Statewide Roundup (Week Nine Recap)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The schedule for "Week Nine" wasn't heavy due to many teams being on Fall Break but yet we still had some stunners, some upsets, some games that surprised us and many across the state! Several previously undefeated teams went down while others picked up big wins that earned themselves a region title or put them in-line for one. Check up on some of those stories and more below inside our latest weekly recap. </h2>     Jefferson Co. Stuns Powell, 21-19   - It's hard to go through the regular season undefeated and the Powell Panthers saw how hard it is last week to accomplish that as they fell, 21-19 to Jefferson Co. in what was a surprising result. Not me nor anybody else saw Powell losing to Jefferson Co. but that's why you play the games as you never know what can happen. The biggest takeaway I see from this game was the lack of offense from the Panthers, which had been consistent throughout the season. You have to give credit to the Patriots defense for slowing down Powell and keeping quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='904027' first='Jaylon' last='Benjamin'] from using his dual threat abilities and forcing him to make throws from the pocket. Jefferson Co. also did a good job of bottling up the Panthers run game. It was an overall great performance from the Patriots defense that will force Powell to look at the tape this week and see what went wrong.    This is a setback for Powell but not one that should deter their season. The Panthers are still out in front to win their region and become a number one seed in the playoffs while sporting a well balanced team that could do a lot of damage in postseason play. This loss to Jefferson Co. could actually be the wake up call Powell needed to get things back to how it looked early on this season where the Panthers scored the ball at will while the defense made opportunistic plays. The Panthers have enough talent like Benjamin, [player_tooltip player_id='2224053' first='Joshua' last='Kay'], [player_tooltip player_id='2442997' first='Keshawn' last='Thomas'] and others to go far in the playoffs but they can't put performances on the field like last Friday night if they want to secure their region while going on a deep run. I think everything will be fine for the Panthers and they will get back on track this coming Friday, especially after taking a surprising loss to the Patriots.    - - - - -    Columbia Earns Region Title Over Lincoln Co.    - There was a lot on the line last Friday night between Columbia Central and Lincoln Co. with the road Lions coming out on top, 28-24 in what was one of the more entertaining games from the “Week Nine” slate. What the Lions achieved was a region title. These two teams were the top squads within the region at earning the title, so whoever won would be placed on top and in the driver seat to bring home a championship. It wasn't easy getting the win for Columbia as Lincoln Co. gave them strong competition and wouldn't go away but in the end, the Lions talent trumped everything. This was a gutsy victory for Columbia and one that should help them grow as we inch closer to the playoff season.    The Lions started out strong in this contest and created some distance early on by way of [player_tooltip player_id='1885892' first='Daniel' last='Booker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1193547' first='Jamari' last='Brown'] and others. The athletic talent that Columbia possesses flexed its muscle in the first half and made Lincoln Co. play on their heels. You could see the difference in talent between the two squads but I also knew Lincoln Co. wouldn't go away as they are a well coached team and that's what happened. Playing with a deficit, the Falcons slowed the game down on offense and used their rushing attack to bring them back. The second half was a much different story compared to the first as Lincoln Co. amped up their physicality and made things a little more difficult for the Lions playmakers. The Falcons brought the game back to within four but couldn't make that extra play needed to pull ahead and knock off the Lions, however it was a valiant effort by the home team.   Both these teams are quality ball clubs that could make a run in the coming 5A playoffs. Columbia has a veteran core, led by Booker at quarterback along with a strong group of underclassmen, spearheaded by defensive stars [player_tooltip player_id='1669977' first='J'Mari' last='Hall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1721111' first='Tyshon' last='Dodson']. The Falcons are a balanced football team that has a nice mix of veterans and youthful talent that have gelled together well this 2026 season. As you can see by the final score, the Falcons were right there with a chance to win. I think they have enough pieces to upset a few teams in the playoffs and make a surprisingly deep run but their key players must stay healthy the rest of the way. Columbia is a team that I honestly could see in Chattanooga, competing for the 5A title. They have the quarterback, the playmakers and size up front to go a long way and this win over Lincoln Co. and how the Lions had to get the job done, speaks further to how good they are and what they could do in the postseason.    - - - - -    MUS Upsets Memphis Central   - We spoke above about how tough it is to go through the regular season undefeated and that point resides with Memphis Central as well. The Warriors went through seven games looking like one of the best 5A teams out there and they are still legit but last Friday night was their worst performance of the year as they took defeat to MUS, 42-21 and was completely owned from start to finish by the Owls. Whatever MUS wanted to do against Memphis Central, they did it. The Owls offense was efficient and explosive, led by standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1542332' first='Jack' last='Hill'] at quarterback and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1666739' first='John' last='Painter'] catching passes out wide, who was also a player the Warriors secondary had a hard time guarding while their defense was physical and suffocating. This was a tale of two stories, meaning it was the best game of the year from MUS and the worst out of Memphis Central. This was definitely a surprising outcome that many didn't see coming and maybe a loss that exposes a few things within the Warriors football team.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/jpainter.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2455349" style="aspect-ratio:0.6669960474308301;width:206px;height:auto" /></figure>   For most of the season, Memphis Central has looked good and won ball games but haven't looked as dominating as they should. The Warriors do have some holes but sport an overall talented roster, led by future college ball players in [player_tooltip player_id='1370856' first='Landon' last='James'], [player_tooltip player_id='1576763' first='Joshua' last='Lane'], [player_tooltip player_id='1094224' first='Brooks' last='Wright'] and others. It was expected that Memphis Central would beat MUS and keep their undefeated season going but the Owls had different ideas. The MUS offense performed well, providing a balanced attack but I think it was their defense that set the tone and won this game. They got after Wright for most of the game, making life difficult by putting pressure on the offensive line and making him make quick decisions. They also stuffed the Warriors run game and made the Warriors pass the ball more than they wanted to.    This victory for MUS should give them confidence moving forward. It's been an up and down tough season for the Owls but they have a young ball club that should be better for it come next season. For the Warriors, this loss is a gut-check. It's a loss that should force them back to the practice field to figure out what is not working and how they can fix things to get back on track because the 5A title is still very much in play for them. I do expect the Warriors to bounce back and play better football in “Week Ten” while staying on path to win their region. The Owls themselves have hope for the future now as this win shows that they can compete with top tier teams and win. I'm interested to see how MUS performs moving forward and if this win makes them better and makes them a tougher out in the coming playoffs.    - - - - -    Maryville Dominates Science Hill    - The biggest test of the season for Science HIll came last Friday night and they didn't pass as Maryville came to town and completely dominated the Hilltoppers, 42-7. The Rebels did whatever they wanted to on both sides of the ball and there was nothing Science Hill could do to stop them. This win did two things. It showed how good Maryville is compared to everybody else in their region and how far Science Hill is from competing with top tier teams. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1723184' first='Will' last='Jones'] was clean and efficient in this game. His O-line did a good job of protecting him while the run game did enough to provide balance. The Rebels defense was superior in the trenches and the front seven as a whole. The Rebels defensive unit, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1707489' first='Dax' last='Cole'] and their linebackers, did a great job of bottling up [player_tooltip player_id='2077252' first='Kiantai' last='Harris'] and not allowing him to run at will. Just about everything Maryville did in this game worked and everything the Hilltoppers tried to accomplish did not.    This was a major flex by Maryville that spoke to the rest of their 6A competition that the Rebels are legit and focused on chasing after a state championship. The team doesn't have a superior running back or an athletic secondary but they have everything else to compete with the best the 6A ranks has to offer. Keeping Jones healthy and allowing him to work is absolutely critical towards their chances at competing for titles. The Rebels also have a strong enough unit up front on defense to keep them in ball games, which is something that works well in the postseason. The Hilltoppers must understand what didn't work against Maryville then fix it. They must also move on and keep their eyes forward because Science Hill still has a solid team that could win a few playoff games. It will be intriguing to see how both teams finish out the 2026 season but for this game alone, Maryville was clearly the superior team and a squad playing good football at the right time of year.    - - - - -    Statement Victory for Beech   - Stepping out of region play last Friday night, both Beech and Gallatin looked to make a statement but it was the Buccaneers that prevailed and did so in dominating fashion, defeating the Green Wave 46-17, moving their season record to 7-1 overall. It was an impressive performance by the Bucs that saw their run game, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1206523' first='D.K.' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2452578' first='Devin' last='Crutcher'] ran around and through the Gallatin defense while the Beech defensive unit completely shut down the Green Wave on offense. It was an overall balanced game from Beech that saw them dominate the line of scrimmage and put the rest of the 5A notice that the Bucs are legit and playing excellent football this deep into the season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/dcrutcher.jpg?w=281" alt="" class="wp-image-2455335" style="width:225px;height:auto" /></figure>   Almost immediately in the 1st quarter, Beech imposed their will on Gallatin and as the game went on, the Bucs got stronger and stronger and there was nothing the Green Wave could do about it. Beech even went to their passing game on occasions, letting [player_tooltip player_id='1317766' first='Sawyer' last='Phillips'] spin it while making sure to get [player_tooltip player_id='1028041' first='Jeramy' last='Laster'] the ball and let his athleticism and speed take over. As each week has gone on, the Buccaneers continue to get better and form into the kind of unit that can make some waves in the coming playoffs. Running the ball and playing good defense is a good recipe to win postseason games and that's who the Buccaneers are and they do it well. Enhancing their passing attack would only make them even stronger but overall, the Bucs are a formidable team right now that others may not want to face.    Gallatin is now on a two game losing streak after starting the 2026 campaign 6-0. They have faced two solid teams in Mt. Juliet and Beech but have taken losses and now must figure out a way to get the train back on the tracks. The Green Wave have a solid senior core with [player_tooltip player_id='1595502' first='K'Saun' last='Barksdale'], [player_tooltip player_id='1675569' first='Preston' last='Mooney'], [player_tooltip player_id='2165628' first='Jason' last='Morton'] and others that can help right the ship that must start this week in practice and on Friday versus Lebanon, which is a huge inner-region game Gallatin must have. Winning the region title is still in-play for Gallatin but they have to beat Lebanon to make that happen. Both these teams are having good 2026 seasons but right now it looks like Beech is heading in the right direction while Gallatin is going the opposite way, especially after their 29 point loss to the Buccaneers.    - - - - -    Region Rivalry Win for Dyersburg   - Coming from the from West corner of Tennessee, Dyersburg and their opponent Covington last week don't get a lot of publicity but they put together possibly the best game of “Week Nine” where it was a back and forth affair until the Trojans made a play late to take the lead and win the contest. Trailing by six with less than a minute to go, senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='2450627' first='Ty' last='Seaton'] broke open down the middle of the field then found the end zone after a nice ball from his quarterback. It put the Trojans ahead for good after a hard fought game that should give the Dyersburg team confidence moving forward as they chase after a region title. They have a big one this coming Friday night as they travel to Westview and whoever wins that game will have sole possession of first place and one game away from being the region champs.    This was a big win for the Dyersburg program as they haven't lived up to expectations over the past few seasons but they might be turning a corner this year, sporting an undefeated region record while being 5-3 overall. The Trojans have put several players into the college ranks but haven't grown into the championship caliber program they should be. Beating a rival like Covington, who has won a lot of ball games throughout the past decade, could be a sign of the Trojans moving in the right direction. I think we will definitely see how far Dyersburg has come after Friday's game versus Westview but for now, this victory over Covington gives the Trojans confidence moving forward while nearly guaranteeing the Trojans a top two finish and a home playoff game.    - - - - -    Green Hill Creates Chaos in Region 4-6A   - Built as a premier game going into “Week Nine”, Green Hill versus Lebanon didn't disappoint as we saw the Hawks go into Blue Devils territory to defeat them 22-19 and move their season record to 6-2 overall and 2-1 within the region. It was a massive victory for Green Hill as it moved them into a four-way first place tie with a great shot at winning the region while holding a key win over Lebanon. It was a win that threw a lot of chaos into the region that makes the next two weeks very important for the Hawks, the Blue Devils, Gallatin and Mt. Juliet, who all sit at two wins and one loss. Green Hill has a win over Lebanon but a loss to Gallatin. The Green Wave have that win over Lebanon but hold a loss to Mt. Juliet. The Golden Bears beat Gallatin but were defeated by Lebanon. The Blue Devils knocked off Mt. Juliet but lost this game to Green Hill. It's a jumbled up mess right now but all four teams are still alive to win the region.    Out of all four teams tied for first place, Green Hill may have the team with the most upside. They have the best player in this region with [player_tooltip player_id='1368155' first='Will' last='Butler'], a steady ball carrier in [player_tooltip player_id='1841394' first='Zachery' last='Cartwright'], a playmaker out wide in [player_tooltip player_id='2107060' first='King' last='Wright'] and an up and coming quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1718205' first='Seth' last='Frankenfield'] that has gotten better as the season has gone along. The Hawks also have a solid defense that has gotten stronger each and every week. They also have a winning culture that has been built under Coach Crouch that primes them for this late season surge. This coming Friday the Hawks have a key inner-county matchup with Wilson Central that is a must win and if they can handle business versus the Cats, which they should, Green Hill has a monster game in “Week Eleven” against their top rival in Mt. Juliet that could be for the region title. I don't know how that game will play out but what I do know is that the next two weeks should be fun within the region to see who ends up taking the title.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/wbutler-crop-400x262-1787417651.webp?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2341850" style="width:301px;height:auto" /></figure>