(All games kick off at 7:30 unless noted)
Baylor (3-2, 1-2) vs. McCallie (2-2, 1-1) at Finley Stadium
An early peek: McCallie has run its option offense with precision and finally has pulled back to .500 with back-to-back wins over Tyner and Father Ryan. Baylor has lost two in a row and is in jeopardy of its first three-game losing streak since 2008, and that was four straight losses including 24-3 to McCallie. That was the Blue Tornado's most recent win in the series.
Red Bank (1-3) at Cleveland (3-2)
An early peek: This one lost some of its luster after the Lions' 36-35 loss to Hixson and the Blue Raiders' surprisingly easy 56-28 win over previously unbeaten Walker Valley. Still, it is a homecoming of sorts for Red Bank coach E.K. Slaughter, who spent three years coaching the Blue Raiders. He was replaced by Ron Crawford. Slaughter knows the Cleveland personnel quite well but has his own concerns in keeping a floundering ship from sinking. The loss to the Wildcats was a big blow -- the Lions led 35-15 through three quarters -- and the fourth-quarter collapse did nothing for an already fragile team psyche.
Signal Mountain (2-3) at South Pittsburg (4-0), 8
An early peek: These are two serious rivals striving for returns to the state playoffs, but one has to wonder if Signal, now a Class 4A school, is on the verge of outgrowing what has been a good rivalry. Obviously the teams have traveled different paths to get to this point. South Pitt's Pirates have enjoyed strolls in the park while Signal struggled early last week before getting its second win five games. South Pittsburg has the decided speed advantage, especially in the backfield with Demetric Johnson and Jajuan Lankford, and Signal has the better passing game. The big question for the Eagles, and they'll surely get their answer Friday, is how much their offensive line, linebackers and defensive secondary have matured with five games now under their belts.
Friday, September 21
FOOTBALL
(All kickoffs at 7:30 unless noted)
Austin-East (0-5) at Brainerd (0-4)
Blackman (3-2) at Bradley Central (2-2)
Bledsoe County (1-3) at McMinn Central (2-3)
Central (0-4) at Soddy-Daisy (2-2)
Donelson Christian (2-2) at Boyd-Buchanan (5-0)
East Ridge (0-4) at Ooltewah (2-3)
Fulton (3-1) at Rhea County (1-4)
Greater Atlanta Christian (3-1) at Howard (1-3)
Hixson (3-1) at DeKalb County (5-0), 8
Marion County (3-2) at Sequatchie County (2-3), 8
Notre Dame (3-1) at Lookout Valley (4-1)
Polk County (4-1) at Walker Valley (3-1)
Silverdale Baptist (4-1) at Whitwell (1-4), 8
Tellico Plains (1-4) at Meigs County (0-5)
Tullahoma (3-2) at Tyner (3-1), 8
GEORGIA
Dalton (1-1) at Gilmer County (1-3)
Pickens County (1-1) at Heritage (0-3)
LaFayette (0-2) at River Ridge (0-3)
Cedartown (3-0) at Ridgeland (1-1)
Cass (2-1) at Northwest Whitfield (2-0)
Coahulla Creek (1-2) at Sonoraville (1-2)
Adairsville (1-2-1) at Lakeview-F.O. (3-0)
Ringgold (2-1) at Gordon Central (3-0)
Cartersville (3-0) at North Murray (2-1)
Model (1-2) at Chattooga (0-3)
Calhoun (3-0) at Dade County (1-2)
Murray County (0-3) at Armuchee (0-3)
Christian Heritage (1-1) at Fellowship Christian (1-2)
SW Atlanta Christian (0-3) at Gordon Lee (2-1)
Trion (2-0) at Mount Paran Christian (0-3)
ALABAMA
Boaz (3-0, 2-0) at Scottsboro (0-3, 0-2), 8
Ider (3-0, 2-0) at Fyffe (3-0, 2-0), 8
North Jackson (1-2, 1-1) at DAR(1-2, 1-1), 8
North Sand Mountain (3-0, 2-0) at Gaston (0-4), 8