TYNER RAMS (6-2, 5-0) at HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (7-1, 5-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Tyner won 43-12 last year.
Storyline: The District 6-AA title and a likely No. 1 seed in its Class 3A playoff quadrant await the winner of this game. Howard is the eighth-ranked 3A team and Tyner is No. 10.
Players to watch: Tyner’s Sean Neal likely moves back to receiver and running back with the full-time return of quarterback Travis Jones. Neal got knocked out of the win over Central last week, pulling Jones (bruised knee) off the bench a week sooner than head coach Wayne Turner wanted. Neal also will be back full-time in the secondary and on the return teams. Howard has its Tiger-bone option rolling thanks in part to the passing of quarterback Thomas McCauley, who threw for two touchdowns and scored on a short run last week.
Key question: Can Tyner’s defense stand up to Howard’s Tiger-bone option offense?
ENSWORTH TIGERS (5-2, 4-1) at BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (7-0, 5-0)
Tonight, 7
Last meeting: Ensworth won 29-15 last year.
Storyline: A win tonight would match Baylor’s best start since 8-0 in 1978. Ensworth has run off five consecutive wins after opening the season with losses to Oakland and Montgomery Bell Academy. Ensworth has scored at least 30 or more points in three of its last four wins but also has allowed 26 and 22 points in its last two games.
Players to watch: Tigers quarterback Andrew Parker has averaged 13 passes and 111.7 yards per game and has completed 64 percent but has just 4 TD tosses. Corn Elder is their rushing leader (108 ypg, 12 TDs), more than 400 yards better than No. 2 rusher Nantambu Fentress (295 yards, 6.4 ypc). Quarterback Jacob Huesman is the Red Raiders’ rushing and passing leader, but they also can turn to freshman George Porter. David Helton and John Tipton have been the Raiders’ most consistent defenders.
Key question: Baylor ended its regular season in 2009 with a 21-11 loss to Father Ryan, next week’s opponent. Can the 2010 Red Raiders avoid an unwanted streak?
SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (7-1) at POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (7-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Polk County won 34-28 last year.
Storyline: Both teams are tuning up for the postseason, but there are those who believe this game could produce the largest crowd ever to see a game at Larry Davis Field. Last week the Wildcats claimed their district title and the Pirates secured a playoff berth. This game will prepare both teams for the type atmosphere they will see in the playoffs.
Players to watch: The key for the Wildcats is whether they can keep Pirates running back Raquis Hale from getting around the edge, keep up with receivers Antonio Chubb and Demetric Johnson and corral quarterback Travis Millard. Polk has a veteran offense including wingback Travis Lee, quarterback Jared Allen, receiver Alex Aikens and running backs Chase Mull and Derrick Saxe.
Key question: Will tonight’s crowd cause Polk coach Derrick Davis to reconsider his free-parking mandate?
CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS (4-4, 2-3) at EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (4-4, 2-3)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: East Ridge won 10-0 last year.
Storyline: The two are surviving on thready playoff pulses at best, and each knows a loss tonight will end postseason hopes.
Players to watch: East Ridge quarterback Demetrius Bumpass has missed some easy tosses but then come up with big plays in clutch situations, including a game-winning overtime TD pass last week against East Hamilton. Running back Chase Steele still is not 100 percent recovered from an ankle injury, so coach Mike Martin will have to rely more heavily on linebacker Stefan Nelson and the rest of the Pioneers defense. Central will have to rely on linebacker Nick Timoshuck, quarterback/running back/receiver DeHart Hubbard and kick returner/running back DeMarcus Rogers if the Purple Pounders hope to break East Ridge’s current three-game win streak.
Key question: How much longer can the Pioneers disguise an offense in need of a supercharger?
CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (5-3, 4-0) at OOLTEWAH OWLS (3-5, 1-3)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Ooltewah won 28-7 last year.
Storyline: After opening with back-to-back wins, the Owls have lost four of their last five with only a win over Walker Valley among losses to Soddy-Daisy, Franklin, Rhea County and Bradley Central. Cleveland is looking to redeem a dismal 2009 season and clinch the District 5-AAA title.
Players to watch: Now that he’s back and healthy, it’s safe to say that the Blue Raiders have lived with quarterback Chad Voytik and died without him. Recovered from a mangled finger less than a month ago, Voytik has thrown for 1,151 yards and 13 TDs in seven games. His favorite targets have been B.J. Davis and Jeremy Simpson, the only Blue Raiders with double-digit catching totals. While defenses have a tendency to focus on Cleveland’s passing game, they can’t afford to overlook running back JaMarcus Mobley, a 1,000-yard rusher (149-1,094, 14 TDs). Randall Freeman, one of a handful of senior starters for first-year Owls coach Shannon Williams, has been doing the job on both sides of the ball. He’s gained 783 yards despite sitting at least a half in two different games, and he also has 72.5 tackles. Junior linebacker Jay Rudwall leads the Ooltewah defense with 100.5 tackles, including nine for loss.
