#TNHSFB Week Two Slate: Top Games/Matchups
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This week’s schedule isn’t as strong as opening weekend but it’s still full of interesting games that will go a long way towards postseason hopes. East TN Powell Panthers (1-0) at Farragut Admirals (1-0) – Week one went well for…
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Continue ReadingThis week’s schedule isn’t as strong as opening weekend but it’s still full of interesting games that will go a long way towards postseason hopes.
East TN
Powell Panthers (1-0) at Farragut Admirals (1-0)
– Week one went well for both the Panthers and the Admirals but somebody must take their 1st loss of the season on Friday when these two East TN programs clash. Powell took out defending 4A champs Anderson Co. last week while Farragut beat a good Dobyns-Bennett team, so both squads received good tests in their Week One games. Both the Panthers and Admirals are offensive based, meaning these could be a high scoring game, so whichever defense shows up the most will gain the edge in this contest. Powell best keep an eye on Farragut stud receiver Landis Davila Landis Davila 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Farragut | 2024 State TN as he could be a difference maker.
Key Matchup: Farragut’s front seven vs. Powell’s O-line and RB Connor Wheeler Connor Wheeler 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Powell | 2025 TN
Knox. Central Bobcats (1-0) at Maryville Rebels (1-0)
– This is the most interesting matchup of Week Two from the East TN region for me as you have both the Bobcats and Rebels coming stellar offensive performances with both sporting strong rushing attacks but Knox. Central flashed their passing in last week’s 53-20 beatdown of Fulton. We will see if the Bobcats passing attack remains consistent this week against a solid Rebels secondary. The run game might need to come back into play to win this contest, so guys like Gage LaDue Gage LaDue 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Maryville | 2024 State TN , Price Davis Price Davis 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Maryville | 2025 State TN and Frank Johnson IV Frank Johnson IV 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Knox. Central | 2024 TN should be in high demand throughout the game.
Key Matchup: Central’s D-line vs. the Rebels O-line
Knox. West Rebels (1-0) at Clinton Dragons (0-1)
– Week One was a challenge for the home Dragons and Week Two presents another one as the defending 5A champs come to town and they bring a salty defense with them. Clinton fell at home last week 49-36 to Cleveland and showed serious leaks within their defense that needs to be fixed. They have a new opportunity this week but a different challenge as the Rebels are a run based offense that will spread in the pass, so Dragon’s quarterback Joshuah Keith Joshuah Keith 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Clinton | 2024 State TN and his offense have a chance to throw his team to victory but he better watch out for C.J. Smith C.J. Smith 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Knox. West | 2024 State TN , Ryan Scott Ryan Scott 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Knox. West | 2024 State TN and Anderson Smith Anderson Smith 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Knox. West | 2024 State TN cause they and the Knox. West defense will be ready to go.
Key Matchup: Dragons passing attack (Keith) vs. the Rebels secondary
Body Buchanan (1-0) at Brainerd (0-0)
– The Buccaneers were impressive in Week One but they have a new challenge this week against a fresh and talented Brainerd team and secondary that might provide issues for the Boyd Buchanan passing attack. The Panthers have multiple pieces on the back end, including playmakers Terrence Lee and Jayun Smith Jayun Smith 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Brainerd | 2025 State TN that have the athletic abilities to cause fits for Buccaneers quarterback Houston Hicks Houston Hicks 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Boyd Buchanan | 2025 State TN and his receivers. If the road Bucs want to go to 2-0, they may need to balance things out this week by working in Asher Keck Asher Keck 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Boyd Buchanan | 2024 TN and the run game more but either way, this game could be interesting to follow.
