TNHSFB Playoffs: 1st Round Upset Alert

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Postseason play is here! It's money time for everybody across the state but it's also one and done time, meaning if you lose, the season is over! For these games below, we see “Upset Alert” written all over these matchups and contests that we could see surprise outcomes by the end of Friday night.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 1A&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Sale Creek at #2 Clay Co.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- If Sale Creek wasn't in the same region as possibly the top team in the Class 1A ranks, more people would be talking about the Panthers but they head into postseason play as a sleeper team that I feel could not only pull off the 1st round upset but also win more than one game in the playoffs. They have a strong challenge in round one as Sale Creek goes on the road to take on a good Clay Co. team that faced a tough schedule that should have them ready for this contest against the Panthers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these squads like to run the ball while providing solid defense, so this really looks like an even matchup on paper that could go till the 4th quarter before a winner is settled. If Clay Co. doesn't come out the gates early ready to compete, they could fall behind and play catch up the rest of the way, which is not a good recipe to win. Sale Creek is coming off a strong performance in their 55-12 win over Copper Basin in their final regular season contest so the Panthers are coming with confidence. This should be a good game where either team can come out with the win but the home Bulldogs are certainly on upset alert as we kick off the playoffs on Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Other Games to Watch&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Rockwood at #2 Jellico</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Lake Co. at #2 Middle College</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Milan at #2 Lewis Co.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1076187,"width":"535px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5251141552511416","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/lewisco3-crop-669x439-1698947675.jpg?w=668" alt="" class="wp-image-1076187" style="aspect-ratio:1.5251141552511416;width:535px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Coming from out West to take on a good Lewis Co. team, the Milan Bulldogs are in a prime position to pull off the road upset as they bring a good, well balanced squad to town Friday evening in what should be one of the better 1st round matchups across the state. The home Panthers have an explosive, high scoring offense, led by junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='362006' first='Brycen' last='McDonald'] </strong>that Milan's defense will have to account for and slow down if they want to come out with the win. The Bulldogs defense has struggled at times throughout the season and is coming off a loss to Riverside where they allowed 48 points in the loss. If Milan's defense comes with that same type of mentality, Lewis Co. will score a lot of points and advance to Round Two.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, I think the Bulldogs should be ready to play as it's postseason time and it's win or go home. Lewis Co. does present a lot of challenges for Milan as they are a talented ball club with stud players on both sides of the ball, so it won't be easy for the Bulldogs but I feel they will give the Panthers a good ball game and be there to possibly pull off the upset in the 4th quarter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Other Games to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 South Greene at #2 Bledsoe Co.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Mt. Pleasant at #2 Riverside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Johnson Co. at #2 Kingston</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The Longhorns have been on fire of late and they head into the 1st Rd matchup with Kingston as one of the hottest teams in the East Tennessee region, so this contest has an upset alert written all over it. That statement comes due to Johnson Co. playing good football right now and the home Yellow Jackets struggling of late. Kingston was on another level earlier this season and they have been able to maintain as the season has gone on but their vessel appears to be leaking right now and it's not a good time to be doing that as we crank up postseason play on Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where Kingston has to watch out in this game is with the Johnson Co. offense that has been putting up points and showing balance between their passing and run games. Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1054728' first='Connor' last='Simcox'] </strong>and sophomore back <strong>Juan Mejia </strong>have been studs this year for the Longhorns offense and are two guys the Yellow Jackets defense must key on to pick up the win. What I do foresee happening is both teams feeling each other out early to gain an edge then I believe Johnson Co. will take command at some point and walk away with the 1st round road upset win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Other Games to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Watertown at #2 McMinn Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Westview at #2 Bolton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Obion Co. at #1 Melrose</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Coming into this matchup as the #1 seed in their bracket, Melrose is a sneaky, sleeping 5A title team that has some star power to move far in the playoffs but they can't sleep on Obion Co., their 1st round matchup and a team that can upset the Golden Wildcats. The road Rebels have played a tough 2023 schedule where they started off the season at 4-0 and faced quality opponents like Westview, Haywood, Dresden and Dyer Co., so they should be battle tested and unphased about traveling down to Memphis to take on junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='616519' first='Rhyan' last='Brown'] </strong>and an explosive Melrose offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many across the state may not see Obion Co. as much of a challenge but I do and I definitely think they can walk into Melrose and go home with the win. Now if the Golden Wildcats and Brown are able to have success early on, it might turn into a blow out for the home but if Obion Co. can hang tough early and even gain a lead, the Rebels will be in it for the long haul and right there in the 4th quarter to pull off the win. This actually could be one of the more entertaining contests of the 1st round slate and a game that I will be following Friday night to see if the Rebels can come away with the road victory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1076229,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/obionco.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1076229" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Northview Acad. at #2 Gibbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 DeKalb Co. at #1 Red Bank</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Tennessee High at #2 Powell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- It's been a solid year for the home Panthers as they won seven games in the regular season while having to replace several key seniors, so it's been a great job by head coach Matt Lowe and the Powell coaching staff this year but it's a new challenge ahead and that's the playoffs. They are hosting one of the hottest teams in the state in Tenn. High, who bring with them a balanced team and a senior quarterback in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414885' first='Jimmy' last='Phipps']</strong> that has been playing at a high level of late. This will be a tough matchup for the Panthers and a game they can't take lightly because the Vikings are a confident team right now that shouldn't be phased by the road challenge.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saying all that above, I do believe that Powell will find a way to come out with the win but I foresee this being a hard fought game that goes late into the 4th quarter without a settled winner until the Panthers finally come out on top. They are on upset alert however because Tennessee High is no pushover and a tough draw for a 1st round matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Other Games to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Nolensville at #2 Tullahoma</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Hendersonville at #2 Munford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Collierville at #1 Clarksville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- One of the best 1st Rd matchups across the state for Round One takes place in Clarksville where the undefeated Wildcats host the current #1 quarterback in the state <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258673' first='Aidan' last='Glover'] </strong>and his Collierville Dragons team. Before the season started, many saw the Dragons as a potential state title contender but the year has played out that way up to this point but they have the potential to turn things around, so Clarksville most definitely needs to be on upset alert.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home Wildcats have been stellar all year, especially on defense where they are one of the best in the state in allowing the opposition to score. Back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240402' first='James' last='Dalrymple'] </strong>has been a steady presence on both sides of the ball this year and will be key along with the Wildcats front seven in this game at getting to Glover and slowing down the Dragons rushing attack. Clarksville has been very good all season long but they haven't played the toughest of schedules while Collierville has and should be battle tested for this road contest against one of the top teams in the Class 6A ranks. I would not be surprised at all to see Collierville come into Clarksville and pull off the 1st Round upset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":939718,"width":"474px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.4970059880239521","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <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="aspect-ratio:1.4970059880239521;width:474px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Other Games to Watch&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 Cleveland at #1 Jefferson Co.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 Rockvale at #1 Mt. Juliet</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->