Key question: Can Cleveland stifle the Owls running game – Freeman and quarterback Goose Manning – and force Manning into throwing situations?
SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (5-3) at RHEA COUNTY GOLDEN EAGLES (3-5)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Soddy-Daisy won 45-20 last year.
Storyline: Each is still hoping for a playoff berth, although they are behind Cleveland and Bradley Central in the region standings. It’s down to must-win these last two weeks.
Players to watch: Trojans quarterback Trevor Card has thrown for 624 yards and six TDs and has good receivers in Mack Quinn, A.J. Dematteo, Talon Harris and Daniel Crawley, but know that the Trojans love to run and Cedric Edwards has averaged more than 7 yards per carry in totaling 1,037 yards and 10 TDs. Rhea depends heavily on quarterback Cameron Tallent, who has thrown for 1,677 yards and 13 touchdowns, but opponents can’t overlook sophomore running back Desmond Sharp, who has 714 yards in eight games. Rhea’s defensive leaders have been Jon Jon Jenkins, Tyler Dennis, Jeremy Moffett and Michael Valencic.
Key question: Will it come down to defensive speed?
FATHER RYAN PURPLE IRISH (3-5, 1-4) at McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (3-4, 2-3)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Father Ryan won 17-12 last year.
Storyline: The Blue Tornado need a win to have a shot at finishing above .500 this season, and that could be a tall order with a game next week at Brentwood Academy.
Players to watch: Quarterback Trent Lusk didn’t have to throw much in the Tornado’s win over BGA in their last game, because the running game produced 314 yards, including 134 by Daniel McClure and 128 by Trell Gardenhire. McCallie’s defense is led by Hayden Cronan, Jalen Kellum, Jared Coleman, AJ. McMullen and Ben Johnston. Coleman has three sacks and nine lost-yardage tackles, while Johnston has returned three interceptions 85 yards and broken up four passes. Father Ryan has had five players throw a pass this season, including Christian Nicholl, who has the most pass attempts (46) and completions (22). The bulk of its offense centers on running back Prince Iworah (4.9 ypc and 86.7 ypg), Eric Rowan (7.4 ypc/24 carries) and Rafael Hopkins (6.0 ypc/25 carries).
Key question: Can the Tornado display enough offensive versatility to extend their win streak to two after breaking a four-game skid?
EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (2-6, 2-3) at RED BANK LIONS (4-4, 2-3)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Red Bank won 50-14 last year.
Storyline: Red Bank is teetering on a playoff tightrope and needs to win out against the Hurricanes and Hixson to have any hope of a postseason berth. The second-year Hurricanes already have bettered their first-year record of 1-9, but a 4-6 would allow coaches to breathe a little easier and certainly be more attractive to prospective students.
Players to watch: Since he got on the field, every defense has had trouble with East Hamilton running back Logan Jackson, but he has benefited greatly from improved offensive line play, the passing of quarterback Scott Paone and the catching of Chris Moore and Michael Johnston. The Lions have been shaky, but quarterback Niquia McDuffie has carried a major share of the load along with receiver Kelvin Clay and running back Randall Lee. The Lions’ defensive leaders are Izaiah Rutledge, who has seven lost-yardage tackles, and tackle leaders Danzal Owens and Deres Benn.
Key question: The Lions had four seasons with double-digit wins in the last six years. Can they extend their playoff streak to seven seasons?
BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (4-4) at MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (4-4)
Tonight, 8
Last meeting: Boyd-Buchanan won 21-7 last year.
Storyline: The Bucs are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since 2007, when they lost to Tyner to end the regular season and then to Smith County in the playoffs. Marion County is coming off the season’s biggest win (57-7), and coach Troy Boeck may have righted the ship since several midseason player defections.
Players to watch: Matt Zeman is the Warriors’ most consistent rushing threat and is coming off a 157-yard performance, but Taylor Harvey is sneaky fast. The Bucs have struggled offensively and need more from quarterback Clayton Parker, running backs Chase Reed and Hayden Meadows and receivers Taylor Eldridge, Andrew Tallent and John Hale.
Key question: Will the Bucs be ready or will they be looking ahead to next week’s District 5-A title game with unbeaten Copper Basin?
