BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (5-0, 3-0) vs. McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (2-3, 1-2)
Tonight at Finley Stadium, 7:30
Last meeting: Baylor won 24-10 last year.
Storyline: The 2009 Red Raiders ended an 11-game losing string in the series.
Players to watch: McCallie and linebacker Jarrod Coleman will be geared to stop Baylor quarterback Jacob Huesman, the city rushing leader with 847 yards in five games (169.4 ypg). McCallie running back Daniel McClure has 556 yards on 82 carries (139 ypg), and Blue Tornado quarterback Trent Lusk is coming off a 300-yard passing performance in a loss to MBA.
Key question: In a rivalry game the outcome is often decided by turnovers and special-teams play. Can Baylor make it two in a row or will McCallie make it 12 of 13?
BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (4-2, 1-1) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (4-1, 1-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Soddy-Daisy won 17-14 last year.
Storyline: Soddy-Daisy could move into sole possession of first place in the district or be tied for second with the Bears.
Players to watch: Bears fullback Dewaun Massengill leads the rushing attack, while James Stovall spearheads the receiving corps. Tucker Bolton is a beast at defensive end. Cedric Edwards has paced the Trojans offense, giving Trevor Card time to ease his way back into football after a two-year absence.
Key question: Can Bradley rise to the occasion of this key district battle?
RED BANK LIONS (3-2, 1-1) at CENTRAL POUNDERS (3-2, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: The Lions won 35-0 last year.
Storyline: The Pounders feel this is their best chance to upend the Lions since their last win in the series in 2003.
Players to watch: Red Bank tailback Randall Lee carved up Cleveland defense’s for 179 yards last week, while Niquia McDuffie continues to improve at quarterback. Central’s DeHart Hubbard leads his team offensively, while end Kevin Carter leads the defense.
Key question: Can Central recover from the suspensions of three players for a late-game brawl last week?
OOLTEWAH OWLS (2-3, 0-1) at WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (2-4, 0-2)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Ooltewah won 56-0 last year.
Storyline: Each team comes in reeling, hoping for its first district win.
Players to watch: The Owls attack starts with the legs and arm of quarterback Goose Manning. They also get help from tailback Randall Freeman. Walker Valley relies offensively on sophomore back Kelvin Wells Jr., whose 147.7 yards per game is the third best average in the area.
Key question: Can the Mustangs contain Goose and rebound from mercy-rule losses in their past two games?
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS (3-2, 2-0) at BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (5-0, 1-0)
Tonight, 8
Last meeting: Bledsoe County won 35-31 last year.
Storyline: Not that a backyard clash between Sequatchie Valley schools needs any heightening, but tonight’s winner at the midseason point will be the only District 7-AA team remaining with a perfect league record.
Players to watch: Although Sequatchie likes to run, run and run some more, moving Shawn Cooley from receiver to quarterback two weeks ago has made a big difference. The Indians have a surplus of gifted backs, including Hunter Lewis, Justis Stewart and Jerry Fain. Bledsoe favors a more balanced offensive attack directed by quarterback Cody Holloway. End Michael Gibbons is a major receiving threat, and running back Brandon Smith is a key contributor in the running and passing games.
Key question: Which team’s players will do the best job of putting aside the anticipation and zeroing in on their duties on the field?
EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (3-2, 1-1) vs. TYNER RAMS (3-2, 2-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Tyner won 27-12 last year.
Storyline: The programs have met one time since East Ridge’s last victory over the Rams in 1996 (20-19); the Pioneers coach was current McCallie athletic director Bubba Simmons.
Players to watch: The Rams don’t showcase one back but hit opponents with a talented group including Travis Jones, Dameian Suttles, Bobby Hendricks, Eric Drake and DeSean Neal; and for good measure Julian Stubbs has four carries for 105 yards. Linebacker Stefan Nelson leads the Pioneers and the area with 15 tackles per game, but East Ridge probably will be without senior Chase Steele, their go-to running back who is still hampered by ankle problems.
Key question: Can East Ridge’s defense contain the Rams’ big-play offense?
MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (2-3, 0-1) at SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (6-0, 2-0)
Tonight, 7
Last meeting: Signal Mountain won 41-26 last year.
Storyline: The Eagles are seeking their first District 6-A championship.
Players to watch: Signal Mountain is led by quarterback Hogan Whitmire, receivers Jon Patton and Will Queen and running backs Donnie Garner and Zach Bowman. Marion County coach Troy Boeck has suffered some defections, but quarterback Caden Shadrick and receivers Drew Ownby and Eric Qualls have been constants.
Key question: How long can the Warriors keep it close against the state’s second-ranked Class 2A team?
BRAINERD PANTHERS (1-4, 0-2) at HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (4-1, 2-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Brainerd won 42-14 last year.
Storyline: No matter what sport, with these District 6-AA schools it’s “Game on.” Both teams have gone through visible changes since last year. The Tigers have a new offensive scheme, the Panthers have a new head coach, and both teams had to overhaul personnel on both sides of the ball because of heavy graduation losses.
