H.S. FOOTBALL: Friday Morning Blitz

JCM (2-6) at South Side (1-7)

Last year's score: JCM 39, South Side 15

Players to watch: JCM QB Terrance Kinnie; South Side lineman Chris Haywood

What to know: There's probably not much more than city pride to play for in this game. The Cougars could have an outside shot at making the Class 3A playoffs if they win their final two for four victories, but they'd need extra help to get there.

North Side (7-1) at South Gibson (2-6)

Last year's score: North Side 28, South Gibson 24

Players to watch: North Side WR Josh Averyheart; South Gibson QB Colton Lowery

What to know: This game was a close one last year, and the Hornets have managed to stay close with nearly everybody even though they've won two games at this point. North Side is coming off its first defeat of 2014 and wants to prove it has what it takes to compete in the playoffs, so a positive performance here would be ideal.

Chester Co. (7-1) at USJ (5-3)

Last year's score: USJ 34, Chester Co. 27

Players to watch: Chester Co. QB Bo Morris; USJ QB Easton Underwood

What to know: Chester County comes in with a little more momentum since its won seven in a row and is on the verge of winning its first-ever district championship. The Bruins are coming off a bye that followed a loss before going into a district championship game of their own in Week 10. The Eagles stopped a power team last week and held it to three points. Can it do the same with a team that throws it as much as USJ does?

ECS (7-1) at TCA (7-1)

Last year's score: ECS 56, TCA 20

Player to watch: TCA RB James Bond

What to know: This was a game in which the Lions learned a lot about themselves when they carried an 8-0 record into Shelby County and left with a lopsided defeat. TCA has proven it can score a lot of points and win a lot of games. But if the Lions want to prove they can compete with teams that are good enough to compete for a state title, a better performance in this game would be a good sign.

Liberty (6-2) at Millington (6-2)

Last year's score: Liberty 26, Millington 14

Player to watch: Liberty DB Jarvis Neely

What to know: Liberty picked up an upset in this matchup last year, and both teams are playing better football coming into this game. Liberty certainly has the ability to compete with one of the leaders in 6A ball in Shelby County, but the question this week is can the Crusaders avoid a letdown after a big win?

Jackson Christian (1-7) at McNairy (3-5)

Last year's score: McNairy 35, Jackson Chr. 19

Players to watch: Jackson Chr. RB Clay Lewis; McNairy DL Jeremy Harris

What to know: The Bobcats have more to play for right now than the Eagles as far as the postseason goes. But the Jackson Christian senior class would like to put a stamp on the program and on the Todd Roland Era in which they can look back and say they build the foundation for whatever success the program will enjoy in the coming years. A win over a Class 4A team would be a big boost to the late-season morale while the Bobcats still have a shot at the playoffs to aim for.

Milan (5-3) at Huntingdon (5-3)

Last year's score: Huntingdon 21, Milan 20

Player to watch: Milan RB Isiah Ross; Huntingdon DB Kenneth Pruett

What to know: Is there much to say about the Dog and Pony Show? Huntingdon's coming in smarting after a loss to a district rival last week. Milan is riding the wave of a big win not many outside the Bulldogs' locker room expected to see. Even when Milan was struggling through a three-win season a year ago, it still pushed Huntingdon to overtime before the Mustangs won.

Crockett Co. (8-0) at Lexington (4-4)

Last year's score: Crockett Co. 35, Lexington 14

Player to watch: Crockett Co. OL Landon Kail; Lexington RB Tariquious Tisdale

What to know: The Cavaliers' season couldn't go much better than it has so far. The Tigers have struggled considerably more this year than they have recently against one of the tougher non-district schedules in the area plus a rare district loss last week that will probably cost them a fifth straight title. Crockett County has a district title game ahead next week the Cavaliers don't want to get caught looking past the Tigers.

Westview (7-1) at McKenzie (6-2)

Last year's score: Westview 62, McKenzie 39

Player to watch: Westview LB Landon Pitcher; McKenzie RB Noah Lowrance

What to know: The Rebels are district champions and riding a six-game win streak. Westview is one poor performance away from an unbeaten season at this point. Both teams shined on offense last week as they each scored a lot of points en route to big wins. Have the Rebels improved over last year so much they can stop a Charger program that embarrassed them last year?