FAIRVIEW AGGIES (8-0, 6-0) at NORTH JACKSON CHIEFS (8-0, 6-0)
Tonight, 8
Last meeting: North Jackson won 44-21 last year.
Storyline: The seventh-ranked Aggies have never beaten the third-ranked Chiefs in 10 meetings, but this time the Region 7-4A title is on the line. North Jackson is averaging 50.3 points per game, which ranks second in Alabama among all classifications, trailing Bibb County’s 50.6 average.
Players to watch: North Jackson’s versatile Montel Hale has more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns, while running back Deuntae Johnson averages 9 yards per carry. Chiefs quarterback Zac Barnard has thrown for 1,500 yards with 18 TDs and has been intercepted just once.
Key question: Does Fairview have enough offensive firepower to keep up with the Chiefs’ quick-strike unit?
RIDGELAND PANTHERS (6-1, 3-0) at RINGGOLD TIGERS (5-2, 2-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Ridgeland won 10-7 last year.
Storyline: A Ridgeland win wraps up the subregion championship and guarantees a home playoff game. A Ringgold win would throw the race into a three-way tie.
Players to watch: The Ridgeland running game is on fire, led by Paul Walton inside, Deonte Marsh outside and speedy backups Zack Clayton and Sharik Smith. The four have combined for 1,500 yards. Defensively, Mason Harris is a game-changer, Aaron Ragsdale an inside run-stuffer and Devin Bowman is a true ballhawk. Ringgold, though running the spread, is equally dangerous on the ground behind Mark Fairbanks, who has gained 729 yards. Quarterback Josh Moore has thrown for 1,130 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Jerrod Cooper hauling in 26 passes for 484 yards. Linebacker Brandon Baker continues to lead the team in tackles with 80.
Key question: Can the Ringgold defense, which has been gutted in recent weeks, find a way to stop the Ridgeland ground game?
DALTON CATAMOUNTS (5-2, 2-1) at LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (4-3, 2-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: LaFayette won 19-16 in 2003.
Storyline: The No. 2 spot in 7-AAA (B) is up for grabs, and the winner here has the inside track.
Players to watch: Dalton junior tailback Tre Beck has run for more than 500 yards in the past two games, including a school-record 318 against Ringgold last week, when quarterback Cole Calfee had his best game of the season with two touchdown passes. The defensive line of Floyd Coffee, Stefan Bonapart, Alex Blackwell and Renaldo Torres is the area’s best. LaFayette running back Devarus Porter leads the area with 1,083 yards rushing to go with nine touchdowns, while quarterback Josh Morgan, who broke the area northwest Georgia career passing-yards record last week, has thrown for 923 yards and 11 scores. Linebacker Koran Dyer leads the defense with 85 tackles, including 18 for loss, while linebacker Trea Covington has 11 tackles for loss among his 54 stops.
Key question: Which home-run-hitting running back does the most damage?
DARLINGTON TIGERS (6-1, 4-0) at TRION BULLDOGS (6-1, 4-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Trion won 21-14 last year.
Storyline: First place and the likely Region 6-A championship are on the line.
Players to watch: Darlington’s potent offense, which is averaging 38 points per game, is led by quarterback Brad Butler, backs Collin Sheffield and Isaac Nichols and receivers Tev’n Hamilton and Ivy Duggan. Trion’s run-first attack is triggered by quarterback Hayden Tucker, who is coming off a 152-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance, and running back Cody Simpson, who rushed for three touchdowns in last week’s win over Walker. When Tucker does throw, receiver Tanner Heyer is a solid deep threat.
Key question: Can the Bulldogs become the first team to slow Butler and company?
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (7-0, 4-0) at DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES (7-0, 4-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Calhoun won 41-7 last year.
Storyline: The winner of this matchup – Dade County’s biggest game in more than a decade – will determine the Region 7-AA (B) championship even though Calhoun has outscored Dade 367-86 in games this decade.
Players to watch: Calhoun quarterback Landon Curtis has 17 touchdowns and one interception in 108 attempts this year. Running back Dustin Christian is averaging less than 100 yards per game but has scored 12 touchdowns. Receivers J.T. Palmer and Ben Lamb average more than 17 yards per catch apiece and have combined for seven touchdowns. Dade’s John Hampton has 624 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense while also making 77 tackles, forcing three fumbles and intercepting a pass. David Page and Chris Little each has 10 rushing touchdowns.
Key question: Can Dade County earn the respect, or pull off the upset, it’s been seeking since its seniors were doodling in coloring books?