The Commercial Appeal

Top Memphis area prep football games

- Wynston Wilcox

Memphis-area football teams are starting to settle in with the first two weeks of the season behind us. Here’s a look at some of the top games entering Week 3 of the TSSAA football season:

Game of the week: Germantown at Whitehaven

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

One of the area’s most explosive offenses faces one of the area’s stingiest defenses in this week’s top game. Whitehaven is currently averaging 47 points per game and has two shutouts. But, neither Overton nor Ridgeway is Germantown.

The Red Devils have allowed only 16 points in the last six quarters, shutting out Christian Brothers in the second half of Week 1, and holding Memphis University School to two points through the first three quarters last Friday before giving up 14 points in the final quarter.

Will Germantown’s defense be enough to thwart Whitehaven’s offensive power?

Wynston’s pick: Germantown 22, Whitehaven 20

Arlington at Bartlett

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Arlington is fresh off its first win of the season, a much-needed confidence boost after it got shut out in Week 1 against MUS, while Bartlett struggled against Alabama powerhouse Hoover. If Bartlett hopes to be a top team in the region, it needs to show some consistenc­y.

Wynston’s pick: Bartlett 35, Arlington 20

White Station at Colliervil­le

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Aidan Glover has the Dragons’ offense hot through two games. The Dragons haven’t given up a point yet and the offense has already scored 89 in two games.

Can Glover continue to lead this offense? He’s currently 12-for-14 with 207 yards and six touchdowns. He has no intercepti­ons. Glover and Colliervil­le begin their region title defense with a win this week.

Wynston’s pick: Colliervil­le 42, White Station 12

Houston at Cordova

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Chandler Day and the offense will have to clean up the mistakes and continue to play behind junior running back Damon Sisa. He got the offense started with over 100 yards and two touchdowns on the first two possession­s last week. But four turnovers ultimately led to their loss.

Wynston’s pick: Houston 31, Cordova 15

Briarcrest at Brentwood Academy

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Briarcrest proved one thing last week: Its defense is legit. It forced four Houston turnovers and came back to win on the road; and did it with its backup quarterbac­k. If JD Sherrod is out again, this could be junior quarterbac­k Cade Carlson’s chance to prove he can play the rest of the season.

The defense will have to be just as elite as it was a week ago and Max Carroll, Cade Carlson and the rest of the offense will need to get hot early and not dig a two-possession deficit again.

Wynston’s pick: Brentwood Academy 27, Briarcrest 24

Christian Brothers at Ensworth

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

After a lackluster Week 1, where the offense went numb in the second half against Germantown, Christian Brothers responded with a 51-0 shutout win over Sheffield.

The offense had 335 total yards and looked much better. The offense will have another test against Ensworth, which is coming off a loss to Baylor last week.

Wynston’s pick: Christian Brothers 27, Ensworth 17

Middle College at MASE

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Middle College has its first region game this week and it couldn’t be a tougher Game 1. MASE has reloaded, thanks to former MAHS players following coach Cedric Miller to MASE.

Led by three-star 2024 prospect Kumaro Brown, the Phoenix are one of the toughest teams in Class 1A. They begin their region title hunt with a convincing win this week.

Wynston’s pick: MASE 38, Middle College 13

Mitchell at Freedom Prep

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

The Eagles are continuing to show why they’re one of the top 2A teams in the area. They’ve scored 96 points through two games and have largely been playing behind junior quarterbac­k E.J. Gilliam. Gilliam threw for over 250 yards and seven touchdowns in a 64-0 win over MLK Prep. Look for Gilliam to have another exceptiona­l performanc­e against Mitchell.

Wynston’s pick: Freedom Prep 48, Mitchell 14

Millington at Covington

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Though Covington struggled against

Munford in Week 1, they put that behind them with running back duo Jamarion Dowell and Skylan Smith rushing for 332 yards and five touchdowns, combined.

That’s what Covington needs to be good, and it should see similar success against Millington this week.

Wynston’s pick: Covington 41, Millington 7

Marshall County at Northpoint

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Northpoint’s offense finally looked like itself. But one game of success is one thing.

It needs to replicate that and consistent­ly produce success. Jack Patterson, the heartbeat of this offense, has had two strong games with 625 passing yards and six touchdowns. This week, Northpoint will show last week was just the beginning of what its offense is capable of.

Wynston’s pick: Northpoint 48, Marshall County 22

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.

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