H.S. FOOTBALL: Week 0 brings intriguing games

Football Friday is finally here in West Tennessee, and Week 0 isn’t a week that typically disappoints local football fans in West Tennessee.

There are plenty of intriguing matchups for the first weekend of the season, so here are the top picks of games to watch if you’re still undecided on where to go tonight.

• Trinity Christian at St. George’s: This one may not get the attendance from around here it got last year since it’s in Memphis, but this one will probably be bigger than most early-season matchups.

Getting a win in this one last year propelled TCA to its most successful regular season ever, and fans for their money’s worth with 79 points scored and overtime. Don’t be surprised if that happens again.

• Milan at Lexington: Traditional fans will enjoy this matchup between the Bulldogs and Tigers – two typically smash-mouth teams whose battle could be won by field position and by play in the trenches.

Lexington comes in with high hopes. Milan comes in with a chip on its shoulder after missing the playoffs last year.

• Dyersburg at Jackson Central-Merry: What would be the best way for JCM head coach Orentheus Taylor to begin his second season with the Cougars? Beating his alma mater would be a good start.

Getting a win will be tough because the Trojans will probably once again be one of West Tennessee’s best, but JCM has the athletes to compete.

• Adamsville at Chester County: The Cardinals broke a losing streak to the Eagles last year with a win in a shootout in this matchup that’s become a traditional test for both programs.

Chester County came away from its jamboree looking better than Adamsville, but stopping the Cardinals when it counts is easier said than done.

• North Side at Dyer County: Tab Vowell and his coaching staff come into the season with a new group of players who haven’t seen much meaningful playing time before this season? The coaching staff should be used to that by now.

This game last year was the coming out party for the 2013 Indians players that went on to win nine games. Dyer County is probably better than it looked in the jamboree last week, so a win here probably isn’t as easy as some Indian fans hope.

• McKenzie at Peabody: These teams were two of the most entertaining teams in the area last year because most of their games were really close. Even though it’s a new season with new players on the field for both teams, there’s no reason to think the same thing won’t happen tonight.

Both teams will be sporting new offenses that want to come out of the gate looking good.

• Bolivar at Crockett County: Keyon Crisp will carry the ball for Bolivar. Johnny Jones, Jr. will carry the ball for the Cavaliers.

Either way, one of the best running backs in the area will be on the field most of the night.

There are some other intriguing aspects to a few games tonight as well. When Greenfield and Lake County square off in Greenfield, both head coaches – Don Pitt at Greenfield and Josh Puckett at Lake County – are both Greenfield alumni. West Carroll and Humboldt will both answer a lot of questions that need to be answered about their programs going into the season.

Of course, there’s the question of will Liberty live up to its hype and compete better with Henry County in what will probably be the biggest game of the night.

Which game are you going to? There are plenty of options.

Brandon Shields is the sports editor of The Jackson Sun. Contact him at 425-9751 or at bjshields@jacksonsun.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon.