CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (6-3, 5-0) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (5-4, 3-2)
Tonight: 7:30
* Last meeting: Soddy-Daisy won 42-21 last year.
* Storyline: Cleveland has wrapped up the District 3-AAA title and hopes to go undefeated in the league, but this is coach E.K. Slaughter’s first official trip back to Soddy-Daisy since he left the Trojans following the 2008 season.
* Players to watch: Cleveland’s offense starts with quarterback Chad Voytik, but also watch for ex-Trojan JaMarcus Mobley, a 1,000-yard rusher in just eight games, and receivers B.J. Davis and Jeremy Simpson, another former Trojan. The Raiders defenders must have run-stop first on their minds because the Trojans’ Cedric Edwards has run for 1,470 yards and 15 TDs. Soddy-Daisy junior Jack Ables has recorded 18 lost-yardage hits.
* Key question: Will the Internet mudslinging that has occupied some fans spill over onto the playing field?
EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (2-7, 2-4) at CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS (5-4, 3-3)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Central won 36-0 last year.
* Storyline: Pressure is on the Pounders because they haven’t assured a postseason spot and they also could host a first-round game. East Hamilton has lost three games in a row and five of its last six.
* Players to watch: Hurricanes quarterback Scott Paone is sidelined with his second concussion of the year, so coach Ted Gatewood must move Chris Moore, one of his top receivers, back to quarterback. From tackle Josh Tisdale to middle linebacker Nick Timoshuk to safety Vonn Bell, the defensive unit has been Central’s strength all season.
* Key question: Can the Pounders handle the must-win pressure and the Hurricanes’ offensive pounding?
HIXSON WILDCATS (2-7, 1-5) at RED BANK LIONS (5-4, 3-3)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Red Bank won 42-14 last year.
* Storyline: Red Bank is in a position unique to the program in recent years by entering Week 10 of the regular season and still battling to get into the playoffs. Hixson is capable of pulling off an upset as the Wildcats proved two weeks ago in a solid thumping of East Ridge.
* Players to watch: Hixson coach Houston White will have a few twists for the Lions involving quarterback Randy Boyd and running backs Clarencio Holmes and Gary Cosey. Red Bank junior Niquia McDuffie has matured as a quarterback and senior Kelvin Clay all but carried the Lions in their win last week over East Hamilton. Hixson blockers will have to contend with Danzal Owens, Deres Benn and Izaiah Rutledge, the Lions’ leading tacklers.
* Key question: Will the Lions extend their consecutive playoff appearances to seven seasons?
HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (7-2, 5-1) at EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (4-5, 2-4)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: East Ridge won 20-18 last year.
* Storyline: Howard is in the playoffs, but its Tiger-bone option offense took a serious jolt when quarterback Thomas McCauley broke an ankle two weeks ago. The Tigers will get no sympathy from still postseason hopeful East Ridge, which has had a series of injuries to key personnel since the preseason.
* Players to watch: Howard running backs Evander Rollins and Eric McCullough along with McCauley replacement Darion Roshell. If ever the Pioneers needed a big game from junior quarterback Demetrius Bumpass, it’s tonight. He has had a tendency to misfire at times on the easier passes and yet make the pressure plays. If he has an active arm, it will take some of Howard’s eyes off running back Chase Steele.
* Key question: Have the Tigers been able to get enough reps for Roshell to make him an effective trigger man?
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (4-5, 1-2) at BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (6-3, 2-1)
Tonight, 8
* Last meeting: Bledsoe County won 63-34 last year.
* Storyline: Both teams are in must-win situations, CCS to get in the playoffs and Bledsoe to win the district and enhance its playoff image.
* Players to watch: Bledsoe has multiple threats including quarterback Cody Holloway (123-223-7, 1,589 yards, 24 TDs) and running backs Brandon Smith (102.1 yards per game) and Holden Boynton (7.2 average on 71 carries). CCS quarterbacks Jared Swafford and Levi Corbett have thrown for more than 2,000 yards, led by Swafford’s 1,172. The primary target has been Beau Simmons (61 catches/983 yards). Trae Terry leads the CCS defense with 69 tackles.
* Key question: Can the CCS defense handle the pressure?
BRAINERD PANTHERS (3-6, 2-4) vs. TYNER RAMS (7-2, 6-0)
Tonight, 7:30 at Finley Stadium
* Last meeting: Tyner won 21-7 last year.
* Storyline: Last week the Rams clinched their first district championship since 2007, while the Panthers were getting their third win of the season. This is more of a neighborhood brawl than just a football game, and Tyner, which beat Howard last week, can lock up that mythical “inner-city” championship with a win.
* Players to watch: The return of quarterback Travis Jones enhances the Rams offense because of its increased versatility with Sean Neal freed to line up at wide receiver, running back or quarterback. Also, Tevin Cowan and Chandler Patrick are among the area’s top lost-yardage tackle leaders and Cowan has 10 sacks. They will make it tough on Panthers quarterback William Hughes, who handles the option pretty well but also should surpass the 1,000-yard passing mark this week.
* Key question: Will the Rams shoot for their best record since 10-3 in 2005, or will they rest on their championship laurels?
BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (7-1, 5-0) at FATHER RYAN PURPLE IRISH (4-5, 2-4)
Tonight, 8
* Last meeting: Father Ryan won 21-11 last year.
* Storyline: Baylor will be the No. 2 seed in postseason unless Ensworth loses to BGA. Father Ryan, with a win over the Red Raiders, could move from seventh to fifth seed and get a first-round playoff game at home. Baylor will have a first-round bye and will host the winner of No. 7 in the East vs. No. 3 in the West, which could be McCallie or Briarcrest.
