Each week Team UCR predicts high school football games across the Upper Cumberland, presented by TLTSports Performance.
Note: These picks are all opinion-based and intended to foster conversation about high school sports.
Experts:
Rusty Ellis: Sports Director
Jacob Vinson: Livestream Director
Michael Lindsay: Senior Sports Reporter
Justin Matheney: Co-Owner/Lead Color Commentator
Noah McKay: Co-Owner/Lead Play-By-Play Commentator
Week 1, 2023:
Fayetteville at Upperman
Rusty:
Pick: Fayetteville 21-17
Comments: I’ve picked Upperman in this game the last two years and both years I’ve missed it. It’s a great way for each team to open the season and they’re each getting tested right out of the gate. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m taking the visitors on this one. I need to see the Bees beat this team.
Jacob:
Pick: Upperman 20-7
Comments: Upperman kicks off their revenge tour in the right way with a 20-7 win over the Tigers.
Michael:
Pick: Fayetteville 28-20
Comments: Both teams aren’t wasting any time testing themselves as their week one showdown could be one of the best in the state. Fayetteville returns 3-Star junior quarterback Sam Willoughby and a load of talent surrounding him, which could be too much for the new-look Upperman Bees in week one. Fayetteville makes it 3 straight over Baxter.
Justin:
Pick: Upperman 24-21
Comments: As stated on this week’s Coaches Show hosted at Fire and Vine, week one is always a weird week to pick games. You really never know how teams are going to adjust to players in new roles from the season prior. We also said our picks would probably be Upper Cumberland heavy because this is the region we are in and we know much more about these teams than teams outside of our areas. For all those reasons I’m leaning Upperman here ever so slightly. It seems as Fayetteville has lost a ton of skill on the offensive side of the ball. All the pressure will be on 6’7” QB Sam Willobughy to move the ball against a tough Upperman defense. First-year starting QB sophomore Bronzden Chaffin also shoulders a ton of pressure for the new-look Upperman offense. Should be a great matchup in Baxter Friday night.
Noah:
Pick: Upperman 21-14
Comments: Fayetteville has had the Bees’ number over the past two seasons, but Upperman is primed to turn the tide. The Tigers return Samuel Willoughby at the QB position but lose the electric KJ Jackson and powerful Isaiah Thomison. Meanwhile, Upperman gets the return of Jaxson Rollins and Bronzden Chaffin at quarterback. Ultimately, home-field advantage and a team hungry for revenge makes the difference.
Stone Memorial at Cookeville
Rusty
Pick: Stone Memorial 17-14
Comments: Contrary to a lot of discussion around this game, I don’t see it being all that high scoring or a blowout. I’m taking Stone because I like a lot more of what they bring back, particularly up-front with their offensive line. Cookeville will have opportunities to win this game, but can they avoid the big mistakes? I think the Panthers just edge them out.
Jacob:
Pick: Stone Memorial 35-21
Comments: A lot of unknowns in this one with two new starting quarterbacks, but I think the Panthers get the best of the Cavaliers 35-21.
Michael:
Pick: Stone Memorial 27-21
Comments: A week one statement win awaits the winner of Stone Memorial at Cookeville. For the Panthers, a win over the area’s largest school would start the 2023 campaign with a bang. For Cookeville, stepping up and defeating a 10-win Class 4A program would be a huge turning point for coach Taylor Hennigan. I ultimately see Stone squeaking out a one-score victory in which their defense makes something big happen.
Justin:
Pick: Stone Memorial 21-20
Comments: This one is a pick’em for me. Cookeville should be greatly improved in all facets of their program in year two under coach Hennigan. It all boils down to being able to run the ball and stop the run for the Cavaliers. Cookeville will have improved skill players but it might not be enough Friday night against Stone. Tons of returning talent for the Panthers all over the field. Panthers in a close one.
Noah:
Pick: Stone Memorial 28-14
Comments: This is a really interesting game. Stone Memorial returns their entire offensive line along with Brady Lane at MLB, but are looking to replace Hunter Heavilon and Kaleb Flowers. Meanwhile, Cookeville returns pieces everywhere while moving Blake Owen to quarterback. This is the rare scenario where the 4A team is favored over the 6A team, but coach Samber’s squad has earned that role. I’ll take Stone in a fun matchup.
White County at Silverdale
Rusty:
Pick: Silverdale 24-10
Comments: I think the Curtis Beaty era gets off to a rough start with a road loss in Chattanooga. Tripp Pinion will get his, as he likely will in every game, but as with every team that has to replace a lot of production, new faces will have to step up. The 2023 season starts with some growing pains for Sparta.
Jacob:
Pick: Silverdale 27-14
Comments: A good challenge for the Warriors on the road to open the season, but the Seahawks get the best of them 27-14.
Michael:
Pick: Silverdale 34-20
Comments: Game one of the Curtis Beaty area sees the White County Warriors testing themselves with a trip to Silverdale Baptist Academy. Like Sparta, the Seahawks are also replacing multiple key starters, but the Seahawks should return enough to get it done in week one.
Justin:
Pick: White County 21-17
Comments: Absolutely zero clue about Silverdale here. In Tripp we trust. The Warriors are going to look a whole lot different on both sides of the ball this season but one thing will remain the same. Tripp’s that dude. Will it be enough? Honestly, I have no earthly idea, especially with this week one matchup. Complete Upper Cumberland homer pick here from me.
Noah:
Pick: White County 21-14
Comments: Tough to find out anything about Silverdale. Meanwhile, life for White County will likely look very different without Malaki Dowell. The Warriors have an opportunity to discover their identity with Silverdale, Warren County and Cookeville the first three weeks of the season. 3-0? Maybe. 0-3? Maybe. I’ll take Tripp Pinion, Owen Adams and company to get it done in week 1.
