SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (6-1) at POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (4-2)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: First meeting.
This time: Polk County is noted for its physical approach to the game and its stingy defense, but Signal has shown an ability to make opponents choose their poison — run or pass. While Polk’s Wildcats had an open date last week, Signal was rolling up its best scoring output of the year in a 59-18 win over Notre Dame. Polk is used to facing teams from the higher ranks, losing to Bradley Central to open the season but throttling Walker Valley 32-6 on Sept. 23. The Wildcats have lost one regular-season home game since the start of the 2008 season, that being to Bradley to open the 2010 campaign. Signal’s only loss this year was on the road.
Time to shine: The Eagles will be without receiver Will Queen (broken hand) but his replacement, C.J. Johnson, had three catches for 119 yards against Notre Dame last week. Also expected to be unavailable is fullback/linebacker Tim McClendon, whose eligibility is being investigated by the TSSAA. Polk quarterback Alex Akins hasn’t thrown that often but has completed 60 percent of his passes with just one interception. The senior also runs pretty well and has teamed with runner Derrick Saxe to keep the offense moving. The biggest area of concern for Polk has to be Signal’s overall team speed with the likes of running backs Andrew Price and Zack Bowman, defensive back Chris Abernathy and receiver Jon Patton. Akins and Zach Miller lead Polk’s defense.
EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (2-4, 2-1) at HIXSON WILDCATS (3-3, 1-2)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: East Hamilton won 31-13.
This time: East Hamilton had high hopes of a showdown championship trio the last three weeks of the season with games against Tyner, Red Bank and Howard, but after committing seven turnovers and losing against East Ridge the Hurricanes are in what coach Ted Gatewood called a make-or-break game. They were in full pads Monday afternoon. The season also hinges on this game for the Wildcats, who have lost three in a row after starting 3-0.
Time to shine: The Hurricanes have shelved their two-quarterback system and elected to go with sophomore Hunter Moore, who’ll be in the backfield with leading rusher Logan Jackson. Hixson continues to rely on quarterback Justin Mathieson and to a lesser extent, due to nagging injuries, running back Clarencio Holmes, but backs are getting scarce for coach Houston White, who is without Chris Cunningham and Quinton Russell because of injuries. Both are backfield and linebacker backups.
EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (2-4, 1-2) at HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (0-5, 0-3)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Howard won 31-7.
This time: East Hamilton exposed some chinks in the Pioneers’ defensive armor that Howard may try to exploit. East Ridge has made the playoffs the last three years, but that streak will be in jeopardy with another district loss. No one expected the Tigers to be winless at this point in the season, but they have dealt with acclimation to new coach Michael Calloway and some injuries to key personnel. East Ridge is 1-4 against Howard the last five seasons, but the one win came two years ago at Howard.
Time to shine: Eric McCurdy has taken over sole possession of the Pioneers’ quarterback role with Demetrius Bumpass shifting to receiver. The Pioneers will have to account for Hustlin’ Tigers receiver JerMichael Hardy, who had two TD receptions last week. Howard continues to use two QBs — Tevan Jackson and Terrance Brooks.
BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (4-2, 2-0) at OOLTEWAH OWLS (5-2, 2-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Bradley won 28-12 last season.
This time: The Bears’ high-powered offense will get a chance to battle Ooltewah’s speed on defense.
Time to shine: Bradley quarterback Bryce Copeland has done a good job of distributing the ball to his backs and receivers, but he also is second on the team in rushing. James Stovall and Justin Houston are his primary targets, with Houston also being a threat in the backfield. Ooltewah’s Philip McClain is a threat both returning kicks and in the backfield, while T.J. Warren and Matt Sealor will be asked to do more with the status uncertain of Mikhail Creech, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Soddy-Daisy.
CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (3-3, 1-1) at McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES (4-2, 3-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Cleveland won 29-22 last year.
This time: Two teams with a long history against one another will face each other with district-title implications. In a traditional tight battle, Cleveland quarterback Chad Voytik scored in the final minute to provide the difference in the 2010 game.
Time to shine: Cleveland has won three straight games since going to more of a pro-style attack, which has been paced by the emergence of C.J. Bryant at the tailback position. Voytik is a threat both throwing and running at quarterback, while the defense, led by Henry McClendon, has been tough all season. McMinn quarterback Nathan Simbeck has a myriad of athletes around him, most notably Cedric Nevins and Dorian Simpson.
FRANKLIN COUNTY REBELS (2-4) at SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (5-1)
Tonight, 8
Last time: First meeting.
This time: The Rebels, who compete in Class 6A, have lost to three state-ranked opponents, including 4A’s top-ranked Greeneville and 5A’s seventh-ranked Tullahoma in a one-point game last week. South Pittsburg welcomes back senior receiver/safety Michael Allen and senior offensive lineman D.J. Roberson, who have been out with injuries. However, receivers Antonio Chubb and Demetric “Little Man” Johnson are still out with injuries.
