SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (3-0) at MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (1-2)
It’s a nonregion game, but that doesn’t take away any of the passion in Tennessee high school football’s second-oldest rivalry. South Pittsburg leads the all-time series 50-40-4 and has won 11 of the past 13 meetings, including three straight. Class 1A’s Pirates have allowed just 64.7 yards of total offense per game and 1.6 yards per play this season, but they are about to face an offense that appears to be finding its footing. Led by RBs Alex Nunez, Rylee Rogers and Kilan Summers and QB Taye Hutchins, the young Warriors have rolled up 586 rushing yards in their past two games and will present more of a speed challenge than the Pirates have faced thus far. Marion’s defense gave up just 88 total yards (70 rushing) in last week’s Region 3-2A win over Polk County. South Pittsburg hopes to have all-state RB/DB Ronto Tipton back after a minor injury kept him sidelined for the first few weeks. In his absence, junior Hunter Frame and sophomore DeAndre Kelly have scored five touchdowns apiece. Junior QB Brayden Sanders has completed 79% of his passes, with 11 of his completions going to senior WR Jaylyn Hubbard (205 yards).
McMINN CENTRAL CHARGERS (1-2) at POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (0-3)
It was already a rivalry, but when Derrick Davis stepped down as coach at his alma mater last year after disagreements with Polk County administration over how to run that program and ended up at McMinn Central, it took things to a more intense level. Now Davis and his father Larry – the Chargers’ offensive coordinator whose name is on Polk’s football stadium – return to what had been their coaching home for several decades in what will be a surreal and very emotional matchup between 3A’s McMinn Central and 2A’s Polk. Both teams rely on run-heavy offenses, and the Chargers – led by LB Jace Derrick and FS Nate Austin – have held each of their past two opponents to 14 or fewer points.
TYNER RAMS (2-0) at HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (2-1)