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
TSSAA Playoffs Round 1
GOTW: Siegel at Cookeville
Rusty:
Pick: Cookeville 24-17
Comments: The Cavs are rolling into the playoffs and I see that continuing with a close win over the Siegel. It’ll take Cookeville learning how to win in a time they’ve not experienced much lately, but Coach Hennigan’s team will get it done.
Jacob:
Pick: Cookeville 21-14
Comments: The Cavaliers are playing as well as anybody right now, but the three seed from Region 3-6A is no slouch in Siegel. They’re just 1-5 in their last six ballgames, but have played some great competition and are coming off a win last week. I think the Cavs keep the good times rolling, but in a close contest.
Michael:
Pick: Cookeville 28-13
Comments: Cookeville got a limited look at Siegel in the preseason, but now the teams meet with their seasons on the line. Cookeville is the better team Friday and should pick up the home playoff win.
Justin:
Pick: Cookeville 24 Siegel 20
Comments: The last time Siegel came to Cookeville for a first round game the Cavaliers sent them back to the Boro with a 28-27, L. I know because I was on that team. I believe we get a similar result Friday Night in Eddie Watson Stadium. #CBH2FSU
Noah:
Pick: Cookeville 27-20
Comments: Cookeville’s the better football team, and the run game should present problems for Siegel’s defense. I trust the Cavalier defense to make enough plays and pick up a big playoff win.
Stone Memorial at Hixson
Rusty:
Pick: Stone Memorial 31-28
Comments: I was really impressed with how the Panthers picked themselves up last week and gave themselves a chance to win late. They’ll get back in the win column this week, setting up for an interesting rematch in Baxter against Upperman.
Jacob:
Pick: Stone Memorial 28-14
Comments: It’s going to be tough coming off the emotional loss last week, but the Panthers responded well after their loss to the Bees two weeks ago. They’re familiar with this Hixson having beat them 37-0 last season in the playoffs. The Wildcats are improved this season, but I think the strength of schedule of the Panthers wills them to victory on the road.
Michael:
Pick: Stone Memorial 26-20
Comments: Stone Memorial gets back on track at the right time as the Panthers pick up a road playoff win. Look for Stone to have success in a variety of ways offensively.
Justin:
Pick: Stone Memorial 28 Hixon 27
Comments: The cardiac cats picked themselves off the mat last Friday night in Lafayette in a 15-14 last second loss. This is actually a pretty good athletic matchup for Stone. Panthers in a nail bitter.
Noah:
Pick: Stone Memorial 28-14
Comments: I think Hixson’s 7-3 record is fools gold, while Stone has lost three in a row to teams that are a combined 29-1. Hixson has one quality win and three blowout losses to good teams. I look for a big game out of Nick Osmun and the Stone offense.
Loudon at Macon County
Rusty
Pick: Macon County 24-21
Comments: The Tigers draw an incredibly tough matchup in Loudon, and this ought to be the game of the first round. The Borders will make enough plays on both sides and the Macon defense will get a late stop to seal the win.
Jacob:
Pick: Macon County 21-7
Comments: The Tigers are coming off the huge win last week and feeling confident with their team as they should. It’ll be a good test with a 7-3 Redskins team rolling into Lafayette. However, it’s more than two and a half hours to Lafayette for Loudon. That, coupled with the ferocious Tigers defense will make for a long night for the visitors.
Michael:
Pick: Macon County 34-14
Comments: Macon County has one of the more interesting first round matchups against Loudon, but give me the Tigers to roll against a good Loudon team.
Justin:
Pick: Macon County 21 London County 17
Comments: This game is going to be an absolute slobber knocker of a game. Loudon looks like a Region 4, 4A school size wise and stylistically. Macon County’s going to have their hands full.
Noah:
Pick: Macon 17-14
Comments: I think this has the potential to be the best game of the week. Louden presents an athletic challenge for Macon, but ultimately I think Macon has more ways to win. Couple that with homefied advantage and the Tigers get a big win.
DeKalb County at Red Bank
Rusty:
Pick: Red Bank 27-14
Comments: I hate picking against the Tigers, but Red Bank is a tough place to go into and win. Ultimately, I think the athletes for the Lions make a few too many big plays for DC to handle.