* Players to watch: Baylor’s Jacob Huesman, who committed Sunday to father and UT-Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman, is a solid Mr. Football candidate and freshman runner George Porter is no longer running like a freshman. Defensive leaders continue to be David Helton and John Mackey, although each has also seen increased offensive time recently at tight end and fullback respectively.
* Key question: Will Massey rest dinged up starters or hold out starters if they get a ding tonight since there is no real advantage to winning?
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (9-0, 3-0) at WHITWELL TIGERS (1-8, 0-3)
Tonight, 7
* Last meeting: Signal Mountain won 46-0 last year.
* Storyline: In only its second varsity season, Signal is looking for an unbeaten regular season. The Eagles are currently the top-ranked Class 2A team in the TSSAA’s team playoff standings. Whitwell is hoping to avoid its second single-win season in the last three years.
* Players to watch: Eagles reserves are likely to lodge as much playing time as starters, but in the first half keep your eyes peeled for quarterback Hogan Whitmire, running backs Donnie Garner, Darian Hogans, Andrew Price and Zack Bowman and receivers Jon Patton, Will Queen, Alex McGhee and Reese Phillips. None of the running backs – coach Bill Price has used at least 15 this season – has more than 44 carries. The defense has been anchored by linebackers Bowman and Gervell Morgan and lineman Elijah Turnage.
* Key question: Is mercy in Price’s vocabulary, and if so how quickly will Signal reserves get on the field?
SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (7-2) at GRACE ACADEMY GOLDEN EAGLES (3-6)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: South Pittsburg won 53-0 last year.
* Storyline: The Pirates are looking to rebound and regain some confidence after last week’s lopsided loss at Polk County. With several key players out because of injury, South Pittsburg’s reserves need to play well to help end the regular season on a high note.
* Players to watch: Pirates running back Raquis Hale has gained more than 100 yards in every game this season, and receivers Antonio Chubb and Demetric “Little Man” Johnson also are dangerous kick and punt returners.
* Key question: Have the Pirates recovered psychologically after one of the worst beatings in recent memory?
SCOTTSBORO WILDCATS (1-8) at NORTH JACKSON CHIEFS (9-0)
Tonight, 8
* Last meeting: North Jackson won 47-24 last year.
* Storyline: The Chiefs moved up to No. 2 in Alabama’s latest Class 4A state rankings and have won the last six games in this cross-county rivalry.
* Players to watch: North Jackson’s Montel Hale has more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns, and quarterback Zac Barnard has thrown for 1,661 yards with 19 TDs and just two interceptions. Running back Deuntae Johnson needs just 60 rushing yards to surpass 1,000 this season.
* Key question: Will the Chiefs get caught looking ahead to next week’s playoffs?
RINGGOLD TIGERS (5-3, 2-2) at LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (4-4, 2-2)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Ringgold won 14-0 last year.
* Storyline: It’s playoff elimination time and the winner will play for a postseason berth next week. The loser will have to wait till next year.
* Players to watch: The Tigers were dealt a huge blow when quarterback Josh Moore was lost for the season with a knee injury in practice last week. Freshman Slade Dale has stepped in, but the spread attack has had to be cut back, which means more work for running back Mark Fairbanks, who is closing in on 1,000 yards. LaFayette played one of its best games in last week’s loss to Dalton, though running back Devarus Porter, who has 1,100 yards, was held in check. Quarterback Josh Morgan was sharp. He’ll get a chance to shine tonight against a Ringgold defense that has struggled in recent weeks.
* Key question: Can the Ringgold offense, shut out last week against Ridgeland, find some life with a new quarterback?
CHATTOOGA INDIANS (4-4, 4-1) at DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES (7-1, 4-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Chattooga won 20-14 last year.
* Storyline: Both teams will play for a postseason berth next week, but seeding is on the line tonight. The winner will get the second spot in subregion B and will play the third seed from subregion A next week; the loser will be the third seed and will face the No. 2 seed from A.
* Players to watch: The Indians have found a star in quarterback Nathan Schuster, who proved he can dominate a game last week when he passed for 350 yards and added 121 rushing in an exciting win over Gordon Central. He has solid targets in Aquil Hall, Bradley Black and Destry Scholtz. Dade has a three-pronged rushing attack led by fullback John Hampton and wingbacks David Page and Chris Little and will have a huge edge up front in 300-pound linemen Nick Lawson and Randy Holt.
* Key question: Which style of offense will prove most effective, Chattooga’s pass-first spread or Dade’s old-school wing-T?
TRION BULLDOGS (6-2, 4-1) at GORDON LEE TROJANS (3-5, 1-4)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Trion won 7-6 last year.
* Storyline: This is by far each team’s most anticipated game of each season. As poorly as the Trojans played most of last season, they nearly dealt the Bulldogs a playoff death blow and would love to knock them down a notch this year.
* Players to watch: The availability of senior quarterback Hayden Tucker won’t be known until game time. He injured his ankle early in last week’s loss to Darlington, and though he tried to return, the injury forced him back to the bench. If he’s out, the ground game led by Cody Simpson, Austin McGraw and Cory Bethune will be key. Gordon Lee’s spread attack is led by quarterback Ryan Chastain, who has passed for 500 yards, while Klay Durham is the rushing leader. The defense has keyed a recent surge in play, led by linemen Randall Smith and Blake Reynolds.
* Key question: Can Trion overcome both the loss of its quarterback and the defeat to Darlington and hold off the Trojans?