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Friday Sept. 5

BRAINERD PANTHERS (0-2) at CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (1-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Brainerd’s Marvin Jones (13-21); Cleveland’s Danny Wilson (82-45)

Interesting stats: Brainerd’s season opening losses to Howard and Tyner mark the first time since 2004 the Panthers have lost to both in the same season. Three of the last four Brainerd-Cleveland games have been decided by a total of six points. Cleveland won by a single point in 2004 and 2006 and won by four in 2005. Brainerd won a year ago by 18. Three of Cleveland’s first four scores in a 45-20 win over Bradley Central last week covered 25 or more yards — a 46-yard run by quarterback Tucker Tipton, a 74-yard pass from Tipton to Marcus Davis and a 25-yard pass from Tipton to Terrell Parks. Despite the scoring onslaught, Cleveland had only 10 more yards of total offense than Bradley. Brainerd is averaging 13 points per game while allowing 37.5.

What to watch: Cleveland has an array of offensive talent — running back Monte Scotton and newcomer receiver Jamial King to go with the aforementioned Tipton, Parks and Davis. Panthers quarterback Anthony Broom is a first-year starter, but the Panthers are relying on him heavily.

HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (1-0) at NOTRE DAME FIGHTIN’ IRISH (0-2)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Howard’s Alvin Tarver (21-12); Notre Dame’s Charlie Wiggins (39-31)

Interesting stats: Howard had an open date last Friday, which was a plus because the Tigers’ game from the previous Friday was completed last Monday after the power went out during their Aug. 23 game versus Brainerd. The Tigers beat Brainerd 31-20 after building a 27-0 lead. Notre Dame has lost to close ones to open the year, falling to Central in its season opener on a field goal in the final two minutes and to Hixson (15-10) on Friday on a late fourth-quarter field goal.

What to watch: Wiggins has favored a two-quarterback system for the last several seasons and he is unlikely to abandon it, but if a team has a quarterback that can run and pass — such as Hixson’s Zach McCarter — that team could make it rough on the Irish. Knowing Howard’s offensive philosophy — run first and pass if you have to — Notre Dame’s defense could make it rough on the Tigers, who are among the Region 3-3A favorites. Howard running back Eric McCullough came up just six yards shy of the 100-yard plateau in the Tigers’ win over Brainerd.

McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES (1-0) at OOLTEWAH OWLS (1-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: McMinn’s Bo Cagle (8-3); Ooltewah’s Benny Monroe (240-61)

Interesting stats: McMinn had a better record last year but 7-3 wasn’t enough to get the Cherokees into the playoffs — because of a 21-14 loss to Ooltewah, which eased into fourth place in Region 2-5A’s final week standings. Ooltewah had an open date Friday while McMinn was extended in a 17-7 win over Walker Valley.

What to watch: While their ends provided good preseason hype, Owls defensive tackle Que Jackson had a sack, four lost-yardage tackles, two fumbles caused and two fumble recoveries. Also, Owls running back Matthew Polk had a big night in his teams’ 38-0 win over Whites Creek, rushing for 134 yards and three TDs and catching a pass for another 13 yards. McMinn quarterback Cy Ables, who was to help the Cherokees usher in the passing version of the spread offense, threw for a TD but also ran for one and finished as their leading rusher with 68 yards on 12 carries. It will be interesting to see how McMinn attacks the Owls’ stingy and strong defense.

POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (1-0) at EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (2-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Polk County’s Derrick Davis (58-32); East Ridge’s Mike Martin (31-15)

Interesting stats: East Ridge has back-to-back wins to open a season for the first time since 2001 in Tim James’ first year as head coach. The Pioneers wound up with a 10-win season that year. Polk has started with two straight wins in each of the past five seasons. East Ridge has yet to beat the Wildcats in Region 3-3A, which both clubs joined four years ago.

What to watch: Same story as Week 1 for East Ridge when it beat Lookout Valley. However, the names changed. Gunner Miller ran for 151 yards and Adam Long had a TD reception, while Donnie Garner returned a punt 50 yards for one score and rushed for another. The week before, the primary players were receiver Austin Roden and running back C.J. Jones with big offensive nights. It gives Polk’s Davis a lot to digest. The Wildcats will have had two weeks to prepare for this one and it’s a sure bet that Davis or one of his representatives was in the stands on Friday when East Ridge beat Central. Polk has a pretty good stable of runnings backs too. The Wildcats used nine in a season-opening win at Bledsoe County.

McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (1-1) at BRENTWOOD ACADEMY EAGLES (1-1)

The kickoff: 8

Coaches, career numbers: McCallie’s Rick Whitt (6-6); Brentwood’s Ralph Potter (109-53)

Interesting stats: McCallie was up 28-10 through three quarters and wound up giving up 26 fourth-quarter points in a 36-35 loss at Franklin. Potter was the coach the last time McCallie beat Brentwood (28-21 in 2006). Two games into the season, McCallie is averaging 35 points per game.

What to watch: Quarterback Keenon Rush is picking his moments to pass and McCallie has that luxury this year with running backs Joey Skogen and Jay Fullam carrying the brunt of the offensive load. Joe Ayres had 2.5 sacks last week while Fullam had a 98-yard kickoff return.

BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (2-0) at MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (0-1)

The kickoff: 8

Coaches, career numbers: Boyd-Buchanan’s Grant Reynolds (10-15); Marion’s Troy Boeck (0-1)

Interesting stats: He is supposed to be one of the area’s top quarterbacks but Nic Hughes has completed just nine of 22 passes for 97 yards with three interceptions and no TDs. He had more passing yardage in a single jamboree quarter, but then the Bucs have spent a lot of time in practice working on their running game. It showed in Friday’s win over Meigs County as Taylor Gilley ran for 161 yards and Ben Beasley another 94. The Bucs wound up with 360 rushing yards in the 35-7 win. Marion County lost its county rivalry in lopsided fashion to South Pittsburg, whose defenders limited Warriors runner Joe Muir to 65 yards, 59 of which he got in one run. Marion’s other score came on a 10-yard run by Nick Wells.

What to watch: The Bucs had their spotty defensive moments against Meigs runner Gary Shoot, and if Muir, who is bigger and probably quicker than Shoot, gets off early he could give Boyd-Buchanan a problem. That is if Marion’s defense can keep Hughes, Gilley and Beasley off the field. Boyd keeps coming up with key plays from seniors, and last Friday it was receiver Taylor Shull who came up with a nasty block on freshman Chase Reed’s 87-yard scoring run.

GRACE ACADEMY GOLDEN EAGLES (1-1) at SILVERDALE BAPTIST SEAHAWKS (2-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Grace’s Mark Mowery (20-20); Silverdale’s John Allen (55-35)

Interesting stats: Silverdale is scoring 44 points per game and Grace averages 31.5, so this one figures to be a scoring marathon. Silverdale is still looking for its first win over Grace. The closest the Seahawks have come was a nine-point loss in 2005. The Seahawks advanced to the playoffs for the first time last year while Grace has made it the past two seasons.

What to watch: First-year Silverdale quarterback Scott Paone has completed 11 passes, and seven of them have gone for touchdowns. The quarterback to watch Friday, though, is Grace’s Josh Blake, who threw five TD passes in the Golden Eagles’ Thursday win over Taft Youth Center.

The rest of the schedule

(All kickoffs at 7:30 unless noted)

Hixson at Rhea County

White County at Walker Valley

Grundy County at Tellico Plains

Meigs County at McMinn Central

Oak Ridge at Bradley Central

Red Bank at Central

Soddy-Daisy at William Blount

Sweetwater at Rockwood

Bledsoe County at Tyner

East Literature at Sequatchie County, 8

Copper Basin at South Pittsburg, 8

Lookout Valley at David Brainerd

MBA at Baylor

Tullahoma at Whites Creek, 8

Warren County at Franklin County, 8

Lincoln County at Cumberland County, 8

Coffee County at Cookeville, 8

GEORGIA

Dalton at Sprayberry

Northwest Whitfield at Hiram

Murray County at Osborne

Gordon Central at Heritage

LaFayette at Trion

Gordon Lee at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe

Ridgeland at Calhoun

Ringgold at Murphy, N.C.

Southeast Whitfield at Model

Chattooga at Altoona

Jackson County at Sonoraville

ALABAMA

North Jackson at Priceville, 8

Westbrook Christian at Ider, 8

Sand Rock at North Sand Mountain, 8

Arab at Scottsboro, 8

Etowah at Fort Payne, 8

Skyline at Valley Head, 8

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