CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (5-3, 3-1) at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (7-1, 5-0)
Storyline: There’s a trap here, no pun intended, but Irish coach Charles Fant may have sniffed it out. There will be no overconfident Notre Dame players when CCS comes calling. The Irish know what’s at stake – the outright Division II-AA East Region championship. They and the Chargers are aware of the schools’ burgeoning rivalry. Both pride themselves on a physical brand of football, CCS with power-running Mondo Ellison behind a two-tight-end line and the Irish often slipping from their Air Raid into a Mustang package featuring fleet ATH Cameron Wynn.
RED BANK LIONS (6-3) at LENOIR CITY PANTHERS (5-3)
Storyline: This is a nonregion game for Class 3A’s Red Bank against a team from two classifications up, and Lenoir City has wins this season against Soddy-Daisy and Walker Valley, who have victories over the Lions this year. Red Bank, of course, can rely on RB Zay Brown and versatile ATH Calvin Jackson, along with QB Madox Wilkey. The key could be the Lions’ OL play and the determination of the DL. Red Bank’s secondary will have to be on its toes to account for Tyler Dutton, who often moves from the backfield to a slot, and Hunter Blue, who also lines up there.
BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (3-5, 1-3) at FATHER RYAN FIGHTING IRISH (3-5, 0-4)