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 9, 2023:
GOTW: Trousdale County at Monterey
Rusty:
Pick: Monterey 24-10
Comments: The Wildcats have a chance to solidify their standing in the region with a good win against an improving Trousdale County squad. If Trousdale tries to work more with their athletes in space, this could turn into a sneaky good game, but I think Scott Hughes’ squad takes this one.
Jacob:
Pick: Monterey 21-14
Comments: I agree with Rusty in that I think this game could be a really good one (wonder why it’s the game of the week). Trousdale will keep in between the tackles, but they have some powerful backs running the football. Monterey is the more proven football team and finally get another winning streak going tonight.
Michael:
Pick: Monterey 27-13
Comments: A well-rested Monterey group returns to action Friday night in a key Region 3-2A showdown with Trousdale County in the UCR Game of the Week. The Wildcats have had plenty of October success in the past, and I think it continues tonight.
Justin:
Pick: Monterey 21 Trousdale County 17
Comments: Alright Monterey. Here we go again. I know I said I wouldn’t but those Wildcats have reeled me back in. Excited to be on the Mountain for UCR’s High School Football Game of the Week. Both teams need this one for playoff seeding and contention.
Noah:
Pick Monterey 21-7
Comments: Fall break is a huge factor in this game. If the young Wildcats stay focused, I think this is a great matchup for Monterey. Trousdale’s offense has struggled mightily against solid defenses, and Monterey’s defense is solid in the trenches where the Yellow Jackets love to play.
Cookeville at Lincoln County
Rusty
Pick: Cookeville 31-17
Comments: The Cavs continue their excellent play with a good win at Lincoln County. Taylor Hennigan has this team making legitimate strides in year two and there’s some excitement building in Cookeville. How far can this team go? We’ll see, but the needle is going in the right direction.
Jacob:
Pick: Cookeville 28-7
Comments: The Cavaliers are coming off their monumental win over Gallatin a couple of weeks ago. Lincoln County is a struggling football team and Cookeville has to take advantage and dispose of them early like they did with Warren County. How do they handle fall break and the long drive is the real question. I think the Cavs stay focused and get the job done.
Michael:
Pick: Cookeville 34-14
Comments: If you’re a Cookeville fan reading this on Friday, go ahead and leave for the game right now. That drive to Lincoln County is a HAUL. Cookeville’s effective rushing attack should travel well, however, as I think the Cavaliers secure their third straight win on Friday.
Justin:
Pick: Cookeville 24 Lincoln County 21
Comments: Those Cavaliers cracked the UCR Top Five for the first time all season. This is a pretty evenly matched game athletically for Cookeville. Stacking good wins this late in the season would be huge for Coach Hennigan’s program.
Noah:
Pick: Cookeville 21-20
Comments: TRAP GAME. Sandwiched in between two huge region games and fall break, the Falcons have more than enough talent to keep it interesting. That being said, I love the focus Taylor Hennigan has brought to this Cavs squad. They believe they’ll win, not just that they can win. Look for a big game out of Blake Owen as the Cavs make enough plays to win.
York Institute at Friendship Christian
Rusty:
Pick: York Institute 28-24
Comments: York keeps the good times rolling with a road win over a good FCS team. The Dragons are for real, and the rest of the state is starting to catch on. The team-speed on offense and the physicality on defense is something that travels and I think it lifts them in a close game.
Jacob:
Pick: Friendship Christian 21-17
Comments: This is going to be a great matchup for the Dragons especially to see where they are at come postseason time in a few weeks. York is playing with all the momentum after their big win against Stone last week, but this is another long trip to a very good FCS team who is used to winning. I think the Dragons fall in their first game this season in a close one.
Michael:
Pick: York Institute 22-14
Comments: York Institute had their way with a DII private school in Grace Christian earlier this season, but Friendship Christian is a different caliber of football team. I’ve still got faith in the Dragons, however, as their defense has been elite all season. Look for York to put some methodical drives together offensively to suffocate FCS.
Justin:
Pick: Friendship 21 York 14
Comments: Zero inside info here. Michael Wall got banged up last week. This week is a great opportunity to sit him and get him healthy. No clue if they will do that or not. I’ll be eating crow two weeks in a row here with my folks in Jamestown.
