Statewide Roundup (Week Six Recap)

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">It was a jam packed week of top tier games with some of them living up to the hype while others didn't. We saw our previous 2nd ranked "Small School" in the state go down. We witnessed a West Tennessee program continue their undefeated season after knocking off a 6A program. A region title was on the line and it was a thriller with one team coming out on top by one point. All this and more resides inside our latest Statewide Recap. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Powell Takes Region Lead in Comeback Win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- High expectations were set going into the Knox. Central versus Powell game last Thursday night and they were delivered as the home Bobcats lead throughout most of the game until the Panthers came back late to win, 42-41 in overtime. It was an all-time thriller, especially for Powell as they continued to battle and never gave up till <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='904027' first='Jaylon' last='Benjamin'] </strong>led them back to maintain their undefeated season. The Panthers senior signal caller, who recently committed to Miles College, was stellar in this regional matchup that saw him go 19-23 passing for 257 yards with 4 touchdowns while tossing no interceptions on only 4 incomplete passes. Benjamin has been an X-Factor for his Panthers team this year and it was needed against a good Knox. Central team that almost knocked them off.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good defensive play was at a premium in this game as both offenses moved the ball at will while both quarterbacks, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1104268' first='Kaden' last='Long']</strong>, did just about anything they wanted. Powell was the better team in this game but I honestly see both teams on equal ground. I could easily see the Panthers or Bobcats going on a deep run in the playoffs due to their veteran quarterbacks along with the playmakers surrounding them. I had a gut feeling going into this game that it would be close and basically go down the wire and that's exactly what happened and if these two met up again, it may be the same result.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking at things from the Panthers perspective, this was a big win for them, a culture driven victory that continues to build the lore of the Powell football program. Knox. Central was the better for most of the night but somehow, someway, the Panthers did what they needed to come back and eventually found a way to win. This was also yet another strong individual performance for Benjamin that certainly helps boost his Mr. Football possibilities. I'm interested to see how both teams finish out the regular season and cap off the 2026 campaign. For now, Powell sits in the driver seat to win their region after this Knox. Central victory and a potential number one seed in the upcoming playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2168030,"width":"290px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.41001370846661","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/user-uploads/zijackson-e1775709151287.jpg?w=705" alt="" class="wp-image-2168030" style="aspect-ratio:1.41001370846661;width:290px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statement Win for Riverdale</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Ever since their first loss of the year to Knox. Catholic, the Warriors from Riverdale have been on another level, basically dominating their opponents and doing so with ease. That's how it looked again last Friday night as they took on an undefeated Columbia Central team and handled them with no problems, defeating the Lions, 45-13. It was an impressive performance by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1287058' first='Gavin' last='Hampton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103038' first='Brylan' last='Oduor'] </strong>and the Riverdale offense as they moved the ball up and down the field versus a Lions defense that had given up only 83 points on the season. Columbia Central has some good athletes and multiple future college level players but the Warriors bottled those guys up and didn't allow the Lions to gain any traction on either side of the ball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether it is by air or on the ground, Riverdale has been playing excellent offense over the course of six games and I expect the Warriors to continue their scoring ways moving forward. Defense has been a strong component of the Warriors team as well. Riverdale honestly doesn't have too many weaknesses on this year's team, which makes them a definite state title contender on the 6A level. They should win their next three games against Smyrna, Siegel and Rockvale before ending the regular season against long-time rival Oakland, which should be a game that determines the region winner. If you had to force me to pick either Riverdale or Oakland right now, I would lean towards the Warriors due to their overall talent and ability to excel in the passing game. We still have several weeks before we get there but the Warriors are playing at a high level right now and performing like one of the best teams in the state, as seen in their road win over a ranked Columbia Central team last week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Briarcrest Wins Again; Big Month Ahead for the Saints</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The Saints picked up their biggest win of the 2026 campaign last week in their 38-30 defeat over Southwind. The Jaguars came into this matchup ranked as the 3rd best “Big School” team in the state and Briarcrest basically commanded the entire game from start to finish. It was an impressive performance by the Saints that saw <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036114' first='Cayden' last='Dixon']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1857024' first='J.D.' last='Donaldson'] </strong>and their offense move it at will while the defense did enough to slow down a solid Southwind offensive unit. I thought the offensive line did a good job of keeping <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1699523' first='Roosevelt' last='Bates'] </strong>and the Jags defensive line out of the backfield most of the night while opening consistent holes for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1187260' first='Octavius' last='Flynn, Jr'] </strong>and