Other Top Games
Bearden (0-1) at Alcoa (1-0)
McMinn Co. (0-1) at Cleveland (1-0)
Greeneville (1-0) at Dobyns-Bennett (0-1)
Sevier Co. (1-0) at Jefferson Co. (0-1)
Lenoir City (1-0) at Loudon (1-0)
Coalfield (1-0) at Oneida (1-0)
Walker Valley (1-0) at Polk Co. (1-0)
Red Bank (1-0) at Rhea Co. (1-0)
Greenback (1-0) at Whitwell (1-0)
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Mid TN
Pearl Cohn Firebirds (1-0) at CPA Lions (1-0)
– Possibly the top game and matchup from the entire state this week is the Firebirds going back on the road to take on CPA, who just came off a come from behind victory over a highly talented Brentwood Academy team. There will be college talent all over the field at CPA but who has the better team? That’s the interesting question because even though Pearl Cohn sits in the 4A ranks with the Lions residing on the private level, the Firebirds are more than capable of competing with the D2 power. Whoever has the ball last in this contest may end up being the winner.
Key Matchup: Pearl Cohn’s wideouts ( D’Arious Reed D’Arious Reed 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Pearl Cohn | 2024 State TN , Donovan Higgins Donovan Higgins 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Pearl Cohn | 2025 TN , Javion Kinnard Javion Kinnard 5'8" | 175 lbs | WR Pearl Cohn | 2025 State TN ) vs. the Lions secondary
Riverdale Warriors (1-0) at Henry Co. (1-0)
– Two Mid-TN powers clash in Paris, Tennessee on Friday evening for one of the top games in the state between the road Warriors and the home Patriots. Riverdale comes in after an impressive opening game where they scored at will, behind the strong trio of Braden Graham Braden Graham 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Riverdale | 2024 State TN , Brock Montgomery Brock Montgomery 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Riverdale | 2024 State TN and Keshawn Williams Keshawn Williams 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Riverdale | 2024 State TN . The Patriots are a bit young in several spots but still have enough talent to give Riverdale a game, especially on defense where seniors Caden Marshall Caden Marshall 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Henry Co. | 2024 State TN , Evan Richardson Evan Richardson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Henry Co. | 2024 State TN and Mallaki Boutwell Mallaki Boutwell 6'1" | 215 lbs | DL Henry Co. | 2024 TN can be game changers. If this game stays close throughout, Henry Co. has a shot but if the Warriors are able to score early and often, it could be a long night for the home team.
Key Matchup: Henry County’s secondary vs. the Warriors pass catchers
Brentwood Academy Eagles (1-0) at Brentwood Bruins (1-0)
– The battle of Brentwood takes place on the Bruins home field Friday night and they have a shot at putting the Eagles down 0-2 to start the season and put themselves on the map as one of the best public schools teams in the state this year. Brentwood has a stout defense, led by their linebackers that was outstanding in last week’s win over Blackman. The Eagles played a hard fought game against CPA that saw them lose in the last seconds but with George MacIntyre George MacIntyre 6'5" | 190 lbs | QB Brentwood Academy | 2025 State TN at the helm, Brentwood Academy is more than capable of beating anybody. If the Bruins can keep the score low, they have a shot at pulling off the upset
Key Matchup: Bruins defensive front seven vs. Andrew Pedersen Andrew Pedersen 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Brentwood Academy | 2024 State TN , Graham Gilmer Graham Gilmer 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Brentwood Acad. | 2024 State TN & the BA O-line
Centennial Cougars (1-0) at Summit Spartans (1-0)
– This Williamson Co. matchup pits two 1-0 teams against each other with both looking for inter county bragging rights and a continued undefeated start to their season. Both these teams had impressive showings last week but Week Two provides different challenges for both as the Spartans must find a way to slow down Dominic Reed Dominic Reed 6'0" | 195 lbs | ATH Centennial | 2024 State TN , Taner Lee Taner Lee 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Centennial | 2024 State TN and the Cougars offense while Centennial must find a way to stop Summit running back Dominick Hollis Dominick Hollis 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Summit | 2024 State TN . Rushing the football should be on full display within this contest with the team making the least mistakes coming away with the victory.
