Week Seven Slate (Top Games/Matchups)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">We may not have a lot of ranked matchups this week but we have plenty of games that may have region title implications. It should be an interesting, fun "Week Seven" that might provide us some close games and surprising upsets. </h2>     #1 Baylor (5-0) at #8 McCallie (5-1)   - The game of the week in the Volunteer State for “Week Seven” is by far this battle between two rivals that know each other well with two fan bases that dislike the other. Baylor versus McCallie is becoming the top rivalry game in the state with this edition looking like another potential classic. The Red Raiders come into this game clicking on all cylinders with an offense, led by [player_tooltip player_id='222957' first='Briggs' last='Cherry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1210671' first='David' last='Gabriel-Georges'] that has been scoring at will. Their defense has been quite good as well. McCallie stumbled a few weeks ago but has since gotten back on the saddle playing good football with a defense that might be one of the best in the state. It's hard to pick a favorite as I can see either team winning. Whoever limits the turnovers while creating enough big plays, should come out on top.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Baylor 34 McCallie 21   Drew Toennies: Baylor 28 McCallie 21   Shayne Pickering: Baylor 27 McCallie 20    Conner Smith: Baylor 34 McCallie 31   - - - - -    #24 Walker Valley (5-1) at #22 East Hamilton (6-0)   - A region title could be on the line in this matchup. You have the Mustangs coming to town with an offense led by [player_tooltip player_id='540015' first='Chase' last='Stephens'] that has been playing at a high level all year against a Hurricanes offense that has been quite stout too, spearheaded by seniors Wyatt Miller and [player_tooltip player_id='1432197' first='Jaden' last='Haywood']. The biggest factor in this game could be which defense is able to generate enough stops or create turnovers. Another key factor could be the Hurricanes secondary against a deep Walker Valley receiving corps, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1125399' first='Roman' last='Eulo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1871502' first='Sawyer' last='Boyd'], who brings athleticism and size out wide. This game has the feel of being high scoring. Whichever team has the ball last, may be the team that wins and puts itself one step closer to winning the region title.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Walker Valley 38 East Hamilton 35    Drew Toennies: Walker Valley 34 East Hamilton 28   Shayne Pickering: Walker Valley 24 East Hamilton 17   Conner Smith: Walker Valley 27 East Hamilton 21   - - - - -    #17 Knox. Catholic (4-1) at #20 Ensworth (4-2)   - The home Tigers are coming off a humbling defeat last week to Brentwood Academy where the offense only produced seven points but to bounce back and get back in the win column, Ensworth must find a way to generate more touchdowns. Their task this week is facing a solid Knox. Catholic team that has played good defense with their offense flashing explosive play. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='284149' first='Tyreek' last='King'] will certainly be someone the Tigers defense keys on and tries to slow down because if he goes off, Ensworth could be looking at their third loss. Running the ball with E.J. Gibson and keeping the Fighting Irish offense on the sidelines could be a recipe for success. This is an interesting matchup where either team could walk out the victor.   Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Knox. Catholic 21 Ensworth 10    Drew Toennies: Knox. Catholic 27 Ensworth 14   Shayne Pickering: Knox. Catholic 23 Ensworth 16   Conner Smith: Knox. Catholic 28 Ensworth 10   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/IMG_1039.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1854899" style="width:277px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Goodpasture (5-1) at #9 Franklin Road Academy (5-0)   - One of the biggest surprises coming out of the Mid-Tennessee region this year is Goodpasture but they face their toughest test of the year by hitting the road to take on an undefeated FRA team that beat a very strong BGA team last week. The Panthers are confident with a balanced team that has the defense standing out this season, led by stud defenders [player_tooltip player_id='1167514' first='Jayden' last='Rush'], [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='903033' first='Omarii' last='Sanders']. They have the task of going against a Cougars offense that has performed well this year with guys like Chase Angell, [player_tooltip player_id='492601' first='Caden' last='Stroud'] and [player_tooltip player_id='903798' first='Slim' last='Leavell'] being standout guys. Many will see the Panthers as the clear favorite here and I would agree but we can't sleep on the Cougars and their chances at pulling off the upset.