This season, a group of experts will predict the outcomes of the high school football games for Cookeville, Livingston Academy, Monterey, Upperman and White County.
The experts have decades of combined experience covering high school sports in the Upper Cumberland with a variety of outlets.
Note: These predictions are purely opinions. The Upper Cumberland Reporter wishes each of the teams in the Upper Cumberland good luck in their contests.
Our experts:
*Prediction record noted by ()
Noah McKay: COO and play-by-play announcer at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (5-0)
Buddy Pearson: News and Communications Director at Tennessee Tech University and longtime high school sports commentator (4-1)
Chase Hoke: Color commentator at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (4-1)
Scott Wilson: Longtime sports journalist and editor in the Upper Cumberland (3-2)
Adam Parks: Sports editor at Mitchell Media in Livingston (4-1)
Ben Craven: Longtime sports reporter at the Cookeville Herald-Citizen (3-0)
Game 1:
Monterey (0-0) vs Red Boiling Springs (0-2)
Last week:
Monterey: No game
Red Boiling Springs: 14-44 loss against Tennessee Heat (homeschool)
Pearson:
Pick: Monterey
Hoke:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: This young Monterey team has had to miss the first two weeks of the season, and I fully expect them to show up ready to play on Friday night.
Wilson:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: Monterey went through a rough preseason because of the Coronavirus, and even had to delay the season opener for two weeks because of COVID-19 protocol. Scott Hughes and his players are dying to get on the field. Red Boiling Springs is struggling.
Parks:
Pick: Monterey
Craven:
Pick: Monterey
McKay:
Pick: Monterey
Comments: Monterey is excited to be playing football again after a delayed start to the season. They get a favorable matchup to open the season. Give me the Wildcats in this region matchup.
Game 2:
CAK (2-0) vs White County (1-0)
Last week:
CAK: 45-13 win over Clinton
White County: 45-12 win over Cumberland County
Pearson:
Pick: White County
Hoke:
Pick: CAK
Comments: Malaki Dowell had a great game and seems special, but CAK is a very strong team.
Wilson:
Pick: CAK
Comments: White County is probably the feel-good story in the Upper Cumberland and Malaki Dowell could be a star in the making. However, the Warriors are not playing well enough to knock off CAK.
Parks:
Pick: CAK
Craven:
Pick: CAK
McKay:
Pick: CAK
Comments: This Sparta team can absolutely win this game, but I think CAK is very good. The fact that CAK has played two games and Sparta has just played one gives the edge to CAK, in my opinion. This should be a great game.
Game 3:
Livingston Academy (1-1) vs Cumberland County (0-2)
Last week:
Livingston Academy: 18-33 loss against Cookeville
Cumberland County: 12-45 loss against White County
Pearson:
Pick: LA
Hoke:
Pick: Livingston
Comments: The Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the season and look to get back on track this Friday night.
Wilson:
Pick: Livingston Academy
Comments: Livingston Academy is starting to kick things into gear after playing respectably last week against Cookeville. Cumberland County is rebuilding under first-year coach Noah Repasky.
Parks:
Pick: Livingston
Craven:
Pick: Livingston
McKay:
Pick: Livingston
Comments: The loss of Parker Coleman hurts LA, but Kaleb Robinson and Raven Carpenter will do enough to propel the Wildcats to their second win of the season.
Game 4:
Upperman (1-1) vs Smith County (0-2)
Last week:
Upperman: 27-21 win over Dekalb County
Smith County: 0-28 loss against Gordonsville
Pearson:
Pick: Upperman
Hoke:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: After last week’s win over DeKalb County, Upperman seems committed to playing with two QBs this season. Thomas Ensor seemed more comfortable airing the ball out last week, and Ty Dutchess is always a threat with his legs. The Bees keep defenses guessing by having both of these guys on the field at the same time. Upperman’s defense continues to play strong and I think that continues into this week.
Wilson:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: Adam Caine is finding answers to some big questions at UHS after losing several stars from last year’s team. Smith County, on the other hand, is rebuilding under a new coach.
Parks:
Pick: Upperman
Craven:
Pick: Upperman
McKay:
Pick: Upperman
Comments: Smith County is struggling, and Upperman found a formula that should work for them in their week 2 win over Dekalb County. This is a big chance for Upperman to begin the road towards winning their third straight region title.
Game 5:
Cookeville (2-0) vs Riverdale (1-1)
Last week:
Cookeville: 33-18 win over Livingston Academy
Riverdale: 30-25 win over Franklin
Pearson:
Pick: Cookeville
Hoke:
Pick: Riverdale
Comments: This is the first big test for Cookeville this season, and I do not think they have looked particularly great this season. Riverdale has a really good defense and their front 7 may be the best front 7 that Cookeville faces all season. This week’s game will tell us a lot about this year’s Cavs team.
Wilson:
Pick: Riverdale
Comments: This will be a good game. The Cavaliers have not played any team, so far, with the talent Riverdale has. The game will also be played at RHS. I think this game will show us a little bit about how Cookeville will fare this year with the Murfreesboro teams. As much as I would like to pick the Cavaliers, I can’t this time.
Parks:
Pick: Riverdale
Craven:
Pick: Cookeville
McKay:
Pick: Riverdale
Comments: This is the “show me” game for Cookeville. If they can win, they’ll give themselves a great chance to host a playoff game. This Riverdale front-seven is ferocious, and the CHS offensive line will have to match their physicality to continue their success on the ground. I’ll take the Warriors in a close one. This should be another great game.