FRIDAY MORNING BLITZ

Region 7-3A

South Side (0-5, 0-2) at South Gibson (5-0, 1-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: South Side lineman Dalton Thomas; South Gibson LB Levi Schlesinger

What to know: The Hornets have no losses, and the Hawks have no wins. But South Side has been just as close to a couple wins as South Gibson has been to a couple losses.

Hawks try to break trend at Hornets

Liberty (4-2, 2-0) at Westview (0-6, 0-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Liberty LB Malique Cole; Westview DL Cai Ingram

What to know: The Crusaders are looking to get back on track after a bad showing in Nashville last week, while the Chargers haven’t really gotten on track yet.

Milan (5-1, 2-1) at Dyersburg (5-1, 2-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Milan QB Blake Miller

What to know: These two teams are so much alike, anybody trying to pick a winner before kickoff will need to look at the little things to try to see who has the better shot at winning. The only thing that could change that is if Dyersburg’s starting running back is still out after an injury last week.

A lot on line for Milan-Dyersburg

Region 7-4A

North Side (4-2, 3-1) at Crockett Co. (0-3)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: North Side K Angelo Herrera; Crockett Co. lineman Gabe White

What to know: The Cavaliers haven’t had a lot of success since Week 2, while the Indians have had a roller-coaster season so far. Crockett will try to keep up with North Side’s speed.

Ripley (2-3, 2-1) at Lexington (3-2, 2-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Lexington K Luke Lawler

What to know: Ripley technically has the better region record in this matchup, but one win is over a winless region team and the other came by forfeit. Lexington could have a stat-heavy night in this one.

Chester Co. (1-4, 1-2) at Dyer Co. (2-4, 1-3)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Chester Co. lineman Hunter Legg

What to know: This game probably won’t get a lot of attention outside Newbern and Henderson, but it’s an important game in the region as it could be the difference between Nos. 4 and 5 if any other teams take a dive in the second half of the regular season.

Haywood (5-0, 4-0) at Hardin Co. (4-1, 3-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Haywood DL Derrion Bell; Hardin Co. Hardin Co. lineman Cody Murphy

What to know: Both teams have athletes all around. Both teams have strong lines. Both teams are undefeated in region play. At least one of those statements will be incorrect after this matchup.

Hardin-Haywood winner will lead 7-4A

Region 6-2A

McKenzie (3-3, 1-1) at TCA (1-5, 1-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: McKenzie DL Julius Owens; TCA OL Heath Harris

What to know: TCA hasn’t had a good season so far with one win. McKenzie hasn’t had a good September with three consecutive losses. Somebody will get a boost on its season in this one. This is also TCA’s senior night as it’s the Lions’ last home game of the regular season.

Adamsville (5-0, 2-0) at Jackson Chr. (1-4, 1-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Adamsville RB Rhomerius Knight; Jackson Chr. lineman Clayton Phillips

What to know: This is the matchup of the final two unbeaten teams in the region. Adamsville appears to have the advantage, but Jackson Christian is becoming known for pulling off upsets.

Halls (2-2, 1-1) at Gibson Co. (3-3, 0-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Gibson CB Justin Wigtion

What to know: With uncertainty among other teams in the region, both of these teams need this win to give themselves a chance for the playoffs. Gibson County didn’t win a region game last year, so there’s added motivation for the Pioneers.

Region 7-1A

Peabody (4-2, 3-1) at Dresden (6-0, 4-0)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Peabody lineman Jacob Tilley; Dresden WR Hudson Nanney

What to know: The Golden Tide defense goes up against one of the best offenses in the state in any class. There are plenty of options in the passing game on any play.

Dresden, Peabody set for 1A showdown

Gleason (1-5, 0-4) at West Carroll (0-5, 0-3)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Gleason LB Devon Kerr; West Carroll LB Spencer Chandler

What to know: Gleason hasn’t won since Week 1, and West Carroll hasn’t won since 2015. Both teams need a pick-me-up at this point.

Union City (6-0, 4-0) at Greenfield (2-4, 1-3)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Player to watch: Greenfield LB Brantley Baxter

What to know: The Yellowjackets look outmanned in this matchup, but the Golden Tornadoes have issues at quarterback and a couple big games coming up they could be looking ahead to.

Region 5-2A

Scotts Hill (5-1, 2-0) at Riverside (3-3, 1-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Scotts Hill lineman Austin Branham; Riverside lineman John Mack Creasy

What to know: Scotts Hill got its first-ever win over Riverside last year, and it wasn’t close. The Panthers’ defense will try to slow the Lions’ balanced attack.

Region 8-3A

Raleigh-Egypt (6-0, 3-0) at Bolivar (5-0, 3-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Bolivar WR Damarkus Murrell

What to know: It doesn’t get much bigger than a couple of undefeated teams playing late in the season for supremacy in the region.

Region 6-1A

Bruceton (2-3, 1-1) at McEwen (5-0, 2-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Bruceton WR Jacob Ervin

What to know: McEwen’s record is more impressive than the opponents it’s beaten. Bruceton is the toughest team on the schedule so far, and a road win tonight would be big for the Tigers in trying to get back to the playoffs.

Huntingdon (3-1, 2-0) at Houston Co. (0-5, 0-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Huntingdon lineman Michael Arnhold

What to know: Houston County came into this matchup last year undefeated, and Huntingdon scored 50 points in the first half. Houston County has no wins this year, so it might not appear that different with Huntingdon being the road team this year.

Region 8-1A

Middleton (1-5, 0-1) at KIPP Aca. (3-2, 1-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Middleton DL Jamison Whatley

What to know: A loss for Middleton tonight means the Tigers are definitely going on the road for the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. A win keeps them still in contention for a top-two spot for the playoffs.

Non-region games

Middle College (5-1) at McNairy Central (3-3)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: McNairy lineman John Sims

What to know: This is McNairy’s replacement game for Jackson Central-Merry. It looked like an easy win when they first scheduled it back in the spring, but Middle College is playing good ball in Shelby County this year.

Compiled by Brandon Shields

Team scoring leaders

Team scoring

Defensive scoring

Point differential leaders