The fuse is lit on what is shaping up to be a powder keg of a prep football season. A cross-county meeting of two state-ranked rivals kicks things off with a bang tonight when Bradley Central hosts Walker Valley in a game between teams with high hopes for deep playoff runs thanks to rosters littered with talent.
Beyond that, here is this year's list of games fans of local prep football should mark on their calendars:
Baylor's George Pettway tackles Rhea County's Noel Patterson during Thursday night's season opener for both teams in Evensville, Tenn.- Aug. 19, Rhea County at Baylor: Both reached the state semifinals of their classifications last year and open this season ranked among the top three in those classes - Rhea County is No. 2 in Class 5A, while Baylor is No. 3 in Division II. There is also no shortage of big-time returning talent for Rhea County, led by tight end Jared Edwards, who has committed to Memphis. Baylor defensive back Brendon Harris - he'll likely see action at running back and receiver as well - already has offers from Clemson, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Throw in what should be a playoff atmosphere, and this is hands-down the best place to be the opening week.
- Aug. 26, Calhoun at Dalton: Two of the most successful programs in northwest Georgia will go at it on Harmon Field at Bill Chappell Stadium. There will be plenty of offensive firepower. Each team rolls out a player who rushed for 1,000 yards last season (Calhoun's Olico Dennis and Dalton's Ahmaad Tanner), a dual-threat quarterback (Calhoun's Baylon Spector and Dalton's J.P. Tighe) and elite receivers (Calhoun's Malik Lawrence and Ryan Randall, and Dalton's Zeke Cobb and Kyric McGowan).
- Sept. 2, Dalton at Northwest Whitfield: This heated rivalry will renew after a couple years off, and there should be star power all over the field. Dalton has college prospects dotting its offensive lineup, including receivers Cobb and McGowan, while the Bruins have their own prospects in quarterback Luke Shiflett and receivers Will Blanchard and Jay Jones.
- Sept. 9, Marion County at South Pittsburg: It's the state's oldest consecutive rivalry, and likely the most heated. The teams have combined for more playoff success than any others from the area, and both are again expected to contend for state titles in their classifications. Fans will overflow from the stands onto the track surrounding the field, and the intensity on each play can be felt even for casual observers.
- Sept. 16, Ooltewah at Rhea County: These teams met twice last year, and both games were extremely close and physical. There's something about being at a game where it feels like an entire community turns out to support the home team, and Eagles fans certainly know how to create an electric atmosphere. The outcome will likely decide the region title once again.
- Sept. 23, Boyd-Buchanan at Marion County: Both teams are ranked among the top five in 2A, and this was one of the hardest-hitting, back-and-forth games played last season. In a short span, this has developed into one of the better small-school rivalries, and in what is arguably the toughest 2A region in the state, the loser will have a tough road to travel for the playoffs.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/2/15. Baylor School's Isaiah Strawter (71) puts the pressure on as McCallie School quarterback Robert Riddle (14) looks for an open receiver during the first half of play at the Red Raider's home field on October 2, 2015. - Sept. 30, Baylor at McCallie: Every prep football fan should take in at least one game in this series. The level of competitiveness extends beyond the teams and student bodies and carries over into the alumni on both sides. There also won't be another game involving two area teams with more talent on the field than this one. Combined, the teams will showcase more than a dozen college prospects.
- Oct. 7, Rhea County at Cleveland: It shapes up to be one of the biggest contrast in styles on this season's schedule. Rhea County's offense is as basic as it gets, but the problem comes in trying to stop the physical pounding for four quarters. Cleveland, meanwhile, will spread the field and try to make the game more like a track meet with an offense that features players who make up one of the state's fastest 4x100 relay teams.
Meigs County's Logan Fowler (42) hauls in a long pass in first half action as Tyner's Jadarius Paris (3) pursues.- Oct. 14, Tyner at Meigs County: The only thing that would make this game better is if Tyner boosters could set up their grill and serve the fish sandwiches they're famous for at home games. In a region that also has Boyd-Buchanan and Marion County, these teams are looking to become this year's surprise, and only the winner of this key matchup has a shot at pulling that off. Tyner coach Wayne Turner and Meigs County's Jason Fitzgerald prefer the old-school style, which means it will be four quarters of very physical football. There is also no shortage of big-play potential on both rosters.
- Oct. 21, Cleveland at Ooltewah: One thing that has remained consistent among area programs is that wherever Doug Greene is coaching, there will be a stout defense. Last year the veteran Ooltewah defensive coordinator put together one of the stingiest units the city has seen in a while. Now with a new group making up this year's defense, Greene must find a way to slow down what is potentially one of the area's most explosive offenses in a huge Region 4-5A matchup.
- Oct. 28, Notre Dame at Red Bank: You say you like watching playmakers? There will be no shortage of them in this game, led by a Fighting Irish team that has reached the 3A semifinals each of the past two seasons and just might be more loaded than ever. New Red Bank offensive coordinator Drew Akins is aggressive and has the big-play threats to make the Lions a threat in this regular-season finale that could help decide the Region 3-3A title.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.