REGION 2-6A OUTLOOK
Team to beat: With 13 state championships since 1998, the Maryville Rebels are a perennial power. Running back Tee Hodge, who has committed to Tennessee, is a leading force for the program that has not lost a region game since falling to Halls in 2000.
Watch out for: Bradley Central has a new mobile threat at quarterback to pair with talented running back Ricky McCleary, who had 12 touchdowns and 1,191 yards as a junior. The Bears also return standout receivers Saylor Clark and Tray Curry, who combined for 16 touchdowns and nearly 1,600 yards in 2018. If the offensive line can lead the way, the Bears could have a big season.
Best game: Drama hasn’t lacked in the past two meetings between Bradley Central and Ooltewah. The Bears won 42-35 at Ooltewah in 2017, and the Owls landed payback with a 28-27 home victory last year. A Sept. 20 matchup between a pair of teams expected to battle for the second spot in the region should provide lots of entertainment.
Dream schedule: Ooltewah will host Red Bank, McMinn County, Bradley Central, Rhea County and Maryville, and the Owls should be fired up to try to defend their turf and win some big games. But they have tough road games against 2018 region champions David Crockett in the Aug. 23 opener and Soddy-Daisy on Sept. 27.
Nightmare schedule: Cleveland opens the season at Knoxville Central — the reigning Class 5A champion — and then the Blue Raiders face challenging home games
against Hardin Valley and Maryville before traveling to Soddy-Daisy. A showdown with rival Bradley Central on Oct. 4 is the Cleveland’s first of four straight road games.
Players to watch: Bradley Central no longer has two-time allstate quarterback Dylan Standifer, who was a senior last season , but Javin Burke has the speed and playmakers to have a big year. Curry is being heavily recruited by Southeastern Conference teams, and a breakout campaign could push him and the team to another level. Ooltewah’s offensive line abounds with college talent, led by major prospect Christian Benoit, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound senior. The Owls will look to senior quarterback Lane Moore to help right the ship, while Chase Sanders, Josh Shelvin and Tanner Rhodes are expected to lead the secondary, linebackers and defensive line, respectively. McMinn County returns 1,000-yard back Jalen Hunt, while offensive lineman Garrett Priest and linebacker Jalen Sharp are other key players. Cleveland will look to talented receiver Robert Flowers to follow up a 900-yard, double-digit-touchdown season, and Blue Raiders linebacker Money Palelei showed extreme flash as a freshman last year and is quick to strike. Maryville returns a stellar quarterback in Cade Chambers along with top-tier playmakers in receivers A.J. Davis and Ashton Maples, while Hodge’s strength and speed out of the backfield are exceptional. Rebels senior linebacker Mason Shelton is a strong leader for a defense that abounds with sophomore talent.