Time to shine: Rebels running back Koleton Nunley is rated in the top five among Nashville-area rushers with 898 yards and 10 touchdowns. Franklin County is a run-oriented wing-T team, and that bruising style has given South Pittsburg fits recently. After setting a school rushing record with 366 yards last week, Pirates sophomore Jajuan Lankford now leads the area with 1,107 yards. He also is the area’s scoring leader, and junior quarterback Jake Stone has yet to throw an interception in 77 attempts. Stone has thrown for 789 yards.
WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (0-6, 0-2) at SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (2-4, 1-2)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Soddy-Daisy won 41-13 last year.
This time: The Mustangs are down to four chances chasing that elusive first victory. Not that it can’t be done then, but their remaining road games are against two of District 5-AAA’s top three teams in the standings in Bradley Central (2-0) and Ooltewah (2-1). The Trojans still have a shot at an overall winning record, but it’s time to get busy.
Time to shine: Both teams rely heavily on their starting tailbacks in moving the ball. For Walker Valley that’s Kelvin Wells Jr. Aiden Flock is reliable as far as kickers go, but the kicking game doesn’t come into play when games are decided by more than seven points, like four of the Mustangs’ losses. Soddy-Daisy’s Cedric Edwards, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards for last year’s state-playoff team, has yet to reach 1,000 this season but could with a little more than 200 tonight. Zach Keller is the Trojans’ receiving-yards leader but has yet to register a TD catch.
HERITAGE GENERALS (4-1, 0-1) at DALTON CATAMOUNTS (3-2, 1-0)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Dalton won 49-6 last year.
This time: Last year’s rout was the Generals’ worst showing of the season as the Catamounts ran at will. The Dalton game plan will be the same tonight and Heritage, which gave up 274 yards on the ground to Ringgold last week, will have to improve against the run. The Generals also have to put last week’s one-point overtime loss behind them or a shot at the playoffs will become long.
Time to shine: Heritage relies on a physical run game keyed by linemen Luke Sims (6-2, 260) and Justin Adekyoa (6-5, 275), quarterback Jake Sampson (6-1, 230) and running back Ethan Thompson (5-10, 210). However, unless Sampson (2-for-8 against Ringgold) can make the Catamounts respect the pass, the running lanes will be few. Dalton hasn’t missed beat offensively without injured star tailback Tre Beck, who is expected back before the end of the regular season. Senior Tre Bonds (5-10, 175) had 249 yards and three touchdowns last week against Ridgeland in the Cats’ veer-based offense, which also has perked up in the passing game with quarterback Cole Calfee (5-10, 175) in recent weeks.
LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (4-1, 1-0) at RIDGELAND PANTHERS (1-4, 0-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Ridgeland won 41-14 last year.
This time: This Walker County rivalry has been all Ridgeland in recent years, including last year’s beatdown at LaFayette, the Ramblers’ worst loss of the season. Circumtances this time around, however, are a bit different coming in. LaFayette comes in on a four-game winning streak, averaging over 40 points per game, while Ridgeland has lost three of its four games by seven points or less.
Time to shine: The Ramblers have put up big numbers despite having star tailback Devarus Porter (5-8, 160) and athlete Jarrod Beamon (5-9, 170) out for several games with injury. Porter returned against Southeast Whitfield last week and put up 219 yards and three touchdowns. Split end Demarcus Simpson (5-7, 150) is a weapon on the outside and is averaging 34.6 yards per catch. Beamon should return tonight to give the Ramblers another weapon. The Panthers changed things up against Dalton and nearly pulled off a surprise. Darrell Bridges (6-foot, 205) switched from quarterback to running back and all-round athlete Vonn Bell (6-1, 180) was more of a focal point on offense. Expect those two to get the ball even more tonight.
LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE WARRIORS (2-4, 2-1) at DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES (3-2, 1-1)
Tonight, 7:30
Last time: Dade County won 42-0 last year.
This time: Few would have thought this game would be meaningful two weeks ago, but the Warriors have suddenly come alive with two consecutive Region 7B-AA wins and are in the thick of the playoff race. The Wolverines rebounded nicely after a heartbreaking overtime loss to Gordon Central with a big win over North Murray. Each team still controls its own destiny.
Time to shine: The Warriors cut down on turnovers in their wins and have ridden a big ground game featuring northwest Georgia’s leading rusher, Bubba Cruz (5-10, 200, 795 yards), and running mate Pooh Harden, to their newfound success. The defense, led by linebacker Nate Long (5-9, 200) and end Levi Scudgins (6-1, 210) had its best showing of the season in last week’s 7-0 win over Chattooga. Dade isn’t nearly as physical as it was last year, but there are several playmakers on offense, including running back David Page (6-0, 190, 8.2 yards per carry), fullback Rodney Cannon (5-10, 180) and quarterback Travis Nunley. Eliminating turnovers is a major goal of coach Bradley Warren this week.