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
Playoffs Round 2:
GOTW: Stone Memorial at Upperman
Rusty:
Pick: Upperman 31-13
Comments: I applaud Coach Samber’s team for being able to pick themselves up off the mat after two tough losses. They’ve rebounded nicely and should put together a much better showing this time around in Baxter, but I’m going to roll with the undefeated Bees in the rematch.
Jacob:
Pick: Upperman 28-14
Comments: Stone Memorial has looked much better in the last two games after suffering a 42 point loss to the Bees the first time around. Maddox Oquendo powered them to victory last week in Hixson, but the Bees will be too much again. Upperman is playing as well as anyone in 4A right now. Their defense has only allowed more than 14 points one time this season and I think that trend continues against the Panthers.
Michael:
Pick: Upperman 27-14
Comments: Stone Memorial must’ve broken a mirror while walking under a ladder the last time they traveled to Baxter because everything that could go wrong did. I think the Panthers will give a much better showing this time around, but Upperman still has the edge as the Bees are firing on all cylinders in November.
Justin:
Pick: Upperman 31-17
Comments: Three weeks ago everything that could go wrong for Stone did go wrong. However, the Bees had a big hand in all those miscues and mistakes as well. This game may not get as out of hand as the last one, but Upperman is playing fantastic football right now.
Noah:
Pick: Upperman 35-14
Comments: I don’t expect Stone Memorial to turn the football over 3 times in the opening 10 minutes of this game, however Upperman’s offensive firepower is firing on all cylinders right now. Expect another big game out of Ethan Palk and the continued re-emergence of Jaxson Rollins in this one.
Macon County at Red Bank
Rusty:
Pick: Macon County 20-17
Comments: Two great defenses collide and I think the third time is the charm for Macon against Red Bank. Both Borders find the endzone and the Tiger defense comes up with a timely stop to seal the victory and a rematch with Upperman.
Jacob:
Pick: Macon County 14-7
Comments: This is going to be an absolute battle and one that I am really looking forward to. The Lions have ended Macon County’s season the last two years in a row. It was 21-14 last season. Both these teams have some very stout defenses entering this game. Macon’s offense, by the numbers, is a little bit better. However, there are playmakers on both sides and it being at Red Bank cannot be overlooked. I think the Tigers have a special team this year and they finally pull through against the Lions.
Michael:
Pick: Macon County 22-20
Comments: Macon County has a long drive ahead of them, but coach Shoulders’ crew should be ready to go into the Lions Den tonight. I trust a team full of playmakers to get the job done against a really good Red Bank team.
Justin:
Pick: Macon County 21-14
Comments: Macon County is playing as good of football as anyone around here right now. This is a playoff rematch three years running and looks to be the best Tigers team to make the trip down there. Macon will have to play great football in all three phases to pull this one out.
Noah:
Pick Macon County 28-21
Comments: Red Bank is a really good football team, but so is Macon County. The difference in this game vs the two previous postseason meeting is Macon’s speed on the outside that can match Red Bank’s. Rematch in Baxter next week, who says no?
Cookeville at Riverdale
Rusty
Pick: Riverdale 31-17
Comments: A great second season under Coach Hennigan comes to a close but a competitive showing against one of the state’s best teams is nothing to hang your head about. Cookeville goes into the offseason with plenty of optimism for the future of the program.
Jacob:
Pick: Riverdale 28-14
Comments: The Cavaliers have been a juggernaut in the last six games (I did not expect to say that at the beginning of the season). They may be meeting their match this week in Riverdale. I say may, because the Cavs have been surprising us all season long and I am a Cookeville believer. However, the Warriors only have two losses. One is to the #2 team in 6A, Germantown by nine and the other is to #2 in 5A Henry County by one. Their schedule and their pedigree speak for themselves and I think the Cavs tremendous season comes to an end.
Michael:
Pick: Riverdale 28-20
Comments: Cookeville has a chance for one of the biggest wins in program history Friday as they travel to Riverdale. The Cavaliers have a great chance to win this one, but Riverdale has just a little more firepower on the perimeter. Cookeville has proved me wrong plenty of times this season, though…
Justin:
Pick: Riverdale 35-14
Comments: This is an extremely tough matchup for the Cavaliers stylistically on the defensive side of the ball. Teams that have given Cookeville the most problems are teams that decide to air it out. Riverdale is a pass first offense with big time playmakers all over the field. For Cookeville to have a chance they need to dominate the time of possession, not give up explosive plays, and steal a couple of possessions with a turnover or surprise on-side kick. Offensively staying ahead of schedule is the most important key for Cookeville’s offense. If the Cavaliers find themselves in third and fourth and shorts they should feel very comfortable about picking those up. If the offense winds up in third and pass more times than not it could be a long evening.
Noah:
Pick: Riverdale 35-14
Comments: Cookeville has been so impressive across the past two months, but this Riverdale squad is a monster. They’re built to capitalize on the Cavs’ weaknesses, and CHS is going to need to play nearly perfect football to go pull the upset.
Fayetteville at Smith County
Rusty:
Pick: Smith County 17-13
Comments: I said it on UC Gameday morning, I think Smith County could be on upset alert against a red-hot Fayetteville team who’s won six games in a row. That being said, I’m rolling with the Owls to come out with a win thanks to a defense that’s come up big time and time again. It also sets up for an interesting rematch potentially with East Robertson.
