TN HS Football: Week One Top Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High school football here in Tennessee is finally back as we are officially in game week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We crank up the official season with our look at the best games across the state for Week One and the key matchups for both teams. It's a deep slate of games this week, so it should be exciting with everything starting on Thursday and finishing up on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. MBA at Ravenwood (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Middle Tennessee battle between two of the best programs and quarterbacks in this state with the Big Red's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102308' first='Marcel' last='Reed'] </strong>going toe to toe with the home Raptors and new Mississippi St. commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='60841' first='Chris' last='Parson']</strong>. This could be a classic high scoring, air attack!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Ravenwood's front seven (defense overall) against Parson's arm and legs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":267418,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/cparson-1024x678.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-267418"/><figcaption>Photo: Twitter </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Independence at CPA (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The road Eagles bring in a new staff but sport a veteran laiden team, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102275' first='Ty' last='Lockwood'] </strong>while the home Lions have a nice mix of vets and youth but have tremendous depth, starring two seniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207352' first='London' last='Humphreys'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102187' first='Bo' last='Burklow']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>CPA's front seven vs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102246' first='Tre' last='Hartwell'] </strong>and Indy's rushing attack </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Powell at Anderson Co. (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- If you're looking for passing and points, this is your game! You have two high scoring, heavy passing teams squaring off against each with two senior quarterbacks leading the way in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102302' first='Jordyn' last='Potts'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102284' first='Walker' last='Martinez']</strong> with dynamic receivers starring for both teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Panther's passing attack vs. the Mavericks secondary </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Christian Brothers at Germantown (Saturday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Two of the best football programs in the Greater Memphis area have to wait an extra day to face off with each other but it should be worth the wait as both these teams should provide a tough, physically hard contest that isn't settled till the very end.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Germantown's front seven vs. the Purple Wave rushing attack</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Cane Ridge at Pearl Cohn (Thursday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- These two are possibly the most consistent programs we have in the Nashville, Davidson County area and they open the ‘22 season against each other in what could be a monster debut for the home Firebirds and their march towards a 4A title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: [player_tooltip player_id='258845' first='Keshawn' last='Tarleton'] </strong>vs. a talented Ravens secondary </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":279264,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/bdavisjr.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-279264"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Knox. Central at Greeneville (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Looking out East, these two teams have championship aspirations this season but must beat each other up in Game 1 with somebody taking the loss. This is an entertaining matchup between a high scoring Green Devils offense and a strong Bobcats defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Bobcats secondary vs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148875' first='Corbin' last='Cannon'] </strong>&amp; his receivers </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Carter at Knox. Webb (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This could be one of the best overall games of the entire weekend as you have two very talented teams that have outside chances at making it to Chattanooga. The battle to watch will be between two star quarterbacks in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250834' first='Charles' last='Robinson'], Jr </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102362' first='Chandler' last='Wilson']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Knox Webb's receivers vs. the Hornets secondary </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Mt. Juliet at Gallatin (Friday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Could this be the season that head coach <strong>Chad Watson </strong>and his Green Wave breakthrough as region champs and push their way deep into the playoffs? It's possible but they first must battle a very good Golden Bears team that has the same aspirations of reaching Chattanooga.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Gallatin rushing attack vs. the Mt. Juliet front seven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":306481,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/03/ecrisp.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-306481"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Munford at Covington (Thursday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- One of the best games from the West Tennessee region is the Cougars traveling to Covington to face a senior laden Chargers team that right now looks to be one of the best from the Class 3A ranks. Munford is pretty legit too, especially with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148838' first='Jordan' last='Bell'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119168' first='Braxton' last='Sharp'] </strong>in the backfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Munford's front seven vs. Covington's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102218' first='Jamarion' last='Dowell'] </strong>&amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150379' first='A.C.' last='Mason-Young']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Red Bank at Cleveland (Thursday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The road Lions are picked to win their region by #PRZTN but must compete against a very good Blue Raiders team, led by several key seniors, especially quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102267' first='Drew' last='Lambert']</strong>. Red Bank has some horses but can it be enough to overcome a good Cleveland squad.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Red Bank's secondary vs. Lambert &amp; his receivers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Matchups of Note</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hendersonville at Oakland</strong> - Thursday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brainerd at Bradley Central </strong>- Thursday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peabody at Milan </strong>- Thursday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beech at Farragut </strong>- Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Father Ryan at East Nashville </strong>- Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Page at Fairview </strong>- Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stewarts Creek at Smyrna </strong>- Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":268217,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/dlambert-732x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-268217"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->