Gleason (2-6) at Scotts Hill (4-4)

Last year's score: Gleason 27, Scotts Hill 6

Player to watch: Gleason lineman Taylor Brundidge; Scotts Hill DE Blaine Miller

What to know: Gleason has sputtered through this season as injuries to an already-small roster have hurt their chances for success. Meanwhile, Scotts Hill has been the surprise team of the season in the area – a title Gleason has held a couple times in recent seasons – with a 4-4 record and a pair of winnable games to end the regular season with. The Lions have advantage in size and depth and don't have to travel an hour-and-a-half to play a game of football.

Bolivar (2-6) at Hardin Co. (5-3)

Last year's score: Hardin Co. 58, Bolivar 27

Player to watch: Bolivar WR Javontae Crisp; Hardin Co. RB Brandon Luna

What to know: Bolivar is on a two-game win streak with both of those wins coming over teams with a combined two wins. Hardin County has been one of the hotter teams in the area, falling two points shy a couple weeks ago of being on a six-game win streak coming into the game.

Bruceton (5-3) at Houston Co. (1-7)

Last year's score: Bruceton 49, Houston Co. 14

Player to watch: Bruceton LB Cabe Sala

What to know: Bruceton needs as many wins as it can get in non-district games to make the Class 1A playoffs. This is a good opportunity to boost the resume.

Middleton (0-8) at Rossville Chr. (3-5)

Last year's score: Middleton 32, Rossville Chr. 27

Player to watch: Middleton lineman Zacavion Gordon

What to know: This was the game in which Middleton got its one win last season. If the Tigers can play better defense than they have all season, history could repeat itself.

Riverside (5-3) at Collinwood (1-7)

Last year's score: Collinwood 35, Riverside 14

Player to watch: Riverside lineman Maverick Cross

What to know: Collinwood has struggled severely this season, while Riverside has hit its stride in recent weeks. The Panthers have a long road trip into Wayne County, but it could very well be a happy ride back after a sixth win that would all but secure a wild card berth in the Class 2A playoffs.

District 14-A

Peabody (7-1, 5-0) at Union City (8-0, 5-0)

Last year's score: Union City 28, Peabody 7

Player to watch: Peabody DL Grant McEwen

What to know: This is the district championship game. The team that comes up short will probably be the district runner-up. No team has come closer to Union City so far this season than 28 points, and it could be hard for Peabody to do that if the Golden Tide are playing with missing personnel again like they did last week against an inferior opponent.

Halls (2-6, 0-5) at Humboldt (4-4, 3-2)

Last year's score: Halls 12, Humboldt 7

Player to watch: Humboldt RB Cornelius Watson

What to know: After a couple of disappointing performances, this is an ideal chance for Humboldt to get back to playing winning football. The Vikings' defense has been shredded on the ground the last two weeks, so a better performance tonight before a big rivalry matchup next week could help in the momentum department.

Gibson Co. (2-6, 1-4) at Greenfield (2-6, 1-4)

Last year's score: Greenfield 41, Gibson Co. 6

Player to watch: Gibson Co. lineman Isaac White; Greenfield lineman Jordan Lasater

What to know: Both the Pioneers and Yellowjackets have been surprisingly impressive at times this season as they've both gotten more wins than in past seasons, but they've both lost games recently they maybe shouldn't have that are hurting their hopes for the playoffs. A win tonight might not put the winner in the postseason, but it wouldn't hurt either.

District 11-AA

Stewart Co. (2-6, 1-5) at Camden (6-2, 5-1)

Last year's score: Camden 63, Stewart Co. 32

Player to watch: Camden LB Trevor Gianonni

What to know: The Lions made enough mistakes last week that if they hadn't made them, they'd still be undefeated in the district at this point. The good thing about that is everything that went wrong last week is correctable. Look for plenty of corrections to be made tonight.

Compiled by Brandon Shields