DOBYNS-BENNETT INDIANS (3-3, 1-2) at BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (6-0, 3-0)
Storyline: Dobyns-Bennett is coming off a 56-34 loss to top-ranked Maryville after back-to-back victories. This is the Indians’ first visit to Bradley in years, and they’ll be looking to avenge a 56-42 Region 1-6A shootout loss manipulated by QB Cole Copeland last season. He remains a driving force, but the Bears are maturing into a multipronged offense with a fairly stiff defense beginning to match it. Dobyns-Bennett QBs Cole Maupin and Lendon Redwine have combined for 1,143 yards but only six TDs. Maupin, like Copeland, is a dual threat and has averaged 5.3 rushing yards with six TDs, second on the team behind Ian Hicks (7.7 ypc). Jacob Roller and Isaac Phillips are coach Graham Clark’s leading tacklers.
OOLTEWAH OWLS (4-2, 1-1) at WHITE COUNTY WARRIORS (3-4, 0-3)
Storyline: Owls coach Mac Bryan said in the preseason that his team would improve as the season progressed. They won 62-7 last week against Soddy-Daisy, so the defense did much better than in a 69-54 win over North Carolina’s Clyde A. Erwin earlier this season. The defense, hammered by graduation, is significantly better than the group that lost to region rival Rhea County, and speed remains that unit’s strength. White County’s region losses have been to Rhea and McMinn County, the current league co-leaders, and Soddy-Daisy.
EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES (4-3, 2-1) AT CUMBERLAND COUNTY JETS (0-6, 0-2)
Storyline: The Hurricanes are about to get healthy – as healthy as they can after losing Nick Woods, their senior starting QB, early on. As a matter of fact, coach Ted Gatewood named Andrew Sturdivant, Woods’ replacement, as one of the players who has stepped up in the team’s modest two-game win streak. He also mentioned RB Jhaeden Smith, adding that Smith was improving with each carry. Cumberland County made its strongest bid to break its losing streak last week in a 20-13 setback against Hixson. The Jets have managed double-digit scoring in each of their last four games.
BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS (5-1, 3-1) at MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS (5-1, 2-1)
Storyline: Both teams already have lost to Marion County in Region 3-2A, and it’s likely that the winner of this one will wind up hosting a first-round postseason game. Boyd-Buchanan rebounded from its loss to Marion two weeks ago with a shutout victory, while Meigs has won three straight since its loss to the Warriors. Tigers freshman QB Aaron Swafford is maturing nicely and had three TD strikes although throwing just nine passes in a game two weeks ago. RBs Zy Moore and Logan Fowler also have been impressive keys. Bucs brother TE/DE Kade and OL/DE Asa Owens have impressed, and LB/FB Will Watkins is again a hammer after an early-season hip injury. The Bucs have been using two QBs: Kohl Henke and Ross Wortman.
MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (6-1, 4-0) at SILVERDALE BAPTIST SEAHAWKS (5-1, 2-1)
Storyline: Silverdale’s loss was in the region (3-2A), and a win tonight would keep it in the running for a postseason first-round host role. However, Marion has averaged 39 points in the three games since an upset nonregion loss to county rival South Pittsburg. The Seahawks also are coming off a commanding victory over physical Polk County and possess a two-game win streak. Their stiffest test tonight will be driving long distance against a Warriors defense that has allowed one TD the last two weeks.
HIXSON WILDCATS (3-3, 2-1) at CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS (2-4, 1-1)
Storyline: The Wildcats have climbed back into the Region 3-4A race with three consecutive wins, including an important league victory over East Hamilton. The Pounders, who have lost three consecutive since a region win over Livingston Academy, must contend with Hixson’s inside-out RB tandem of Ladaquis Word and Myles Ratliff. The game could be a quick one. Both offenses are strongly run-oriented, and each defense has improved as the season has progressed.
SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES (5-1, 2-0) at WHITWELL TIGERS (3-3, 2-0)
Storyline: It’s senior night for the Tigers, who will look to snap a 25-game losing streak to their cross-county rivals in a game that essentially will decide the Region 3-1A championship. After opening the season against three teams from larger classifications, the Tigers have scored 58 and 56 points in region wins the last two weeks. Whitwell is led by RBs Hudson Petty and Trace Condra, who combined for 181 rushing yards last week, averaging more than 8 yards per carry. The Pirates are without three skill-position offensive starters who also were key defensive starters. FB/LB Garrett Raulston, RB/DB Kyree Pryor and WR/DB Cade Kennsmore, who ranked among the area’s top five in both scoring and receiving yards, will all miss at least two more weeks with injuries. RBs Joseph Lilly and Sawyer Kelley as well as QB Hogan Holland will need to fill the offensive void.
