Haywood's Decourtney Reed is Jackson area's Week 1 Player of the Week

Seeing a Steve Hookfin team play Henry County early in the high school football season is nothing new.

Hookfin liked to play the Patriots when he was coach at Liberty, and now they appear on his schedule at Haywood.

Haywood opened the season with a 14-12 victory over Henry County behind the rushing of junior Decourtney Reed.

"The game was everything we thought it would be, and to win the game was huge," Hookfin said.

Reed rushed for 153 yards against a stout Patriots defense with one touchdown on 13 carries.

"Decourtney is a big part of what we were doing Friday night," Hookfin said. "Overall, it was a good win, competing at a high level."

Reed is one part of an experienced backfield back this season for the Tomcats, and that is why Haywood is considered by many as the team to beat in West Tennessee.

Haywood is ranked No. 1 in the Dirty Dozen and No. 4 in the Tennessee Associated Press Class 4A state rankings.

Of course, there were things that Hookfin saw that can be improved upon for the rest of the season.

"Our offensive line is a whole new group, so they are still progressing," he said. "We also fumbled the ball and dropped a few passes."

Haywood returns to action Friday night on the road at North Side, the first of two straight Friday nights in Jackson.

Other standout performances

• Stone Frost (Riverside, QB) - Frost was 12-for-19 for 158 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Obion County in overtime. He also rushed 10 times for 101 yards.

• Viktor Horton (TCA, RB) - Horton rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries in one half of play as the Lions beat Jackson Christian.

• Ryan Miller (USJ, WR) - Miller had 236 yards and three receiving touchdowns on 14 catches, but the Bruins lost to Chester County.

• Kade Pearson (Huntingdon, QB) - Pearson was 8-of-10 for 195 yards and two touchdowns as the Mustangs beat McKenzie. He also rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown.

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754 and on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.