the Saints ball carriers. This was the most impressive win of the season for Briarcrest but more big time performances are needed ahead as the Saints schedule stays tough over the coming weeks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point in the football year, Briarcrest has established themselves as a legitimate region title contender and a team that could potentially compete for a state championship. We will find out how qualified they are over the next several weeks. The Saints have upcoming matchups against Christian Brothers, a massive game versus Brentwood Academy, Lipscomb Academy and the regular season finale with MUS. I expect the Saints to be favored in three of those with the matchup versus the Eagles being for the region title. That game with Brentwood Academy should be a fun one but it's one game at time with local rival Christian Brothers looming on Friday. It's been a great 6-0 start for the Saints with them continuously getting better each week, as seen in their eight point win over Southwind in “Week Six.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2420323,"width":"257px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/dhunt.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2420323" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westview Machine Keeps Rolling</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Facing their biggest test of the season thus far, Westview went down to Memphis to take on a talented Lausanne team and the Chargers didn't disappoint in their 42-24 victory over the Lynx. Junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='424594' first='Graham' last='Simpson'] </strong>was outstanding in this game, going 27-32 passing for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns, dropping dimes everywhere and continuously putting pressure on the Lausanne secondary that has a current “Top 10” ranked and future SEC performer on the back end. The Chargers also received a strong performance from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103496' first='Asa' last='Barnes']</strong>, a current commitment to the University of Tennessee. Westview seemed to have no problem in moving the ball versus an athletic Lausanne defense and I don't expect their dominance to slow down anytime soon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not to be overlooked, the Chargers defense has been quite strong this Fall as well. Led by defensive front seven standouts in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1789693' first='Coree' last='Wells'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1032139' first='Drake' last='Hickman']</strong>, the Westview defense has been stout in the trenches while remaining stingy in the secondary. They have only allowed 64 total points on the year and looking at their schedule ahead, I bet the Chargers stay under the “100' mark prior to the start of postseason play. I actually don't foresee Westview being challenged the rest of the way until the playoffs. Dyersburg and Covington, who are their final two regular season games, could compete with them for a little bit but not too long as the Chargers are simply the more superior team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking ahead into playoff season, Westview is the clear cut favorite to win the 3A title yet again and officially become back to back state champs. Now they actually have to accomplish this but as of now, I don't see anybody stopping them or knocking their train off the tracks. As long as all the key players stay healthy and everything keeps going according to plan, I'm expecting to see the Chargers back in Chattanooga this December to not only compete against whoever challenges them but win and bring home a second state title trophy to campus.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White Co. Takes Region Lead</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- One of the more under the radar games from “Week Six” that hasn't received a lot of coverage are the Warriors defeating Macon Co., 28-14 in a game that puts White Co. in the lead to win the region title. Through six games, the Warriors have yet to be defeated and it's a balanced approach where the White Co. offense has been steady with <strong>Tripp Pinion </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089830' first='Cole' last='Sims'] </strong>while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1617402' first='Lex' last='Winfree'] </strong>and the Warriors defense has been stout up front while doing solid work on the back end. All the winning recipes that have worked this year for White Co. showed up last Friday night in their big region win over the Tigers and I don't expect them to deviate from what has been working moving forward.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This victory may prove to be the one that gains the Warriors a region title. We still have several weeks to go and several big games remaining for White Co. but they are the team to beat. They jump out of region this coming Friday against Warren Co. then finish out the regular season with three straight region matchups at DeKalb Co. and at home versus Upperman and Stone Memorial. The Warriors will be the favorite in each of their remaining games but I have Upperman circled as their biggest hurdle. The Bees have owned this region for years but this season may be the time for a new champ and right now it's looking like White County. Health will play a key factor down the stretch but I like how the Warriors are performing right now and receiving veteran style play from both sides of the ball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greeneville Smashed Top Ranked Sevier Co.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Going into last Friday night's action, a lot of eyes were set on the Smoky Bears traveling to Greeneville to face an undefeated Green Devils team and the game didn't disappoint, especially coming from the home team's point of view. Greeneville was absolutely dominant in this East Tennessee matchup as their offense did just about anything it wanted to and the Sevier Co. defense had no answers. One area that was exposed on the Smoky Bears defense was their secondary as senior wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1427702' first='Taren' last='Claridy'] </strong>went off with 8 receptions for 209 and three touchdowns, using his speed to consistently get behind defenders while coming up with some outstanding tough, contested catches. Claridy was by far the best player on the field in this game and it was a performance that should open the eyes of college coaches around the country looking for an offensive playmaker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2235131,"width":"204px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.6943439895848401","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Photo-Jun-25-2026-5-24-32-PM.jpg?w=711" alt="" class="wp-image-2235131" style="aspect-ratio:0.6943439895848401;width:204px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Photo: Greeneville ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1427702' first='Taren' last='Claridy'] before a game. Photo from his Instagram.