H.S. FOOTBALL: Friday Morning Blitz

Henry Co. at Liberty

Last year’s score: Henry Co. 40, Liberty 21

Player to watch: Liberty RB Devin Bush

What to know: The Crusaders have high hopes this season and a high-caliber schedule to match it. This is the first game of a brutal gauntlet of non-district games to prepare Liberty for District 15-AA. The Patriots won Class 5A last year and bring a lot back. Liberty has competed the past two years, but they haven’t been able to finish well. This one could come down to the final few minutes – if not the final play – if Liberty plays the entire game.

TCA at St. George’s

Last year’s score: TCA 41, St. George’s 38

Player to watch: TCA QB Kyle Akin

What to know: One of these teams made it to Cookeville last year. The other one came close. Both of these independent schools have plans of another long playoff push that ends in Middle Tennessee in the state championship game. Fans got their money’s worth last year with a shootout that went into overtime. This will be a good test to see how much better TCA’s defense is in 2014.

South Side at USJ

Last year’s score: USJ 26, South Side 7

Players to watch: South Side QB Cade Willingham; USJ RB Mitchell Bodiford

What to know: This game will be intriguing to see what kind of team each program puts on the field. Will South Side move the ball better than it did last week in the jamboree at North Side? Will USJ’s pass offense see a little more consistency with all its weapons on the field?

North Side at Dyer Co.

Last year’s score: North Side 26, Dyer Co. 7

Player to watch: North Side WR Joshua Averyheart

What to know: North Side fans are expecting a win tonight after North Side looked considerably better than the Choctaws last week in the jamboree. But that was last week, and it didn’t count. The Choctaws probably have a lot more in the playbook they will try to implement, but North Side knows it has the ability to win.

Dyersburg at JCM

Last year’s score: Dyersburg 51, JCM 28

Player to watch: JCM RB Jalen Marshall

What to know: It’s been a long, emotional offseason for the Cougars, and they’re ready to simply get on the field and play some football. Head coach Orentheus Taylor would like a win against his alma mater, but he probably wants to start off with a win for his team even more. He could accomplish both tonight.

FACS at Jackson Christian

Last year’s score: FACS 29, Jackson Christian 3

Player to watch: Jackson Christian WR Chance Clarke

What to know: A new era begins tonight for the Eagles. Defense has been emphasized since first-year head coach Todd Roland got to town. But they lost some offensive weapons off last year’s team. FACS won this game last year to start a successful season, but a win here could propel the Eagles to a lot of success.

Milan at Lexington

Last year’s score: Lexington 21, Milan 14

Players to watch: Milan WR Hayden Bolton; Lexington QB Tylan Johnson

What to know: Despite the remaining teams on Milan’s schedule the rest of the season, you could make a case for this being the Bulldogs’ toughest matchup. Milan should find out a lot about themselves in this one and the personnel they have coming back. They had their chances to win last year, and they could again tonight.

Adamsville at Chester Co.

Last year’s score: Adamsville 46, Chester Co. 35

Players to watch: Adamsville QB Seth Paul; Chester Co. RB Jarrett Wilson

What to know: The Eagles looked good last week at their own jamboree. Adamsville looked good in its scrimmage but admittedly could’ve looked better. The programs meet nearly every year because they know they’re a good early test for each other. They’ll find out tonight which one will pass.

Bolivar at Crockett Co.

Last year’s score: Crockett Co. 54, Bolivar 6

Players to watch: Bolivar RB Keyon Crisp; Crockett Co. RB Johnny Jones

What to know: Two of the best running backs in the area will be on the field tonight possibly racking up a lot of yards to start the season. The Cavaliers won this one going away last year because it took Bolivar a few weeks to get its conditioning and defense together, both of which have been emphasized in the offseason.

