TNHSFB Week Ten Statewide Recap

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The state of Tennessee provided some great action in "Week Ten" where we saw some upsets, some comeback wins and some victories that led to region titles. We sifted through that action to provide some of the best stories coming out of last week inside our latest "Statewide Recap." </h2>     Week Ten Top Stories    Stock Up   - Is Munford the best team to come out of the Memphis region this year? That statement could be true after the Cougars 29-24 victory last week over Germantown. Going into and for much of the season, the Red Devils were viewed as the top team in the greater Memphis region but with Munford knocking them off, that top spot now belongs to the Cougars, who I think is a top contender for the Class 5A state title this year. What sets Munford apart from many others is their physicality up front and attention to detail. The Cougars are a well coached, disciplined football team that plays for each other and does all the small things correctly.    Beating the Red Devils in “Week Ten” should put everyone on the 5A on notice this coming postseason. Germantown is full of college talent but it didn't phase Munford. They force their style of play on their opponents and make them adjust. The Cougars have an excellent pairing at running back with [player_tooltip player_id='1281919' first='Bricen' last='Turnage'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1585458' first='Tay' last='Starks'] and one of the best defenses in the state. Their win over Germantown last week proved to me they are ready for the playoffs and a squad that can make it to Chattanooga and come home with a “Gold Ball.”   - - - - -    - If anyone is looking for a 5A team to keep eyes on this postseason that could scare some opponents and upset them, it's Knox. Central. Going into “Week Eleven”, the Bobcats sit at 7-2 overall with one of the more high scoring, explosive offenses coming out of the 5A ranks and East Tennessee region. The Bobcats had to scratch and claw last week in their 40-39 win over William Blount but they got the job done behind another stellar game from [player_tooltip player_id='1104268' first='Kaden' last='Long'] and a tremendous performance from two-way talent [player_tooltip player_id='480743' first='Torin' last='McAfee']. Knox. Central continues to get better week by week and might be hitting their stride as we inch closer to playoff season.    What I like about this year's Bobcats team is their perseverance and competitive nature that has either won them games or kept them close in their losses. Their junior quarterback has is performing like a Mr. Football candidate. Their line of scrimmage has maybe been the surprise of the team while the defense has been solid but could take things to a new level. Overall, I like the pieces on this team and how they are playing going into November. I can't forecast how the Bobcats will do in the postseason but I believe they will be a tough out and a team to watch for on a potential long run.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/tmcafee2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1987491" style="width:241px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    - One of the biggest surprises coming out of “Week Ten” was Clarksville winning the region title after their 25-8 upset over Antioch. I don't think me or anybody else in this state picked the Wildcats to win that game but they did and you have to give all the credit to their coaching staff and players for executing their game plan and sticking with it till the final whistle. Clarksville did something that nobody has been able to do all season and that's get after and sack [player_tooltip player_id='378901' first='Andre' last='Adams'], which they did eight times. The Wildcats defense was stellar, led by sensational performances by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1922843' first='Dawson' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1979275' first='Max' last='Cunningham'], who consistently played in the Bears backfield all night long.    Now I have to be honest. Do I think that Clarksville is more talented than Antioch, no I don't but this is football, meaning anything can happen on any given Friday night. This victory over the Bears has to give Clarksville ultimate confidence as we head towards postseason play. The Cats have a senior laden team that has won a lot of ball games over the past four years, so I would not be surprised to see them go on a deep run and upset a few other squads. Their style of play also travels into the postseason. They like to run the ball and burn the clock with a defense that is strong within the front seven. I'm curious to see how Clarksville performs this week and into the playoffs and if they can build off the upset win over Antioch and become a team that can make some noise in November.    - - - - -    - Don't look now but Upperman is a team coming into its own as we reach the postseason and a team that has pieces to lead them all the way to Chattanooga. The Bees are coming off one of their more impressive wins of the season in their 42-0 win over White County. The Warriors had been playing good ball of late but they ran into a buzzsaw last Friday as [player_tooltip player_id='1254853' first='Bronzden' last='Chaffin'] and the Bees offense became hard to stop while the Upperman defense dominated up front, shutting down the White Co. rushing attack.    It was an impressive showing that speaks towards the Bees being ready for the coming playoffs and a team that still has their goals of winning a state title still in play. Upperman has a strong senior class that has won a lot of ball games throughout their careers. They have some talented juniors like [player_tooltip player_id='1679806' first='Colton' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1566197' first='Parker' last='Cox'] and others that help the cause as well. The Bees are well balanced, sitting with the right pieces to make some noise in the coming weeks. Their work last week against Warriors shows that Upperman is focused and ready to finish the 2025 season strong and hopefully in Chattanooga.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/parkcox.jpg?w=617" alt="" class="wp-image-1940938" style="width:198px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    - Possibly the biggest surprise coming out of “Week Ten” was Sequatchie Co. defeating Walker Valley, 7-2 in what became a low scoring defensive affair that I did not see happening from the Mustangs. Over the 2025 season, Walker Valley has been one of the more potent offenses in the state but the Indians coaching staff and defense had a great game plan that shut down the Mustangs and provided one of the bigger upsets we have seen in the state this Fall.    