The rest of the schedule:TENNESSEEBledsoe County (7-4) at Cumberland County (4-6), 8Brainerd (3-7) at Ooltewah (4-6)Copper Basin (10-2) at Whitwell (1-9), 8Franklin County (5-5) at Howard (8-3)Gordon Lee (4-6) at Silverdale Baptist (2-8)Marion County (5-6) at Grundy County (6-5), 8McMinn Central (0-10) at McMinn County (2-8)Notre Dame (1-9) at Grace Academy (3-7)Polk County (10-2) at Bradley Central (9-3)Upperman (1-9) at Meigs County (2-8)York Institute at Sequatchie County (8-4), 8GEORGIASonoraville (3-6) at Darlington (10-2)
Soddy-Daisy (7-5) at Baylor 10-2)
• The kickoff: 7:30
• Coaches, career numbers: Soddy-Daisy's Kevin Orr (11-11), Baylor's Phil Massey (95-59).
• Interesting stats/facts: The teams haven't played since 2000, a 31-6 Baylor win. However, Soddy-Daisy won the year before under then coach Glen Ryan, 17-11. The last two seasons the Trojans opened with upper east Tennessee power Science Hill and lost each by a field goal. Their last win to open a year was in 2008 when first-year coach E.K. Slaughter scripted a 33-22 win over Red Bank. Baylor has won 11 straight openers over such teams as Franklin Road Academy, St. Anne's Academy, Central, Hixson, Cleveland and Rhea County. Rhea was the last team to nix the Red Raiders' opening-game plans, 33-27 in 1999. Baylor went winless that season.
• What to watch: There could be some good scraps up front all night long. Baylor has a fairly veteran offensive line but the Trojans also are fairly experienced on both sides of the ball at the line of scrimmage including tackle Alex Seeley (6-6, 280). If Talon Harris is able to play, the senior wide receiver will give the Trojans a deep threat to balance the running of talented Cedric Edwards, who ran for more than 2,000 yards last year. Harris, a baseball player extraordinaire, reportedly has a shoulder injury that may keep him out a couple of weeks. Baylor linebacker Colton Jumper looks to be a quick hammer at linebacker.
Chattanooga Christian (4-6) at Boyd-Buchanan (9-5)
• The kickoff: 7:30
• Coaches, career numbers: CCS' Barry Loyal (5-15), Boyd-Buchanan's Grant Reynolds (28-25).
• Interesting stats/facts: The Chargers just missed their first playoff appearance last year, falling in the final minutes of their last regular season game to 7-AA runner-up Bledsoe County.
• What to watch: Senior receiver Beau Simmons had a nice leaping grab for a TD in the jamboree at Finley Stadium Saturday night but it should be expected. The 6-3, 200-pound senior was among the area's leading pass-catchers a year ago. That said, Boyd-Buchanan intercepted Cleveland quarterback Chad Voytik twice in a 20-minute quarter with a running clock at the jamboree. Big question here is whether CCS' defense can stand up to the incessant pounding the Bucs' running game brings.
Cleveland (6-5) at Alcoa (15-0)
• The kickoff: 7:30
• Coaches, career numbers: Cleveland's E.K. Slaughter (17-17), Alcoa's Gary Rankin (323-60).
• Interesting stats/facts: For those somehow unfamiliar with Alcoa, the school has won 12 state titles including seven in a row with No. 7 in the streak coming last year. Cleveland enters its third season under Slaughter, whom the Blue Raiders wooed away from Soddy-Daisy. He's 2-1 overall in openers including a 47-6 win over McMinn Central a year ago.
• What to watch: All eyes are on going to be on Cleveland quarterback Chad Voytik, who has committed to Pittsburg. While a lot of folks have been impressed with his arm, he turned some heads at the weekend jamboree with his running. He also showed some toughness with a jolting tackle. Alcoa, they say, is rebuilding. Does that mean they need a quarterback who can fling it up for those receivers to go get or a quarterback to hand off to running backs with Internet connection-like speed?
East Hamilton (2-8) at Signal Mountain (14-0)
• The kickoff: 7:30
• Coaches, career numbers: East Hamilton's Ted Gatewood (48-61), Signal's Bill Price (137-95).
• Interesting stats/facts: Since they went to varsity competition two years ago, the Eagles are 24-2 with a (Class 2A) state championship trophy already in the sports hardware case. The Eagles are moving up from 2A to play the regular season in Class 3A and the postseason in Class 4A. East Hamilton has an influx of talented sophomores who last year played on an unbeaten freshman team. Signal has won the schools' openers 48-10 and 49-0. This game represents the Hurricanes' 21st consecutive on the road.
• What to watch: East Hamilton running back Logan Jackson has decent size (6-1, 195), good balance and finds the holes very well. Signal is replacing a pair of linebackers but one of those replacements figures to be transfer Tim McClendon, who looks the part at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds. It will be interesting to see whether he spends more time on defense or at fullback. While rookie quarterback Reese Phillips has been gaining notoriety rather quickly, he'll be the first to acknowledge veteran receivers Jon Patton and Will Queen, who had 80-plus catches between them a year ago. And don't forget about returning running backs Andrew Price and Zach Bowman.
East Ridge (4-7) at Walker Valley (2-8)
• The kickoff: 7:30
• Coaches, career numbers: East Ridge's Mike Martin (46-31), Walker Valley's Ted Lockerby (12-29).
• Interesting stats/facts: The Pioneers went through a very demanding off-season program; to improve, yes, but also to find out which players were likely to see the season through to the final whistle. It's been six years since Walker Valley won a season opener, the last one coming in 2004 when then coach Scott Webb directed a 23-8 win over Loudon. In its opener last year, Walker Valley lost to Knox Bearden 72-27. The Mustangs have had one winning season in the last six years, that coming in 2008, when they went 6-5 in Lockerby's second season. East Ridge has won three straight season openers including a 40-14 victory over Silverdale Baptist last year.
• What to watch: Both teams are very much run-oriented so this might be one of the night's quickest games. East Ridge's line is young and both teams' offensive lines looked a little soft at the jamboree. It will be interesting to see if the Mustangs can come close to matching the Pioneers step for step and stride for stride, but that could be a challenge for every team East Ridge plays this year.