High School Football Expert Predictions – Week 6

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 all have 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 (15-4)

Chase Hoke: Color commentator at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (15-4)

Rusty Ellis: Sports Director at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (16-3)

Kailee Means: Sports Reporter at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (15-4)

Justin Matheney: Color commentator at the Upper Cumberland Reporter (14-5)

Game 1:

Monterey vs TN Heat

Last week:

Monterey: 43-14 win at Rockwood

 

Ellis:

Pick: Monterey 49 – TN Heat 0

Comments: Wildcats win. Next.

Means:

Pick: Monterey 58 – TN Heat 0

Comments: No comment…..Go Wildcats

Matheney:

Pick: Wildcats 42 – TN Heat 7

Comments: Not a lot to say here. Wildcats roll in this one. Nice midseason tune up game for the Monterey.

Hoke:

Pick: Monterey 54 – TN Heat 0

Comments: Monterey is playing a team that typically plays 8 vs 8, and playing 11 vs 11 is almost a different sport. This game will not be close. Give me the Wildcats!

McKay:

Pick: Monterey 63 – TN Heat 0

Comments: Monterey rolls in this one.

 

Game 2:

Livingston (0-5) vs Jackson County (1-3)

Last week:

Livingston: 37-0 loss at Macon County

Jackson County: 58-0 loss at East Nashville

 

Ellis:

Pick: Livingston Academy 24 – Jackson County 7

Comments: This is Livingston Academy’s best chance at their first win, and I think they get the job done. Jaden Lawrence will cement his status as one of the area’s best receivers and the defense will put together their best outing of the year.

Means:

Pick: Livingston 35 – Jackson County 7

Comments: THIS is the game that Livingston should win. Both teams are not having good years, but Livingston has improved. We have seen improvement and fight in Livingston over the last few weeks and after seeing that I think they can beat Jackson County.

Matheney:

Pick: LA 21 – Jackson County 12

Comments: The young LA Wildcats put together a complete game here and get their first win of the season.

Hoke:

Pick: Livingston 21 – Jackson County 14

Comments: The Wildcats are a team looking for their first win, and I believe this is the week that they get it. I expect Livingston to get the ball in Jaden Lawrence’s hands early and often. It will be close, but give me the Wildcats.

McKay:

Pick: Livingston 21 – Jackson County 7

Comments: Now’s the time. This is a golden opportunity for Livingston’s first win of the season and I expect a very motivated LA squad to show up in Gainesboro on Friday. I’ll take them here to get the first win of the Dale Flatt era.

 

Game 3:

Gallatin (1-3) vs Cookeville (1-4)

Last week:

Gallatin: 41-7 loss vs Hendersonville

Cookeville: 21-14 loss vs Warren County

 

Ellis:

Pick: Gallatin 28 – Cookeville 24

Comments: I can see the Cavaliers winning this game, but Gallatin is a tough opponent that’s played some stiff competition. It all comes down to discipline again for Cookeville, and against the Triple-option, they can’t be without that. Give me Gallatin in a close one.

Means:

Pick: Gallatin 21 – Cookeville 14

Comments: Until Cookeville can topple a “big” opponent I cannot consider them for a win, until then I need to see a lot of improvement.

Matheney:

Pick: Cookeville 7 – Gallatin 21

Comments: The Cavaliers need this one bad but come up a bit short. Unfortunately for Cookeville, their offense is still quite behind where the defense is at this point in the season. Defense keeps it close in a tough loss.

Hoke:

Pick: Gallatin 31 – Cookeville 17

Comments: I know on the Coaches Show I had Cookeville scoring 24 points, but I just do not see that happening. The Cavaliers have continued to have miscues on special teams and struggle to protect QB Mace Thomsen. The Green Wave love to blitz, and that does not bode well for this Cavaliers team. I expect Cookeville’s offense to struggle in this one. Give me the Green Wave!

McKay:

Pick: Gallatin 24 – Cookeville 17

Comments: We are about to learn the mental makeup of this CHS squad. After a three-game losing streak, can they bounce back at home in a winnable game? I hope it happens, but for now I’ll take the Green Wave in a close one.

 

Game 4:

White County (3-2) vs Green Hill (4-1)

Last week:

White County: 44-32 loss vs Mt. Juliet

Green Hill: 21-20 win at Hillsboro

 

Ellis:

Pick: White County 30 – Green Hill 27

Comments: I think the Warriors get it done this week. The way they played after falling behind 24-0, if they come out playing like that, it’ll add up to a big region win for White County. I trust in Malaki Dowell and this defense. I see them getting off to a better start, and I see the defense making a game-sealing stop late.

Means:

Pick: White County 21 – Green Hill 20

Comments: A lot of Green Hill’s games have been fairly close and after last week’s comeback for the Warriors, I think they can bring home a region win. As far as region, Green Hill only beat Hillsboro by one point and beat Wilson Central by 10, White County made a comeback from trailing Mt. Juliet 24-0 and only lost by 12.

Matheney:

Pick: White County 21 – Green Hill 28

Comments: I really like what I saw out of the White County offense last week after they changed things up half way through the second quarter. However, if I’m coaching against them and they have Maliki Dowell in at QB I make him hand it off everything single time.  I don’t let that kid beat me, because he for sure can. Green Hill makes it tough on the Warriors offensively all night.

Hoke:

Pick: White County 34-21

Comments: Last week the Warriors proved that they can compete with any team in 5A. Malaki Dowell is a bonafide star for White County, and this team as a whole continues to improve this week. Coach Frasier’s squad cannot afford to fall to 0-3 in the region, so their backs are against the wall in this one. Give me the Warriors!

McKay:

Pick: White County 35 – Green Hill 21

Comments: Green Hill has the record advantage in this game, but when you take a deep look you see the Hawks have played two of their easiest region games, while the Warriors have played their two hardest. Sparta has to have this game. Look for a huge night out of Malaki Dowell as the Warriors roll to their first region win in years.

 

Game 5:

Watertown (3-2) vs Upperman (4-1)

Last week:

Watertown: 38-8 win at Whites Creek

Upperman: 27-9 win over Stone Memorial

 

Ellis:

Pick: Upperman 35 – Watertown 24

Comments: This will be an interesting game for the most part, but I see the Bees defense coming up with enough stops to win this one by two scores. If Ty Dutchess is back at 100% after missing the second half, I’d like to see him throw the ball like he did against Fayetteville. That would really open the Bees offense up to do whatever they want, and that makes them even more dangerous than they already are.

Means:

Pick: Upperman 30 – Watertown 21

Comments: Upperman for sure. Early in the season my pick might be different, but Upperman is playing good football and their only loss has come against Fayetteville. Watertown has a loss against FHS as well, and their only solid win came against a retooling Dekalb County team. Those boys in Baxter want to make a deep run this year and they have all of the tools to do it.

Matheney:

Pick: Upperman 27 – Watertown 13

Comments: The only common opponent we have here is Fayetteville. The Bees lost a heart breaker 19-14 two weeks ago. Watertown found themselves on the wrong end of a 42-20 week one loss to Fayetteville. It’s time for Upperman to flex that defensive muscle and take care of business.

Hoke:

Pick: Upperman 34 – Watertown 17 

Comments: The Bees lost in convincing fashion to the Purple Tigers last year, and I believe they still have a sour taste in their mouth. I expect the Bees offense to get things rolling early in this one. Give me the Bees in convincing fashion!

McKay:

Pick: Upperman 35 – Watertown 14

Comments: Upperman will be jacked up for this game after what happened a year ago. Look for the senior group to propel the Bees to a big win as they turn their attention towards a playoff push.