RED BANK LIONS (3-4, 1-3) at BRAINERD PANTHERS (2-5, 1-3)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Red Bank won 42-8 last year.
* Storyline: Two District 6-AA teams with a tradition of success have had sloppy seasons so far.
* Players to watch: Red Bank quarterback Niquia McDuffie is a fantastic athlete but prone to making big mistakes. Receiver Kelvin Clay has the size and experience to make up for some of the Lions’ mistakes. Brainerd quarterback William Hughes came through in the clutch last week and hit Joesph Derrick with the winning touchdown.
* Key question: The playoffs essentially begin for these teams, so who wants to win now and through the rest of the season?
EAGLEVILLE EAGLES (4-3) at SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (8-0)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Signal Mountain won 33-13 last year.
* Storyline: Signal Mountain is gearing up for the playoffs, and Eagles coaches would love to see a second straight game where starters could play into the fourth quarter without embarrassing the opponent.
* Players to watch: Eagleville quarterback Brian Smith has passed for 435 yards but has been picked off seven times while throwing for three TDs. Top running backs are Chris Hale (83-444) and Nathan Jernigan (70-336). Jernigan also is a key defender and has forced six fumbles so far. Signal quarterback Hogan Whitmire has thrown for 1,615 yards despite playing little more than two quarters in six of the team’s eight games. His primary receivers are Jon Patton, Will Queen, Reese Phillips and Alex McGee. Defensive leaders are linebackers Zack Bowman and Gervel Morgan, linemen Elijah Turnage, Drew Chambers and Will Sawyer and safety Caden Thomas.
* Key question: Will Signal starters play beyond the first half?
CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS (4-3, 2-2) at TYNER RAMS (5-2, 4-0)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Tyner won 20-13 last year.
* Storyline: Central was looking like a legitimate playoff contender until last week’s upset loss to Brainerd. Everybody in District 6-AA remains in the chase for a postseason berth, but Central really cut into its margin of error last week. Tyner is coming off a win over Red Bank eight days ago and moved a step closer to the district title.
* Players to watch: Because of injuries, turnovers and suspensions, Central again is using DeHart Hubbard at quarterback. DeMarcus Rogers and Robert Cobb are at running back. Linebacker Nick Timoshuck is Central’s leading defender. The Rams’ Sean Neal was forced into the quarterback position and played well subbing for injured Travis Jones, who’ll sit out again this week with a deep knee bruise.
* Key question: Will the Rams focus on this week or look ahead to a probable 6-AA championship game against Howard next week?
HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (6-1, 4-0) at HIXSON WILDCATS (2-5, 1-3)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Hixson won 16-14 last year.
* Storyline: Howard has been enjoying a list of paybacks from the 2009 season when the Tigers went 2-8. Hixson still entertains slim playoff hopes.
* Players to watch: The Tiger-bone appears to have hit full stride with running backs Evander Rollins and Eric McCullough and quarterback Thomas McCauley. The Tigers rolled up 427 rushing yards against East Hamilton last week. Hixson and running back Gary Cosey have benefited from the move of receiver Randy Boyd to quarterback.
* Key question: Can Hixson slow the Tiger-bone and stay healthy to chase a playoff berth?
SEQUOYAH CHIEFS (3-4, 2-0) at POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (6-1, 2-0)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Polk County won 31-0 last year.
* Storyline: Sequoyah played well but took a beating last week at Signal Mountain. The Chiefs will have to play better if they’re to have a chance tonight in what should be the District 5-AA championship game. Polk has strung together five straight wins since a season-opening loss to Class AAA member Bradley Central.
* Players to watch: Forrest McKane picked up 101 yards for the Chiefs last week, although the bulk of that came against Signal Mountain’s second- and third-teamers. Their other primary runner is Brandon Bell, who is quicker and more of an all-purpose player. Polk is led by senior quarterback Jared Allen, senior wingback Tyler Lee and junior running back Derrick Saxe.
* Key question: Can Polk County lock up its 10th straight playoff appearance?
OOLTEWAH OWLS (3-4, 1-2) at BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (6-2, 3-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: The Owls won 31-7 last year.
* Storyline: Bradley tries to end a six-game losing streak to the Owls and remain in line for a playoff spot. The Bears are among three one-loss District 5-AAA teams chasing leader Cleveland.
* Players to watch: Bears quarterback Bryce Copeland went over the 1,000-yard mark in passing in last week’s win, with junior receiver James Stovall his main target. Tucker Bolton leads the area in tackles for loss. Ooltewah has to open holes for its backfield tandem of quarterback Goose Manning and running back Randall Freeman. Freeman totaled 100 rushing yards and 15 tackles a week ago. Jay Rudwall had 18 tackles.
* Key question: Can the Owls createt a passing attack against a Bears defense that is stingy against the run?
RHEA COUNTY EAGLES (3-4, 3-1) at CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (4-3, 3-0)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Cleveland won 37-29 last year.
* Storyline: Rhea hopes to hand Cleveland its first District 5-AAA loss, but the Blue Raiders are 4-1 when at full strength.
* Players to watch: Rhea quarterback Cameron Tallent has spread the ball out to his receiving corps this year, led by Tim Loden. The Eagles passing game will be tested by the Cleveland defense, led by linebackers Nathan Bradford and Jesse Jones, while the Raiders offense is back at full strength for the first time in a month.
* Key question: With a lot of attention to be directed to the quarterbacks, the key will come down to the run game. Which rushing attack can have the better performance?
BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (6-1, 2-0) at GRUNDY COUNTY YELLOW JACKETS (4-3, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Bledsoe County won 49-26 last year.
* Storyline: The Warriors can clinch at least a tie for the District 7-AA regular-season title, which they won last season. The Yellow Jackets hope to create a three-way tie at the top in the loss column.
* Players to watch: Bledsoe wideout Michael Gibbons and running back Brandon Smith were injured last week. Coach Jason Reel said both are progressing, but how much, if any, they’ll play this week will be determined today. Sophomore Holden Boynton is capable of carrying the rushing load. Reel said senior Tyler Boring is ready to go at wide receiver, if needed. Grundy has discovered that freshman Hayden Holden is useful at quarterback (80 passing yards, two TD runs last week), which Destin Nunley for any skill position. Outside linebacker and running back Kevin Nolan seems to make at least one pivotal play each week.
* Key question: With the playng status of two of Bledsoe’s main skill-position players uncertain, how well can its offensive line protect quarterback Cody Holloway, as well as provide running lanes?
SOUITH PITTSBURG PIRATES (6-1, 2-1) at LOOKOUT VALLEY YELLOW JACKETS (2-5, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: South Pittsburg won 58-20 last year.
* Storyline: The Pirates can assure themselves of another playoff berth. Lookout Valley has never beaten South Pittsburg.
* Players to watch: Running behind senior linemen Cody Wordlaw, Jakoby Reynolds, Aubrey Earvin and Josh Wilson, Pirates running back Raquis Hale rushed for 251 yards last week. Receiver/kick returner Demetric “Little Man” Johnson has nine TDs in just 23 touches.
* Key question: Do the Pirates get caught looking ahead to next week’s big nondistrict game at state-ranked Polk County?
RINGGOLD TIGERS (5-1, 2-0) at DALTON CATAMOUNTS (4-2, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Dalton won 49-10 in 2007.
* Storyline: Ringgold is second to Murray County in all-time losses to Dalton, which leads the series 43-1. On a more timely scale, a loss to the Tigers puts Dalton’s playoff hopes in peril, along with its streak of 50 consecutive winning seasons.
* Players to watch: Ringgold quarterback Josh Moore has passed for 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns, but he has five interceptions. The spread attack has benefited running back Mark Fairbanks, who has 581 yards in five games, while Jerrod Cooper has four touchdowns among his 19 receptions. Linebacker Brandon Baker leads the area with 67 tackles, while freshman defensive back Slade Dale has emerged as a ballhawk. Junior running back Tre Beck is Dalton’s top offensive threat, while fullback Matt Cobb, who had three scores in last week’s win over Heritage, is a bruiser. Quarterback Trey Calfee is starting to find his rhythm in the passing game. The defensive front of Stefan Bonaparte, Floyd Coffee, Alex Blackwell and Renaldo Torres is one of the best around.
* Key question: It’s been the burning question all season for the Tigers. Can they limit drive-killing turnovers?
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (6-0, 3-0) at GORDON CENTRAL WARRIORS (4-2, 2-1)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: Calhoun won 56-14 last year.
* Storyline: If you like offense, this is the game to see. The Jackets and Warriors are ranked second and third in the state in Class AA in scoring per game.
* Players to watch: Calhoun quarterback Landon Curtis has passed for 1,003 yards and 15 touchdowns, and senior running back Dustin Christian has 431 yards and nine touchdowns despite having been limited early by injury. J.T. Palmer leads the area with 22 receptions and 352 yards. The aggressive Jackets defense is led by linebackers Alex Kirby and Hunter Knight, who have combined for 16 tackles for loss, and linemen Gus Roberts and Caden Parker. Gordon Central’s pass-first offense is led by Dre Prather, who has an area-best 1,124 passing yards, with brother D.J. and Tyshaun Clemmons his top targets. Defensive end D.J. Prather and linebackers Mann Daniel, C.J. Bell and Mike Arrivaga are the top tacklers.
* Key question: The Yellow Jackets are going to put up points. Can the Warriors match them?
LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (3-3, 1-1) at HERITAGE GENERALS (3-3, 0-2)
Tonight, 7:30
* Last meeting: LaFayette won 55-7 last year.
* Storyline: It’s all about staying in the playoff chase, with a little redemption on the side. Last year’s blowout loss was the low point of the season for the Generals.
* Players to watch: Shifty LaFayette running back Devarus Porter has emerged as northwest Georgia’s top rusher with 883 yards, and fullback Koran Dyer can burst a long run up the middle. Senior quarterback Josh Morgan needs only a few yards to break the all-time area Georgia passing yardage record. Trea and Sheldon Covington are solid two-way players. Heritage’s spread-option offense starts with quarterback Jake Sampson, who has over 800 total yards, while running back Ethan Thompson has added 350 rushing and 160 receiving. Will Crane and Billy Johnson rank among the area’s top tacklers. Kicker Dustin Lewis has seven field goals.
* Key question: Can the Generals limit Porter’s big runs?
CROSSVILLE LIONS (4-3, 2-3) at NORTH JACKSON Chiefs (7-0, 5-0)
Tonight, 8
* Last meeting: First meeting.
* Storyline: The Lions narrowly lost to ninth-ranked Fairview last week, 14-12. The Chiefs are ouscoring opponents an average of 48-9.
* Players to watch: North Jackson receivers Montel Hale and Kahne Cooper have combined for more than 900 receiving yards, and quarterback Zac Barnard had 16 touchdowns and just one interception.
* Key question: Can the Lions slow the pace enough to limit the Chiefs’ offensive touches?