CENTRAL POUNDERS (0-2, 0-0) at LIVINGSTON ACADEMY WILDCATS (0-2, 0-0)
Storyline: For new Central coach Gary Bloodsaw and his Pounders, tonight represents the first game in a new region (3-4A) and a new region opponent. Central has been using several offensive sets, from wishbone to veer, but needs to focus on what will serve it best against the Wildcats, who went three games into the 2014 playoffs. Livingston’s first playoff victory a year ago was against Central, 42-7, so the Pounders are familiar at least with the style of their opponent and likely some of the personnel.
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (2-0, 0-0) at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (1-1, 0-0)
Storyline: In its home opener, ranked Notre Dame has to be smarting following a six-point loss last week to Tyner, and the Irish can ill afford to look past the upstart Chargers to next week’s rivalry game at Knoxville Catholic. The Irish have won three straight in this series, outscoring CCS 137-27. However, CCS won two of three before that. Just like the last two seasons, the Chargers enter this game unbeaten. CCS used its passing game to beat Brainerd but leaned on the running game last week against Lookout Valley.
SEQUOYAH CHIEFS (2-0, 0-0) at EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (1-1, 0-0)
Storyline: Sequoyah struggled to a 1-3 district finish a year ago after getting into the playoffs in 2013. The Chiefs have an FBS-committed player in WR Derrion Rakestraw, who has agreed to accept a scholarship from Colorado. Sequoyah’s two wins have been somewhat lopsided, but both of their opponents to date are winless. East Hamilton is coming off a disappointing loss to Cleveland, and while the Hurricanes seemed to establish a running game, their passing game was somewhat off target.
OOLTEWAH OWLS (1-1) at ASHEVILLE ERWIN WARRIORS (1-1)
Storyline: The Owls rebounded from a scoring drought to open the season with a 46-point spree at Signal Mountain behind QB London Elrod, RB Rashaun Freeman, WR Cameron Turner and LB Jeremiah Jackson. Jackson and friends, along with defensive coordinator Doug Greene, will have their hands full. The Warriors are averaging 41 points per game behind QB Damien Ferguson, RB Isaiah Poore and WRs Kealin Goode and Chase Austin.
POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (0-2, 0-0) at TYNER RAMS (1-0, 0-0)
Storyline: Though ranked among the state’s top Class 2A teams, Tyner shocked the Chattanooga area by knocking off Notre Dame, among the state’s best 3A teams, by containing a touted Irish passing game. Polk has carried a “physical” reputation for years, and the Wildcats will need their best to contend with the quick, big and physical Rams, who won an opener for the first time in three years.
RHEA COUNTY EAGLES (1-1, 0-0) at WHITE COUNTY WARRIORS (2-0, 0-0)
Storyline: The Eagles returned to winning ways last week, thoroughly destroying a talented offensive team in McMinn Central, 62-20, behind QB Daniel Dotson, WR Noel Patterson and RB/DB Cody Bice. Formerly a District 6-AAA rival of the Warriors, Rhea County has defeated White County the past two years rather easily, 41-7 and 33-6. White County has been led by diminutive RB Josh Rowan (5-6, 140), QB Pierce Whited and LB Kolter Howard. While he had two touchdown passes last week, Whited also threw two interceptons. Howard led the Warriors in tackles last week with 17.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES (0-2, 0-0) vs. EAST RIDGE PIONEERS (2-0, 0-0) at BAYLOR
Storyline: The good news for the Eagles, after absorbing losses from East Hamilton and Ooltewah, is that RB Nathan Johnson, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, should make his 2015 debut tonight. Coach Ty Wise knows a win would do wonders for his team, which has playoff aspirations as it opens region play. East Ridge has been in the news all week, primarily because the Pioneers’ home stands were condemned – thus the move of tonight’s game to Baylor. Regardless, they’re 2-0 for the first time since 2008 and riding high behind RB Traneil Moore, QB Matt Yarbrough and WRs Jesse Jones and Quasey Vinson.
SCIENCE HILL HILLTOPPERS (1-0, 0-0) at BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (2-0, 0-0)
Storyline: Even without coach Damon Floyd, the Bears have fared pretty well, being 2-0 for the first time since 2010. Floyd, having served a two-game suspension, is back in time for the team’s first foray into Super 32 action. Keys will be the play of QB Cole Copeland, RB Courtland Bradley, WR Tyler Carpenter and an improving defense. In its only game thus far, Science Hill topped touted Elizabethton 28-21.
MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (2-0) at MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS (1-1)
Storyline: Pick ’em. The Warriors and Tigers were the top two picks in the Region 3-2A coaches’ preseason poll. The Warriors haven’t been tested yet with a 38-12 win over Hixson and a 41-6 win at Grundy County. The winners tonight put themselves in control of their own destiny for the region championship and a playoff hosting position.
BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (0-1) at SILVERDALE BAPTIST SEAHAWKS (1-0)
Storyline: The Warriors and Seawaks are following the common trend of the week – playing a region game with postseason implications. SBA presents a difficult task for the Warriors defense because the Seahawks are balanced, running about 60 percent of the time and throwing the other 40 percent. Bledsoe County running back Caleb Smith should be back at 100 percent after missing some of last week’s game due to illness.
GRACE ACADEMY GOLDEN EAGLES (1-1) at LOOKOUT VALLEY YELLOW JACKETS (0-2)
Storyline: It’s already been a long season in the Valley. The Yellow Jackets have yet to put a point on the scoreboard. The Eagles are coming off a loss and want to put that in their rearview mirror as region competition begins. Grace Academy defensive stalwarts such as Will Edwards, Jared Thompson and Matthew Linden will be relied upon to keep Lookout Valley from scoring.
HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (0-2) at RED BANK LIONS (0-2)
Storyline: It’s about want and will at both Howard and Red Bank in their first Region 3-3A game of the the year. Red Bank has played the tougher schedule. The Tigers can use the speed of players such as Quatarrius Porter and Vincent Bowling to outrun the Lions, who need to be stout up front on defense.
McMINN COUNTY CHEROKEES (1-1) at WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS (1-1)
Storyline: For the third week in a row, the Cherokees are facing some form of a rival. That can get old and exhausting. The Mustangs have been able to score, having racked up 69 points in their first two games, but they’ve allowed 66. The Cherokees, with a full stable of running backs, could take a bite out of Walker Valley.
SEQUATCHIE COUNTY WARRIORS (2-0) at SMITH COUNTY OWLS (2-0)
Storyline: Adam Caine, the first-year coach at Sequatchie County, and his team have been impressive in their first two games. Smith County, a new opponent, presents a different challenge due to unfamiliarity. Yet Caine will rely on LBs Kyle Cates and Hunter Davenport and an offense that has just one turnover in each of the first two games.
SODDY-DAISY TROJANS (2-0) at CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (1-1)
Storyline: Soddy-Daisy has been scoring almost at will. The Trojans got 49 points in the season opener against Red Bank and eased off in the end of a 40-6 game against Central. The competition changes this week against the Blue Raiders, who have a knack for connecting on big game-changing plays. Soddy-Daisy RB Christian Bell will play a key role with his rushing ability and setting up the Trojans’ play-action passing game.
STONE MEMORIAL PANTHERS (2-0) at HIXSON WILDCATS (0-2)
Storyline: Hixson coach Dan Duff plays his best 11 players on defense. They’d better be ready. The Panthers scored 54 points against York Institute and 49 against DeKalb County in nonregion games. The Wildcats have allowed 38 points to Marion County and 42 to Walker Valley. It’s not an easy opening to the Region 4-3A schedule for Hixson.
NORTH MURRAY MOUNTAINEERS (0-1) at CHATTOOGA INDIANS (1-0)
Storyline: If the Indians were hoping to sneak up on folks this year, last week’s 21-13 win at Ridgeland won’t help. Chattooga displayed a dominant rushing attack, led by elusive TB Isaiah Foster’s 198 yards and two scores on 34 rushes. The big news for Charlie Hammon’s team was the defense, which allowed just 159 yards to a powerful Ridgeland ground game. They will face a North Murray team with a new QB in Blake Davis, who passed for 190 yards and two scores in just a half last week in place of now-departed starter Will Swantic. The Mountaineers defense, which gave up 50 points to Rockmart, has to play better.
GORDON LEE TROJANS (1-1) at LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (1-0)
Storyline: The Trojans rebounded after a subpar performance in an opening loss to Trion, using their bruising offensive line to rush for 316 yards in a 41-13 win over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. QB Caleb O’Neal led the way with 132 yards and two touchdowns, with Drew Cobb and Andrew Towns also getting 70-plus yards each. They’ll face a much quicker squad this week in the Ramblers, who shut out Gordon Central last week and featured a three-headed offense of QB Logan Teasley and backs KaDarrin Ramsey and T.J. Hawkins. Can the Ramblers defensive front hold up against that Gordon Lee O-line?
