Here are three of the top prep football games to watch Friday night in the Chattanooga area.
East Hamilton (6-1, 3-0) at Walker Valley (5-2, 2-1): East Hamilton pulled off the upset last year, handing the only league loss to the Mustangs, who went on to win the TSSAA Region 4-5A championship. Now it’s the Hurricanes who enter unbeaten in the region, having outscored the three 4-5A foes they’ve faced by a total of 109-43 and having given up eight points or less in their past three games overall. Senior running back Jaden Haywood has been the key to East Hamilton’s offense, rushing 138 times for 1,128 yards and 19 touchdowns, including 333 yards and five scores in last week’s region win over Ooltewah. A Walker Valley win combined with victories by McMinn County over Howard and by Rhea County over Ooltewah would create a logjam atop the Region 4-5A standings of four teams with one league loss. Walker Valley’s offense has been balanced with quarterback Dosen Stum — who is expected back after missing the past two games due to injury — passing for 676 yards and eight touchdowns while running backs Javen Hall and Spencer Makuch have combined for 861 yards and nine scores. Braylon Beard’s 37.5 tackles lead a Mustangs defense that has held five opponents to 16 points or less.
Northwest Whitfield (6-1, 2-1) at Calhoun (3-3, 2-0): It’s the first regular-season meeting between the teams since 1986 — and it’s a significant one in GHSA Region 7-AAA. A Northwest win would throw the region into chaos, with the possibility of a five-way tie for first place. A Calhoun win would make the Yellow Jackets the clear favorites.
For the Bruins to pull off the upset, they need a big game from quarterback Gavin Nuckolls and a strong group of receivers against a Calhoun defense that has been a bit vulnerable through the air.
The Calhoun offense has improved each week as the team’s two-quarterback system with freshman Trace Hawkins and sophomore Cross Land is taking off. Justin Beasley has emerged as the team’s go-to receiver, while Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen member Emaree Winston is back at tight end after missing a couple of games due to injury.