By Michael Lindsay
Week 9 of the 2023 high school football season wrapped up Friday night with 5 Upper Cumberland programs picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each Friday night game on the Upper Cumberland:
York Institute Takes Down Defending DII-A Champion Friendship Christian, 8-7
The York Institute Dragons made a statement across Tennessee Friday night as they won at defending Division II-A state champion Friendship Christian, 8-7. The Dragons trailed 7-0 before quarterback Myles Leffew punched in a 1-yard touchdown rush late in the third quarter. York went into their bag of tricks on the PAT as the Dragons ran a fake field goal pass from Lake Drake to Bryson Bilbrey for a 2-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead. A late Lake Drake interception sealed the victory for the 8-0 Dragons, who are currently ranked #1 in Class 2A.
Cookeville Routes Lincoln County, 41-13
Cookeville made the long drive to Lincoln County Friday and left with an emphatic 41-13 victory over the Falcons. Cookeville (5-3) held a 27-7 lead at halftime as Jackson Jones, Jourdyn Burris and Thomas Johnson found the end zone in the first half. The 5-3 Cavaliers are 2-2 in Region 4-6A and have two region games remaining on their schedule as Green Hill and Wilson Central travel to Cookeville the next two weeks.
Smith County Cruises to 27-0 Victory Over Westmoreland
Smith County’s grip on Region 3-2A got tighter Friday night as they cruised to a 27-0 victory over Westmoreland. The 7-2 overall Owls are 4-0 in region play with a bye week upcoming before hosting Monterey in their season finale on Oct. 27.
Clay County Rolls Past RBS, 49-16
Clay County won their sixth straight game Friday as they defeated Region 4-1A foe Red Boiling Springs, 49-16. The 6-2 Bulldogs travel to non-region Trousdale County next Friday before a massive showdown at Gordonsville the last week of the season with the region championship on the line.
Trousdale Wins Key Region Game at Monterey, 28-0
Trousdale County came out firing on all cylinders Friday as the Yellow Jackets pulled away for a 28-0 victory at Monterey. Both squads are now 4-4 overall with two games left in the regular season. Monterey is 1-2 in region play with games against Jackson County and Smith County remaining while Trousdale has a non-region contest with Clay County next week before hosting Westmoreland.
8-0 Upperman Closes Strong at White House For 28-14 Victory
Another week, another strong Upperman finish as the 8-0 Bees won at White House, 28-14. A Bronzden Chaffin touchdown late in the second quarter tied the game at halftime, 14-14. The second half was all Upperman as the Bees found the end zone twice via touchdown rushes from Chaffin and Jaxson Rollins to secure the 28-14 victory. Upperman returns to Region 4-4A play next week as they host defending region champion Stone Memorial (6-2, 4-0).