TYNER RAMS (6-0, 2-0) at MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (5-0, 2-0)
This matchup will help determine the top seed in arguably the state’s toughest Class 2A region, where No. 1-ranked Meigs County, fourth-ranked Marion County and Tyner – which somehow is not yet ranked – are a combined 17-0 this season. The Region 3-2A title will be decided over the coming weeks as those three begin facing off, beginning with this showdown in Jasper. Between the Tigers, Rams and Warriors, one of the three has played for a state title in six of the past seven seasons. The Rams are 6-0 for the first time since 2002, when they opened 9-0 before losing to Baylor, and they have beaten opponents by an average score of 40-12. That includes two outbursts of more than 50 points, and they have allowed more than 14 points only once this season (21 to Polk County). Similarly, Marion has whipped its opponents by an average of 38-6, including two shutouts. The most points Marion has allowed so far is 15 to Forrest, which scored two late touchdowns against Warriors reserves. Marion and Tyner also mirror one another with multiple big-play threats in the backfield. For the Warriors, senior quarterback Taye Hutchins has accounted for 563 yards and eight touchdowns over the past three games, averaging 13.2 yards per carry. Three other runners – Alex Condra, Sam Pickett and Rylee Rogers – have had outings in which they averaged more than 10 yards per carry to help the Warriors average more than 350 rushing yards per game this season. For the Rams, junior quarterback Josh Jackson has become one of the area’s top dual threats, with his past two games highlighted by a combined 467 passing yards, and Jarius Cameron, Jersey Chubb, Zashun Hubbard, Deonta Taylor and Javell Woodruf all have had touchdowns of 30-plus yards this season.
BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (6-0) at OOLTEWAH OWLS (1-4)
With last week’s Region 2-6A win over Bearden, the fifth-ranked Bears not only remained unbeaten but also extended their streak of winning seasons to seven straight, tied for the longest active run among area programs. Despite competing in the state’s largest classification, Bears coach Damon Floyd has guided his alma mater to winning records nine times in an 11-year stretch. Sophomore running back Jackson Wilson has been the team’s breakout athlete on offense with 1,192 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, while quarterback Aiden McClary has thrown for 510 yards and five scores; the rest of Bradley Central’s ball carriers have combined for just 279 rushing yards this season. The Bears have allowed just 12 points per game, and the defense has 15 players with at least one tackle for loss, led by Josh Helsdon, who has 8.5 plus five sacks. This will be the final home game of the season for Ooltewah, which will continue its string of nonregion games at Soddy-Daisy and Brainerd before returning to Region 4-5A play at McMinn County to finish the regular season. The Owls earned their first win last week, which was also the first for new head coach Goose Manning. Raymos McGee scored three touchdowns to lead Ooltewah’s offense, but it was the defense that stood out most with four scores in the 52-point region win against Howard. Mason Arnold returned both an interception and a fumble for touchdowns, Edgar Lawrence added a pick-six and Jeremiah West had a fumble return for a score.
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (5-1, 1-0) at BLESSED TRINITY TITANS (4-2, 1-0)