SPORTS

Big region games all around this week

Brandon Shields
bjshields@jacksonsun.com

There are 18 football games in the Sun’s coverage area in Week 7, and all but McNairy Central’s game with Middle College are region matchups.

There are some very important games this week in the area when it comes to region play, so here’s a breakdown of each region and why this week is important.

Region 7-4A

Hardin County and Haywood meet in Savannah to decide who will be the final unbeaten team in the league.

Hardin-Haywood winner will lead 7-4A

Chester County’s trip to Dyer County is important because if any team will challenge the apparent top four, it will be the winner of this game. The Choctaws and Eagles have shown the ability to compete with Lexington, North Side, Haywood and Hardin County.

Ripley has a 2-1 record in region play, so the Tigers’ trip to Lexington is big as well. We’ll find out if Ripley is better than a forfeit victory and a win over Obion County might suggest.

North Side can’t look past Crockett this week.

Region 7-3A

Milan and Dyersburg’s game in Dyersburg appears to be settling who finishes second, but unbeaten South Gibson could have something to say about that if it keeps its high level of play up.

A lot on line for Milan-Dyersburg

Liberty is at Westview, and the Hornets host South Side. McNairy is out of region play this week.

Region 6-2A

The top two teams are playing in Jackson as Adamsville is at Jackson Christian and McKenzie is at Trinity Christian.

The Jackson teams appear to be the underdogs, but the Eagles are a dangerous group if they can get a couple turnovers.

McKenzie is coming in on a three-game losing streak.

Halls at Gibson County could be an important game in deciding fourth in the region if things turn southward for Jackson Christian and TCA, or even McKenzie if the Rebels can’t begin to turn things around this week.

Region 5-2A

Scotts Hill is at Riverside, and Waverly and Lewis County are meeting. That means the playoff teams from last year are all playing.

This is a big week in determining seeding, because if the same four teams make the playoffs, they probably won’t be in the same order.

Region 6-1A

Bruceton has a chance to knock McEwen from the ranks of unbeaten teams, and could do so since the Tigers are the toughest team McEwen has played so far.

Huntingdon goes to Houston County, who hasn’t won a game, and should come back with a perfect region record.

Region 7-1A

Peabody and Dresden is an important game. If Dresden wins, the Lions’ matchup with Union City in Week 9 is essentially for the region championship.

Dresden, Peabody set for 1A showdown

Gleason and West Carroll are both going for their first region win (it would be West Carroll’s first win overall this season).

Greenfield will try to stop Union City. If Lake County wins at South Fulton, the Red Devils are knocked from contention for the playoffs since they’ve already lost to Humboldt. The only thing that could change it is if they get an upset win over Peabody.

Brandon Shields is the high school sports columnist for The Jackson Sun. Contact him at 425-9751 or at bjshields@jacksonsun.com. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at jacksonsunsports.com.