Friday, Oct. 3

WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (2-3, 1-1) at RHEA COUNTY GOLDEN EAGLES (4-1, 2-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Walker Valley’s Ted Lockerby (5-10); Rhea County’s Jason Fitzgerald (53-33)

Interesting stats: Walker Valley has played Rhea County three times, losing each time and each of those losses coming the week after a Rhea County loss to McMinn County. Rhea has put up no less than 35 points in each of those wins, posting a 35-6 victory last year. Rhea has now lost four straight to McMinn dating back to 2000.

What to watch: Rhea running back A.J. Brown returned a kickoff 99 yards and caught a pass for another long TD in the Golden Eagles’ loss to McMinn County. Rhea’s primary running back, however, is Jacob Moffett, who had 113 yards against the Cherokees. Rhea has one of the area’s top kickers in Josh Davis. Walker Valley quarterback Houston Spencer is coming of age after shaking off an early-season ankle injury and he had a long TD pass last week to Brice Sharp in a loss to Bradley Central.

HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (5-0, 4-0) at POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (5-0, 3-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Howard’s Alvin Tarver (25-12); Polk’s Derrick Davis (63-32)

Interesting stats: Tarver is now the third-winningest coach in Howard history, passing Chubby James earlier this season. John Atkins has the most Howard coaching wins with 52, followed by current Tigers assistant Herman Coulter with 39. Both clubs entered last year’s game undefeated and Howard escaped with a 16-14 home victory. The last two games have been decided by nine total points. The Wildcats have lost two straight to the Hustlin’ Tigers since beating them 50-27 in 2005.

What to watch: Tigers quarterback Michael Bryant is dangerous as a runner and as a passer but the Tigers also have Marcus Shropshire and Eric McCullough. Polk’s Tyler Lee is the Times Free Press player of the week after a four-TD showing against Sweetwater but the Wildcats have a handful of running backs. Key to this one could come down to Polk’s defense on point-after plays because the Tigers are likely to go for two each time.

BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (2-3, 0-2) vs. McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (3-3, 1-2)

The kickoff: 7:30 at Finley Stadium

Coaches, career numbers: Baylor’s Phil Massey (75-50); McCallie’s Rick Whitt (8-8)

Interesting stats: McCallie has won 10 in a row with Baylor’s last victory come in 1997, 9-7 when Fred Hubbs was the Red Raiders’ coach. Baylor has come close more than once, 20-17 last year and 21-20 in 2004. All of Baylor’s losses this season have come to teams ranked in their respective classification’s top 10. Both teams lost in double-overtime last week, Baylor to Knox Catholic and McCallie to Ensworth.

What to watch: Baylor running back Sam Williams has been a workhorse and entered last week as the area’s leading rusher. The only other proven offensive commodity, though, is wide receiver Brett Murray. McCallie quarterback Keenon Rush has a number of options including running backs Joey Skogen, John Brock and Jay Fullam.

OAK RIDGE WILDCATS (3-2, 2-0) at McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES (2-3, 0-2)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Oak Ridge’s Stanton Stephens (91-26); McMinn’s Bo Cagle (9-6)

Interesting stats: The team’s have split their last two games with McMinn winning 31-30 when Oak Ridge visited in 2006. The Cherokees scored more points (49) in their win over Rhea last week than they had in their previous four games (41). Oak Ridge’s two losses are both non-region – to Clinton and Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett.

What to watch: Cherokees runner Delano Ellison had a three-TD night against Rhea but if they are to move the ball consistently it will be up to the direction of quarterback Cy Ables in the team’s pass-oriented spread offense. This is a typical Oak Ridge team. The Wildcats like to play power football with running backs Damarcus Rogers and Jerrell Williams. They have scored 21 or more in their wins and 13 or less in their two losses.

LOOKOUT VALLEY YELLOW JACKETS (3-2, 2-1) at GRACE ACADEMY GOLDEN EAGLES (3-2, 1-0)

The kickoff: 7:30

Coaches, career numbers: Lookout Valley’s Tony Webb (28-21); Grace’s Mark Mowery (22-21)

Interesting stats: Lookout Valley has scored no less than 49 points in its three games against Grace, winning last year 54-26. Grace quarterback Josh Blake is coming off a showing last week in which he ran for three TDs and passed for three more. Boyd-Buchanan was able to control the senior, though, and it led to an easy win. Lookout Valley’s Tayvaughn Winn is a quarterback but he had three interceptions in last week’s win over Taft Youth Center.

What to watch: Blake and Winn, for sure. The offenses are both of the spread variety, but Lookout Valley leans to the run while Grace will look to pass and then to Blake’s legs if no receivers are open. The key for Lookout Valley is to keep Blake in the pocket and gamble on its pass coverages.

The rest of the schedule

(All kickoffs at 7:30 unless noted)

Cleveland (4-1, 2-0) at Central (1-4, 0-2)

White County (1-4, 0-2) at Hixson (3-2, 1-1)

Brainerd (0-5, 0-2) at Red Bank (3-2, 2-0)

Maryville Heritage (1-4, 0-2) at Soddy-Daisy (3-1, 2-0)

McMinn Central (5-0, 3-0) at East Ridge (3-3, 1-3)

Meigs County (1-4, 1-3) at Grundy County (1-4, 0-3)

Ooltewah (3-1, 2-0) at Bradley Central (2-3, 0-2)

Wartburg (1-4) at Sweetwater (3-3)

Sequatchie County (5-1 1-0) at Tyner (4-2, 1-1)

Sequoyah (1-4, 1-2) at Tellico Plains (1-5, 1-3)

Bledsoe County (0-6, 0-2) at Boyd-Buchanan (5-0, 1-0)

Taft Youth Center at Marion County (3-2), 8

South Pittsburg (5-0, 3-0) at Whitwell (1-4, 0-1), 8

Copper Basin (1-4, 0-2) at East Literature (1-1)

Silverdale Baptist (2-1, 1-1) at David Brainerd (2-3, 0-2)

Shelbyville (2-4) at Tullahoma (3-2), 8

Cumberland County (1-3) at Warren County (2-4)

Franklin County (1-5) at Coffee County (1-5), 8

ALABAMA

Douglas (1-4) at North Jackson (4-1), 8

Ider (1-3) at Sand Rock (5-0), 8

West End at North Sand Mountain (2-3), 8

Scottsboro (3-2) at Etowah (1-4), 8

Fort Payne (5-0) at Boaz (4-2), 8

Gaston (3-2) at Valley Head (1-4), 8

GEORGIA

Dalton (5-0, 2-0) at Sequoyah (3-1, 0-1)

Cass (2-2, 0-1)at Northwest Whitfield (4-1, 2-0)

Heritage (0-5, 0-1) at LaFayette (3-2, 1-0)

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (2-3, 0-1) at Ridgeland (2-2, 0-0)

Ringgold (1-3, 0-0) at Southeast Whitfield (1-4, 0-0)

Calhoun (2-2, 0-0) at Gordon Central (3-1, 0-0)

Chattooga 3-1) at Sonoraville (4-0)

Dade County (0-4, 0-0) at Adairsville (2-2, 0-0)

Trion (2-3, 1-0) at Gordon Lee (3-1, 0-0)

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