Every week, the UCR staff (Noah McKay, Rusty Ellis, Michael Lindsay, Jacob Vinson) will rank the top five high school football teams in the Upper Cumberland.
Week three of the high school football season is in the books, and for the first time there is movement on the list. The top five teams have continued to show why they belong on the list, but one loss has shuffled the group.
UC Top 5 – After week three of the 2023 high school football season
- Upperman (3-0, LW: 14-7 W @ Macon County)
The Bees went on the road to Lafayette and earned a hard-fought victory against Macon County. The offense was less crisp than in the first two weeks, which is a credit to the Tigers defense, but the UHS defense continued its dominance limiting the Tigers to seven points on 193 yards. In Region 4/4A, any win is a good win, and that was a good win for the Bees.
2. York (2-0, LW: BYE week)
The Dragons enjoyed an early bye week before closing the regular season with eight straight games. They are a heavy favorite against Bledsoe County as they try and continue their dominant start.
3. Stone Memorial (3-0, LW: 35-0 W vs Cumberland County)
The Panthers remained kings of the mountain with their blowout win over Cumberland County. Nick Osmun has been great through three weeks offensively and he has plenty of weapons and a strong offensive line. Defensively the Panthers have gotten better each week, and now they’ll face a tough test in the form of Tripp Pinion and the Warriors.
4. Smith County (3-0, LW: 47-28 vs Liberty Creek)
The Owls’ offense exploded for 47 points in their victory over the Wolves. The Owls are a machine that keep on rolling, and have an opportunity to make a statement this week when they travel to Lafayette for a top-five showdown. This is a great football team already, and look to be improving every week.
5. Macon County (2-1, LW: 7-14 L vs Upperman)
The Tigers drop a spot by nature of the Owls victory, but a narrow loss against Upperman keeps them firmly entrenched on the list. The MCHS defense was stout, limiting an explosive offense to 14 points. Gabe Borders continues to be one of the best players in the state, and despite the region loss they still have a golden opportunity to make the playoffs and a run towards a home playoff game.
Honorable Mentions:
Cookeville (2-1, LW: 42-35 W @ White County)
The Cavaliers earned a dramatic win over their biggest rival with the help of a great performance by the offensive line, Blake Owen and Thomas Johnson. If Cookeville can continue that level of play up front, they’ll have an opportunity to not only be a playoff team, but also compete with every team in their region.