Trousdale County at Livingston
Rusty:
Pick: Trousdale County 17-7
Comments: I went back-and-forth on this pick and I hate that I’m not picking Livingston. It’s another pick I hope I’m wrong on, but it’s hard to just give the benefit of the doubt to a team that’s still learning what it takes to win. Prove me wrong, LA!
Jacob:
Pick: Livingston 21-14
Comments: The Wildcats get their first win since October 23rd, 2020 as they take down the Yellow Jackets 21-14.
Michael:
Pick: Trousdale County 26-21
Comments: Two of the area’s all-time most decorated football programs have fallen on hard times recently and will meet week one in Livingston hoping to right the ship for 2023. Excitement is brewing in Hogeye under new head coach Matthan Houser, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Livingston should look improved in week one, but I see the visiting Yellow Jackets leaving with a close victory.
Justin:
Pick: Livingston 14-7
Comments: HOG-EYE HOGEYE HOGEYE TNT! Go get that dub fellas! Game one of the Matthan Houser era starts off with a bang. It will be the first win for this program in the last 22 tries.
Noah:
Pick: Livingston 27-14
Comments: The first of two golden opportunities to end the losing streak for LA. Trousdale County is rebuilding, and LA has belief under Matthan Houser that they will return to their winning ways. The first one is the hardest, I think HOGEYE gets it done at home.
Monterey at Cannon County
Rusty:
Pick: Monterey 21-6
Comments: Monterey’s replacing a lot of their production from a year ago, but this isn’t Scott Hughes’ first time working with younger players at important positions. Add in that Monterey just seemingly has Cannon County’s number, I think the Wildcats take home a Week 1 win.
Jacob:
Pick: Monterey 24-7
Comments: The new-look Wildcats open the season with a win over the Lions for the third year in a row.
Michael:
Pick: Monterey 28-13
Comments: Monterey is replacing a ton of production, but the cupboard is hardly bare for the Wildcats. An experienced set of linemen should pave the way for head coach Scott Hughes and Monterey in week one.
Justin:
Pick: Monterey 21-7
Comments: I’ll pick the Wildcats in this contest until they give me a reason not to. Look for Monterey to rely on their offense and defensive lines as a strong point for them all season. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Monterey use both QBs here until someone wins the battle. No inside information there, pure speculation.
Noah:
Pick: Monterey 28-14
Comments: The Wildcats have some question marks at the skill positions, but they should be solid up-front, and against Cannon County that should be enough. The Wildcats have dominated the Lions over the past two seasons, and I don’t see any reason for that to change this year.
Smith County at Gordonsville
Rusty:
Pick: Smith County 24-10
Comments: The loss of Kaden Powell hurts, but a massive offensive line, deep stable of quality running backs and an exciting new quarterback in Riley Martin all adds up to a rivalry win over Gordonsville. I can’t imagine a better way to begin a season than with two teams who absolutely do not like each other.
Jacob:
Pick: Smith County 17-14
Comments: One of the biggest games of the year just so happens to kick off the season. The Owls get the job done in enemy territory in a close one.
Michael:
Pick: Smith County 28-14
Comments: I love a good, old-fashioned rivalry and this game is the textbook definition. Smith County (or “Carthage” as Tiger fans call them) at Gordonsville is the perfect game to kick off football on the Upper Cumberland as two storied programs a few miles apart meet on the gridiron. I’ll give the edge to a physical and experienced Smith County team in this one.
Justin:
Pick: Smith County 24-14
Comments: Big cross-county rivalry here to kick things off across the Upper Cumberland tonight. Even though only one classification ranking separates these two schools now, the Owls have too much speed and depth in this one. However, as I stated earlier week one is hard to pick especially in a rivalry game. Look for the Tigers to give SC all they want.
Noah:
Pick: Smith County 28-21
Comments: These two teams do not like each other, which always makes for fun matchups. Coach Jackson has the Tigers moving in the right direction, but so does coach Dyer. I’ll lean towards the team with a little more firepower, although winning at Gordonsville is no easy feat. A fitting Thursday night game to open the season.
Clay County at York
Rusty:
Pick: York 31-7
Comments: This has more to do with what York has back and what Clay doesn’t. York returns almost all of their team from a year ago, the same team that made it to the State semifinals. Clay meanwhile has a lot of new faces in new spots that’ll likely experience some growing pains in week one. I’ll take the Dragons in a blowout.
Jacob:
Pick: York 35-14
Comments: York starts their march back to the playoffs with a 35-14 victory over the Bulldogs.
Michael:
Pick: York Institute 33-20
Comments: The Dragons are looking to flip the script from last season’s 44-14 loss at Clay County. The programs are on opposite ends of the “returning production” spectrum as Celina is replacing nine seniors who contributed a ton to their state runner-up appearance in 2022. York Institute brings back nearly all their starters from their state semifinal run last season and should start the season off 1-0.
Justin:
Pick: York 31 Clay County 28
Comments: York squeaks out a close one to kick off week one. The Bulldogs have to replace a ton of production on both sides of the ball. Coach Lamb and Maynord will have those units locked, cocked and ready to rock. Unfortunately for Clay County, the Dragons being back so much production all over the field they may be a little outgunned here. Not to mention the beatdown Clay handed out to York last season. This is a game the Dragons have circles on their calendar all offseason.
Noah:
Pick: York 35-14
Comments: A battle between the two teams who made it further than any other in the UC in 2022 sees a Dragon team that returns 15 starters against a Clay County team replacing nine seniors. This Bulldogs team has nice pieces starting with Nate Adams at QB, but they may take some time to gel. I’ll take the hungry Dragons team in this one.