TONIGHT’S AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MATCHUPS
BRAINERD PANTHERS HOWARD HUSTLIN’ TIGERS AT
Storyline: One of the city’s best rivalries is a great way to kick off the season. Howard narrowly missed making the playoffs last year, and with all but two starters back, the Hustlin’ Tigers should be a much stronger threat for the postseason now. QB Marquez Williams can make plays with his arm or his legs, while Brainerd will counter with a host of talented but unproven sophomores, including QB Xiyeer Lattimore.
MCCALLIE BLUE TORNADO AT CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERS
Storyline: There is a growing amount of hype surrounding this year’s McCallie team. With the return of dual-threat QB Deangelo Hardy plus sophomore RB B.J. Harris — who already has several Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offers — and the presence of a solid line, the offense is in good hands. On defense is where the Blue Tornado need to show the most improvement if the team is to realize its potential. The Chargers will rely heavily once again on all-state RB Mondo Ellison as they size up how far the program is from competing at the highest level in Division II.
RHEA COUNTY EAGLES CLEVELAND BLUE RAIDERS AT
Storyline: Both of these traditional powers are coming off disappointing seasons and will look to use this game as a springboard for a better outcome this year. Rhea has Zack Pemberton back for his third season as the starting QB; in Chandler Kaylor, Pemberton has one of the area’s top TEs to throw to. Cleveland will be under the direction of a new starting QB, but Jackson Moore does have game experience. The Blue Raiders also have a lot of quickness on defense, led by DE Victor Dodd.
SODDY-DAISY TROJANS AT RED BANK LIONS
Storyline: One of the area’s top passing connections returns in Red Bank QB Maddox Wilkey and WR Calvin Jackson, who combined for more than 4,000 yards last year. Coming off their run to the Class 3A semifinals, the Lions are confident as Chris Brown makes his head coaching debut. Soddy-Daisy can also sling it around, though — QB Gavin Chambers was a 2,000-yard passer last year.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN EAGLES EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES AT
Storyline: Year two of coach Josh Roberts’ rebuilding project begins with expectations soaring higher than they have in a long time for the Eagles. And with good reason. There is good size and speed on the roster, including WRs Drew Lowry and Travion Williams and LB Jake Woodlief, who will try to shut down the Hurricanes’ run-heavy offense.
TYNER RAMS AT OOLTEWAH OWLS
Storyline: The Owls thumped Tyner to open last season, but the Rams righted the ship, won 12 straight games after that and are a much more confident team now. Tyner has the ability to wear on opponents with four runners who weigh more than 190 pounds each but can also strike quickly through the air with Jeremiah Batiste, an all-state caliber WR. Ooltewah RB Sincere Quinn can score from anywhere on the field, and QB Kyrell Sanford is a dual threat with big-play capability.
SOUTH PITTSBURG PIRATES SEQUATCHIE COUNTY INDIANS AT
Storyline: Mark Wattenbarger makes his debut as the Indians’ head coach, so look for burly FB Brett Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 255-pounder, to get a lot of touches to allow the hosts to control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the Pirates’ quick-strike offense. South Pittsburg also has a physical FB, Garrett Raulston (6-2, 230), but wants to get speedy Ronto Tipton and Hunter Frame on the corners as well.
BOYD-BUCHANAN BUCCANEERS WHITWELL TIGERS AT
Storyline: At last week’s Sequatchie Valley Jamboree, Whitwell looked to be in midseason form already. The backfield pairing of Hudson Petty and Josh Wingo might be the best RB tandem in Class 1A this year, and LB Thundur Roberts was among last year’s area tackles leaders. This will be the debut for Bucs coach Kevin Orr Rodriguez, who will count on the athleticism of QB Eli Evans.
RINGGOLD TIGERS DALTON CATAMOUNTS AT
Storyline: The Catamounts own a whopping 43-2 all-time record in this series, but the Tigers won the most recent meeting 33-27 in 2013. Dalton, traditionally a power football team, will try to be just that tonight behind a large offensive line and electric RB Jahmyr Gibbs. QB Landon Allen, a junior who transferred from Notre Dame, will try to take advantage of a defensive backfield that gave up a lot of big plays a year ago. Ringgold could have the area’s top passing attack, thanks to three-year starting QB Cole Kibler and the best trio of receivers the school has ever had: Pete Brower, Andre Tarver and Dylan Wright. Expect Tarver (6-2, 210) to get touches early in numerous ways.
LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE WARRIORS HERITAGE GENERALS AT
Storyline: The Generals have had the upper hand in recent meetings between the Catoosa County rivals, winning four straight in the series. However, they will be introducing a whopping 18 new starters and must replace nearly everyone who produced a yard of offense for last year’s nine-win team. Leading the newlook team is sophomore QB Nick Hanson (6-4, 215), a player Generals coach E.K. Slaughter said is going to be special. The Warriors will look to take advantage of Heritage’s overall lack of experience with physical RB Nathan Williams. New QB Malachi Powell adds speed to the position, while WRs Zion Martin and Ruddy Ware can make plays in space. Both teams have questions along their lines.
DADE COUNTY WOLVERINES GORDON LEE TROJANS AT
Storyline: The teams have split their past four meetings, including a pair of one-point affairs. There is much optimism in Trenton, where coach Bradley Warren is fielding perhaps his most physically imposing team in years, and he has a star in junior RB Malaki Webb, who rushed for 1,200 yards a year ago. He’ll get plenty of opportunities tonight behind a line that includes Bailey Floyd (6-3, 330), Michael Greene (6-3, 260), Tyler King (6-4, 320) and Josh Williams (6-3, 200). Gordon Lee will counter with what is expected to be one of the more athletic teams to play under Trojans coach Greg Ellis. That group will be led by senior QB Hunter Hodson, RBs Brody Cobb and Tucker Miller, WR/RB J.D. Day and WR Henry Ellis (6-4, 190).