Jacob:
Pick: Red Bank 14-10
Comments: DeKalb County ran into a buzzsaw of a team last week in Upperman and I think that prepares them well for this match up. It’s a Red Bank team who has just three losses on the season to three solid programs. In their wins, they’ve only allowed teams to score once and have compiled three shutouts. It’s going to be a tall task and I think the home team gets the edge in this one.
Michael:
Pick: Red Bank 27-20
Comments: This game should be a dandy, but Red Bank having the homefield advantage could be the difference Friday.
Justin:
Pick: Red Bank 24 DeKalb County 10
Comments: This game could be much closer if the Tigers can get Malikah Trapp rolling between the tackles. If DeKalb has to run outside or throw 70 plus percent that plus into the strengths of Red Bank.
Noah:
Pick: Red Bank 35-21
Comments: Wouldn’t surprise me if this game is closer than my score, but I’m concerned about DeKalb’s ability to slow down all of Red Bank’s athletes. If Malachi Trapp gets rolling DeKalb could win, but I’ll lean towards the Lions.
East Ridge at Upperman
Rusty:
Pick: Upperman 35-7
Comments: The road to Chattanooga starts here, and Upperman rolls to continue their undefeated run.
Jacob:
Pick: Upperman 28-7
Comments: The Bees get the march to Chattanooga started as they’ll face a team from that neck of the woods. East Ridge has four wins, but all four of those wins came against teams with losing records. Bees continue their “Revenge Tour”.
Michael:
Pick: Upperman 34-0
Comments: Upperman keeps the perfect season rolling as they cruise to a first round win. East Ridge hasn’t seen a defense like this and Upperman has a chance to shut them out.
Justin:
Pick: Upperman 27 East Ridge 7
Comments: Bees continue to roll through the early playoffs. Although I do believe East Ridge has some decent athletes on the outside. However, the physicality of Upperman will be the difference here.
Noah:
Pick: Upperman 42-0
Comments: Upperman is the better football team by a mile, next question.
Forrest at Smith County
Rusty:
Pick: Smith County 24-20
Comments: I’m going to go out on a limb and say Forrest actually pushes Smith County to start the playoffs. Crazy things happen, but the Owls do just enough to survive and advance.
Jacob:
Pick: Smith County 28-14
Comments: Forrest have lost five games in a row to finish the regular season albeit against some really good teams having played Gordonsville, Marion Co., Moore Co., and Fayetteville in their last four. The hard path continues for the Rockets as they’ll head to the “Black Hole” to take on the Owls. I think the Owls handle business as they begin their march for a deep playoff run.
Michael:
Pick: Smith County 34-7
Comments: Smith County gets the postseason going strong as they pick up a big win in the Hole. All three phases have a clear advantage over Forrest.
Justin:
Pick: Smith County 31 Forrest 14
Comments: The Blue Collar Savages will be out in full force in the black hole. Smith County’s one of the most complete 2A teams in the state. Owls in convincing fashion.
Noah:
Pick: Smith County 28-13
Comments: Sneaky good game here, Forrest has played some good teams close and it wouldn’t surprise me if that happens in this one, but Smith is the better team and I expect them to start a difficult postseason route with a win.
Monterey at Fayetteville
Rusty:
Pick: Fayetteville 31-17
Comments: Monterey gets a tough matchup to start the playoffs and Fayetteville is red-hot. I think that all adds up to be too much for a young Wildcat squad.
Jacob:
Pick: Fayetteville 28-13
Comments: Fayetteville’s schedule this season was an absolute gauntlet specifically in the first six weeks. In the first six weeks, they were all on the road and played five teams who are hosting a playoff game, three of which are undefeated entering this week. To say the Tigers are battle tested is an understatement. Monterey has a very tall task in front of them and a very long drive to think about the task. Give me the Tigers at home.
Michael:
Pick: Fayetteville 21-20
Comments: Monterey has a tough challenge Friday, but the Wildcats should be able to push Fayetteville into the second half. Fayetteville is led by a 3-star quarterback, though, and he’ll be tough to stop.
Justin:
Pick: Fayetteville 35 Monterey 7
Comments: An up and down season ends with a long road trip for Monterey. Fayetteville played as tough of a schedule as you could play the first five weeks of the year. The Tigers are playing their best football of the year right now, unfortunately for Monterey.
Noah:
Pick: Fayetteville 35-7
Comments: Fayetteville may be the best 5-5 team in the state, Monterey needs to play really well to win this game and that’s a lot to ask out of a young team in the playoffs.
