#TNHSFB Week Three Slate: Top Games/Matchups

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Moving right along with the 2023 HS football season here in Tennessee, we have a tremendous schedule of games this week as teams begin to transition into region games and boy do we have some big ones set for Week Three!! </h2>     East TN   Maryville Rebels (2-0) at Bradley Central Bears (2-0)   - Class 6A-Region 2 is on the line this Friday within this contest between two public powers that have state championship aspirations. Both teams come into this game undefeated and looking strong through two weeks of action. Bradley is an athletic squad, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='150277' first='Boo' last='Carter'], [player_tooltip player_id='270395' first='Marcus' last='Goree, Jr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='149845' first='Kaleb' last='Martin'] while the Rebels are a youthful but well coached and feisty. Maryville has a good rushing attack with [player_tooltip player_id='361227' first='Price' last='Davis'] at the forefront and a solid defense that has played good ball thus far. The athleticism from Bradley Central could be too much for the Rebels but you can never count them out!   Key Matchup: Maryville's defensive front seven vs. Bradley's skill players, run game     Farragut Admirals (2-0) at Knox. West Rebels (2-0)   - It's been a magical start to the 2023 season for Farragut but they must now face their stiffest competition yet, going on the road to take on defending Class 5A state champs, Knox. West. Admirals receiver [player_tooltip player_id='277814' first='Landis' last='Davila'] has been an absolute stud while the Farragut defender has played salty football. They must find a way to move the ball against a very good Rebels defense, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='301377' first='C.J.' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='864980' first='Ryan' last='Scott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='465287' first='Anderson' last='Smith'] have been excellent so far this season. If Farragut scores often, the Admirals could pull off the road upset but it will be a tall task versus a well coached Knox. West team.    Key Matchup:  Farragut's O-line vs. the Rebels defensive front seven     Cleveland Blue Raiders (2-0) at Walker Valley Mustangs (2-0)   - The biggest game in some time for the Mustangs of Walker Valley takes place on their home field Friday evening as they host the undefeated Blue Raiders of Cleveland in a cross town rival contest that many feel the road team is the favorite. Head coach Chandler Tygard has gotten his Blue Raider team off to a hot start, beating two good teams and scoring plenty of points in the process. Walker Valley is undefeated as well with an impressive looking defense that has allowed eight points thus far through two games. This will be an interesting matchup to see who's game plan will overcome the other and whose style of football will triumph in the end.    Key Matchup: Mustangs front seven vs. [player_tooltip player_id='219362' first='Isaiah' last='Davis'] & the Blue Raiders run game   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/isdavis.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-498916" /></figure>     Powell Panthers (1-1) at Oak Ridge Wildcats (1-0) - Thursday   - Coming off a last second loss to Farragut in Week Two, Powell is looking to bounce back but must do so on the road against a very talented Oak Ridge team that was able to rest. The Wildcats are loaded on offense with skill players like [player_tooltip player_id='149157' first='Brandon' last='Heyward'], [player_tooltip player_id='207340' first='Almani' last='Rembert'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='741423' first='De'Jauvis' last='Dozier'] that can be game changers and problems for the Panthers defense. While I know Powell is well coached and will be ready to compete, I just don't know if they have enough fire power this year to keep up with this Oak Ridge team but I've been wrong before, so we shall see!   Key Matchup:  Panthers secondary vs. the Wildcats receivers      Other Top Games ……    Tottenville (NY) at Alcoa   Arch. Stepinac (NY) at Baylor   Carter at Gatlinburg-Pittman   Meigs Co. at Kingston   Rhea Co. at Knox. Central   St. Xavier (OH) at McCallie   Jefferson Co. at Science Hill   Dobyns-Bennett at West Ridge   - - - - - - - - - -   Mid TN   Brentwood Bruins (2-0) at Hendersonville Commandos (2-0)   - Possibly the top game in the entire state for Week Three, you have two well coached, physical football teams going head to head in Hendersonville for what should be an outstanding football contest. Brentwood comes to town with one of the best defense's in the state, headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='812489' first='Will' last='Adcock'], [player_tooltip player_id='480631' first='Maddox' last='McKim'] and others competing against a high powered offense from Hendersonville, led by star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='600029' first='Mason' last='Baker']. The battle between these two units will be fun to watch but it could be the Brentwood offense and the Commandos defense that dictates the winner here. Either way, this is a top level game that should be one of the best of the weekend.    Key Matchup: Baker vs. the Bruins defensive front seven      Beech Buccaneers (1-1) at Riverdale Warriors (1-1)   - Both of these Mid-Tennessee programs are coming off Week Two losses but they were defeats that came by the hands of some strong teams (Collierville, Henry Co.) that were close, so I can bet both the Bucs and the Warriors are itching to get back on field and in the win column. Beech plays a certain standard of ball under HC Anthony Crabtree, so I expect them to go down and compete, especially with a strong defense sporting two college guys in [player_tooltip player_id='510640' first='Jordan' last='Lee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='951112' first='Gunnar' last='Clary'] that could cause a talented Riverdale offense problems. If the Bucs are able to slow down [player_tooltip player_id='149160' first='Brock' last='Montgomery'] and [player_tooltip player_id='286599' first='Keshawn' last='Williams'], they have a great shot of coming away with the road win.    Key Matchup: Bucs secondary vs. Montgomery, Williams & the Riverdale receivers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/jaythompson.webp?