COPPER BASIN COUGARS (5-3) at CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS (3-3)
Storyline: Although this is not a region game, both teams are looking to build momentum and confidence heading down the stretch run of the regular season. Inexperience and mistakes have cost the Chargers, who have lost their last two games, both to region opponents, by a combined eight points. QB Matthew Mercer continues to grow in the offense and will be needed tonight against a Copper Basin defense that has held opponents to one score three times this season.
LOUDON REDSKINS (0-6) at HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS (3-4)
Storyline: It hasn’t taken John Starr long to get Howard headed in the right direction. In his first season with the team the veteran coach has already led Howard to as many wins as the program had the previous three years combined. The Hustlin’ Tigers seemingly get a big performance from a different player every game. Last week is was Tawon Billups who ran for 115 yards, two TDs and a conversion. Although this is a nonregion game, another win will help build confidence headed into two huge 3-3A road games that will determine what teams make the playoffs. Loudon has struggled offensively, scoring more than one TD in a game once all season.
McCALLIE BLUE TORNADO (5-2, 2-1) at ENSWORTH TIGERS (4-3, 1-2)
Storyline: The biggest obstacle facing McCallie is how well it handles success. Two years ago, after an impressive win over Baylor, the Blue Tornado lost three of their next five games. With more experience now, that shouldn’t happen again, although McCallie is a tired team entering the eighth straight week of tough competition. It finally will get a week off next Friday, but first comes a trip to face one of the most dangerous teams in Division II-AA, led by athletic QB Rodney Owens. The Tigers led powerhouse Brentwood Academy at halftime last week and trailed by only seven late in the game. Blue Tornado RB Xavier Brooks, who took over for injured starter Shawn McColley last week and ran for 130 yards, likely will get plenty of carries once again as they look to balance QB Robert Riddle and his WR corps.
RHEA COUNTY EAGLES (4-2, 2-0) at CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS (4-3, 1-2)
Storyline: The brutally injury-plagued Blue Raiders go from having to deal with Walker Valley’s wide-open spread offense to Rhea County’s concise and powerful wing-T. The Eagles, one of two teams unbeatens in Region 4-5A, are perfectly content with rushing for 4 or 5 yards a pop, but they have big-play capabilities. Cleveland doesn’t have as much speed as it started the season with, but it still has some. The Blue Raiders are likely going to have to score often to keep up. Coach Scott Cummings believes in order to do that, his team is going to have to be aggressive to combat Rhea’s physical play.
BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS (2-4, 1-2) at TYNER RAMS (1-5, 1-2)
Storyline: These Region 3-2A teams aren’t out of the state-playoff picture, but a loss tonight would be damaging. The blueprint for the Warriors is simple: Don’t give up the big plays, and be patient on offense. Do that and there’s a good chance they’ll be in the game in the fourth quarter. Tyner is just looking for consistency. At times the offense plays well and the defense doesn’t, and vice versa. Bledsoe likes to feed RB Joseph Gore a lot, and it has a solid kicking game with K/P Gabe Boring. The Rams will feed RBs K’un Webb, Jeremy Elston, Keiontae Halfacre and more, and they could use some improvement in special-teams play.
WARREN COUNTY PIONEERS (1-5) at SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS (6-0)
Storyline: Sequatchie County is the No. 2-ranked team in Class 3A, and Warren County has a winning percentage of .167. But considering the Pioneers won 21-16 last year, in no way are the Indians taking them lightly. Warren plays in rugged Region 2-6A. Its last three games are region losses to No. 9-ranked Smyrna, Riverdale and No. 2-ranked Oakland. Combined, those teams average 41 points per game. Sequatchie will need a stout performance from its line, considering the Pioneers have big players such as OT K’rojhn Calbert (6-6, 280) and TE/DE Hunter Hawkins (6-6, 260). QB Isaiah Grayson hurt the Indians last year running and throwing.
POLK COUNTY WILDCATS (2-4, 0-3) at BRAINERD PANTHERS (0-6, 0-3)
Storyline: Both could really use a victory in this clash of struggling banged-up Region 3-2A teams. The Wildcats have lost their last four games. Going into last week’s game they had committed four turnovers all season, then had six in that game, plus had a punt blocked. Brainerd has struck for some long touchdowns but has struggled defensively. The Panthers have allowed at least 34 points in every game, although their schedule has been a rugged one. If one team does a better job of limiting penalties, it should have a huge edge.