Jacob:
Pick: Smith County 21-7
Comments: Fayetteville played an insanely tough schedule the first six weeks of the season. Their win last week against Monterey finally put them a game above .500 because of it. They’ve won five games in a row, but have not played a team to the caliber of the Owls in that stretch. The Owls have won four in a row and only allowed 21 combined points in those four games. I like the Owls in the “black hole”.
Michael:
Pick: Smith County 20-14
Comments: Fayetteville’s record is deceiving as they bring a formidable team to Carthage. Smith County’s defense has been elite all season and they should hold their own tonight.
Justin:
Pick: Smith County 21- 20
Comments: This is 50/50 pick’em game.Both of these teams have played extremely tough schedules and it should pay off for them in this matchup. Fayetteville’s led by their QB Sam Willoughby and they go as he goes. If the Owls pull this one off, they need an extremely well-played football game from their defense led by Peyton Hix.
Noah:
Pick: Smith County 21-7
Comments: Samuel Willoughby is an incredible player for FHS, but I think Smith County is the better team. Combine that with a bonafide home field advantage and I’ll take the Owls to return to the quarterfinal round.
Oneida at York Institute
Rusty:
Pick: York 41-7
Comments: Yeah we’ve seen this one before. York dominated at Oneida earlier this season and there’s no reason to believe this time will be any different.
Jacob:
Pick: York Institute 28-0
Comments: They’ve already played once this year at Oneida and it was 28-0 in favor of the Dragons. I don’t see any reason why the score would be any different this time around being in Jamestown. Dragons continue to roll.
Michael:
Pick: York 34-6
Comments: York is a machine this time of year and they show no signs of slowing down. York handled Oneida over on the Reservation earlier this season and they should take care of business tonight.
Justin:
Pick: York 41- 7
Comments: York has already gone on the road and beat this Oneida team 28-0. It doesn’t feel like this one will be much different. York continues to roll through their side of the playoff bracket.
Noah:
Pick: York 35-0
Comments: Oneida ran for less than 10 yards in the first meeting, and I don’t see that changing here. Dragons roll.
Clay County at South Pittsburg
Rusty:
Pick: South Pittsburg 31-10
Comments: Coach Lamb will have his team ready to go, but this is a South Pitt team that everyone has penciled in to the Class A State Championship for a reason. South Pitt just has too much for the Bulldogs to handle this year, but after how the season started, Clay has come a long way and set the foundation to follow up with it next year.
Jacob:
Pick: South Pittsburg 35-14
Comments: This is a super tough matchup for the Bulldogs. Clay County got a big win against Sale Creek in round one, but I don’t know if they can get it done in round two. The Pirates are scoring a whopping 47.6 ppg on offense and only allowing 4.4 ppg defensively with six shutouts. It’s been a good year for Clay County, but I think it ends this week.
Michael:
Pick: South Pittsburg 34-20
Comments: South Pittsburg is a different animal this season, but Clay County should give them a tough game. I’ll take the homesteading Pirates.
Justin:
Pick: South Pittsburg 35-10
Comments: We like to call spades, spades here right? So let’s do that. South Pitt is better. Arguably the best team in 1A football. In all likelihood they beat the Bulldogs Friday night. However, when a 1A school takes in close to ten players that were not on their roster from last season, it’s pretty easy to see what’s going on there. Congratulations on winning at all costs. Be better TSSAA.
Noah:
Pick: South Pittsburg 42-14
Comments: South Pittsburg is a tremendous football team and my pick is a reflection of that. I’ve been really impressed by CCHS this year, especially given all the roster turnover from last season. They will fight hard, but ultimately I’ll take the home team.
Whitwell at Gordonsville
Rusty:
Pick: Gordonsville 27-24
Comments: The Tigers get rolling offensively and stay alive in the Class A playoff picture. J Foster has been really impressive for Gordy this season, and I think he’ll have a big game to keep the season alive for another week.
Jacob:
Pick: Whitwell 21-14
Comments: This should be another really good contest in 1A. Gordonsville narrowly escaped Chattanooga Prep last week and now get a solid Whitwell football team. Their three losses are to Bledsoe County, Oliver Springs and South Pittsburg. All three of those teams are still alive in the playoffs. Gordonsville also has a battle tested schedule, but I think Whitwell gets a big win on the road and heads to the quarters.
Michael:
Pick: Whitwell 27-20
Comments: Two solid programs meet with a quarterfinal berth on the line. Whitwell is returning to form after a few down years, and I could see the visiting Tigers leave with a close win.
Justin:
Pick: Gordonsville 14 Whitwell 13
Comments: Another 50/50 matchup in the same county. Simply put, the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win. If this game was on the road I would pick this one differently. The home field advantage needs to be huge for the home team tonight to pull out a win. The Tigers have figured out ways to win tightly contested match-ups over the last few weeks. That experience could pay huge dividends against Whitwell.
Noah:
Pick: Gordonsville 21-20
Comments: Toughest game on the board to pick. And when it’s 50/50, call me a homer because I’m taking the UC team. The Tigers have a knack for winning close games recently, look for that to continue.