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (1-0) at CARROLLTON TROJANS (0-2)
Storylines: Hal Lamb has warned his team this week not to consider Carrollton’s 0-2 start, and the Calhoun coach doesn’t have to look far in the past to show how dangerous the Trojans can be. The last time the Jackets traveled to Carrollton, they limped away 42-7 losers in 2013. Still, the teams appear to be going in different directions as top-ranked Calhoun comes in with a defensive-minded win over Dalton in which DE Landon Rice, LB Jireh Wilson and crew dominated. RB Olico Dennis, who had 145 yards and two touchdowns, could get even more work tonight. The Trojans in Ed Dudley’s second year have lost by uncharacteristic scores of 35-0 to Kell and 34-13 to Newnan but boast a top college prospect in DL Jarvis Terrell, who’s headed to Louisville.
LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE WARRIORS (0-1) at HERITAGE GENERALS (0-1)
Storylines: The Warriors looked like a young team breaking in 17 new starters in a 41-13 loss to Gordon Lee last week. Coach Bo Campbell said playing time is still up for grabs and hopes to solidify his lineup before region play begins. He’ll need a big night from QB Noah Flowers tonight against a Heritage secondary that was lit up against Ringgold. The biggest obstacle for the Generals might be putting last week’s 36-34 heartbreaking loss to rival Ringgold out of their heads. A late interception inside the 5 kept Heritage from pulling off the upset, but plenty of positives came out, including QB Corbee Wilson’s 210 yards passing and two touchdowns and Luke Grant’s 88 yards and two scores and 94 yards and a TD passing.
NORTHWEST WHITFIELD BRUINS (1-0) at CEDARTOWN BULLDOGS (0-1)
Storyline: The Bruins have rested since a strong 28-18 weather-shortened win at Ringgold two weeks ago and will look to build on the momentum against a Cedartown team that has struggled since University of Georgia star Nick Chubb graduated. Northwest has a solid three-headed offense led by sophomore QB Luke Shiflett, RB Devonta Dunn and WR Will Blanchard, who put his sub-4.5 40-yard speed on display with 145 yards against Ringgold. The Bruins will stack the line with LBs Austin Morrison and Cyrus Addison to force the Bulldogs to throw the ball.
BAYLOR RED RAIDERS (2-0) at ENSWORTH TIGERS (1-1)
Storyline: After a pair of wins against public-school competition, Baylor must now visit one of the perennial Division II-AA favorites. Ensworth, which had its run of four straight state championships ended last year with a three-point loss in the title game, is inexperienced but very talented. After three years as a backup, Coleman Goodwin has taken over at QB and has one of the state’s top runners to hand the ball to in Darius Morehead, a 1,500-yard rusher last year. Baylor should be helped by the return of starting QB Wil Austin, who is back from an injury that forced him to sit out last week. In his absence, Bryce Verble played well.
BRAINERD PANTHERS (0-2) at BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEEERS (2-0)
Storyline: The second-ranked Bucs have eased into the season with a pair of lopsided wins against nonregion competition but now must face a dangerous league foe. Brainerd lost its first two games by a total of just 10 points, with mistakes costing them the chance to be unbeaten, having committed 25 penalties and turned the ball over six times in those two games. Panthers QB Malik Beavers is a dual threat, with three long scoring runs in the first two weeks. The Bucs scored 42 points in the first half last week and have plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball. QB Cooper Hodge accounted for 140 yards of total offense last week while running back E.J. Matthews had three TDs. UTC commitment Jack Keebler is a headache for opponents as both a tight end and defensive end.
McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (0-2) at FATHER RYAN FIGHTING IRISH (2-0)
Storyline: Arguably the best winless team in the state, and needing a victory to build confidence, McCallie now faces the dark-horse team in Division II-AA. The Irish have four of the five starters back on the offensive line and have been impressive in their first two games, including a 34-point win over Clarksville Northeast last week. Father Ryan looks to be on the verge of joining the top teams in D-II, having lost three league games by seven points or less last year, including a 38-31 loss to the Blue Tornado. McCallie should have senior JaVaughn Craig back at QB after sitting out last week’s last-second loss at Blackman with a concussion. In his absence junior Robert Riddle was solid, passing for more than 300 yards. The key to McCallie turning things around is for the defense, especially up front, to begin playing up to its potential. That hasn’t happened so far this season.
SALE CREEK PANTHERS (1-1) at COPPER BASIN COUGARS (0-2)
Storyline: Now that the Panthers have their first win in program history – a 52-13 whipping of Concord Christian last week – the next step is to claim a victory over a region opponent. Tonight’s game might be their best chance at that, taking on a Copper Basin team that has struggled on both sides of the ball and likely with its confidence level low after losing its first two by a combined 91-20. Sale Creek also has better depth and can match the Cougars for game experience now.