NORTHWEST WHITFIELD BRUINS (3-2) at HERITAGE GENERALS (5-1)
Storyline: If explosive offense is what you like, head to Ringgold tonight and watch the most productive QBs in northwest Georgia go at it. Northwest, after two bitter loses, got back on track last week against LaFayette. QB Luke Shiflett had 251 passing yards and three TDs in the first half alone and now has 1,249 yards and 12 TDs for the season to go with 241 rushing. WRs Jay Jones and Will Blanchard have combined for more than 900 yards. Heritage QB Corbee Wilson’s stats are eye-popping. The senior, coming off a three-TD effort in a blowout over Southeast Whitfield, enters the game completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,293 yards, 16 TDs and one interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 222 yards and has seven scores. Ryan Carter has emerged as the team’s top WR threat and has 472 yards and eight TDs, while speedy Luke Grant has 325 yards. Heritage has five WRs with more than 100 yards and will spread the Bruins’ defense as much as it can.
RIVER RIDGE KNIGHTS (2-3) at DALTON CATAMOUNTS (5-0)
Storyline: The offensively challenged Knights take on a Dalton team with an offense that is starting to mesh. River Ridge lost 14-0 a week ago to Sequoyah in a game that was tied with a little more than two minutes to play, when turnovers led to two quick TDs. The Knights have productive RBs in Jarrod Fletcher and Shakir Johnson, who have combined for 570 rushing yards, but the pass game barely has netted 300 yards. Dalton, meanwhile, is coming off a 34-17 win over Creekview in which the run and pass games were both strong. QB J.P. Tighe threw for three scores, with Kyric McGowan catching two TDs among his 133 yards, while RB Ahmaad Tanner, now healthy after early-season setbacks, had 216 yards rushing and two scores. With WR Zeke Cobb (22-406, 6 TDs) getting most of the outside attention, the Cats are starting to use their other weapons.
RIDGELAND PANTHERS (4-0) at LaFAYETTE RAMBLERS (2-4)
Storyline: On paper Ridgeland should be a heavy favorite in this Walker County matchup, but the Ramblers always seem to play their neighbors tough. Both teams rely on the ground game, with the Panthers putting up nearly 400 yards per game. Jalyn Shelton (572 yards, 10 TDs) and Grayson Moore (414 yards, 7 TDs) are each averaging better than 10 yards per carry for a Ridgeland team putting up nearly 50 points per game. LaFayette has shown marked improvement over the past two seasons, especially up front. The Ramblers have 1,200 rush yards as a team, led by KaDarrin Ramsey (447), Dakota Cathay (423) and Colton Lane (277). If the ground game gets going the Ramblers could eat up clock and at least push the game into the second half.
ADAIRSVILLE TIGERS (2-3) at CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (4-2)
Storyline: A month ago these Region 6-AAA heavyweights were a combined 1-5. Lineup tweaks have helped each regroup in preparation for a huge South subregion game. The Tigers, after struggling mightily to score early, scored 84 points in wins over Ringgold and Murray County and have introduced RB Travon Branch to the region. Branch, after returning two kickoffs for TDs against Ringgold, had 139 yards and TD runs of 53 and 50 against Murray on eight carries and added a 38-yard TD reception from rejuvenated QB Roger Redd. Calhoun has a new QB in sophomore Gavin Gray, who had three TD passes against Haralson County last week, two to speedy WR Ryan Randall. The Jackets will miss RB Olico Dennis, out for the season after an ACL tear, but backups Porter Law and Zach Fuller each had a TD run last week.
RINGGOLD TIGERS (3-3) at MURRAY COUNTY INDIANS (3-3)
Storyline: A large 6-AAA North game in Chatsworth features squads with playoffs on their minds. They also have leaky defenses. The Tigers allowed their lowest point total of the year to LFO in a 62-20 win but previously had allowed at least 30 points in every game and more than 40 in three games. The Ringgold offense, however, is surging behind sophomore QB Cole Kibler, who is coming off a 327-yard, three-TD passing game and 95 yards and two scores on the ground. Kibler is approaching 2,000 yards of total offense six games into the season. The Tigers have plenty of weapons around him, including RBs Ty Jones and Nathan Williams, who had 245 yards last week in place of injured starter Dee King, while WRs Andre Tarver and Mac Brower have nearly 1,000 combined receiving yards. They might enjoy seeing a Murray defense that has allowed more than 100 points in three consecutive losses. To keep up, the Indians will lean on senior QB Dominick Genitempo (1,310 total offense, 16 TDs) and RB Tucker Gregg (632 rushing yards). Murray’s best defense might be putting together time-consuming drives.