Key Matchup: Summit’s defensive front seven vs. Reed, Lee & the Cougars run game
Other Top Games
Springfield (1-0) at Clarksville (1-0)
Friendship Chrst. (1-0) at DCA (1-0)
MBA (0-1) at Ensworth (1-0)
South Pittsburg (1-0) at Franklin Co. (0-1)
West Creek (0-1) at Green Hill (1-0)
Davidson Acad. (1-0) at Lincoln Co. (1-0)
Centennial (1-0) at Summit (1-0)
Lebanon (1-0) at Upperman (1-0)
– – – – – – –
West TN
Beech Buccaneers (1-0) at Collierville Dragons (1-0)
– Top five game of the Week Two slate, this is a strong matchup from two of the better coached programs in the state with Beech traveling all the way to Memphis to knock off 6A power Collierville. The home Dragons took care of business last week while the Bucs had some challenges but won their game 21-0. The shutout style defense that Beech brought last week has to go on the road with them Friday as they go against the top senior quarterback in the state in Aidan Glover Aidan Glover 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Collierville | 2024 State TN . No matter if Beech wins or loses this game, it will make them better for the long run.
Key Matchup: Bucs secondary vs. Glover, Joakim Dodson Joakim Dodson 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Baylor | 2025 State TN & the Dragons passing attack
Melrose Golden Wildcats (1-0) at MUS Owls (1-0)
– Highly entertaining game right here with two explosive offenses and future college players spread on the field but the key to victory may come by way of defensive play. The Owls were dominant on defense in last week’s shutout of Bartlett where stud defensive back Brandon Nicholson Brandon Nicholson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB MUS | 2024 State TN picked the ball off four times. His teammate on the backend Makhi Shaw Makhi Shaw 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH MUS | 2024 State TN had a stellar game as well. The Golden Wildcats may need to lean on star running back Rhyan Brown Rhyan Brown 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Melrose | 2025 State TN to produce points and keep themselves close for a possible upset. It’s going to be tough for the Wildcats but they should provide a good fight for a talented MUS team.
Key Matchup: MUS defensive front seven vs. Brown & the Golden Wildcats O-line
Munford Cougars (1-0) at Millington Central Trojans (1-0)
– Under the senior leadership of quarterback Jordan Bell Jordan Bell 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Munford | 2024 State TN , the road Cougars have a great shot at the 5A title this year and they kicked off their 2023 season in style last week with a solid 30-13 win over Covington. For the home Trojans of Millington, they had a strong first game as well with senior quarterback McCoy Pugh putting up some good numbers. The Trojans will need Pugh to play a flawless game for them to win because Munford has one of the best secondaries in the state with guys Kollin Collier Kollin Collier 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Munford | 2024 State TN and Tyler Williams Tyler Williams 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Munford | 2025 State TN roaming on the back end. This game could go multiple ways but if the Trojans hang in there, they may have a shot in the 4th quarter.
Key Matchup: Pugh & his Millington receivers vs. the Cougars secondary
Lausanne Lynx (1-0) at Bartlett Panthers (0-1)
– It wasn’t the best opening showing for Bartlett, so I can bet they are ready to get back on the field and right some wrong’s from last week’s shutout to MUS. The Lynx demolished one of the best 1A teams in the state, 42-6 over MASE. Both these teams come into this matchup on different emotional states where the Lynx are looking to build on last week’s win while the Panthers should be hungry and eager to hit somebody. Bartlett must do better on offense this week but the Lausanne defense presents a big challenge with guys like Trevor Anthony Trevor Anthony 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Lausanne | 2024 State TN , Jay Morrow Jay Morrow 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Lausanne | 2024 State TN and Sky Staten causing havoc in the trenches, so we will see if anything changes or improves from last week’s game.
Key Matchup: Bartlett’s O-line vs. the Lynx front seven
Other Top Games
Milan (1-0) at Chester Co. (0-1)
Giles Co. (0-1) at Hardin Co. (1-0)
Jackson Chrst. (1-0) at Peabody (0-1)
Union City (0-1) at USJ (1-0)
Crockett Co. (1-0) at Ripley (1-0)