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: FRA 27 Goodpasture 13    Drew Toennies: FRA 28 Goodpasture 7   Shayne Pickering: FRA 38 Goodpasture 17   Conner Smith: FRA 31 Goodpasture 17   - - - - -    #24 Bledsoe Co. (5-1) at #18 Marion Co. (5-1)   - The Warriors of Bledsoe Co. have a big opportunity on their hands Friday as they have a shot at putting themselves at the top of region and in-play for a title but they must get past Marion Co., who is your defending 2A champion. You have two run based offenses here going toe to toe with the home team having the advantage in the “athlete” department. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1282609' first='Mason' last='Mays'] and Zaiden Humphrey can be game changers in this matchup, so Bledsoe Co. must key on those two if they want to win. The road Warriors must generate long, successful drives too that keeps the Marion Co. offense on the sidelines. They have to find a way to block Ashton Martin too as he can be a game wrecker. I do like the home team in this matchup but I could easily see Bledsoe Co. pulling off the upset as well.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Marion Co. 21 Bledsoe Co. 17    Drew Toennies: Marion Co. 24 Bledsoe Co. 17   Shayne Pickering: Marion Co. 28 Bledsoe Co. 10    Conner Smith: Marion Co. 21 Bledsoe Co. 7   - - - - -    #22 Dyersburg (5-1) at Crockett Co. (5-1)   - This may be an outer-region matchup but it's still a good one, between two 5-1 teams that have their eyes on winning a region title and potentially going on a deep run in the playoffs. The Trojans are a run based team that leans on working the clock in their favor while their defense plays physical in the trenches. The home Cavaliers like to run the ball as well with stud back [player_tooltip player_id='1668510' first='D.K.' last='Woods'] but are more balanced with [player_tooltip player_id='1743787' first='Ben' last='Burgess'] spinning the ball at quarterback. Crockett Co. may actually have the edge in the athleticism department while Dyersburg is bigger, stronger in the line of scrimmage. This will be a contrasting style of play between these two teams and a game that could go in a variety of ways.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Dyersburg 21 Crockett Co. 20   Drew Toennies: Dyersburg 35 Crockett Co. 14   Shayne Pickering: Crockett Co. 24 Dyersburg 21   Conner Smith: Dyersburg 31 Crockett Co. 21   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/jygrant.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1925327" style="width:241px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    GCA (4-1) at #18 Boyd Buchanan (5-0)   - The D2-Class AA East Region is on the line here between the visiting Rams and the home Buccaneers. These are your two best teams coming out of that region but only one can make it out of this game the winner. Boyd Buchanan has yet to be tested this year but GCA could present some challenges. The Rams are missing a top playmaker but still have enough guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1629937' first='Kaden' last='Webber'] and freshman sensation J.V. Stinson to make a difference. The Bucs have a stud ball carrier as well in [player_tooltip player_id='402534' first='David' last='Green'], who could turn out to be the X-Factor in this matchup. I'm very interested to see how this game plays out. Can the Bucs look human and be put to the test or does their dream undefeated season continue as one of the best D2-Class AA teams in the state.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Boyd Buchanan 33 GCA 20   Drew Toennies: Boyd Buchanan 24 GCA 21   Shayne Pickering: Boyd Buchanan 24 GCA 17    Conner Smith: Boyd Buchanan 21 GCA 7   - - - - -    Jefferson Co. (4-1) at Dobyns-Bennett (5-1)   - Another region title is on the line here between Jefferson Co. and the home Indians. Both these teams come into this game 5-1 and playing confident, especially the Patriots, who are coming off back to back strong wins over Mt. Juliet and Science Hill. Where the Pats have stood out over the past few weeks has been on defense, where they are keeping opposing offenses in-check, especially up front stopping the run game. Jefferson Co. has another tall task on their hands stopping the run against Dobyns-Bennett. The Indians are big and powerful up front, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1621929' first='Baker' last='Correll'], [player_tooltip player_id='853129' first='Tyler' last='Grizzle'] and Mitchell Newhouse that have a shot at overwhelming the Patriots defensive line. I feel like all the pressure is one the road to continue living up to their hype but either way, this should be a fun, physical contest that goes unsettled into the 4th quarter.