FRIDAY MORNING BLITZ

Region 7-3A

Liberty (7-2, 5-0) at South Side (1-8, 1-4)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Liberty QB Corey Newble; South Side RB Rickey Beard

What to know: Liberty can’t get caught looking ahead to the playoffs next week, but this could be the Crusaders’ final road game until Cookeville if they make it that far and if Raleigh-Egypt loses before the quarterfinals.

Milan (7-2, 3-2) at South Gibson (7-2, 3-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Milan RB Anthony Ballard; South Gibson WR Calem Rich

What’s at stake: The winner is third place in the region, and the loser is fourth place. Both will be on the road for the first round of the playoffs.

What to know: Two very different rushing offenses clash, and they have the same goals – move the ball, eat time off the clock, keep the other offense off the field and score. How they go about achieving those goals are vastly different but equally effective.

Westview (0-9, 0-5) at McNairy Central (4-5, 1-4)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Westview WR Heath Hester; McNairy QB Dylan Crabb

What to know: Both teams have something to play for. Westview is trying to avoid a winless season. McNairy already has the most wins it’s had in a single season since 2008, but 5-5 going into the offseason looks better than 4-6.

Region 6-2A

TCA (3-6, 3-1) at Jackson Chr. (3-6, 3-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: TCA LB Zach Yarbrough; Jackson Christian DL Ethan Anderson

What’s at stake: The winner is the region runner-up and will host a first-round playoff game. The loser will be third and will travel next week.

What to know: Both teams have looked inferior to inept against their tougher opponents and have looked good against lesser competition within the region. This game’s result will be determined by which representative of each team shows up this week.

Adamsville (9-0, 4-0) at Gibson Co. (4-5, 1-3)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Adamsville LB Chase Burdette; Gibson Co. RB Ozzy Rico

What’s at stake: Gibson County needs to win and get help from Halls to make the playoffs.

What to know: Gibson County has plenty of motivation to win this game, but the Pioneers are playing the No. 1 team in the state. Winning will be tough.

McKenzie (4-5, 1-3) at Halls (3-5, 0-4)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: McKenzie RB Eric Robinson

What’s at stake: A win for McKenzie puts the Rebels in the playoffs.

What to know: McKenzie looked by far the best it’s looked in six weeks last week, playing a complete game for four quarters for maybe the first time all season. Halls season hasn’t gone the way the Tigers hoped before it started, and they want to go out on a positive note.

Region 7-4A

Chester Co. (2-7, 2-5) at North Side (6-3, 5-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Chester Co. lineman Rodney Legg; North Side DL Vassar Brooks

What’s at stake: The Indians need to win to finish at least third in the region.

What to know: These teams have played each of the past two seasons, and their playoff matchup in 2014 was really close. The Eagles nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season in all of rural West Tennessee, and they showed they’re capable of playing with the Indians this week.

Lexington (7-2, 5-2) at Crockett Co. (3-6, 2-5)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Lexington FB Kendall Bevelot; Crockett Co. LB Xavier Billings

What’s at stake: A win secures second in the region for Lexington.

What to know: The Tigers showed they’re apparently playing with purpose last week by winning big in a game that could’ve been a lot closer. They have the motivation of playing at home next week with a win, but Crockett has won two in a row coming into this one.

Ripley (2-7, 2-5) at Haywood (8-1, 7-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Haywood RB Decourtney Reed

What to know: Haywood’s play was concerning last week, being pushed to overtime by a two-win team. But the Tomcats probably corrected their mistakes, whether mental or related to the scheme.

Obion Co. (1-8, 0-7) at Hardin Co. (6-3, 5-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Hardin Co. DL Justice Cherry

What’s at stake: The Tigers could move up in playoff seeding with a win and some help from other games.

What to know: The Rebels gave the Tigers a close game last year in Troy. Hardin County could be a little better this time around, however, and Obion County hasn’t won since Week 1.

Division II-A West

St. George’s (7-2, 2-0) at USJ (7-2, 2-0)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: USJ DL Rhett Peel

What’s at stake: The winner will be the region champion, and the loser will be runner-up. Both teams will host first-round playoff games next week.

What to know: USJ’s offensive abilities have been well known for most of the season. The Bruins unveiled they have a quality defense last week to go along with it. They probably need both sides to work well this week to claim their first district championship in four years.

Region 7-1A

Gleason (1-8, 0-7) at Peabody (6-3, 5-2)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Gleason RB Wade Kelley; Peabody TE Khance Hill

What to know: This will probably be the last time for a while for the Bulldogs and Golden Tide to meet with Peabody moving up to Class 2A next year.

Greenfield (3-6, 2-5) at Dresden (9-0, 7-0)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Players to watch: Greenfield lineman Nicolas Mitchell; Dresden LB Jordan Mitchell

What to know: Senior night will be a big night for the outgoing group of Lions. But they can’t afford to look past the Yellowjackets to the playoffs.

South Fulton (4-5, 2-5) at West Carroll (1-8, 1-6)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: West Carroll lineman Chance Townes

What to know: Two small school teams in northwest Tennessee playing for nothing more than bragging rights? That usually is the beginning of a quality football game.

Region 5-2A

Scotts Hill (6-3, 2-2) at Loretto (0-9, 0-4)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Scotts Hill RB Kobe Rogers

What’s at stake: Scotts Hill needs to win to have a chance at third place in the region, but the Lions will be on the road next week.

What to know: Scotts Hill has played Loretto each of the past two seasons and has won easily both times. Loretto hasn’t been competitive much during this winless season.

Waverly (8-1, 4-0) at Riverside (5-4, 3-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Riverside WR Cannon Duke

What’s at stake: The winner is the region champion, but a loss for Riverside could mean a drop to third and a road trip next week in the first round of the playoffs.

What to know: Riverside has played some good teams this season with quality players, but the Panthers’ defense needs to be ready to chase some fast backs around all night and keep them hemmed up.

Non-region

Martin Luther King Prep (0-9) at Bolivar (7-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Bolivar DL Kamarious Armour

What to know: Bolivar appears to have gotten over its struggles of earlier this month. This is another good chance to work on things before hosting a team from Gibson County next week.

Region 8-1A

Booker T. Washington (1-7, 0-2) at Middleton (1-7, 0-2)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Player to watch: Middleton DB Edzaverous Kent

What’s at stake: Both teams will be on the road for the first round of the playoffs, but the winner of this one finishes third in the region.

What to know: Neither of these teams made the playoffs last year, so they both have the assurance of a game next week. But winning two games in the regular season would be a good way to go into the postseason.

Region 6-1A

Huntingdon (6-2, 5-1) at Bruceton (6-3, 5-1)

Kickoff time: 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Huntingdon LB Corey Leavitt; Bruceton LB Isiah Donald

What’s at stake: The winner of this one is the region runner-up and hosts a first-round playoff game. The loser is third and is on the road next week.

What to know: The Mustangs had a hard time last week stopping a quality quarterback, but they could have better luck stopping a very fast running back. Bruceton’s ground game has struggled against the better teams on its schedule. The Tigers want to change that trend this week.

Region 6-3A

Stewart Co. (3-6, 1-4) at Camden (5-3, 3-2)

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Player to watch: Camden DL Dustin Baker

What’s at stake: The Lions are in the playoffs, but a win with some help from other games could move them up in seedings.

What to know: Camden needs a lot of help to move up in the region standings, but they lose all chances of moving up with a loss in this game.

Compiled by Brandon Shields

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