Mike Bowman doesn’t have to step up every week and the Ridgeland receiver often sees headlines go to teammate Terryl Freeman, the Panthers’ outstanding running back.

But Carrollton, Friday’s opponent, opted to fill the box and try covering Bowman with man-to-man coverage, and he made them pay. Bowman earned Times Free Press player of the week honors by pulling in six catches for 211 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Panthers’ 28-12 win.

“In my career when you run into players like Mike you have to change your defensive scheme to stop him,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said of his Alabama-committed senior.

Eighth-ranked Carrollton, which decided to try and contain Freeman, allowed Mariakis to show off the multiplicity of his offense.

“Mike, oh my gosh, a playmaker,” Mariakis said of the 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver. “He wants the ball and every time he touches it he can make something happen. He was a big-time player in a big-time game making big-time plays.”

Bowman stepped in Friday to return punts also, but he is almost as valuable as a decoy.

“Mike does more for us than just catch the ball, get yardage and score. As people adjust their schemes to him and double-team him, they take people out of the box, which opens holes for Freeman,” said Mariakis, who was in Atlanta to scout a game between Atlanta Carver and McNair.

His Panthers will play the winner of that game on Friday and whoever it is will see a versatile offense.

“I think fans saw both sides of our offense. The offense has been explosive and the offensive staff does a great job of putting the ball in our playmakers’ hands,” he said. “I think, though, that our fans saw two great sides of our offense. We can have that quick 80-yard TD pass or run and we also have the capability of taking 12 plays and seven minutes to go 80 yards. We can do that when with an offensive line that gets the job done although they are often outsized.”

The win gave Ridgeland its first region championship.

“It was the biggest football win in the school’s history, a great night for the program and the community,” Mariakis said.

High school football honor roll

* Boyd-Buchanan: Ben Beasley averaged 8.6 yards per carry, rushing 13 times for 112 yards, and scored a touchdown in the Buccaneers’ 30-7 win over Donelson Christian Academy.

* Cleveland: Terrell Parks, subbing for injured quarterback Tucker Tipton, threw an 87-yard TD pass to Jamial King as the Blue Raiders jumped ahead of defending state champion Maryville before falling 35-12.

* Dade County: Michael Freeman had four touchdowns, returning an interception for one score and rushing for three more while picking up 194 yards as Dade posted a 40-21 win over Temple.

* Grace Academy: Stepping in for injured quarterback Josh Blake, Matt Ruebush completed nine of 12 passes for for 98 yards and a touchdown in the Golden Eagles’ 27-15 loss to Watertown.

* Howard: Michael Bryant completed 17 of 22 passes for 170 yards including a 34-yard TD pass to Jahron Reynolds, in the Tigers 34-20 loss to Sycamore.

* Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe: LaGreg Burns had two TD runs and picked up 131 rushing yards but the Warriors fell to Cedartown 34-19.

* Lookout Valley: Tayvaughn Wynn scored two TDs and rushed for 217 yards in the Yellow Jackets’ 35-14 loss to Friendship Christian.

* Marion County: Nick Wells rushed for 83 yard including a pivotal 51-yard score in the third period as the Warriors bested York Institute 21-12.

* McCallie: Keenon Rush picked up 102 yards and a TD on 16 carries in the Blue Tornado’s 34-17 loss to unbeaten Ensworth.

* McMinn Central: Zach Rayl rushed for 95 yards and a TD and passed for 79 in the Chargers’ 28-14 loss to DeKalb County.

* McMinn County: Dellano Ellison scored two touchdowns, the second on a 60-yard return of a free kick late in the fourth quarter as the Cherokees upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett 28-24.

* North Jackson: A.J. Matthews had two touchdowns and 109 rushing yards on eight carries as the Chiefs defeated East Lawrence 56-26.

* Ooltewah: Brady Reed completed 6 of 11 passes for 124 yards but had two key TD tosses – to Sammy Seamster and Jaquez Smith – as the Owls bolted to a 28-0 halftime lead en route to a 38-12 win over Campbell County.

* Polk County: Jared Allen threw for 140 yards and a TD – to Marcus Taylor – but the Wildcats fell to Station Camp 14-7.

* Red Bank: Tim Dews scored a pair of touchdowns but the Lions fell in three overtimes to Knox West 31-24.

* Rhea County: Jacob Moffett ran for two touchdowns and 76 yards and caught five passes for 97 yards and another score as the Golden Eagles outlasted Clinton 41-21.

* Ridgeland: Mike Bowman had six catches for 211 yards and two TDs as the Panthers defeated Carrollton 28-12.

* Ringgold: Martez Eastland was held out of the end zone but picked up 108 yards on 17 carries in the Tigers’ 30-14 loss to Cartersville.

* Soddy-Daisy: Quarterback Scott Parrott completed 19 of 25 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns as the Trojans rallied past Knox Bearden 30-21.

* South Pittsburg: David Jones scored three touchdowns, rushing 14 times for 125 yards as the Pirates scored three third-quarter TDs on their way to a 41-6 win over Clay County.

* Tyner: Brandon Scott threw a pair of touchdown passes and finished with 118 yards on eight of nine completions but the Rams came up a point shy in a 21-20 loss to Westmoreland.