator Kenny Cobble are best of friends. Daniels promoted Kraig Campbell into Slaughter’s old spot and Campbell is another former connection between the two schools, having worked at Soddy-Daisy when Glen Ryan was Trojans coach.

Walker Valley Mustangs (0-0) at McMinn County Cherokees (0-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Walker Valley’s Ted Lockerby (3-7); McMinn County’s Bo Cagle (7-3)

Interesting stat: Walker Valley’s most lopsided loss in 2007 came in the season opener, 30-7 against the Cherokees.

What to watch: The Cherokees are still using a spread but will look to pass more than run with first-year quarterback Cy Ables, who spent last season as a backup quarterback but also as a tight end. McMinn also had an in-staff coaching change after fall practice began and Billy Vestal moved from offense to serve as the team’s defensive coordinator. Walker Valley scored 20 points in its one quarter of jamboree action but the Mustangs are still an unknown quantity. Some think they could push for their first playoff berth as a 4-4A team but they’re in a tough region with the likes of Red Bank, Rhea County and neighboring Cleveland.

Friday

Marion County Warriors (0-0) at South Pittsburg Pirates (0-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Marion’s Troy Boeck (0-0); South Pittsburg’s Vic Grider (113-28)

Interesting stats: Marion County has had six head coaches in the past 11 seasons and the Warriors have won just one postseason game since a four-state run of state titles from 1990-1995. The Pirates have outscored the Warriors 95-19 in their last two games.

What to watch: Bad blood is long-standing in this county rivalry and it was fueled at the Sequatchie Valley jamboree and Marion would like nothing better than to best the Pirates, the defending Class 1A state champions. David Jones is expected to be the Pirates bread-and-butter guy and he’ll be butting heads with Marion standout Joe Muir.

Cleveland Blue Raiders (0-0) at Bradley Central Bears (0-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Cleveland’s Danny Wilson (81-45); Bradley’s Damon Floyd (6-14)

Interesting stat: The Blue Raiders have won seven straight over the Bears since the rivalry was renewed in 2001

What to watch: Cleveland’s top offensive performers — running back Monte Scotton and quarterback Tucker Tipton — are returning starters. Cleveland also will rely on versatile Terrell Parks and receiver Marcus Davis. It is the Blue Raiders defense – and keep an eye on sophomore linebacker Isaiah Nichols — that will be under the microscope as they try to contain Bradley running back Deonte Lindsey, a Division I prospect as a runner and as a cornerback.

Hixson Wildcats (0-0) at Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish (0-1)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Hixson’s Houston White (9-23); Notre Dame’s Charlie Wiggins (39-30)

Interesting stat: Hixson has 28 seniors.

What to watch: Both teams are rather small, but each also boasts a lot of speed. Both teams will employ variations of the spread offense — Notre Dame more with an eye on the run and Hixson probably most pass-oriented. Both like up-tempo offenses and will show a lot of no-huddle. Give the nod here to Hixson, which has Zack McCarter returning for another year at quarterback. Notre Dame, coming off a 13-10 loss to Central, like Hixson a 4A team, has four quarterback candidates and used all four in the jamboree.

Meigs County Tigers (0-0) at Boyd-Buchanan Buccaneers (1-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Meigs’ Stan Eller (41-17); Boyd-Buchanan’s Grant Reynolds (8-15)

Interesting stat: Boyd-Buchanan has a string of 10 postseasons although the Buccaneers’ last winning season was a 13-2 effort in 2004.

What to watch: The Tigers will be keeping an eye on Bucs quarterback Nic Hughes, although he missed much of the second half of the team’s 20-14 win over Christian Academy of Knoxville last week. Hughes, who last week had to take fluids intravenously, is an impact player as evidenced by more than 120 yards of offense in a jamboree quarter two weeks ago. Eller, returning to Meigs as head coach this year after several seasons as an assistant at Soddy-Daisy, Hixson and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, and his team are still overcoming the loss of quarterback Zach Rayl, who transferred to McMinn Central over the summer.

Brainerd Panthers (0-0) vs. Tyner Rams (1-0) at Finley Stadium

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Brainerd’s Marvin Jones (13-19); Tyner’s Wayne Turner (149-77)

Interesting stat: Michael Poarch, the former part-time quarterback now splitting time at running back and at receiver, is coming off a game Friday in which he scored three TDs on offense and forced one fumble and recovered two others defensively. The win was Tyner’s first season-opening shutout victory since the Rams beat Ooltewah 14-0 15 years ago.

What to watch: If he wanted to get a personal look at Brainerd, Turner could do so tonight when the Panthers finish a game at Howard that was postponed Saturday night due to a power failure. Poarch’s full-time move from quarterback was made possible due to the maturation of Brandon Scott. For those figuring Brainerd will load up on Poarch, be mindful of Rams running backs Chris Williams and Tobius Simmons. Darius Chalk and Jermaine Williams are two Panthers that Tyner will have to keep an eye on all night. Chalk is a hard-hitting linebacker and running back and Williams (6-foot-5) should start at receiver and defensive end. The Panthers were hit hard by graduation but Jones expected to start only three seniors.

Other games this week

Thursday, Aug. 28

(All kickoffs at 7:30 unless noted)

Taft Youth Center at Grace Academy

Friday, Aug. 29

TENNESSEE

(All kickoffs at 7:30 unless noted)

Cleveland at Bradley Central

East Ridge at Central

Hixson at Notre Dame

Meigs County at Boyd-Buchanan

Baylor at St. Anne's-Belfield, Va.

McCallie at Franklin, 8:30

Tellico Plains at Sweetwater

Sequatchie County at Cannon County, 8

Sequoyah at Gatlinburg-Pittman

Tellico Plains at Sweetwater

Bledsoe County at Lookout Valley

Grundy County at Whiwtell, 8

Rhea County at Cumberland County, 8

Oakland at Coffee County, 8

Franklin County at Tullahoma, 8

Riverside Christian at Silverdale Academy

GEORGIA

Northwest Whitfield at Southeast Whitfield

Sonoraville at Heritage

North Paulding at LaFayette

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe at Coosa

Gordon Lee at Ridgeland

Darlington at Chattooga

Fyffe, Ala. at Dade County

Gordon Central at Model

Trion at Armuchee

ALABAMA

Scottsboro at North Jackson, 8

Ider at Pisgah, 8

Skyline at North Sand Mountain, 8

Fort Payne at Plainview, 8

Section at Valley Head, 8

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