Noah:
Pick: York 17-10
Comments: I’ve learned not to bet against Derwin Wright’s York Dragons. If I’m right and York wins this game, they have to be considered a favorite to win it all in Class 2A. Myles Leffew has a big game and the Dragons win.
Clay County at Red Boiling Springs
Rusty:
Pick: Clay County 41-10
Comments: I don’t think I can name a more improved week-to-week team than Clay County, as they look more and more like a team that could make it to Chattanooga. Nate Adams has been dynamite this season and the Bulldog defense is rounding into form. Give me Clay in a dominant win.
Jacob:
Pick: Clay County 35-7
Comments: Clay County picks up another big region win with their fifth win in a row overall. Guess the sky isn’t falling in Celina after all.
Michael: Clay County 35-13
Pick: Clay County has stayed the course despite unfamiliar territory early in the season, and it’s paying off at the Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders late in the season. RBS has a few pieces to make things interesting, but give me Clay County in this one.
Comments:
Justin:
Pick: Clay County 31 Red Boiling Springs 10
Comments: Hey Bruce! I’m picking the Bulldogs so get over it.
Noah:
Pick: Clay County 42-7
Comments: Battle of the Bulldogs and I think CCHS’ offense keeps the good times rolling enroute to a big win.
Westmoreland at Smith County
Rusty:
Pick: Smith County 28-17
Comments: Westmoreland is a hard team to pin down. On one hand, they stayed within a score of Macon County for three quarters and made life difficult for the Tigers. On the other hand, Macon erupted and couldn’t be stopped in the fourth and Monterey dominated this team as well. I think Smith jumps out to a big lead before Westmoreland makes it respectable, so I’ll roll with the Owls.
Jacob:
Pick: Smith County 21-7
Comments: The offense got back on track last week with a 40-0 shutout victory against Jackson County and I think that rolls into tonight with a tough region match up. The team is getting a little more healthy and that only bodes well for the Owls who will be rolling come playoff time.
Michael:
Pick: Smith County 27-7
Comments: Smith County (6-2, 3-0) returns to action this week with a region contest against Westmoreland. Smith County’s defense has been amongst Class 2A’s best this season and their offense has put plenty of points on the scoreboard. Look for both sides of the ball to excel Friday in Carthage.
Justin:
Pick: Smith County 27 Westmoreland 3
Comments: Smith County has impressed me with their defense all season, and it should be the difference Friday. The Owls have some big-play potential on offense and they should hit a few of those this week. Give me Carthage in a big win.
Noah:
Pick: Smith County 28-7
Comments: Smith County is a nightmare matchup for Westmoreland. Big and physical up front with fast linebackers. This has all the makings of a dominant Owl victory.
Upperman at White House
Rusty:
Pick: Upperman 24-7
Comments: I feel like we’re all going to pick similar scores here and you’ll hear a lot of the same comments. Upperman’s defense puts another excellent showing together and the offense starts to make some strides towards postseason form. The Bees ultimately stay undefeated and move another game closer to their goal.
Jacob:
Pick: Upperman 28-14
Comments: I agree with Rusty in that we will all be picking similar games here. One big thing in this game as well is that White House, who is 5-2, has not played a tough schedule at all this season. The White House offense will struggle to score. Can the Upperman team look dominant for all four quarters? I think the Bees still get a big win.
Michael:
Pick: Upperman 21-7
Comments: Upperman comes off their bye week to visit an unfamiliar opponent in White Couse. The result should resemble Upperman’s first 7 games, however, as their defense should hold White House in check.
Justin:
Pick: Upperman 35 White House 0
Comments: The Upperman train keeps rolling this week as their defense could pitch a shutout at White House. I want to see some explosiveness from their offense, and this week could have plenty of that. Upperman wins big.
Noah:
Pick: Upperman 42-0
Comments: White House’s 5-2 record is impressive, but when you get below the surface you see the 2 losses are against the two strong teams on their schedule. Upperman’s defense should control this game enroute to an 8-0 start.