Players to watch: Brainerd’s Joseph Derrick (6-3, 210) is a useful athlete who last week moved from wide receiver to quarterback and went 8-for-13 for 93 yards and scored on a 4-yard run. Corey Wiley led the rushing with 91 yards. Howard quarterback Thomas McCauley gained 87 yards on 12 carries against Alcoa’s rugged defense last week. Evander Rollins ran for 104 yards In the victory over Red Bank the week before, when Horace Hector had three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Key question: Bragging rights for the next 364 days are important. Which team will block and tackle better and own them?
GRUNDY COUNTY YELLOW JACKETS (2-3, 0-1) at CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (2-4, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Grundy County won 42-13 last year.
Storyline: The Chargers had no victories and were averaging 11.3 points through six games in 2009, their first varsity season. They’re at 20.2 per game this season. The Yellow Jackets entered the season hoping they’d be better, too, but things like fumbling five times and losing four in their loss at Marion County on Sept. 17 can leave doubts.
Players to watch: Grundy quarterback Destin Nunley (5-8, 145) may be small but can put up big rushing numbers like his 112 yards on 18 carries that included a 43-yard scoring run last week. Kevin Nolan contributed 56 rushing yards on one side of the ball and three sacks on the other. CCS quarterback Jared Swafford threw 43 times last week. The result was 362 yards and two touchdowns. One TD was a 71-yarder to Beau Simmons, who totaled seven receptions.
Key question: CCS had a difficult time slowing Sequatchie County’s ground-oriented attack two weeks ago, and the Yellow Jackets prefer rushing the ball, too. Can the Chargers shore things up in that area well enough to allow their offense a chance to outscore the visitors?
DALTON CATAMOUNTS (3-1, 0-0) at RIDGELAND PANTHERS (3-1, 0-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Dalton won 40-36 in 2007.
Storyline: It’s a battle of the teams most people expect to earn the Region 7-AAA (A) title, but the Panthers have never beaten the Catamounts in 18 meetings.
Players to watch: Dalton’s ground-oriented attack is built around junior tailback Tre Beck, who despite an ankle injury is averaging more than 125 yards per game. Fullback Matt Cobb and running backs Chris White, Tre Bonds and Eric Banks also get carries. Defensively, the line of Floyd Coffey, Stefan Bonaparte, Beau Ridley and Alex Blackwell is a force. Ridgeland’s offense has found its groove the past two games, coinciding with the return of fullback Paul Walton and the move of Devin Bowman to receiver to pair with Deonte Marsh. QB Trey Stewart has gained confidence after going 9-for-9 with four touchdowns in a rout of Gilmer County.
Key question: Can Dalton find enough of a passing game to keep the Ridgeland defense honest?
HERITAGE GENERALS (3-1, 0-0) at RINGGOLD TIGERS (3-1, 0-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Ringgold won 49-20 last year.
Storyline: The Region 7-AAA (A) opener for both teams is a crucial one. The winner has the upper hand in landing a top-three subregion finish, while the loser will need help.
Players to watch: Heritage’s spread-option attack starts with QB Jake Sampson, whose passing has kept defenses from selling out for the run. Backs Ethan Thompson and Ketwun Burns have thrived behind a solid line led by Dylan Lowe and Luke Sims. Defensively, lineman Justin Adekoya and linebackers Will Crane and Justin Hall are the leaders. During its off week, Ringgold changed to more of a true spread attack to take advantage of the strong right arm of Josh Moore and receivers Dez Harris and Lee Cooper. Coach Robert Akins hopes spreading defenses out will benefit running back Mark Fairbanks. Linebacker Brandon Baker is averaging right at 15 tackles per game, while defensive backs Harris and Wright Hackett are ball hawks.
Key question: Can Ringgold limit the turnovers – 11 in the past two games – that have slowed its offense?
LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (2-2, 0-0) at SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD RAIDERS (1-3, 0-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last meeting: Southeast won 20-17 last year.
Storyline: Any chance of playing for a playoff berth in week 10 has to start with a win here. The loser will have to pull at least three upsets to make it.
Players to watch: LaFayette, under new coach Tab Gable, has transformed into a running team, with Davarus Porter leading the way. The speedy junior already has two 200-yard games. Senior quarterback Josh Morgan is starting to take advantage of having a running game and recently 4,000 career passing yards. The defense is paced by senior linebacker Koran Dyer and lineman Kenny Sartain. Southeast, the youngest team in Region 7-AAA (A), has experienced growing pains after a season-opening win. Quarterback Levi Sams has a big weapon in receiver David Rayborn, while senior running back Coty Burch is averaging more than 100 yards per game. Senior linebacker Mickey Guerrero leads a defense that has nine first-year starters.
Key question: Can the Raiders ramp up the passing game to complement Burch’s running?