FRIDAY’S AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MATCHUPS
MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS (8-0, 4-0) AT MARION COUNTY WARRIORS (8-0, 4-0)
Arguably this week’s headline game in Tennessee — regardless of classification — Class 2A’s top-ranked Tigers and No. 4 Warriors will settle the Region 3 championship and home-field advantage for the first three rounds of the playoffs. The Tigers have won 26 straight region games, although this is their first season back in Region 3 after four years competing in Region 2. Meigs County hasn’t lost a region game since falling 43-6 in the most recent series meeting with Marion County in 2016, which was also the Warriors’ most recent region title season. This will be the fourth region game in five weeks for Marion, which has won its past five games by an average margin of 37 points. Senior quarterback Taye Hutchins has compiled close to 1,100 yards of offense, including 671 rushing with 14 touchdowns, but is joined by Rylee Rogers, Sam Pickett and Alex Condra as big-play threats for Marion. But for all the offensive firepower for the Warriors, who have averaged close to 40 points per game this season, the starting defense has yet to allow more than one touchdown in any game, including four shutouts. That unit will be challenged by an opponent that has been similarly dominant, with Meigs led by a pair of all-state skill position players. Senior quarterback Logan Carroll has thrown for 617 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 522 yards and 11 scores, while Cam Huckabey has averaged 19 yards per reception and has eight touchdowns. Huckabey also has four interceptions on defense and ranks among the area’s punting leaders. Linebackers Luke Pendergrass and Dalton Purgason are closing in on 50 tackles apiece to lead the Meigs defense, and Purgason also ranks among the area’s leaders with eight sacks.
BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS (8-1, 4-0) AT MARYVILLE REBELS (9-0, 4-0)
The Bears get another shot at becoming the first team to hand Maryville a region loss in 21 years in a matchup to decide the Region 2-6A title. The second-ranked Rebels have won 140 consecutive league games — they’ve outscored opponents by an average of 44-12 this season — and have not lost a game in October since 1997. Maryville also owns 49 straight wins over Chattanooga-area opponents (25 of those in the playoffs) by an average score of 42-12. Rebels quarterback Carson Jones, who has committed to Furman, has yet to throw an interception this season while completing 74% of his passes for 1,546 yards and 16 touchdowns. Speedy running back Noah Vaughn has averaged nearly 9 yards per carry while rushing for 1,030 yards and 15 scores, with most of that damage coming by running behind junior lineman Cal Grubbs, a Power Five prospect. Markel Fortenberry, who’s committed to Liberty, has 39 catches for 462 yards and seven scores, and Appalachian State-committed defensive back D.J. Burks is a big hitter. Seventh-ranked Bradley Central has been led by workhorse sophomore running back Jackson Wilson’s 223 carries for 1,605 yards. He also has 22 catches and 19 total touchdowns, and senior quarterback Aiden McClary has thrown for 1,174 yards, with more than half of that total going to Marcus Goree and J’Alan Terry. Blake Johnson leads a solid Bears defense with 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS (8-1, 4-0) AT CARTERSVILLE PURPLE HURRICANES (8-0, 4-0)
One of Georgia’s marquee matchups this week will decide the champion in Region 7-AAAAA. Sixth-ranked Calhoun may have been looking ahead during last week’s 35-14 win over Cass, which was closer than the final score indicated. The Yellow Jackets’ usually potent passing game took a backseat to the ground attack as Caden Williams rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns. To consistently move the ball against Cartersville’s stout defense, though, the Jackets will likely need another big game from quarterback Christian Lewis, who has completed 72% of his passes this season for 1,834 yards and 20 touchdowns with just two interceptions, and receivers Cole Speer (21 catches, 529 yards, seven touchdowns) and Quin Smith (19 catches, 411 yards, six touchdowns). A key defensively for Calhoun is getting a handle on cat-quick running back Amari White (584 yards, nine touchdowns), who has gone over 100 yards in three consecutive games, including 156 against Blessed Trinity. Cartersville, as usual, also has a strong passing game behind Jake Parker (1,034 passing yards, 13 touchdowns), but it’s the guys up front who have set the tone, led by 6-foot-3, 275-pound Luke Surrett and Shadre Hurst (6-2, 260). Calhoun’s defensive front has to hold up to allow linebackers Nathan Fuller, Mason Green, Blaze Hammett and Christopher Lewis to control the ground game.
SONORAVILLE PHOENIX (5-3, 3-3) AT RINGGOLD TIGERS (8-0, 6-0)
Ringgold has already clinched a home game in the first round of the GHSA playoffs next month, and regardless of the outcome in this matchup, when the Tigers face Rockmart next week it will be with the Region 6-AAA championship on the line. Avoiding looking ahead will be a key for the Tigers, who have lost four straight series meetings with Sonoraville, including two that kept them out of the playoffs. Ringgold’s offense has become much more balanced in recent weeks as quarterback Mason Parker has found his groove and now has 1,068 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air to go with 259 rushing yards and three scores. The Tigers may need that balance against the Phoenix, who have one of the better run defenses in the area, led by Jebb Knight and Tirstan Mullins, who have combined for 21 tackles for loss. In Kori Dumas (891 rushing yards) and Peyton Williams (495 yards), though, the Tigers have the kind of speed that has given Sonoraville trouble. Phoenix quarterback Jaxon Pate has become one of the area’s most dangerous dual threats with 1,746 yards passing, 536 rushing and 26 total touchdowns, while Nick Beddington, Brant Bryant and Zach Lyles give Pate a trio of top playmakers. Few teams have been able to run consistently on the Tigers, so expect Pate to air it out early and often.