Here are four surprise outcomes that stand out following last week’s prep football games across Georgia and Tennessee.
› Red Bank’s stifling defense: Senior linebacker Markel Lansden had five tackles for loss and a sack to help lead a 21-11 statement home victory for Red Bank this past Friday over McMinn County.
The Lions’ defense only allowed 213 total yards (92 passing) to a Cherokee attack, which came into Week 8 averaging 229 passing and 199 rushing yards per game. The area’s leading rusher, Jakaryn Dyer, was also held under 100 rushing yards and nearly half of his yards per carry on the season.
After losing four of its first five games to open the season, Red Bank appears to be in line to win the Region 3-4A championship and will be a scary draw once the playoffs begin, thanks to the stellar defense.
› Blue Raider breakthrough: A moment of pure joy and relief coursed through senior quarterback Kason McGowan as he embraced Cleveland first-year head coach Chris Brown after Friday’s 28-10 home region victory over Bearden.
McGowan threw for a trio of touchdowns, while the Blue Raider defense also had just as many interceptions to pick up their first win of the season.
The victory also kept Cleveland’s playoff hopes alive, as Brown’s squad will make the postseason if they can defeat three-win Hardin Valley and two-win Farragut to close the regular season. With those wins, the Blue Raiders would take fourth place in Region 2-6A despite losing seven key starters to transfer before the season.
Junior KyReece Westfield had a pair of touchdown receptions in the win over Bearden, including a 46-yard bomb down the left sideline for the game’s first touchdown, while sophomore Camron Wilson rushed for a 64-yard score out of the “Wildcat” formation.
› Brown-Minton touchdown connection: The aerial connection between juniors Hunter Minton and Gowan Brown has been tough to stop during a red-hot four-game winning streak for Class 3A’s seventh-ranked Sequatchie County.
The duo has been nearly automatic, as Minton has found Brown for nine touchdown receptions on 10 catches covering 294 yards over the past four games. The Indians’ go-to receiver now has 10 touchdowns on 14 catches this season, scoring on over 71% of his receptions.
The Indians have scored 43 points per game over their winning streak headed into a big non-region home test against Class 5A’s sixth-ranked Walker Valley this Friday.
› Northwest loses two in a row: Two weeks ago, Northwest Whitfield was 6-1 and undefeated in Region 7-AAA after impressive region wins over Heritage and LaFayette by a combined score of 89-7.
This week the Bruins head into their regular season finale needing a win against Ridgeland to right the ship after back-to-back losses to Calhoun and Adairsville. While losing to the defending state champion Yellow Jackets isn’t a devastating blow, Friday’s 33-17 loss at Adairsville likely cost Northwest a home playoff game.
A win over Ridgeland (2-6, 0-4) isn’t likely to improve the team’s GHSA postseason power ranking, which now sits at No. 18, especially since the Bruins will not have a game next week.
Friday’s loss wasn’t a case of having a hangover from the Calhoun game as Northwest jumped out front 14-0 on a pair of Gavin Nuckolls touchdown passes. However, the run defense was gashed by Adairsville quarterback Braxton Elrod, who went for 194 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries while also passing for a score. The Northwest offense moved the ball but couldn’t finish drives in the second half.
The loss sets up a 7-AAA first-place showdown between Calhoun and Heritage Friday at Jeff Sims Field. The Generals, after being blown out by Northwest, have rebounded with a pair of impressive wins and are coming off a bye week.
