EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (6-0, 2-0) at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (4-2, 2-0)
Storyline: Both teams are ranked, the Irish at No. 6 and the Pioneers at No. 8, in the latest 3A state poll. Notre Dame RB/S Ricky Ballard was named player of the week after a 3-TD, 246-yard offensive showing in the 57-46 victory at Calhoun City, Miss. The unbeaten Pioneers have been led of late by junior RB Traneil Moore, who has 820 yards and 11 rushing TDs through six games. This is the best start for East Ridge since 2001.
McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (2-3, 1-1) at BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (5-1, 1-1)
Storyline: Both teams should be rested coming in since McCallie was idle last week and Baylor might as well have been, rolling past Brainerd 38-8. There is only one common opponent, Red Bank, and it’s very tough to tell much by that since both teams claimed easy wins. One Blue Tornado loss was by five points in a game shortened to one half by thunderstorms, and the other two were one-possession decisions to state-ranked foes that came down to the final moments. McCallie recently made a move that is expected to strengthen its defense, inserting JaVaughn Craig, one of the top overall athletes in the area, at free safety. While that move brings better speed to the defensive side, it also opens the door for junior Robert Riddle, considered a college prospect, to take over at QB. Although not as fleet of foot, Riddle has one game of 300-plus passing yards this year. Baylor’s defense, led by LB Ryan Parker, will be tested, but the Red Raiders offense is equally dangerous, led by shifty RB Adrian Harris and QB Wil Austin. McCallie won last year’s game by 26, snapping a streak of six straight wins by Baylor.
OOLTEWAH OWLS (4-1, 1-0) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (4-1, 2-0)
Storyline: It’s a battle of the last two teams unbeaten in Region 4-5A – the strongest defensive team (Ooltewah, 5.2 papg) vs. one of the strongest offensively (Soddy-Daisy, 40.4 ppg). The Owls are on a four-game win streak while the Trojans are coming off their first loss (28-26 at East Hamilton). In that game, Trojans QB Justin Cooke had 305 passing yards. The Owls’ defense is led by Jeremiah Jackson, averaging more than 10 tackles per game, Tyler Reid and A.J. Diggs. Ooltewah had an open date last week.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (0-6, 0-2) at RED BANK LIONS (2-4, 1-1)
Storyline: The Eagles were down by just a couple at Cleveland before the wheels fell off with a couple of minutes left in the first half. They introduced freshman Drew Lowry as starting QB, but Tom Vatter still is available. Red Bank also introduced a new player for 2015 in Will Davis, who returned a kickoff for a TD and also had a long punt return. The teams have met the past two years, and Signal won both by rather lopsided scores.
MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS (3-2, 1-1) at BRAINERD PANTHERS (0-5, 0-2)
Storyline: Brainerd has had a tough path to open the season. Its opponents to date have a combined record of 24-4 and two, East Ridge and Boyd-Buchanan, remain unbeaten. Meigs has been competitive in four of its five games with the one gaping hole coming in a 49-15 loss to Marion County. Meigs is tied with Tyner for fourth in Region 3-2A, while Brainerd is in the cellar with Polk County. Led by Tyler Lawson, Logan Fowler and Riley Wilburn, Meigs is averaging 22.6 points per game.
POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (0-5, 0-2) at SILVERDALE BAPTIST SEAHAWKS (3-2, 0-2)
Storyline: Polk’s losing streak has reached 16 games dating back to a 2013 second-round playoff loss to Notre Dame. The Wildcats have had trouble scoring, averaging just 7.6 points per game while getting shut out in one and getting just a safety in another. The Seahawks, the least populous school in Region 3-2A, have been led by Hunter Arnold (four rushing TDs, one receiving TD and one interception return for a TD) and RBs Josiah Cannon and Hayden Spencer. They’ve averaged 27 points per game while allowing eight.
BEARDEN BULLDOGS (3-3, 1-2) at BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (4-1, 1-1)
Storyline: The Bulldogs started off strong, winning their first two games by 50-7 and 30-0. They have lost three of their last four, though, including to Region 1-6A opponents Hardin Valley and Maryville. There have been no common opponents yet. Bearden QB Cam Jones is a capable passer and had a 280-yard, four-TD passing night a couple of weeks ago. Each of the TD tosses went to a different receiver. The leading defenders are Cam Miller, Nate Adkins, Spencer Jefferies and Christian Foster. Those defenders will have their hands full with Bears QB Cole Copeland, who has passed for 931 yards and 10 TDs and has rushed for 417 yards and six scores.
BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (5-0, 3-0) at BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (3-2, 2-0)
Storyline: The Bucs are off to their best start since the 2012 team was 8-0 on the way to a 12-2 finish. The school has had four seasons of 10 wins or more in coach Grant Reynolds’ nine seasons entering this year. Bledsoe, in its first season under Josh Owensby, lost 21-0 to Sequatchie County but also won by a shutout, 34-0 over Whitwell, and had a near miss in a 35-2 win at Polk County. This will be only the second home game of the season for the Warriors. The Bucs have been a good road team, scoring 89 points in two games.
TYNER RAMS (3-2, 1-1) at MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (5-1, 2-1), 8
Storyline: Bryce Massengale will step into the role of starting quarterback for the Warriors. It’s a spot where he’s comfortable. Massengale led Marion County to the Class AA state championship game last season and allows coach Ricky Ross to maintain the same game plan. The base of that plan is solid play at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and the play of Cory Tucker. Tyner has been hit by the injury bug but still has enough talent to scare Ross.
HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (1-5, 0-2) at CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (3-2, 1-1)
Storyline: The Chargers took a week off and used the time to refresh fundamental skills such as blocking and tackling after beating Signal Mountain 24-7. The Tigers earned their first win last week at Lancaster Christian 27-20 and scored more points against the Knights than they had scored in the previous five games combined, which included three shutouts. DE Anthony Cal had a big game in Smyrna, as did QB Vincent Bowling.
WHITWELL TIGERS (2-3, 0-1) at GRACE ACADEMY GOLDEN EAGLES (3-2, 3-0)
Storyline: Whitwell is a little bigger and stronger on the line of scrimmage than the Golden Eagles, but that’s nothing new to Grace Academy. Coach Bob Ateca is banking on RB Jimmy Green as well as FS Dalton Morrison, who will be playing with a broken hand. His services will be needed to slow the Tigers’ running attack.
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE LIONS (3-2, 0-0) at TRION BULLDOGS (4-1, 1-0)
Storyline: This game a year ago – a 3-0 Christian Heritage overtime win – was likely the deciding factor in the Lions making the playoffs and the Bulldogs sitting home, so there’s plenty on the line. Both teams are ranked in their respective Georgia top 10s, and each is coming off an impressive win. Christian Heritage had all its offensive diversity on display in a 27-20 win over Mount Pisgah Christian, with QB Tyson Cooper amassing 197 total yards, RB Ahmaad Tanner rushing for 117 yards and three scores and WR Seth Hutchison hauling in seven catches for 80 yards. Trion, in a 61-0 win over King’s Ridge, once again proved its passing game can be lethal. QB Jarrett Gill threw only four passes but completed three for 164 yards and two scores. The deep Bulldogs also spread it around, with backs Malik Martin, Gabe Howell, DeVonya Farmer and Jarrett Pierce all heavily involved, which could be a key against the numbers-challenged Lions. Both defenses will be put on alert to stop big plays.
CARTERSVILLE PURPLE HURRICANES (4-0, 1-0) at HERITAGE GENERALS (3-1, 1-0)
Storyline: A rather odd choice for a homecoming opponent, top-ranked Cartersville rolls into Sims Field hitting on all cylinders. Super soph QB Trevor Lawrence already has 990 yards and 12 touchdowns – including four a week ago – and RB Tiamon Pennymon, TE Miller Forristall and WR Terrius Callahan give the ‘Canes more than enough weapons. It’s the team’s defense, though, where the real strength lies. The unit already has forced 13 turnovers. Heritage is coming off a must-win at Southeast Whitfield and will try to test the Cartersville perimeter with a strong short passing game featuring QB Corbee Wilson, receivers Luke Grant and Trent Kiniry and RB Khayahl Hood. If the Generals’ offensive line can keep the pressure off Wilson, the offense might be able to put together a few time-consuming drives.
RIDGELAND PANTHERS (1-3, 0-1) at GILMER BOBCATS (1-3, 0-1)
Storyline: The big story here is the return of Ridgeland coach Wesley Tankersley to Ellijay, where he led a revival of the Bobcats’ program. He brings a Ridgeland team to town that appears to be snakebit. The Panthers’ three losses have all been by a touchdown, and each came down to a play or two. In last week’s 17-10 loss to Pickens County, an apparent Cadarius Word tying touchdown run was ruled short on fourth down late in the game. To win tonight, Tankersley says his team needs to stop making critical mistakes and finish drives. He knows the Gilmer personnel, which means he expects a big dose of RB Russell Cochran (515 yards) and WR Thaddeus Bowers (19 receptions, 234 yards). He’ll also hope to harass freshman QB David Smith, who has started the past two games in place of injured starter Tyler Buntin.
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (5-0, 3-0) at ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS (4-0, 2-0)
Storyline: The Region 6-AAA championship is likely on the line tonight. Calhoun is coming off its most complete game in a rout of Ringgold and is starting to get some of its injured players back. Most notably, RB Olico Dennis appears close to 100 percent and is averaging an eye-popping 13.4 yards per carry behind one of the state’s most physical lines. QB Kaelan Riley, who has right at 1,000 total yards, likely will have to loosen up an Adairsville defense built to stop the run. The Jackets’ defense will key on RB Sidnee Johnson, but QB Roger Redd has a trio of big-play receivers in Torrey Hale, Jayson Cantrell and Marquel Lane. The Tigers are proficient on trick plays, something the Calhoun secondary will have to watch for.
DALTON CATAMOUNTS (3-2, 1-1) vs. CREEKVIEW GRIZZLIES (3-2, 2-0) at Etowah
Storyline: Dalton rebounded nicely from a lackluster effort against Cass with a huge win over Sequoyah to re-establish itself as a contender in wide-open Region 7A-AAAAA. The offense is still trying to find its way and has just 775 yards rushing as defenses stack the line to force a team completing just 48 percent of its passes to take to the air. One bright spot has been RB Drake McCowan, who’s averaging 8.8 yards per carry, and he could be busy tonight. The Catamounts’ defense is well-stocked to face the pass-happy Grizzlies. QB Kyle Wilkie has 980 yards passing and a pair of receivers in Brian Davis and Trevor Kolb who have combined for 700 yards. Dalton secondary ballhawks Jordon McKinney and Maddux Houghton, who have six interceptions between them, will be busy.