West Tennessee football's top non-region games
JACKSON – Non-region football games may not have direct effect on whether or not teams make it into the playoffs, but they provide intriguing matchups, extend long-standing rivalries and can give teams a good test before they get into region play.
Here are 12 non-region matchups we’re looking forward to this season. There are a few intriguing matchups that could make this list that aren’t because next week’s list is the matchups that either have never happened or haven’t been played in awhile, so if a matchup like that should be on this list, that’s why it’s not.
Milan at Peabody (Aug. 25) – This matchup broke Peabody attendance records in 2015 after the Golden Tide had won state the year before and Milan made the state semifinals and both were set to have good teams that year. Both teams have big-time recruits, so there will be plenty of interest. Also, both teams are expected to compete for respective region championships.
Liberty at Henry Co. (Sept. 8) – This pair of West Tennessee titans have met every year for a decade now, and while the Patriots are probably more regarded as more of the historical power, the Crusaders have managed to compete with them for the most part and have picked up a few wins in recent years.
Liberty at Haywood (Oct. 20) – These programs have played off an on every since Liberty opened and began playing football. This will be intriguing because Steve Hookfin is the coach who first led the Crusaders to being competitive on a statwide level with multiple state semifinal appearances is now coaching Haywood and has already improved the Tomcats’ stock as a program in two seasons.
Bolivar at Adamsville (Aug. 18) – Bolivar’s first game with Woodrow Lowe Jr. as head coach was against Adamsville, and the Tigers got hammered. Three years later, Bolivar is one of the top programs in the region, and Adamsville has been in that conversation for a decade now. This will be a test of exactly how far Bolivar has come and how good both teams are early in the season.
Haywood at North Side (Aug. 25) – This has been a region game the past couple years. North Side head coach Donnie Nickey and Haywood’s Steve Hookfin both like to see their teams compete against the best. Mission accomplished for both.
McKenzie at Huntingdon (Aug. 18) – One of the traditional rivalries of West Tennessee and Carroll County, this one is both teams’ season-opener and it will also be the game in which Huntingdon celebrates its new artificial surface.
Milan at Huntingdon (Sept. 22) – Does anybody who has any knowledge of West Tennessee football need an explanation of why this game is on this list? Two of the traditional powers who typically compete for state championships and will definitely compete for region championships this year will continue their annual rivalry this fall with plenty of great athletes in both purple and blue.
Adamsville at Hardin Co. (Sept. 8) – You wouldn’t expect a 2A football program to compete well with a 4A program, but that stuff doesn’t matter when nothing is between two towns other than a river and bragging rights.
Trinity Christian Academy at University School of Jackson (Sept. 8) – Most expect both of these teams to be a bit down this year compared to recent teams, but they both bring back more experience than most fans realize. This one could wind up being one of the more memorable games of the season.
Adamsville at Scotts Hill (Sept. 22) – This one isn’t a rivalry yet as they’ve played nearly every year since 2009, and Scotts Hill has won only once in the one competitive game between the two. But considering it was the first round of the playoffs and ruined the Cardinals’ perfect season last year, this game will get plenty of hype.
Huntingdon at Camden (Sept. 8) – This game is big enough that when they didn’t get to play it last year because of field conditions, Huntingdon responded by getting artificial turf the following offseason.
Lexington at Milan (Oct. 20) – These two had a home-and-home series a few years back and had two classic games to start the season. This will be a good test for both before the playoffs.
Reach Brandon Shields at bjshields@jacksonsun.com or at 731-425-9751. Follow him on Twitter @JSEditorBrandon or on Instagram at jacksonsunsports.