HSFB Expert Predictions Presented By TLTSports Performance – Postseason Round 1

Each week, experts from the Upper Cumberland will give their predictions for select high school football games in the area. These picks are presented by TLTSports Performance. TLTSports Performance is where the athletes of tomorrow, train today.

Experts:

Rusty Ellis: Sports Director of the Upper Cumberland Reporter.

Justin Matheney: Co-Owner and lead color commentator of the Upper Cumberland Reporter. Former defensive backs coach at Tennessee Tech University.

Buddy Pearson: Longtime sports journalist in the Upper Cumberland. Commentator for the Upper Cumberland Reporter.

Noah McKay: Co-Owner, COO and lead play-by-play announcer of the Upper Cumberland Reporter.

Michael Lindsay: Senior Sports Reporter of the Upper Cumberland Reporter.

Game 1: 

Macon County vs Red Bank

Ellis:

Pick: Macon County 27 – Red Bank 31

Comments: I hope Macon proves me wrong, but I’m going to get with the home team on this one. Gabe Borders will give them a shot if he continues his high level of play, but in a close game, I’m going with the home team. 

Matheney:

Pick: Macon County 27 – Red Bank 24

Comments: This one was the toughest pick of the week for me. If this game had a line in Vegas it would be a pick’em. However, Red Bank can win this game IF they can contain #7. If they cannot slow him down. Look out! 

Lindsay:

Pick: Macon County 20 – Red Bank 34

Comments: Speed kills, and Red Bank has a lot of it. The Lions should be able to push the ball down field and hit on some deep plays. Macon County can counter that with their excellent special teams play, though.

Pearson:

Pick: Red Bank

McKay:

Pick: Macon County 28 – Red Bank 21

Comments: The Lions offense has struggled mightily against good defenses, and the Tigers bring a great defense on the road. Combine that with the explosive Borders’ twins and I think the Tigers take care of business.

 

Game 2:

Chattanooga Central vs Upperman

Ellis:

Pick: Chattanooga Central 6 – Upperman 35

Comments: The Bees are going to roll in round one. Terrance Dedmon rushes for over 200 yards and Jonathon Rushing puts up a solid game through the air to power the offense. Honestly, the Bees might not give up a score, but I hate picking shutouts. 

Matheney:

Pick: Chattanooga Central 7 – Upperman 35

Comments: Defense, defense, defense, that’s all this one boils down to for me. The Bees are a fast and physical team that typically doesn’t give up explosives and run sideline to sideline extremely well. Expect a swarm Friday night in Baxter. 

Lindsay:

Pick: Chattanooga Central 6 – Upperman 42

Comments: Upperman’s success in the first round of the playoffs continues as they run away vs. Chattanooga Central. The Bees should see Terrance Dedmon go off early and seal the game by halftime with a strong rushing game.

Pearson:

Pick: Upperman

McKay:

Pick: Chattanooga Central 14 – Upperman 35 

Comments: The Bees are the better team in this one. If the Bees are able to establish the run early in the game this one could get ugly fast, but if Chatt Central can generate some explosive plays, it’ll get interesting in a hurry on UCR2. 

 

Game 3:

DeKalb County vs East Hamilton

Ellis:

Pick: DeKalb County 24 – East Hamilton 21

Comments: I’m going with the upset here, because I think the Tigers physical and grind-it-out style will rule the day. Colby Barnes puts up a big game and the defense continues its excellent play to lead DeKalb to a playoff win on the road. 

Matheney:

Pick: DeKalb County 21 – East Hamilton 20

Comments: Defense is a common theme for me in my picks this week. The Tigers defense is what’s most impressive to me here. Also DeKalb’s offense looked primed and ready to roll adding back some passing game that’s been missing since Briz Trapp went out in Week 3. 

Lindsay:

Pick: DeKalb County 30 – East Hamilton 34

Comments: A battle of two near-even teams should be one of the best in the state Friday night. The Tigers have a long journey to East Hamilton, and the home field advantage could prove to be too much for DeKalb.

Pearson:

Pick: East Hamilton

McKay:

Pick: DeKalb County 21 – East Hamilton 20

Comments: Is DeKalb County the best four seed in the state? Quite possibly. Their defense is the best unit on the field in this game. DCHS will have to open up the passing attack a bit to generate some running lanes for Colby Barnes off of it, but I think they’ll do it enough as Region 4/4A sweeps Region 3.

 

Game 4:

Happy Valley vs Monterey

Ellis:

Pick: Happy Valley 7 – Monterey 28

Comments: I think Monterey puts a complete effort together in round one of the playoffs against Happy Valley. The starters will get a chance to rest late in this one after another solid defensive effort. 

Matheney:

Pick: Happy Valley 10 – Monterey 31 

Comments: Monterey has played lights out over the last month of the season. Not many teams travel up the mountain and knock off the Wildcats at home. This will be a game where we hear Matthew Montgomery, Mason Bowman, Eli Sailors, and Michael Allred’s name a whole whole lot. 

Lindsay:

Pick: Happy Valley 0 – Monterey 48

Comments: Mason Bowman’s historic Monterey career enters its final postseason Friday, but he’ll still give fans plenty to cheer about. Look for Bowman to go off early as Monterey cruises past Happy Valley.

Pearson:

Pick: Monterey

McKay:

Pick: Happy Valley 0 – Monterey 35 

Comments: The Wildcats are the better team and the Warriors have to travel a long way for this one. Look for Mr. Football semifinalist Mason Bowman to run wild.

 

Game 5:

Franklin County vs White County

Ellis:

Pick: White County 38 – Franklin County 31

Comments: Sparta might be shocked by this pick, but I’ll take the Warriors in a high-scoring thriller. Malaki Dowell and Tripp Pinion lead another big game on offense and the Sparta defense will force a turnover late to seal the win. 

Matheney:

Pick: Franklin County 42 – White County 49

Comments: Warriors in a shootout. Ultimately this one boils down to Franklin County not being able to stop #6. And there’s no shame in that. No one else has all season either. 

Lindsay:

Pick: Franklin County 35 – White County 28

Comments: It’s not playoff football without upsets, and Friday could see the Warriors a victim. White County’s Malaki Dowell will be the focus of the Warriors’ attack, but Tripp Pinion has shown he’s more than capable of making big plays. Should be a great game in Sparta that comes down to the wire.

Pearson:

Pick: White County

McKay:

Pick: Franklin County 28 – White County 35

Comments: Really interesting matchup here. Dee Harris Field is going to be a madhouse on Friday night, and in an even matchup I think the team with the best player on the field gets it done. Spoiler alert, Malaki Dowell is the best player on the field.