This was easily the best win of the year for Sequatchie Co. and a victory that speaks to me as I can see the Indians making some waves in the coming playoffs, especially based on their defense and how they are performing right now. The Indians offense has nice pieces like [player_tooltip player_id='1136154' first='Hunter' last='Minton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1142005' first='Austin' last='Griffith'] that have done well this year but it's their defense, led by [player_tooltip player_id='904934' first='Kason' last='Hicks'] that can propel this East Tennessee program into a deep playoff run. Beating a squad like Walker Valley shows that Sequatchie Co. has the makeup to beat quality teams and that's the kind of competition they will see over the coming weeks.   - - - - -    - Watch out for Giles Co. during the coming playoffs as a team from the 3A level that can not only win several games but potentially go all the way to the championship. The Bobcats have faced a tough schedule this year, including an impressive 46-28 win last week over Forrest that should have them well prepared for postseason play. This Giles Co. team continues to run the ball like they always have with consistency but this year's squad is more balanced with Xavier Randolph providing a solid passing attack. His ability to throw it has allowed the Bobcats offense to grow and become more dangerous.    That offense along with a deceptively good Giles Co. defense could provide a path that sees the Bobcats become a tough out in the playoffs and a team built to go on a long run. They might even go into the playoffs as a number one seed but only if they can beat Sequatchie Co. in “Week Eleven” to win the region title. I like the makeup of this Giles Co. team and their chances at doing something special, especially with them being battle tested and equipped to take on big challenges.    - - - - -    - If anybody is looking for a potential Class 1A favorite to win the state title, Dresden may be your team. After starting the season 0-2, the Lions have reeled off seven wins in a row, including last week in their big region victory over South Fulton. This West Tennessee program is beginning to round into form and become the team I expected them to be going into the 2025 season. The Lions are a well coached team that sports winning qualities. They run the ball at a high level with Luke DiPietro and [player_tooltip player_id='1690526' first='Cooper' last='Allman']. They are physical up front and technique sound. They have a defense that is salty, especially versus the run. There is a lot to like about Dresden and their chances in the coming playoffs. They have already won their region and go into postseason play as a number one seed, so they are set up nicely. The Lions finish out the regular season this week against Lake Co., where they can continue their winning ways and proceed into the playoffs on a major winning streak that could extend all the way into the 1A title game.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/ldipietro.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1987513" style="width:249px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - - - - - -    Stock Down   - The past two weeks have been rough for Franklin-Grace. After beginning the season undefeated at 7-0, the Lions have taken defeat over the past two weeks and potentially been exposed with some weaknesses that may cost them in the playoffs. Over the course of the season, Franklin-Grace has performed well on defense but it's their offense that is starting to show cracks. Inside their losses to Goodpasture and last week to FRA, the Lions have scored a total of seven points. Their defense has performed good enough to keep them in games but the offense just isn't moving the ball right now or sustaining drives. The problems on offense must be fixed asap if the Lions want to do well in the playoffs. I believe they have enough talent on defense to help them on a long playoff path but to make it to Chattanooga, their offense must find themselves and begin performing at a high level.    - - - - -    - Anyone that takes on Alcoa has a challenge on their hands but I didn't expect Carter to be shutout by the Tornadoes last week. That's what happened in the 42-0 loss for the Hornets. Most of the season, Carter has performed very well on the offensive side of the ball but was completely shut down by Alcoa, which tells me that the Hornets may face a challenge in the playoffs when they compete against a high caliber team.    The Hornets have a few good wins this year but when they have faced quality teams like Alcoa, Anderson Co. and GCA, they have fallen. There is a really good chance that Carter sees a championship caliber team in the postseason and for them to advance, both sides of the ball have to perform at a high level. Potential is there for the offense to do some special things in the playoffs, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1535791' first='Brody' last='Sparks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1467544' first='Jody' last='Scruggs']. I think the offense can keep up with others but to make a deep run, the defense has to generate enough stops. I still like this Carter team and their potential but they must be better than they were in “Week Ten” to advance past the first round.    - - - -    - Even though it was their first loss of the season, Antioch might have been exposed in their 25-8 loss to Clarksville. Where the Wildcats took advantage of the Bears was in the line of scrimmage. They generated eight sacks on defense and put constant pressure on Adams the entire night. The Antioch offensive line is struggling right now and not looking good headed into the postseason. The Bears have a lot of skill talent but for them to go on a deep run in the playoffs, the line of scrimmage, especially on offense, has to play much better.    The defensive line hasn't been excelling either. They have flashed some good play throughout the season but they struggled against the Clarksville rushing attack in “Week Ten”, showing some leaks in stopping the run. I still think the Bears can do some damage in November and develop into a team that could play their way to Chattanooga but the trenches must start playing at a higher level.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/antioch2.webp?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1987518" style="width:320px;height:auto" /></figure>