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Dobyns-Bennett 28 Jefferson Co. 20   Drew Toennies: Dobyns-Bennett 24 Jefferson Co. 21   Shayne Pickering: Jefferson Co. 21 Dobyns-Bennett 20   Conner Smith: Dobyns-Bennett 21 Jefferson Co. 14   - - - - -    Tullahoma (4-2) at Lincoln Co. (5-1)   - Looking at Class 5A-Region Four, these two teams look like the best, so a championship and a number one seed in the playoffs could definitely be on the line here. The home Falcons are coming off their first loss of the season, a surprising one to Giles Co., so I'm interested to see how they bounce back. Tullahoma started fast, slowed down a bit then picked things back up last week in their big road win over Lawrence County. The Wildcats have the talent to go on the road again and pull out the win but they have to find a way to get after [player_tooltip player_id='523936' first='Maddox' last='Franklin'] and make things difficult for him. This looks like a battle of forcing turnovers and big plays and whoever does those two things, should gain the upper hand towards victory.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: Tullahoma 20 Lincoln Co. 17    Drew Toennies: Tullahoma 14 Lincoln Co. 10   Shayne Pickering: Tullahoma 28 Lincoln Co. 10   Conner Smith: Tullahoma 21 Lincoln Co. 6   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/tullahoma4-crop-1043x685-1638028768.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-239667" style="width:269px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Zach Birdsong TullahomaNews.com</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    DCA (4-2) at #20 Friendship Christian (5-1)   - The Wildcats go into this game as the clear underdog but can they go on the road and upset the Small School #20 team in the state and place themselves in strong position for a postseason berth. I think it's possible but DCA has to play ball control offense, meaning leaning on King Gardner and their rushing attack to lead the way. The Commanders are designed to run the ball and they have been doing that at a high level this year. They use a committee in the backfield to carry the ball but freshman Ryder Wolcott is starting to emerge as their top guy. Stopping the others rushing attack is clearly the key in this matchup towards earning a region win but so will keeping big plays to a minimum while forcing a turnover or two.    Expert Predictions   Chris Smith: FCS 35 DCA 14    Drew Toennies: DCA 27 FCS 21    Shayne Pickering: DCA 24 FCS 17   Conner Smith: DCA 27 FCS 24    - - - - -    Other Top Week Seven Matchups    East TN: South Doyle (4-2) at Alcoa (6-0), Gibbs (4-2) at Anderson Co. (4-1), Tyner Acad. (6-0) at Chatt. Prep (2-4), South Greene (5-1) at Cumberland Gap (3-3), Elizabethton (5-1) at Grainger (3-3), Cherokee (5-1) at Greeneville (5-1), William Blount (4-2) at Heritage (3-2), McMinn Cent. (3-2) at Kingston (3-2), Knox. Central (4-2) at McMinn Co. (5-1), Watertown (4-2) at Sequatchie Co. (4-2), Eagleton (5-1) at Tellico Plains (3-2)   Mid TN: MUS (5-1) at Brentwood Acad. (5-0), Waverly (5-0) at Cheatham Co. (3-3), BGA (4-1) at Davidson Acad. (3-3), Franklin-Grace (6-0) at Pope Prep (3-3), Upperman (4-2) at Livingston Acad. (5-1), Stone Memorial (5-1) at Macon Co. (5-1), Adamsville (4-1) at Mt. Pleasant (5-1), Rockvale (3-3) at Oakland (6-0), Independence (3-2) at Ravenwood (6-0), Smyrna (3-3) at Riverdale (4-2), Beech (4-1) at Station Camp (3-3), Blackman (5-1) at Stewarts Creek (3-3), Whites Creek (6-0) at WH-Heritage (4-2)   West TN: Covington (6-0) at Bolivar Cent. (3-3), Chrst. Brothers (3-3) at Briarcrest Chrst. (4-2), Sycamore (4-2) at Camden (2-4), Memp. Biz. Acad. (4-2) at Fairley (4-2), Trinity Chrst. (4-2) at Jackson Chrst. (6-0), Southwind (6-0) at Kirby (4-2), South Gibson (3-3) at Lexington (5-1), Memp. Overton (3-3) at Memp. Central (4-1)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/dggeorges2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1697510" style="width:360px;height:auto" /></figure>