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-977275" style="width:628px;height:353px" width="628" height="353" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Daily News Journal </figcaption></figure>   Upperman Bees (2-0) at Macon Co. Tigers (2-0)   - A Mid-Tennessee inner region battle takes place here between the road Bees and the home Tigers that could end up dictating the region title winner by season's end. Both of these squads are postseason caliber teams that play a ground and pound brand of football with their running backs being the show pieces. Upperman brings senior [player_tooltip player_id='277791' first='Jaxson' last='Rollins'] to the table, who can break off the big one while Macon Co. has a Mr. Football candidate in [player_tooltip player_id='1310950' first='Gabe' last='Borders'] running the show in the backfield. Whichever defense is able to find enough stops against each other's high powered rushing attack, should find a way to come away with a big victory.    Key Matchup:  Tigers O-line vs. the Upperman defensive front seven      Jackson Christian Eagles (2-0) at Goodpasture Cougars (2-0)   - A strong, under the radar matchup between two 2-0 teams takes place in Madison, Tennessee Friday night where the Eagles from Jackson come to town to face-off with D2-Class AA foe Goodpasture. Both of these teams have had some battles through two weeks but this game should test each other and provide an opportunity for both to see where each team is through Week Three. JCS has a high scoring offense, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='285359' first='Daniel' last='Green'] and junior standouts [player_tooltip player_id='219345' first='Jaylen' last='Mosley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='390711' first='Austin' last='Kelley'] that should provide good competition for Cougars senior defenders [player_tooltip player_id='605380' first='Braxton' last='Lawrence'] and [player_tooltip player_id='372280' first='Ethan' last='Floyd']. JCS will be the favorite but Goodpasture has good enough talent to pull off the home upset.    Key Matchup:  Cougars secondary vs. Mosley      Other Top Games ……   Ravenwood at Blackman   Chrst. Brothers at Brentwood Acad.   Columbia Acad. at Friendship Chrst.   Mt. Juliet at Gallatin   Centennial at Independence   East Robertson at Monterey   Eagleville at Moore Co.   Waverly at Mt. Pleasant   Tullahoma at Rockvale   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/masebaker.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-960920" /></figure>   - - - - - - - - - -   West TN   Collierville Dragons (2-0) at Bartlett Panthers (1-1)   - The third week of high school ball here in TN provides a big opportunity for the home Panthers to continue their winning from last week and take a step forward to becoming region champs as they take on the #PRZTN #1 ranked public school in the state, Collierville. Talent galore will be all over the field Friday night but which side of the ball will win out in the end? That's a tough call as you have [player_tooltip player_id='258673' first='Aidan' last='Glover'] and his passing attack going against [player_tooltip player_id='149393' first='Devin' last='Rutherford'] and a talented Panthers secondary along with a battle in the trenches will plenty of beef and talent. This will be a fun game to follow that should dicate a lot for the postseason come November.    Key Matchup: Glover, [player_tooltip player_id='220241' first='Joakim' last='Dodson'] & the Dragons passing attack vs. Rutherford & the Panthers secondary     Germantown Red Devils (2-0) at Houston Mustangs (1-1)   - Another Class 6A-Region 8 battle in the greater Memphis area takes place right here between the road Red Devils and the home Mustangs. Both these teams know each other well, so nothing should surprise each other as both coaching staffs understand they must stop stud backs [player_tooltip player_id='277794' first='Damon' last='Sisa'], [player_tooltip player_id='337298' first='B.J.' last='Blake'] and [player_tooltip player_id='219401' first='Jamarion' last='Morrow']. All three of those guys are electric with the abilities to make game changing plays and it would not be surprising at all to see any of those guys takeover in this contest. The battle in the trenches is where I see this game being won and I feel the Red Devils might have too much beef for Houston to get past for the win.    Key Matchup:  Mustangs O-line vs. the Red Devils defensive front seven     Oakland Patriots (1-1) at Haywood Tomcats (2-0)   - One of the best programs in the state heads out West to take on an undefeated Haywood team that should be eager and excited to face-off with 6A defending state champion on their home field. The Patriots are coming off a road loss in Indiana, so you can bet they will be hungry while the Tomcats sit at 2-0 and ready to make a statement, however it will be tough. Oakland sports a strong defense, led by future college guys in [player_tooltip player_id='278377' first='Korey' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='152933' first='Stephen' last='Ellison'] and others that will present an obstacle for a Tomcats offense that is young at quarterback but has a solid back to hand it to in [player_tooltip player_id='466233' first='Camarion' last='Miller']. If Haywood can keep the game close till the 4th quarter, they may have a shot but Oakland may just have too much talent for the home team to get past.    Key Matchup: Tomcats rushing attack/O-line vs. the Oakland defensive front seven   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/10/cammiller.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-490825" /></figure>     South Gibson Hornets (1-1) at Hardin Co. Tigers (2-0)   - South Gibson has a huge opportunity ahead of them in Week Three as they travel to undefeated Hardin Co., who has one of the best offensive tandems in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='207322' first='Carter' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='600028' first='Kamron' last='Haymon']. What the Hornets bring to town is a defense that is talented enough to present problems for Smith and the Tigers offense. Senior edge linebacker and future Ole Miss Rebel [player_tooltip player_id='488807' first='Cameron' last='Clark'] has to get pressure on Smith and at least move him off his spot to force inaccurate throws. If Clark and the Hornets front seven can cause havoc in the backfield, the road has a great shot at pulling off the road upset. Hardin Co. is a battle tested program with a veteran team that I think will be ready for an excited South Gibson team.    Key Matchup:  Clark & the Hornets front seven vs. the Hardin Co. O-line/Smith    Other Top Games …….   White Station at Cordova   South Gibson at Hardin Co.   Melrose at Munford   Jackson North-Side at Obion Co.   USJ at TCA   Arlington at Whitehaven   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/aglover5.jpg?w=750" alt="" class="wp-image-939718" style="width:499px;height:333px" width="499" height="333" /></figure>