Eagleton at York Institute
Rusty:
Pick: York Institute 41-0
Comments: Ho-hum, another dominant display by the Dragons.
Jacob:
Pick: York Institute 35-0
Comments: One thing stands out to me in this game. Both have played Tellico Plains. Eagleton lost to Tellico Plains in week one (granted it was week one, but still) 47-18. Tellico Plains lost to York 74-0. 74! That’s about all I have to say about this match up.
Michael:
Pick: York Institute 41-7
Comments: The undefeated Dragons keep it rolling Friday, chalk this one up to York.
Justin:
Pick: York 41 Eagleton Academy 7
Comments: Too much Dragons in Jamestown this week. Buckle up folks in Fentress County. This could be a fun ride. Enjoy every second of it. These teams do not come around often.
Noah:
Pick: York 56-7
Comments: Do I really need to explain this pick? Next question.
Sale Creek at Clay County
Rusty:
Pick: Clay County 31-21
Comments: The offense of the Bulldogs takes center-stage in a first-round win over Sale Creek. Nate Adams has been dynamite and that show will head to South Pitt for round two.
Jacob:
Pick: Clay County 28-21
Comments: This is a really fun match up because Sale Creek is 7-3 with losses to just South Pitt, Whitwell and Bledsoe County. They’ve got a new head coach in Jason Fitzgerald who had a tremendous run with Meigs County during his last stop. Bruce Lamb is also a pretty darn good head coach though and I think he and the Bulldogs pull through in their round one match up.
Michael:
Pick: Sale Creek 21-20
Comments: Clay County has a tough challenge coming to Celina Friday. Sale Creek is a solid team traveling in the first round and could steal a win from the Bulldogs.
Justin:
Pick: Clay County 27 Sale Creek 17
Comments: Look for Bruce and the Boys to right the ship defensively against Sale Creek. The Bulldogs have dropped two straight to end the season but o don’t look for their season to end here.
Noah:
Pick: Clay County 27-20
Comments: Maybe the toughest game of the week to pick, Sale Creek’s record has come against an okay schedule, but Clay has lost two straight. Ultimately, I trust Bruce Lamb and Nate Adams to find a way to get it done and advance.
Chattanooga Prep at Gordonsville
Rusty:
Pick: Gordonsville 31-17
Comments: The Tigers continue to roll in the playoffs and advance to a favorable matchup in the second round. J Foster has been awesome all over the field for Gordy, excited to see what he does on the big stage.
Jacob:
Pick: Gordonsville 35-13
Comments: Chattanooga Prep has three wins this season, Gordonsville is a battle tested team and program. Give me the Tigers to cruise through round one.
Michael:
Pick: Gordonsville 41-7
Comments: Winning the region title has its advantages as now Gordonsville has an easier first round game. Give me the Tigers big.
Justin:
Pick: Gordonsville 38 Chattanooga Prep 0
Comments: Gordy rolls folks. They earned the one seed with a big time win over region foe Clay County last week. They are rewarded with a much easier first round matchup for it.
Noah:
Pick: Gordonsville 35-7
Comments: This is why winning your region is important. Tigers roll, next.
Red Boiling Springs at Whitwell
Rusty:
Pick: Whitwell 31-7
Comments: Aubrey Link has had a phenomenal season, but on the road at Whitwell will prove to be just too much for the Bulldogs. I’d love to be surprised in this game, I just don’t think they’ll have enough juice for the Tigers.
Jacob:
Pick: Whitwell 35-10
Comments: RBS got a huge win last week with their first ever win over Jo Byrns to earn the three seed in Region 4. This week is a much tougher test with a 7-3 Whitwell team. The Tigers have only lost to teams who are hosting round one matchups this week. I think Whitwell cruises at home against the Bulldogs.
Michael:
Pick: Whitwell 27-21
Comments: RBS has had a great season so far and they should be able to give Whitwell a game, but the Tigers have the homefield advantage and that could be the difference.
Justin:
Pick: Whitwell 24 Red Boiling Springs 10
Comments: Whitwell presents too much of a problem for RBS athletically. A wonderful season comes to an end for the Bulldogs.
Noah:
Pick: Whitwell 34-14
Comments: It’s been a great season for RBS, but Whitwell is a really tough challenge. I hope I’m wrong.