Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Walker County’s Ethan West (65) and Skyler Mullins (60) prepare to block for quarterback Tucker Pope during the Mustangs’ Sept. 4 game at Rhea County.RHEA COUNTY GOLDEN EAGLES (7-0, 2-0) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (3-4, 1-0)
Soddy-Daisy has won the past two Region 4-5A championships and helped lock last year’s title down with a 14-7 victory at Rhea County in which Hayden Maynor had 22 tackles and 205 total yards of offense. Coach Mark Pemberton’s team has had an extra week of practice to prepare for the Trojans this time after taking a COVID-19 forfeit victory over Red Bank. Jayden Goodwin helped a struggling offense get going two weeks ago in a win over Ooltewah with a diving reception on a deep throw to the end zone, and senior Dalton Hampton helped close out the win with a breakaway run. The Golden Eagles have a standout LB duo with Austin Brackett (four sacks) and Drew Fisher (61 tackles, six for loss), while Jadden Pankey has five of Rhea’s 13 interceptions this season. Soddy-Daisy QB Isaac Barnes was on the money last week in the first half against Signal Mountain, connecting with Landon Maynor and Logan Ricketts for big plays. The Trojans will look to defensive stars Jonah Gipson and Landon Lewis to make big stops against Rhea’s steady wing-T attack.
WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (4-2) at EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (6-1)
This nonregion matchup will feature two of the top QBs in the area. Tucker Pope has accounted for 22 touchdowns (14 passing, eight rushing) for the Class 5A Mustangs, and the East Hamilton secondary will be challenged by sure-handed speedster Brody Swafford, who has 582 receiving yards and eight touchdown grabs this year. Class 4A’s fifth-ranked Hurricanes have outscored the opposition by an average of 41-14 in 2019, and Haynes Eller has completed 83 of 129 passes for 1,170 yards, 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions in six starts. Playmakers abound for coach Grant Reynolds, including junior Jeremiah Flemmons, who has scored a total of eight touchdowns in the past three games. Walker Valley’s defense will be challenged in big ways trying to stop an attack that also features its own talented playmakers, including bruising RB Juandrick Bullard and standout WRs Kaunyae Burgans and Blaine Savage.
McMINN COUNTY CHEROKESS (7-0, 2-0) at CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (3-4, 1-1)