The Upperman Bees have enjoyed a dominant start to the 2021 football season, but face their toughest challenge yet on Friday night when they will travel to take on the defending Class-A state champion Fayetteville Tigers.
The Bees (3-0), are ranked seventh in Class 4A in the latest Associated Press poll, while the Tigers (3-0) are the second ranked Class-A team in the poll.
“(Fayetteville’s) got great players,” said UHS head coach Adam Caine. “The quarterback’s spreading the ball around so you can’t just load up the box, and then I’ve been impressed with them on the line of scrimmage. That’s usually where the 1A schools have trouble, but their guys on the line look like 6A kids. They play hard and fast on defense. It’ll be a fantastic test for our football team.”
The Bees are coming off a 41-7 win at Cumberland County. The Tigers are coming off a 45-0 win over Wayne County.
The Bees are looking for a way to slow down sophomore FHS tailback KJ Jackson. Jackson has shown an ability to strike with big plays throughout the opening three weeks of the season.
“He’s the kid that jumps off the page at you,” said Caine. “He makes it look effortless. He’s just rolling along and then boom, he puts his foot in the ground and is gone. He’s a really special player.”
The Bees’ rushing attack has been dominant through three weeks (with two games played). Sophomore running back Jaxson Rollins has rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries. Terrance Dedmon has rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Ty Dutchess has rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
The rushing attack will be facing a FHS defense that has allowed just over 10 points per game, meanwhile the Upperman defense has allowed 6.5 points per game.
Caine said that while the teams are separated by several classifications, the Tigers are not a normal class-A team.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Caine. “This is our first year in 4A, so I don’t know if we’re classified as a standard-bearer for 4A football. (Fayetteville) passes the look test. They’ve got as many players as a 6A team. They’re very good.”
In a non-region game between two powers in their classifications, Caine said it is a great opportunity for the Bees to get better.
“I think it’ll be a game that will make us a lot better, win, lose or draw,” said Caine. “As long as we’ve got the correct approach and take it like a business trip it can be helpful for us, and that’s the way you’ve got to look at these non-region games.”
The matchup is the co-High School Football Game of the Week and will be livestreamed on the Upper Cumberland Reporter Facebook page with Noah McKay and Michael Dodgen on the call. Pregame coverage from Fayetteville will start at 6:50 p.m.