McKenzie at Peabody

Last year’s score: Peabody 21, McKenzie 16

Players to watch: McKenzie QB Jack Surber; Peabody QB Kendrick Malone

What to know: This game was one of the more entertaining games of Week 0 last year. Look for it to entertain again as the Rebels try to start out with a win and make a push to return to the playoffs.

West Carroll at Humboldt

Last year’s score: Humboldt 33, West Carroll 26

Players to watch: West Carroll WB Taylor Shaw; Humboldt WR Troy Agnew

What to know: Humboldt’s players coming in want to prove they’re just as good – if not better – as last year’s team that mostly graduated. A win tonight would begin to prove that, but the War Eagles should be better this year as well.

Bruceton at South Fulton

Last year’s score: Bruceton 64, South Fulton 26

Player to watch: Bruceton RB Kaelin Willis

What to know: Willis and the Tigers came close to breaking a few TSSAA rushing records in this game last year. Getting into the record books probably isn’t a main goal for head coach Jamie Williams, but putting up record-like numbers helps to accomplish the goal of winning the game.

Fulton Co. (Ky.) at Gleason

Last year’s score: Gleason 45, Fulton Co. 6

Player to watch: Gleason RB Ian Legens

What to know: The Bulldogs can build a lot of momentum for the season with a big win at home tonight, and they have the players in the backfield to do it.

Obion Co. at Huntingdon

Last year’s score: Huntingdon 49, Obion Co. 14

Player to watch: Huntingdon DB Kenneth Pruett

What to know: Huntingdon won this one last year with a lop-sided score over a team that’s two classifications bigger, but it was their first game with a new coach. Both teams come in with key players out, but Huntingdon has had more time to adjust.

Union City at Gibson Co.

Last year’s score: Union City 48, Gibson Co. 0

Player to watch: Gibson Co. QB Jake Siler

What to know: The Pioneers get to open their brand new football stadium by hosting the defending Class 1A state champion.

Lake Co. at Greenfield

Last year’s score: Lake Co. 48, Greenfield 34

Player to watch: Greenfield RB Miles Cavitt

What to know: Greenfield can set the tone for the rest of the season with what would be considered by most as an upset win tonight over the Falcons. If the Yellowjackets can play a complete game, they’ve got the ability to do that.

Middleton at Falkner (Miss.)

Last year’s score: Falkner 59, Middleton 29

Player to watch: Middleton WR Dylan Stewart

What to know: The Tigers waited until Week 9 last year to get their first win, but they can get it at the start of the season if they play a little more defense this time around.

Wayne Co. at Riverside

Last year’s score: Riverside 27, Wayne Co. 20

Player to watch: Riverside ATH Drake Smith

What to know: Riverside coach Jeff Robertson said he was cautiously optimistic about his team going into the season. The optimism is because his team has plenty of talent. The caution is from playing good teams throughout the season, and Wayne County is expected to be one of those better teams.

Perry Co. at Scotts Hill

Last year’s score: Perry Co. 28, Scotts Hill 16

Player to watch: Scotts Hill LB Chase Stout

What to know: Scotts Hill impressed some people last week in their jamboree with a big win and a bigger roster – bigger in size and the number of players on the sideline. A win over Perry County would put the Lions well on their way to their primary goal of winning three games – which would be a program record.

B.T. Washington at Haywood

Last year’s score: Haywood 41, B.T. Washington 0

Player to watch: Haywood DL Emmit Gooden

What to know: Haywood is an athletic team with plenty of size and speed all over the field. You could describe Booker T. Washington the same way. The Tomcats’ coaching staff proved they knew what they were doing with their players last year with some big early wins, and they’ll try to repeat that feat again beginning tonight.

Memphis Northside at Hardin Co.

Last year’s score: Hardin Co. 54, Northside 0

Player to watch: Hardin Co. WR Cal Gobbell

What to know: It’s been a while since Northside has won a game or even scored a lot of points. This should be a good game for the new breed of Tigers to get some experience in an actual game before playing some bigger games down the road.

Compiled by Brandon Shields