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through six weeks of action, Greeneville has been one of the more impressive teams coming out of the East Tennessee region and they have steadily gotten better each week. You can see that in their latest win over Sevier Co., who is considered a top option to compete for the 5A state title this season. Many had the Smoky Bears as the favorite but Greeneville put that to sleep early on and continued to pour it on the Smoky Bears within their 49-21 victory. This win alone now has me thinking Greeneville is legit and a team that could compete for a state title as long as everybody stays healthy and the Green Devils maintain their strong play the rest of the season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking at the rest of the season for Greeneville, I expect them to head into postseason play undefeated as I don't see anyone on their schedule that can challenge them. Their final regular season contest against Elizabethton might be the toughest remaining game but the Green Devils will still be the favorite to win. I really like what I'm seeing out of these guys right now and the brand of football they bring to the field each and every week. The two headed monster of Claridy and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2371879' first='Kaine' last='Ricker']</strong>, who are both Mr. Football candidates along with a defense that has been consistent, provides enough info for me to say that the Green Devils sit at the top of the board for state title contenders and a team that might continue to get better each week due to their veteran leadership.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Antioch Continues to Impress</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Headed into the month of October, one team that has quietly stayed undefeated and under the radar are the Bears of Antioch. Last week in their region game against Cane Ridge, the Bears completely dominated, defeating the Ravens, 46-0 while moving their season record to 6-0. Every step of the way this season, Antioch has gotten better every game and could be hitting a stride as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. The Bears have one of the best quarterbacks in the state with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378901' first='Andre' last='Adams'] </strong>and he has been given solid help this year, especially from an offensive line that has done a good job of keeping him clean throughout the season. I think the biggest surprise with the Antioch offense this year has been the run game and productivity from senior two-way performer <strong>Evan Davis</strong>. His emergence has provided balance to the Bears offense and allowed Adams to be more efficient in the passing game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears defense has been strong as well. Through six games, the Antioch defense has only allowed 43 total points and done good at limiting big plays from the opposition. Now mind you, the Bears haven't played a tough schedule and not seen but one good offense in East Nashville but you play who you play and you must excel regardless of the competition. The Bears are handling business as they need to and expect them to continue their winning ways going forward. The one game I have circled as their biggest challenge is with FRA, who the Bears play in two weeks. That game won't determine anything with their region, which I expect Antioch to take and head into the playoffs as a top overall seed. The biggest thing about the Bears moving forward is how progression they make and how much better they can become. We will find out but right now, they have looked good and sport key veteran pieces that could help the Bears go deep into the 6A playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>“The Haven” Keeps Surging Up the Charts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Opposing teams on the 6A level better start paying attention to Whitehaven because the Tigers are emerging and becoming a team that could make some waves during postseason play. Last week in their 40-13 win over Munford, the Tigers flexed their muscles in multiple ways from displaying explosive offensive game play while the defense shut down one of the better rushing attacks coming out of the West Tennessee region. Defeating the Cougars shows how good Whitehaven has become over the course of the season and how much development the team has gone through since losing the first game of the year at Ensworth, where the offense only scored eight points. The Tigers have now reeled off five wins in a row and now place themselves on a short list of possible 6A state title contenders due to their continuous improvement.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitehaven has played a semi-tough schedule up to this point but the biggest game of the season comes in two weeks when the Tigers host Southwind in what should be for the region championship. That matchup will show us more about this year's Tigers team and how good they are. It will also show us if the Tigers are ready to play on the big stage, which is what it will be when facing Southwind, a current Top 20 ranked “Big School” team in the state. Regardless of that outcome, Whitehaven has been down for a few years but appears to be on the come-up and forming into the kind of the team and program that can legitimately compete with other powers coming out of the 6A ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2420325,"width":"226px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.7517226978492378","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/09/jbowers.webp?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-2420325" style="aspect-ratio:0.7517226978492378;width:226px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->